Working in the world
Posted on November 21 2011
Posted by:
Jane Ellison
The vision for Ridley’s Marketplace Institute was launched on October 15 at Abbotsford Convent, where nearly 200 people attended. Acting Principal Dr Tim Foster presented the vision which will employ a world-class theologian to empower Christians to serve God in their workplace.
The keynote address was given by Professor Ian Harper, who recognises Ridley’s commitment to theological rigor and is excited that this will be applied to the area of work and the support of workers. “Where can we get the resources we need to help us think through the issues that we face as Christians every day in the workplace? As Christians in the marketplace we need the kind of program envisaged by the Marketplace Institute.” As an Ambassador of the Marketplace institute, he shares the vision of empowering marketplace leaders and workers to better integrate faith and everyday life.
“The Sunday-Monday divide is a theological problem”, says Dr Foster. “We have split the world into two, and called one half good and the other half bad, consigning work to the latter. We have cultivated a spirituality that marginalises work. That’s why we need a college like Ridley to show theological leadership in this area.”
Ridley Chair, Claire Rogers talked about her struggle to work out how she could serve God in her life. “I took a job at ANZ while I tried to work out what to do. I am still there 22 years later” she told the dinner. “I realised that I could serve God in the corporate context and believe that I have been called to lead in a different way.”
George Savvides, CEO of Medibank Private features on a video presenting the vision. He noted that “When we prepare missionaries we teach them how to communicate and relate to a foreign culture. Today, one of the most foreign cultures is on our doorstep – the marketplace.” Mr Savvides is keen to see Ridley training pastors whose perspective is much larger than their own church and what happens on Sunday. “We are called to be salt and light, to bring the kingdom into this world, Sunday and Monday,” he says.
Christian spirituality is often focused around our churches and their programs. Work is often seen as a necessary evil which can get in the way of ministry. Ridley is addressing this issue, empowering Christians to see how their work is part of God’s mission of creation and redemption. Through a program of boardroom consultations, retreats and conferences, as well as writing and research, Christians will be equipped to deal with the challenge of being in the marketplace. The Institute will also be the backbone of a new Learning Community that will focus on training people who will return to the workplace after a period of study.
The dinner raised $62,500 after costs, exceeding the target of $60,000 needed to launch the Institute. The Marketplace Institute will begin next year with a corporate retreat and a conference featuring some of the best thinkers in Australia and overseas. The college will also begin the search to employ a leader to direct this initiative from January 2013.
