{"id":7620,"date":"2026-01-19T22:29:38","date_gmt":"2026-01-19T22:29:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/victas.uca.org.au\/?page_id=7620"},"modified":"2026-01-19T22:29:38","modified_gmt":"2026-01-19T22:29:38","slug":"new-renewing-ministry","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/synod.debug.victas.uca.org.au\/?page_id=7620","title":{"rendered":"New &amp; Renewing Ministry"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n<p>We live in times of great change and the Uniting Church continues to adapt in order to bring life in all its fullness as promised by Christ. Indeed, one of the Synod&#8217;s strategic priorities is &#8220;inspiring and enabling more new contextual Christian communities to be born, and to renew existing ones to be more faithful and missional&#8221;.<\/p>\r\n<p>Throughout Victoria and Tasmania many communities have responded to the call of living out the Gospel in fresh ways, with the number of new communities now totalling about 50.<\/p>\r\n<p>The greatest opportunity for further renewal may lie within the vast missional activities that already operate within the church.\u00a0 A report of New &amp; Renewing Communities across the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania has identified 206 of these. To download the report,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/victas.uca.org.au\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php?juwpfisadmin=false&amp;action=wpfd&amp;task=file.download&amp;wpfd_category_id=591&amp;wpfd_file_id=7646\">click here<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<p><a>Introducing &#8216;New ways&#8217; series<\/a> from <a>Uniting Church VIC\/TAS<\/a> <img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Picture of 838490288 9b4d83c1086e9fd9c93a9fdf3e40b20432eed15ca18d54c6d58a9db4954fe01d d 840\" src=\"https:\/\/i.vimeocdn.com\/video\/838490288-9b4d83c1086e9fd9c93a9fdf3e40b20432eed15ca18d54c6d58a9db4954fe01d-d_840\" alt=\"Picture of 838490288 9b4d83c1086e9fd9c93a9fdf3e40b20432eed15ca18d54c6d58a9db4954fe01d d 840 in the page New &amp; Renewing Ministry\" \/><\/p>\r\n<h2>Opportunities and Resources<\/h2>\r\n<p>eLM provides many opportunities and resources for presbyteries, congregations and individuals who are seeking to explore what it means to be at mission in new and renewing ways in the 21<sup>st<\/sup> century. \u00a0This includes providing workshops and sharing video stories.<\/p>\r\n<h3>Resources<\/h3>\r\n<p><strong>Online Learning &#8211; The New Paradigm Project<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"New Paradigm Project\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cuqJmez5dzI?start=133&#038;feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\r\n<p>To discuss this unique opportunity please contact Mat Harry (contact details below).<\/p>\r\n<h3>Workshop<\/h3>\r\n<p>We offer the popular workshop\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/victas.uca.org.au\/download\/591\/new-and-renewing-ministry\/7647\/if-jesus-generic-flyer\">If Jesus Wrote a Mission Plan<\/a>\u00a0to all presbyteries and congregations throughout Victoria and Tasmania.\u00a0 It provides an introduction to a simple discipleship process for congregations and communities and is particularly valuable for congregations who are already engaged in missional activities.<\/p>\r\n<p>For further information or to book your workshop, please contact Mat Harry (contact details below).<\/p>\r\n<p>What people have said about our If Jesus Wrote a Mission Plan workshop:<\/p>\r\n<p><em>&#8220;It was really a great day and your method of delivery and the content was positive and engaging. I found it really thought-provoking.&#8221; Geoff Trease, Leongatha<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p><em>&#8220;It was really helpful to think of the steps for Jesus&#8217;s mission. I would like to have a copy of your Powerpoint presentation so I can discuss it with others.&#8221; Rev Gi won Kang, Mooroopna<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p><em>&#8220;We really enjoyed your engaging leadership and input.\u00a0The challenge now is to keep the impetus alive.&#8221; Rev Denise Naish, Wodonga<\/em><\/p>\r\n<h3>Ideas for conversation<\/h3>\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/crosslight.org.au\/2020\/06\/18\/how-can-we-use-what-weve-learned-in-lockdown\/\">Here&#8217;s some thoughts<\/a> from Mat about using what we have learned in lockdown.<\/p>\r\n<h3>Email List<\/h3>\r\n<p>It is important for those attempting to do things differently to be encouraged and supported; to hear what other practitioners are experimenting with and learning.\u00a0 To that end a regular email of encouragement and provocation can be sent to your inbox.\u00a0 If you would like to receive this please email our New &amp; Renewing Communities Catalyst, <a href=\"http:\/\/mat.harry@victas.uca.org.au\">Rev Mat Harry<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<h3>Stories<\/h3>\r\n<p>Our New Ways video series showcases five examples of churches attempting new or renewed ways of being.\u00a0 We hope these short stories inspire you to think about the possibilities within the contexts that God has located you.<\/p>\r\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Picture of Mat harry circle\" src=\"https:\/\/victas.uca.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/bb-plugin\/cache\/Mat-Harry-circle.jpg\" alt=\"Picture of Mat harry circle in the page New &amp; Renewing Ministry\" \/><\/p>\r\n<h3>Rev Mat Harry<\/h3>\r\n<p><strong>New and Renewing Communities Catalyst<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p>Mat came to faith in his mid-20s and responded to a call to ordained ministry.