JourneyOnline
"IF you are a fancy worship leader you are getting in the way," was the message of South Australian minister Rev Deane Meatheringham to the annual conference of the Assembly of Confessing Congregations (ACC).
Held from 13 to 15 September in the Adelaide Hills, the 2012 gathering with the theme "The Heart of Worship" brought members and interested people together to worship and hear from four keynote speakers about worship today, and included the annual general meeting for the assembly.
It is God who makes all things new, Mr Meatheringham concluded in his address titled, "What Do We Expect to Happen in Worship?", inspired by the call in Hebrews 12:18–29 to worship the "consuming fire" of God with reverence and awe.
South Australian Anglican minister and teacher in New Creation Ministries Rev Martin Bleby gave a keynote address on "Singing the Lord's Song".
After exploring the nature of lament, he concluded with some "practical" singing.
Continuing with the theme of song, Rev Mike Raiter from the Centre for Biblical Preaching in Melbourne spoke about his love of singing in the church and captured attention with his own lament for the slow death of congregational singing.
In his presentation, "The Congregation's Other Preachers", he gave encouragement to people involved in music ministry, outlining how congregational singing was something we did together.
Mr Raiter pointed out how we all sing Charles Wesley's hymns, but few study John Wesley's sermons – and considered how the story of the Philippians jailer who was converted through song illustrated his overall thesis: the need for good songs well sung.
Wesley Institute theology and homiletics lecturer and ACC Council member Rev Dr Peter Davis concluded the conference with a reflection on "Preaching after Christendom".
He also confirmed the conference theme and Mr Meatheringham's message with his stimulating comment that "the role of the preacher is to get out of the way".
The gathering heard reports from the ACC specialised commissions (Cross-Cultural, Discipleship and Evangelism, Doctrine and Theology, and Social Responsibility).
The gathering also heard reporting from the 13th Assembly.
Queensland will host next year's gathering from 12 to 14 September 2013.
This is a shortened version of an article by Peter Bentley. Read the full version in next month's ACCatalyst.
Photo : Rev Deane Meatheringham preaching at the Assembly of Confessing Congregations rally to a chapel at full capacity. Photo courtesy of Peter Bentley
