25
Aug
Engage Breakfast - City

Join us as Stephen Garner facilitates a discussion on post-covid congregational life and the role of media, over breakfast. 

Over the past 18 months or so churches in New Zealand and around the world have had to negotiate gathering as worshipping communities in distanced, hybrid, and other socially-distanced ways, as well as returning to some form of physical gathering. This period has seen pragmatic and creative engagement, new rhythms of life developed, trauma and exhaustion amongst leaders and congregations, and ongoing negotiation of returning and hybrid church developments. Discussion will focus on some of these elements.


If you can't make it to our City breakfast, we also have one in Henderson.

Where Gilli Cafe, 143 Carlton Gore Road, Newmarket
When 7:00am - 8:30am
Cost FREE & open to the public
RSVP N/A

For reflection 

  1. What is one thing that previously was non-negotiable prior to COVID-19 in your Christian gatherings that has become more flexible now?
  2. What did the COVID-19 experience teach you about how “normal” church gatherings might be improved for those with disabilities and/or health concerns?

About the Speaker 

Stephen Garner is Academic Dean and Senior Lecturer in Theology at Laidlaw College. His research involves theological and ethical reflection on technology, media, and popular culture, as well as public and contextual theology. He is co-author, with Heidi Campbell, of Networked Theology: Negotiating Faith in Digital Culture (Baker, 2016), as well as recent work on the distanced church in times of COVID-19. Stephen is married to Kim and worships at Massey Presbyterian Church.


About Engage Breakfasts

Once a month the Centre hosts a breakfast conversation for Church leaders, pastors, mission and community leaders. The aim is to provoke and stimulate dialogue on issues and concerns that relate to the church in Aotearoa New Zealand. Never absent from the conversation is the mission of God and the challenge of the gospel to be Christian in our practice.  

In any given gathering, a monthly presenter gives a five to seven minute introduction on a topic or area of research. This is followed by an open discussion on themes related to the topic. The space is deliberately informal, generous and friendly. 

Presently there are two Engage breakfast groups in Auckland: one that meets in Henderson at Lincoln Road café while the other meets central city—New Market, Gilli café.

For more information please contact Graeme Flett: [email protected]