By Rev Gavin Blakemore
This was the first national conference for UCA schools in 17 years and it was an insightful time in which about 70 people gathered from across Australia at The Lakes College in North Lakes, Brisbane.
The conference had many speakers including the UCA President, Rev Charissa Suli, Queensland Moderator, Rev Bruce Moore, several principals, chaplains/Directors of Mission and school support organisations. It was good to be able to meet a diversity of people and hear the stories of similarities and differences in our schools.
I was struck by a number of people who spoke about the process of recovering the historical links of their school to their faith/church foundations and those who have flourishing partnerships with local congregations (some are closely or even co-located).
Bruce and Charissa both made it clear that they understood UCA schools are indeed an important part of the mission of the Church. It is a growing part of the Church which has great scope for impact in the community, when many of the congregations are conversely shrinking. Schools are places that not only educate but actively encourage formation of students and staff to live and be shaped by the faith and ethos of the UCA.
Two issues have stayed with me, the first is how we as schools encourage our students to “flourish”, and the second was this sense of not only working towards wellbeing but the “well-belonging” of all. That is to see that human flourishing isn’t tied only to some autonomous human endeavour but is tied to our sense of belonging and purpose in a community of faith.
It was good to share this conference with my VicTas colleagues Craig Rodgers (Aitken deputy principal), Jamie Breden (Scotch Oakburn chaplain), Leanne Earl (Geelong College chaplain) and Adrian Pyle (VicTas Synod – Chaplaincy and Connections).
God’s Peace,
Rev Gavin Blakemore is Aitken College chaplain