\u00a0 Within his first placement, Mat helped the congregations of Hampton Park and Narre Warren Nth realise how they were already strongly engaging with the local community.\u00a0 With the help of congregation, pastoral support groups and other agencies, such as UnitingCare and Messy Church, Mat was instrumental in helping form new Christian communities. Mat has been in his current role since 2018. To find out more about Mat and his job, <a href=\"https:\/\/crosslight.org.au\/2019\/08\/01\/no-two-churches-should-look-the-same-mat-harry-qa\/\">click here.<\/a><\/p>\r\n<p>Email: <a href=\"mailto:mat.harry@victas.uca.org.au\">mat.harry@victas.uca.org.au<\/a><br \/>Mobile: 0413 309 280<br \/>Phone: 03 9340 8823<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/PathtoWisdomPage\">Facebook<\/a><br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCOEsf-bdcdyxiDYLFtGOfbA\">YouTube<\/a><\/p>\r\n<h4>Related Documents<\/h4>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<h3>Ministry &amp; Mission<\/h3>\r\n<p>Menu<\/p>\r\n<ul id=\"menu-ministry_mission\">\r\n<li id=\"menu-item-1951\"><a href=\"https:\/\/victas.uca.org.au\/ministry-mission\/chaplaincy\/\">Chaplaincy<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li id=\"menu-item-13139\"><a href=\"https:\/\/victas.uca.org.au\/ministry-mission\/disability-inclusion\/\">Disability Inclusion<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li id=\"menu-item-373\"><a href=\"https:\/\/victas.uca.org.au\/ministry-mission\/elm\/\">equipping Leadership for Mission<\/a>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li id=\"menu-item-5964\"><a href=\"https:\/\/victas.uca.org.au\/ministry-mission\/elm\/\">About eLM<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li id=\"menu-item-1697\"><a href=\"https:\/\/victas.uca.org.au\/ministry-mission\/elm\/contacts\/\">eLM Contacts<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li id=\"menu-item-11196\"><a href=\"https:\/\/victas.uca.org.au\/ministry-mission\/intercultural-ministry\/\">Intercultural Ministry<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li id=\"menu-item-1963\"><a href=\"https:\/\/victas.uca.org.au\/ministry-mission\/uniting-through-faiths\/\">Interfaith Ministry<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li id=\"menu-item-8950\"><a href=\"https:\/\/victas.uca.org.au\/ministry-mission\/intergenerational\/\">Intergenerational<\/a>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li id=\"menu-item-8949\"><a href=\"https:\/\/victas.uca.org.au\/ministry-mission\/children-families-resources\/\">Children &amp; Families<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li id=\"menu-item-9595\"><a href=\"https:\/\/victas.uca.org.au\/ministry-mission\/intergenerational\/intergenerational-resource-archive\/\">Intergenerational resource Archive<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<li id=\"menu-item-7738\"><a href=\"https:\/\/victas.uca.org.au\/ministry-mission\/new-renewing-ministry\/\">New &amp; Renewing Ministry<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li id=\"menu-item-2004\"><a href=\"https:\/\/victas.uca.org.au\/ministry-mission\/elm\/presbytery-elm-ministers\/\">Presbytery eLM Ministers<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li id=\"menu-item-1958\"><a href=\"https:\/\/victas.uca.org.au\/ministry-mission\/theology-arts\/\">Theology &amp; The Arts<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<li id=\"menu-item-6022\"><a href=\"https:\/\/victas.uca.org.au\/ministry-mission\/lay-preachers-association\/\">Lay Preachers Association<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li id=\"menu-item-371\"><a href=\"https:\/\/victas.uca.org.au\/ministry-mission\/placements\/\">Ministry Placements<\/a>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li id=\"menu-item-6230\"><a href=\"https:\/\/victas.uca.org.au\/resources\/ministry-and-people\/terms-of-placement-committee\/\">Terms of Placement Committee<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<li id=\"menu-item-16289\"><a href=\"https:\/\/victas.uca.org.au\/ministry-mission\/money-for-mission\/\">Money For Mission<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li id=\"menu-item-6009\"><a href=\"https:\/\/victas.uca.org.au\/ministry-mission\/seeking-ordination\/\">Seeking Ordination<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li id=\"menu-item-372\"><a href=\"https:\/\/victas.uca.org.au\/ministry-mission\/social-justice\/\">Social Justice<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We live in times of great change and the Uniting Church continues to adapt in order to bring life in all its fullness as promised by Christ. Indeed, one of the Synod&#8217;s strategic priorities is &#8220;inspiring and enabling more new contextual Christian communities to be born, and to renew existing ones to be more faithful&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1947,"parent":0,"menu_order":3,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-7620","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>New &amp; Renewing Ministry - Synod Main Website<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/synod.debug.victas.uca.org.au\/?page_id=7620\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"New &amp; Renewing Ministry - Synod Main Website\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"We live in times of great change and the Uniting Church continues to adapt in order to bring life in all its fullness as promised by Christ. 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