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Introduction
Purpose
The Engaging Australia Funding Programme (EAFP) aims to turn the dreams and ideas of Australian Anglicans into reality. Set up by the Anglican Church's General Synod it encourages all sectors of the Church to be creative and innovative in communicating the Christian faith in Australia today and into the future.
The Programme offers funding to individuals and entities for projects that help Anglicans find new ways to effectively and authentically engage with our community. A project may take the form of an evangelistic activity or come from a range of areas, including social analysis, journalism, theology, electronic media or the arts. It may be a particular research project. It is intended that the projects funded will not only bear fruit for the successful applicants but inspire others in the church 'to have a go' and learn from their experience.
Engaging Australia projects are innovative, exciting and original. Funded projects have been large and small, ambitious and specific, short term and ongoing, and come from all over Australia. Collaborative funding is encouraged and consideration will be given to how each project, beginning in its own corner of Australia, can go on to enrich the whole church. They are to be carefully planned, well managed, with organisers reporting back on their progress.
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Current Status
The Programme was reviewed at the 2004 General Synod and it was found that the capacity for delivery, given the modest level of funds available, fell short of objectives and expectations. It was felt that the programme alone was unlikely to achieve the large-scale transformation that was intented when it was originally set up.
The Standing Committee in 2005 decided not to run the programme that year and to reallocate the funding on a temporary basis to support the work of the Task Force on Mission.
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Past Projects
Since its inception, Engaging Australia as funded the development of a wide variety of projects that include:
- Public Morality Monthly: Email Ethics Update (Melbourne, 2003). A collaborative project with the Centre of Applied Christian Ethics, Melbourne, the Zadok Institute and Diocesan Social Responsibilities Committees to make information and opinion on ethical issues available to Anglicans via email on a monthly basis.
- Rainbow Theology for Young Australians (North Queensland, 2003). To publish a book of an indigenous story with gospel application for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who have relatively few publications that promote the gospel in a culturally relevant manner. The book The Emu, the Brolga and the Jabiru has been published.
- Cinedialogue (Sydney 2002). Film offers an unprecedented opportunity for discussion about values and worldviews. This project sought to train facilitators who would then initiate the development of discussion groups that provide intentional space for interaction and the sharing of beliefs between Christians and non-Christians in an informal context.
- Reaching Out (Bunbury, 2002). A research project designed to find better ways of communicating the Christian faith to people in mid-life outside the Church, it examines the barriers to faith, popular perceptions about the church and what could make it more accessible to those in mid-life.
- SPRINGBOARD Visit (Perth, Adelaide, Newcastle, Melbourne, Hobart, 2001). Canon Robert Warren, an adviser on evangelism to the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, led a small team to Australia to conduct training and teaching events associated with building healthy and vital churches.
- Communities of Hope (Bendigo, 2000). The development of a resource kit to assist parishes and agencies increase their understanding of community development and enhance their capacity to facilitate community development and engagement with Australian society.
- Reconciliation and Chaplaincy in the justice system (Northern Territory, 2000). This research project sought to determine the role of chaplaincy in reconciliation in order to better redress a perceived imbalance between the rights of victims of crime and the accused within the justice system.
- Before and After Alpha (Melbourne, 2000). A publication analysing and documenting one parish's experience of a turnaround in its life by the vigorous contact with non-believing people in the community by supplementing the Alpha course.
- Parishes and the media (Melbourne, 1999). Anglican Media Melbourne appointed a local media officer, to teach parish clergy and lay people how to reach their local community through local media. The project resulted in the production of a media kit designed to assist other dioceses in this important matter.
- Forum for the Future (Victoria, 1999). A one-day forum designed to help young people explore the issues behind reconciliation. While the event itself was successful the project manager also developed a kit to help other young people stage similar events.
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Members
The following members comprise the Engaging Australia Funding Programme group, who assess applications and make recommendations to the Standing Committee for approval:
- Archbishop Phillip Aspinall - Chair (Brisbane)
- Bishop Robert Forsyth (Sydney)
- Ms Leigh Haywood (Bathurst)
- Dr Beth Heyde (Canberra & Goulburn)
- Mrs Ann Skamp (Grafton)
- Mr Wayne Brighton - Secretary (National Office)
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