Student News | Issue 16, 2012
Liberamente
‘freely, with liberty’
In This Issue: Tabor Community Gardens Graeme Clark Research Institute Features on ABC National Radio
Community Spirit Grows Tabor Community Gardens Volunteers and Students get Involved!
Tabor Adelaide - Now a Skills For All Provider School of Education Paper Presentations Alumni - Where are they now? Tabor Adelaide Joins the Seminary Stewardship Alliance Reader’s Corner Notices
Key dates to remember! Remember to make note of the following dates: 9 June - 15th July Tabor Semester Break 13-15 July Tabor Adelaide Youth Work Camp 25 July Tabor Social Club BBQ - 12pm 18 August Tabor Open Day 10 -2:30pm
Christy and Josh Spier have been a part of the Tabor community since 2008, through their contribution to both the Year in the Son and Youth Work programs. In 2011 Christy and Josh facilitated the YITS subjects Spirituality 1 and 11 and this year Christy has been volunteering to develop the community gardens, which they started in conjunction with the subject. The overall theme of the Spirituality subject is shalom, where the students look at relationships in four spheres – our relationship with GOD, OURSELVES, OTHERS and THE EARTH. The subject aims to take the students on a journey to understand the interconnectedness of these spheres. If you are interested in further reading in this area, Josh has his Masters thesis in the Tabor library. Christy comments, ‘We wanted to experiment in all these four spheres of shalom and the garden sprang up as an achievable way to do that. It was a way to practically restore a piece of the “earth” and to also connect us with others - we have included indigenous plants to this region, reminding us of what the environment used to be like and WHO inhabited it. We are starting small and seeing what grows...’
The community gardens are now a part of the whole YITS program. Two YITS students are rostered on each week to participate in any work that needs to be done and two previous students are rostered on two other days to ensure the gardens are weeded, watered and developed. Christy comments, ‘The purpose of the program is to nurture the environment and remind the students of their reliance on and connectivity to the earth. It is a spiritual practice.’ As with many volunteer projects, the community garden program is reliant on the contributions and time of Tabor staff and students. Neil Loughhead, an Education student at Tabor, freely constructed and donated three vegetable garden beds to enhance the outdoor learning environment and program. This contribution, from his business, Harvest Rainwater Tanks, has lifted this small but very public corner of the Tabor grounds. A big thank you goes out to Neil for his time and efforts. Currently there is plenty of parsley, coriander and lettuce leaves that you can pick to add to your dishes or sandwiches. We look forward to the space continuing to blossom. If any student, staff or community member would like to be involved to keep the garden producing throughout the year, Christy would love to hear from you. It would mean volunteering for an hour or two, one day a week to water, weed and improve the space, particularly over the summer months. If you are interested, have ideas for the garden or wish to contribute in any other way please contact Christy at Christy_spier@yahoo.com
02 | Liberamente. “freely, with liberty”
Graeme Clark Research Institute Features on ABC National Radio On Sunday evening, 3 June, Dr Mark Worthing was a guest on the John Cleary Sunday evening program discussing the church and climate change. John Cleary commented that environmental issues are a theological challenge to the church, especially in light of the fact that Christians are sometimes seen as being anti-science or not being actively engaged in environmental concerns. In response, Dr Worthing admitted that the Christian community has sometimes fallen short of taking these issues as seriously at it should, but pointed out that there have been a number of church related groups actively involved in environmental issues for many years. When one caller suggested that the church, with its vast wealth, should simply give it up to fix the River Murray, Dr Worthing responded by pointing out that the church is firstly, not as wealthy as some seem to think, but is a collection of many local worshipping communities struggling financially, and secondly, that they give very generously to a whole range of community projects both locally and internationally – and are not simply hoarding up vast sums for their own use. Beyond, this, Dr Worthing said that it was a mistake to think that even if the church or some other group had billions of dollars sitting around to give toward the River Murray, this would fix the problem. It is not going to create more fresh water in the system. Instead, we need to work together across the nation to decide how best to manage and allocate the water we have, keeping in mind farmers, rural communities, drinking supplies of urban centres like Adelaide, and the health of the river system as a whole, from its headwaters to the Murray mouth. On the question of the theological challenge to the churches posed by environmental issues Dr Worthing noted in his opening comments that there was a challenge for the Christian community to examine and strengthen its theological basis for its approach to environmental issues in four areas. 