ASA Consultation

It is Friday morning and Ken Weslake and I are driving back to Sydney from the ASA Consultation of the last two days, March 18-19. For both of us, this was a most significant and highly successful event.

The consultation started with an inspirational address on DVD by Barry Oliver. Barry powerfully affirmed Adventist education as a core ministry of the Church. Then after a historical overview of previous summits by Les Devine there were excellent presentations on four key issues by John Hammond, Daryl Murdoch, me (hopefully OK!), Peter Morey and Kingsley Wood. The worships by Owen Ellis and Malcolm were also inspirational.

The first day was a marathon, stretching between 9 am and 8:15 pm. It included a most relevant discussion of chaplaincy issues and finished with the first break out discussion group session. The second day was filled with intense and productive group discussions of issues relating to teacher supply, special character, financial management and school clientele. John Hammond urged groups to produce focused recommendations that would direct the system for the next 5-10 years.

I was moved by the enormous goodwill, warmth, and fun of the consultation. There was a very positive spirit in all sessions, and the feeling grew in me that pastors, administrators and teachers in Australia were not only reading from the same page, but were showing that they have moved closer together than they have ever been. This consultation was a most refreshing occasion that benefited from much hard reparatory work and excellent planning and chairmanship. The position papers informed participants well, and both they and the proceedings will give a useful springboard for ASA as it plans ahead. Well done AUC Education Department, AUC Administration and all involved. I am sure we will hear a lot more about this consultation.

Barry HillDirector of Education SPD

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