New Faith Communities

Part of the Tinsley vision is to be a centre of excellence for the equipping of church planters and the encouragement of church planting with particular focus on the Baptist churches of Australia.

Strategic Objectives of the Institute’s work in the area of new faith communities include:

Coordinating quality training for church planters as part of the course offerings of Morling College
Encouraging and supporting those considering planting new churches
The coaching & mentoring of church planters and training of church planting coaches
Encouraging and resourcing churches open to planting new churches
Provide ongoing training for church planters in the field

These objectives are carried out in coordination, where appropriate, with the wider vision for church planting of the Baptist Churches of NSW & ACT.

What’s happening:

Teaching & Forum events
The institute teaches in the area of church planting at undergraduate and graduate level. It also hosts forums periodically where people, especially church planters, are invited to interact with key planting leaders around the cutting-edge issues of establishing faith communities in the post-Christian Australian context.

Coaching & Assessment
Working with people already planting, or considering it for the future - either coaching directly or being a connecting point for coaching & mentoring resources.

Inspire Network
Inspire exists to:

Network with others interested in planting
Network with experienced planters and church planting leaders
Hear stories of how others are doing it and interact with them
Chew the fat about starting new faith communities
Encourage one another on the journey

Inspire is open to anyone considering or engaged in church planting, not only students of Morling College. It meets several times a year and aims to be an informal support and encouragement network. If you would like to find out more details or get on the email list to receive information about upcoming events then contact Steve Bartlett at SteveB@morling.edu.au

Intern Scheme
The Tinsley Institute is strongly committed to a ‘watch-learn-do’ model of leadership development. Only so much learning can happen in the classroom. Therefore we have developed and continue to develop internships to students and other future leaders to grow in their understanding and to widen their skills base.
The aim of the Church Planting Intern Scheme is to provide one or two Morling students per year the opportunity to pursue an interest in the ministry of church planting. It aims to provide them with an immersion experience in several church planting situations.
The format of the year is determined in advance in consultation with the student, in order to maximise the outcomes for learning and ministry formation. During each placement they will be required not only to observe but to engage in a typical ministry role that any member of the church planting team fulfils.

Learning Grants
The Institute coordinates the offering of learning grants for people keen to explore different models of planting new faith communities. Their purpose is to fund travel and miscellaneous costs associated with visiting different models of church plants, with the intention that this will contribute meaningfully to the growth and development of those considering church planting. The grants are open to an person who is part of the Inspire Network. More information is available by downloading an information sheet.

Staff
Steve Bartlett - Email: SteveB@morling.edu.au Mobile: 0412 921 932