1. We need a doctrine of creation that allows for full recognition of the material aspect of the creation as part of God’s good creation. We are still sometimes influenced by the old Hellenistic idea that spirit is good, and matter is either bad or simply not important. 2. We need a more humble view of the place of humanity within God’s creation. In many ways we share the same fate as the rest of creation and we need to avoid viewing ourselves as entirely distinct from the rest of creation. 3. We need to re-examine our interpretation of the ‘dominion’ of creation texts in Genesis 1 as involving stewardship and responsibility for creation rather than a
view that the non-human creation is there for us to use or abuse as suits our own immediate needs. 4. We need to look at our eschatology and understand that we do not live in a disposable world, but that the new heavens and new earth promised by God are in fact the old heavens and old earth, restored and renewed. For the Christian, this indicates the importance of the present world that God has created and the importance of caring for it wisely. In a very wide ranging discussion, it was good that some theological aspects of the issue were able to become a part of the discussion. Dr Buxton, director of the Graeme Clark Research Institute, said that it is a positive sign that ABC national radio called the Graeme Clark Research Institute to ask if any of our staff could join him on the program. Still in its first year of existence, ‘it is most encouraging that the GCRI of Tabor Adelaide is having significant national impact in the public forums of Australia.’ Dr. Juhani E. Tuovinen Senior Research Fellow, Graeme Clark Research Institute
Good news for Tabor VET Students or potential students! Skills For All Provider Tabor Adelaide has become a Skills for All Provider. As of July 2nd 2012 many South Australians workers or residents will be eligible for significant fee reduction in their VET fees, as the SA Government will provide substantial subsidies for many VET Courses. The following Tabor VET courses are covered by this arrangement: Cert IV in Business Cert IV in Training and Assessment Diploma of Management Cert III in Community Services Cert IV in Youth Work Diploma of Youth Work VET students or potential VET students check your eligibility by visiting the Skills For All website at the following address: http://www.skills.sa.gov.au/training-learning/check-youreligibility To find out more about Skills for All funding in general go to the following: http://www.skills.sa.gov.au/ Current VET students will shortly receive emails from the Tabor VET department explaining how this will personally affect them. Meg Rowlands Manager of VET Programs
03 | Liberamente. “freely, with liberty”
Staff and Student Paper Presentations From the School of Education Master of Education student, Sally Shaw, has been invited to present a paper in the ‘Lausanne Consultation on Creation Care & the Gospel’, 29th October-2nd November, in Jamaica. Sally is progressing well in her postgraduate research project & has now been formally acknowledged as bringing particular expertise to the Lausanne Consultation which it has said it ‘would greatly value’. Well done, Sally!
Alumni Where Are They Now? Dear Alumni Members, Thank you for your help with previous “where are they now” requests. The response from you all has been fantastic. Here is the listing for this month. It is our desire to further develop the Tabor Alumni community and we cannot do this without you. Contact can be made via email at alumni@adelaide.tabor.edu.au or by telephone on 08 8273 8726. Blessings, Johanne Manning
Frank Davies is presenting a paper “How some teachers develop an understanding of giftedness” at the Association for the Education of the Gifted and Talented national conference to be held in Adelaide, South Australia from July 12th to 15th, 2012. The theme of this conference is “Excellence and Equity for All”.
Victoria Warren is presenting a paper “Engaging young adult males with literature: A sustainable approach” at the 2012 Australian Teacher Education Association national conference on July 3 at the Stamford Grand Glenelg.
David Wescombe-Down is also presenting a paper at the same conference on July 4, “Keynote issue: The deleterious and compensable impact of educational technology”. Both presenters are active members of the conference organising committee. David Wescombe-Down has also had ISBN-registered book publications occur recently: “Leadership in Education: An anthology of post-2008 Australian-based academic journal articles and conference papers” (360pp, 72 articles, in colour) in May, and “Evidence-based Middle Schooling Practice” (132pp, textbook, B&W) in June. He has commenced collaborative authorship of “Teachers as Classroom Researchers”, due for completion at the end of July. All texts are designed to support Education courses at AQF Levels 7, 9 & 10.
