March Newsletter

Posted: 05-Mar-2010

A Note from the CEO

Dear Genr8 Community,

The school year is well underway, and in four weeks we’ll be into the Easter break. It’s a short term. Autumn has begun with a noticeable change in temperatures for most areas. Our annual conference in January at Cooranbong kicked off the school ministry year for all those who attended. But that was over 6 weeks ago, and SRE teachers and chaplains are now fully engaged at the coalface.

There have been some major developments in schools ministry over the last few months. Research reports into the effectiveness of chaplaincy have been published. The Commonwealth government has extended chaplaincy funding to the end of 2011, and the review of the national program is beginning. Immediately after that announcement, the former premier gave the green light to a ten weeks pilot ethics course in ten schools for years 5 & 6. It is unclear what this means for schools, students and their families, and SRE providers of all faiths.

While Christian denominations and leaders of other religious communities are engaged in developing careful and wise responses to this development it’s important to keep developing the effectiveness and credibility of SRE in both primary and secondary schools. Some 85% of primary schools have SRE, and apparently up to 70% of secondary schools have some form of SRE. Pray that the pilot gives a great opportunity to lift the profile of the tremendous work done both by thousands of volunteers as well as the approximately 150 paid SRE teachers delivering SRE to students in NSW state schools.

Genr8 now employs 40 chaplains and provides employment services for SRE teachers in 52 high schools. We welcome all those teachers, their boards and local church communities who have affiliated with GenR8 in the last few months.

Our schools workers bring hope and spiritual health to students, parents and staff members who are willing or eligible to draw on the resources they offer. Many principals give feedback to us that they feel their school is a better place for having a chaplain and/or an effective SRE program. The Christian ethic of loving our neighbours without distinction is also a major factor in the possibility of an inclusive multi-cultural society. We’re working on that in the Body of Christ all the time, and want to share the reality of the Kingdom with anyone beyond it.

In Messiah’s name,

Peter Robinson