The FORUM is a successor to the Seminary of the 3rd Age and continues to offer a unique opportunity to explore issues which challenge people of faith personally and are of concern to the church and its mission in the 21st century. Each FORUM topic will be presented by a thought-provoking presenter who will encourage those present to reflect on their own faith journey.
The FORUM is held at 7 pm on the first Thursday of each month from February to December throughout 2025.
WHERE
Effective Living Centre, 26 King William Road, Wayville, SA.
WHEN
On the first Thursday evening of each month from February to December 2025, from 7pm– 8:30pm.
1 February
Kym Bills
How can we live in a time of poly-crisis and hyper-connectivity?
ABOUT KYM
Kym Bills, B.A. (Hons), B.Ec., B.Litt., M.Sc., M.Min., is the retired foundation head of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau and a former CEO of a CSIRO-led Perth-based research joint venture. He is currently completing a PhD on aviation accident investigation analysis methodologies that involves Systems Thinking and includes new data from ATSB peers in 12 countries. Kym and his wife Anne are members of Christ Church, Wayville where Kym is on the worship leading and preaching rosters and Anne regularly fills in on piano. Kym is a member of the PCNet SA Task Group and his three most recent book reviews are relevant to the 6 February topic, see: https://pcnetsa.org/book-reviews/
TEASER
‘Poly-crisis’ is a label for the simultaneous major and potentially existential threats we face as a result, among other things, of: global warming and climate change; pollution, environmental degradation; pandemics; the rise of autocrats; wars and weapons of mass destruction; population growth; rising inequality and lack of access to food, water and shelter; and misuse of artificial intelligence and robotics.
‘Hyper-connectivity’ is a label that emphasises the close linkages between crisis-causing factors and many others including nationalism, ideology, consumerism, and religious fundamentalism and extremism. This is magnified by the internet, and both traditional and social media that promote alt-truth and alt-facts.
Systems Thinking is necessary but not sufficient to address the wicked combination. Poly-crisis and hyper-connectivity cannot be wished away, so the question arises as to how we can and perhaps should live in such a perilous time. Acclaimed Progressive Christian writer Brian McLaren offers some important recent insights for our consideration led by Kym Bills.
6 March
Fergus McGinley
Book Launch: The God who doesn't exist
ABOUT FERGUS
Fergus is an Adelaide writer, teacher, lay preacher, and a long-standing member of PCNetSA.
TEASER
In March, we have the pleasure of launching Fergus McGinley’s new book The God Who Doesn’t Exist.
An entertaining and provocative piece, written for a general audience of non-believers and believers alike, The God Who Doesn’t Exist goes on the trail of a new understanding of God for our evolutionary age. For more information go to the author’s website https://antitheologia.com/books/
Come along and meet the author, hear about the book, participate in Q&A and enjoy drinks and nibbles.
3 April
Dr Greg MacDonald
What does it take for Christians and Muslims to talk together?
ABOUT GREG
Greg MacDonald was an interstate truck driver for many years until intellectual curiosity in mid-life stimulated him to enrol in a Bachelor of Theology at Flinders University, commenced in 2008 and completed through the Adelaide College of Divinity.
During periods of leave he visited many places of spiritual significance throughout the world. Volunteering at a refugee camp in Palestine sparked his interest in Islamic philosophy, subsequently completing a Master of Islamic Studies from Charles Sturt University, and a PhD at UniSA in Christian-Muslim engagement. In 2024 he published a book, Christian-Muslim Dialogue: encounter and co-existence.
Greg is an Adjunct Fellow at UniSA, and an Honorary Researcher at the University of Divinity. He is employed as a Pastoral Care Practitioner in Aged Care, along with part-time interstate truck driving.
TEASER
This presentation will discuss a qualitative research project exploring the factors affecting Christian-Muslim dialogue in Australia. Using Adelaide as a case study, the research involved 34 in-depth interviews with religious leaders and everyday adherents from the Uniting Church and Sunni Muslim communities. This provided an intimate glimpse into the beliefs, attitudes and experiences of Australian Christians and Muslims towards each other. The findings give an insight into the factors that inhibit and/or motivate interfaith engagement.
1 May
Rev Anne Butler
How do we deal with the reality of death?
ABOUT ANNE
Anne was born on the other side of the world, and came to live in Australia as part of the British migration. Church became her aunts and uncles, and grandparents, even though her parents did not attend. She began reading the Scriptures, originally following the strict Kosher rules laid out in Leviticus. Then she found the Gospels, and was inspired and wanted to be on the team of Jesus. From a call to ministry at 15, and ordination at 28, she has spent a life time wresting with the text, eager to find the Spirit’s meaning for today hidden among the ancient words.
TEASER
How do we deal with the reality of death?
What will happen to you as you approach the end of your earthly life – to your body, your memories, and your stuff? What about your legacy, whether to donate your organs, and the paperwork? Some of our Church members are comfortable and organised – but many are fearful – and those in the wider community do not have a safe place to discuss matters of Life and Death. Could a Coffin Club, or Death Café be a connecting point to those considering all aspects of their future? Anne Butler shares her recent experiences on the South Coast.
5 June
Tom Price
What might Christians learn from the Ba-hai faith?
ABOUT TOM
Watch this space!
TEASER
Watch this space!
3 July
Fuzz and Carolyn Kitto
Why is modern slavery relevant in Australia and how can we help combat it?
ABOUT FUZZ and CAROLYN
Watch this space!
TEASER
Watch this space!
7 August
David McDougall
Do we need to rethink forgiveness?
ABOUT DAVID
Watch this space!
TEASER
Watch this space!
4 September
Panel - REV DR SARAH AGNEW, DR DON SINNOTT, REV MARION MILLIN
What do liturgy and worship look like from a ‘progressive’ perspective?
ABOUT THE PANEL
Watch this space!
TEASER
Watch this space!
2 October
Prof Rick Sarre
Is liberal democracy necessary for freedom of faith to survive?
ABOUT RICK
Watch this space!
TEASER
Watch this space!
6 November
Rev Michael Dowling
What in our faith is indispensable and what isn’t?
ABOUT MICHAEL
Watch this space!
TEASER
Watch this space!
4 December
Dr Deidre Palmer
Is making meaning a continuing task?
ABOUT DEIDRE
Watch this space!
TEASER
Watch this space!