Graeme Allison
Bachelor of Theology
2007
Annette Baker
Certificate IV in Youth Development
2004
Tara Brown
Certificate II in Youth Development
2005
Robin Cook
Associate Diploma in Christian Counselling
1994
Graham Cox
Level 2
1981
Bruce Donaldson
Diploma in Christian Studies C grading
1984
Timothy Ebbs
Associate Degree in Counselling
2005
Taryn Farnell
Bachelor of Education (Middle School)
2007
Bette Harvey
Bachelor of Arts in
Christian Counselling
2003
Connie Kennedy
Level 1
1983
Angelia Leong
Certificate II in Christian Studies
2000
Rachael-Ann McDonald
Certificate IV in Youth Development
2004
Stuart Moerman
Bachelor of Arts (Youth Work)
2009
Rebecca Mumford Graduate Certificate in Teaching
(Food, People & Technology) - ED24T
2010
Sharon Overton
Certificate IV in Christian Studies
2003
Hannah Pryor
Cert I Ministry
2005
Trevor Schiller
Diploma in Charismatic Ministry
2005
Christine Schwarz
Associate Diploma in Christian Counselling
1999
Andrew Stanley
Diploma in Christian Studies C levels
1989
Sarah Stokes
Certificate II in Christian Studies
2005
Michael Villanti
Cert IV Christian Studies
2009
Carolyn Wheare
Associate Diploma in Christian Counselling
1993
04 | Liberamente. “freely, with liberty”
Tabor Adelaide joins the Seminary Stewardship Alliance Through the initiative of the Graeme Clark Research Institute (GCRI), Tabor Adelaide has recently been chosen as one of the twelve Founding Partners in the US-based Seminary Stewardship Alliance (see http://seminaryalliance.org/founding-partners/), a consortium of theological schools dedicated to reconnecting Christians with the biblical call to care for God’s creation. The alliance is a program of Blessed Earth (an educational nonprofit organization that inspires and equips people of faith to become better stewards of the earth). Some of America’s largest and most renowned seminaries are Founding Partners, including Fuller Theological, Gordon-Conwell, Asbury and Duke Divinity School. The goal of the SSA is for member seminaries not only to live out this biblical mandate, but also to equip and inspire leaders of the church in their calling to do likewise. Specifically, the goals of the SSA are (1) to be a catalyst for sustainable practices in partner seminaries; (2) to advance research in the area of creation care; and (3) to encourage dialogue between partner seminaries. Dr Graham Buxton, Director of the GCRI, will be attending the inaugural conference of SSA partners at Asbury Theological Seminary at the end of September this year in order to explore how we might participate most productively in the alliance. This is a most exciting new development and we are delighted that Tabor has been invited into an initiative that will have an impact upon us in many areas – curriculum development, sustainable practices at the college, our engagement with the Christian community, and the development of our research program.
Tabor Reader’s corner Book of the Month - Reviewed by the School of Humanities Mountain Wolf by Rosanne Hawke I found this a rather disturbing book to read even though, or perhaps because I began it with the knowledge from Rosanne that the young lad who had been sold into slavery was to be among the 2% who were rescued and rehabilitated by a charitable organisation. Clearly Rosanne wrote this with the intention of stirring emotions in the reader to lead them to action. She did this through her clear description of the devastation of the earthquake, the use of flashback to show the hill life and culture before the devastation, the caring nature of the protagonist, the gentle Christian input into his life that suddenly comes to an end when he is sold, and the final escape, all set against the ruthlessness of the string of slave owners, each one harsher and more immoral than the last. Questions that Rosanne seems to be asking the reader, through this fictional but real life story include: How is it that the love of money can cause such suffering for the poor? Why can’t wealth be more evenly distributed? How can a society that claims on the surface to be moral and upholding laws and codes of conduct sink so deeply into evil practises?
Student Counselling Support
How is it that there are so many willing customers that by their actions support these more wealthy slave owners? Will there ever be sufficient numbers of global citizens to speak against slavery and pressure for it to be abolished world wide?
Counselling is available for all Tabor students at a cost of $10 per session. 164 Goodwood Road, Goodwood SA 5034
Phone: 08 8373 6326 Email: life-design@adelaide.tabor.edu.
