I’m just starting to think about getting ready for the last SEITE weekend of the year; another weekend away from home, another weekend with people who have become good friends, another weekend preparing for future work.

It’s quite weird thinking about revving up to study and reflect on stuff, when everyone else is visibly winding down with the weekend, good weather, bbq’s etc. in sight. While those people are having fun, we will be in lecture theatres thinking about ‘preaching’ – not a subject that really inspires me. To be honest, I think the age of the preach in church is well over!

I don’t think I go anywhere else where a supposed ‘expert’ stands in front of people and speaks without reproach. It just does not seem natural! For years I have heard the church acknowledge that the best way people learn/discover is to be involved in dialogue or action; and yet – we keep the preach. In my church we know that people learn in different ways, and yet we keep the preach!

I can’t remember where I read it, but I smiled when I saw on the page that ‘preaching is the sacred cow that needs to be killed’. In fact I gave a loud yes!!! There are so many better and more engaging ways to look at the bible. We still need people with Bible knowledge – I’m not saying we don’t – I just think we can use the skills of these people in a much more effective and engaging way.

I dream of a place where together we can look at scripture, where together we can discuss how it applies to life in our 21st century communities, where together we can hear of each others experiences, where together we can support and challenge each other, where together we can chat about difficult passages, where together we can see different meanings and still get on, where together we move forward on our journey with God. Is that too much of a dream?

Looks like I’m going to have a fun weekend then!

Well … at least this is the last one!