mgpcpastor's blog

Post 2000 is probably as good a time as any to take stock of mgpcpastor.
The tagline space which WordPress provides on its blog templates was filled by ‘reports, reviews, thoughts and news’.
It’s meant to be a place where mgpc and other friends can see what I’ve been reading and doing and also what amuses and interests me.
It is a growing reference file that I and other can access by using the blog’s search function.
I also believe in the Presbyterian Church of Australia as a connectional group of churches and have wanted to encourage its leaders to engage widely with both the best online material from around the world and with each other. As I mentioned to the General Assembly of Australia last September, I believe in the Presbyterian Church of Australia and want us to think nationally first and parochially second instead of the other way around.
My favourite pages (and then page) in our national journal Australian Presbyterian (Life) were always the news from churches around the nation. It grieves me that particular page is gone, replaced by state news magazines. I read them all, but I wonder how many others do.
Our active online presence is small and not so active, and this blog is an encouragement for that to change.
This blog has become more an aggregator than an originator, which is a reflection of my personality.
It’s been great to have formed some relationships with others through this blog and to have followed their journeys as I’ve read their blogs.
It has also been an encouragement when folk that I run into around the place express appreciation for this blog.
In future I hope to be able to refer readers here to lots more good Australian content.
I’d also be happy to post appropriate material and news about activity in the Australia wide Presbyterian Church that people may want to refer to me.
This digital terrain is the village square of these years beyond 2000. Increasingly we will find ourselves gathering here to access news and information. Printed materials will soon be a supplement to digital communication.
This blog, and others like it, will soon be the primary means by which folk access information.
So, lets be here waiting when they arrive instead of having to follow them in.