Specialist advisors
Jonathan Sargeant
Director of Lay Education, St Francis College
“I care about faith formation, belonging, visioning, faith sharing and inclusion because they are central for churches as they seek to live and breathe Jesus.”
Qualifications and experience: YEA Dip, BTh, MMin, Dip Teach (prim), plus 35 years of ministry experience.
- Being more inclusive
- Auditing your parish for inclusion
- Opening the circle to newcomers (and new ideas)
- Training small group leaders to be inclusive
Mary-Anne Rulfs
Associate Priest – Community Ministry, Robina Anglican Church
“In my experience, church and school communities are meaningful for people when they feel they belong. A sense of belonging emerges when our story has a place and value, we feel at home and we have opportunities to share in Christ’s mission alongside others.”
Qualifications and experience: Master of Theology (Chaplaincy Studies) with a focus on connections between faith, belonging and community for people of different generations; 40 years of ministry experience (lay and ordained).
- Reflecting Jesus’ pattern of connection through love
- Actively offering opportunities for participation and serving
- Prioritising a culture of warm hospitality and care
- Welcoming and connecting newcomers
- Appreciating and encouraging each person’s gifts
- Hearing and valuing other’s stories
- Fostering language that celebrates inclusion
- Respecting all ages and stages of life and faith
- Fostering a ‘wide-angle’ vision of the community