We need people like Rosanne to remind us that there are many in the world who do not enjoy our comfortable and wealthy life style. Organisations that could be supported to fight against slavery are listed at the end of the text. Virginia Lakeman Senior Lecturer in Music
05 | Liberamente. “freely, with liberty”
Praying The Psalms - Spiritual Retreat with Dr David Baer A one day retreat voicing Psalms of Orientation, Dis-Orientation, and New-Orientation within the Psalter, and in our own lives. Saturday August 4, 9am-4pm The practice of prayer arising from the gamut of human experience is sometimes impoverished, when all the while, the resources of the Psalter lie close at hand. The allure of that sort of prayer which is only ‘spontaneous’ and ‘personal’ traps one in the confines of his or her own space, local vocabulary and spiritual imagination. At the other end of the spectrum, an engagement of prayer as liturgy exclusive to the formal and public domain can leave the believer’s heart without nourishment. The Psalms, as prayed words, engage both points of that spectrum without excluding the other. Come aside for a day of spiritual retreat as David leads us into the rich tapestry of the Psalms. Employing OT scholar Walter Brueggemann’s trifold structure of Psalms of Orientation, Dis-Orientation, and New-Orientation, we will have the opportunity to find our voice, as individuals and together, whatever season we are in.
Dr David Baer is an internationally recognized Old Testament scholar and author of When We All Go Home: Translation and Theology in LXX Isaiah 56-66. David is the President and CEO of Overseas Council (OC), which supports the training of an emerging generation of biblical leaders, seeking to equip them to be effective pastors, teachers, evangelists, missionaries and Christian leaders in their own countries. For details of OC click on to www.overseas.org/default.aspx When:
Saturday Aug 4, 9am-4pm, at Tabor Adelaide, 181 Goodwood Road, Millswood.
Who for: Anyone interested in enriching their spiritual life. Tabor Adelaide TM1104 Spiritual Formation students may gain 10 SF points (assessment required—see TM1104
Enrolment:
website).
Cost:
(Includes m/tea, lunch) $30 for members of the public; $15 for Tabor students and staff and $10 for TM1104 students enrolled in the Soul Project TM1104.21 Praying the Psalms. Please pay at the front office by Friday August 3.
By 5pm, Wednesday Aug 1, to studentservices@adelaide.tabor.edu.au or 8373 8777; cash or credit card. Please include contact number, postal address, and indicate any dietary requirements. TM1104 Spiritual Formation students MUST ALSO enrol via the Spiritual Formation website.
Other opportunities to hear Dr David Baer: Week long postgraduate intensive seminar Praying the Psalms, Monday August 6-10, for audit or credit: email postgrad@adelaide.tabor.edu.au for more details, or enrol online at www.taboradelaide.edu.au College Worship in the Chapel Thursday August 9, 9:15-9:45am
06 | Liberamente. “freely, with liberty”
JOB VACANCY Part Time Electronic Assistant Seeking part time electronic assistant to a biblical writer
APOLOGETICS AND CONTEMPORARY CULTURE INTENSIVE SEMINAR WITH REV DR MARK WORTHING
Requirements include: - High level computer skills with Mac software - Good initiative - Access to fast Internet connection to do a remote login - Able to manage a blog - Good editing skills - Able to use Endnote referencing software - Working knowledge of Logos - Web management skills - A good understanding of how the Bible is structured is desirable but not essential The job can be done electronically in a very flexible time frame and rate of pay is negotiable. Please Contact Professor Stephen Birrell at sbirrell@chavah.com.au with a copy of you resume.
September 24-28, 2012 The task of defending the Christian faith in an intelligible manner in today’s world is as challenging as ever. Come and engage in the big questions with Rev Dr Mark Worthing, who will be helping students appreciate the nature and importance of Christian apologetics in the light of historical, biblical, theological and cultural considerations. Areas receiving considered focus will include - The contemporary spiritual and multi-faith climate - The science/faith conversation and - The creative arts
181 Goodwood Rd Millswood SA 5034 PO Box 1777 Unley SA 5061 tel. +61 8 8373 8777 fax. +61 8 8373 1766 www.taboradelaide.edu.au
Tertiary education with a Christian perspective.
Contact Us. Tabor Adelaide, located in South Australia, is a multi denominational Christian Education Centre offering government accredited courses at tertiary level. Newsletter Enquiries: liberamente@adelaide.tabor.edu.au General Enquiries: enquiry@adelaide.tabor.edu.au Library Enquiries: library@adelaide.tabor.edu.au Student Services: studentservices@adelaide.tabor.edu.au
Mark, an ordained Lutheran pastor, has a long-standing interest in science and theology, ethics, apologetics, English literature and creative writing. He holds two doctoral awards, is a prizewinning author, and a regular conference and radio presenter on a wide range of topics within the faithculture dialogue. He is also a Research Fellow with the Graeme Clark Research Institute at Tabor Adelaide. Credit or audit options are available Contact postgrad@adelaide.tabor.edu.au for more information.