Christian Reformed Churches of Australia

Many states are beginning to lift stay-at-home orders, which are allowing churches to reopen their campuses. For many churches, it has been three months since their local or state authorities recommended closing church facilities. There are five evaluation points you will want to consider if your church is in the early stages of reopening.

DOWNLOAD:  5 Ways to Regain Momentum as the Church Reopens

As we face the uncertainty that COVID-19 brings new challenges and opportunities present themselves to the local church and also for the CRCA denomination.   We are in unprecedented times and things are changing hour to hour, day to day, and there is no determined end in sight.  Churches and church leaders will need to draw upon available resources and ideas from across the CRCA and the broader Christian community. 

As a denomination we are church reforming to reach the lost for Christ.   This remains our fundamental aim as we navigate the days and months ahead.   In fact, this worldwide pandemic has forced the walls of our churches to come down and we have a unique opportunity for discipleship and outreach into our communities.   Below you will find some links to resources that will help your church respond in ways that will build community, provide pastoral care, reach the lost, and foster faith, hope, and love.

Coronavirus and Christ - a book by John Piper 

In this book, after laying some theological foundations, John Piper provides six answers to the question:  What is God doing through the coronavirus? 

ACCESS BOOK >

  Pastor to Pastor

Free, Practical, Time-Saving, and Easy to Use resources for local church leaders

Here you will find documents, tools, and resources developed by Shoreline Church, where Kevin Harney is the lead pastor.   For example,  you will find a five-step plan for dealing with potential financial challenges in the weeks ahead.  There is a tool with four key areas to focus as a church during times of hardship and turmoil.  You will learn how to best use technology.   There are sample communication ideas that you can upload for your own church's use.    These tools and resources will save you hours of time and help you serve the church well in the weeks to come. 

ACCESS RESOURCES >

Geneva Push Resources

Geneva Push will be drawing on and making available resources and ideas from across the network.    These resources will help your church respond in a distinctly Christian way, to model and maintain communities of love and joy and to be able to keep presenting Jesus to those who don’t know him.  What you’ll find is a list of resources that will help you consider how to transition across to some new rhythms of church, as well as resources we’ll build out over time around how to keep momentum and mission within that new reality. 

ACCESS RESOURCES >

  How to Lead Through Crisis

  Strategies For Navigating Rapid And Unexpected Change - Carey Nieuwhof Communications

• Master the art of fast-paced, clear decision making
• Cultivate a non-anxious presence to lead with confidence and trust
• Advance your digital presence to scale past physical barriers and grow your outreach
• Learn and leverage the best strategies to lead your team and congregation virtually

GET ACCESS NOW 100% FREE >

Rethinking How to Do Church Post COVID-19

Here are questions/thoughts you might consider as you think how to do church post COVID-19:

Rethinking How to Do Church Post COVID-19

5 Ways to Regain Momentum as the Church Reopens

Many states are beginning to lift stay-at-home orders, which are allowing churches to reopen their campuses. For many churches, it has been three months since their local or state authorities recommended closing church facilities. There are five evaluation points you will want to consider if your church is in the early stages of reopening:

5 Ways to Regain Momentum as the Church Reopens

7 NEW DISRUPTIVE CHURCH TRENDS EVERY CHURCH LEADER SHOULD WATCH

So, in light of everything that’s changed and been disrupted so far in 2020, what future church trends should you be watching as a leader?  With the almost surreal events of 2020 unfolding as they have, it’s time to rethink what’s ahead again. Hence, a fresh post outlining 7 trends to watch.

Crisis, after all, is not just a disruptor, it’s an accelerator.  Some of the changes that were likely arriving in 5-10 years (like the normalization of remote work) arrived in days.  The shift from facility-centered ministry to home-based ministry happened in hours.  And while there will be a return to some version of normal, normal as we knew is likely gone, at least for a while. It’s hard to go back to normal when normal disappeared.   And because the future is unkind to the unprepared, the best thing a leader can do is prepare.

READ MORE

 A Prayer as We Emerge from the COVID Pandemic

Here is a prayer that might help us emerge from this COVID pandemic as new people, ready to be stewards of life on a journey of freedom and joy. Pray this every morning, before your feet hit the floor. May it be the start of a new era of crazy, radical obedience that God will use to bring a sweeping revival to our nation and our world.

A Prayer as We Emerge from the COVID Pandemic

Mandatory Reporting of Child abuse by people in religious ministry

Under the Children, Youth and Families Act, people in religious ministries are mandatory reporters of child abuse to Child Protection Services.

The legislation states that a:

"person in religious ministry means a person appointed, ordained or otherwise recognised as a religious or spiritual leader in a religious institution;"

The law makes it mandatory for ministers and other appointed religious leaders to report child abuse, including when it is revealed to them during a confession. Under the law, ministers and religious leaders face up to three years' jail if they don't report child physical and sexual abuse allegations. This law was supported by both the Government and the Opposition.

Mandatory reporting refers to the legal requirement for nominated groups to report a reasonable belief of physical or sexual child abuse to authorities.

Any questions about this may be directed to the Safe Church Unit.

Reporting Child abuse - failure to disclose - Victoria Only

The advent of the Betrayal of Trust suite of laws in Victoria in 2014 compelled all Victorian adults to disclose situations where they either know child sexual abuse is occurring or have reasonable grounds to believe that child sexual abuse is occurring. Thus, failure to disclose child sexual abuse is now a crime in Victoria, punishable by a jail sentence. Effectively, this legislation makes every adult in Victoria a "mandatory reporter" of child sexual abuse. 

The Children, Youth and Families Act (Victoria) protects the reporter by ensuring that:

• The identity of the reporter is not revealed without written permission or unless a court or tribunal decides that it needs this information to ensure the safety of the child
• If the report is made in good faith the reporter is not subject to any liability for defamation or breach of confidence
• A reporter who makes a report in accordance with the legislation is not liable for the eventual outcome of any investigation.

Biblical values that shape the culture of a contemporary, Reformed, gospel-focused denomination:

1. Contemporary Reformed – we are confessional and contextual. (Eph. 4:3-6; 1 Cor. 11:2; 2 Thess. 2:15; 1 Cor. 9:19-23; Acts 14:8-18; 17:16-31)

2. Word Based – we are committed to biblical preaching, teaching, training, equipping (Rom 10:14-17; 2 Timothy 2:1-2; 3:16-17; Deut. 4:9 -14; Colossians 3:16; Eph. 4:11-16)

3. Gospel Focused – we are on mission in word and deed, both locally and globally: kingdom-oriented, outward looking, evangelistic, disciple-making, community- hearted (Micah 6:8; Isaiah 1:17; 61:1-11; Luke 4:18-19; Matt. 5:13-16; 6:33; 25:31-46; 28:18-20; Philippians 1:14; Acts 1:6-8; 4:31; Colossians 4:5-6; 1 Peter 2:9-12; 3:15-16; Rev. 5:9-10)

4. Local Church Empowering – we are light on structures and hierarchy, high on support, partnership, mutual accountability and encouragement (Matt. 20:24-28; 25:14-30; Heb. 13:17; 1 Thess. 5:11; 2 Cor. 1:24; 8:23; Phil. 1:5; 4:15; 3 John 1:5-8; 1 Pet 5:3)

5. Prayerful Urgency – we are humbly dependent upon God and filled with prayerful, sacrificial compassion for the lost in all the world (Isa. 62:6; Acts 2:42; Matt. 6:5-13; Rom. 10:1; Eph. 6:10-20; 1 Tim. 2:1-4; 1 Thess. 5:17; Jude 20)