Insight Community Course

The Orama Christian Trust presents:
     




    A 3 month course exploring missional Christian community and personal development
 
 

 


















 
  

 Dates: 18 September to 11 December 2011

 Cost: $3700 pp

    Includes all meals, accommodation and tuition costs.
    Travel to and from the island is not included

 

 Course Description

The Orama Christian Community is Christ centered and committed to a practical and genuine observance of the
principles of Christian faith as expressed in the Bible. Community members understand that God can be expressed and
discovered in practical and service oriented daily work as well as in time spent alone or worshipping in the company of
others. This environment provides a unique opportunity for course participants to not only learn about the principles of
community, but also to work out this knowledge in practice within a culture committed to expressing the reign of God
on earth.

The course includes theory, inspirational teaching as well as regular prayer and worship. All this whilst engaged in the real
opportunities and challenges of living and working in an intentional and service oriented Christian community. Whilst
not all experiences will be easy, we expect that each person will remain responsible for maintaining healthy boundaries
and self care in their interactions with others.! Presentations will follow three main topical threads: community life,
relationship with self and God, and relationship with others.  Course participants can expect to learn practical skills and principles for  
community living as they also develop a greater understanding and integration of their personal gifting, abilities and personal traits.

For more information and a registration pack write to: info@orama.org.nz or phone 09 429 0063

  1. ‘The Irresistible Revolution’ - by Shane Claiborn



  Presentation Style

Material will be presented utilizing a range of different styles:

Lectures; Workshop approach fostering participant input
and skill development; Personal space and journal reflection;
Anecdotal cameo appearances by community treasures (elders)
Playtime; Mentoring

 

 

 Course Content

  Community

         • Biblical definitions: community as an environment for the Reign of God
         • Community as a platform for mission
         • Current literature
         • Examples from Church History
         • What does ecumenism mean? Being open to all the breadth and
           diversity of the Body of Christ
         • Different Charisms and leadership style
         • Community life as an environment where we meet Christ in each
            other and the stranger and marginalized
         • Community structures in context, an outworking of theology
         • Building Christian community
         • Practical structures for community life

    

  Relationship with Self and God

         • How and where we meet by God?
         • Personal growth and development in community
         • Storytelling by experienced community members.
         • Struggle and hope, a work best done in community.
         • Retreat week of guided prayer.
         • Personality type.
         • Dream work.
         • Life in the Spirit:
               Prophetic
               Worship
               Prayer
               Ministry
               Work
               The interior world

 

Relationship with others

         • Telling my story
         • Healthy boundaries
         • Adventures and play
         • Effective communication
         • Conflict resolution
         • Personal growth and development in community
         • Mentoring


 

 

Contributing Lecturers

Geoff and Gayle Stevens

"Geoff and Gayle have had over 45 years experience of
living in Intentional Christian Communities. They have served as consultants to various communities over the years and were
founding members of both the Orama community on Great Barrier
Island and the Kodesh community in Avondale, Auckland.
They graduated from the Bethany College of Missions in Minneapolis
USA and both hold degrees in Biblical Theology and Missions.
Geoff is an ordained Lutheran Pastor and Bible teacher. He has
served as an Industrial chaplain and in various Pastoral and Teaching roles in Methodist, Presbyterian and Anglican Parishes in NZ.
Geoff and Gayle have recently been appointed as the Pastoral Carers for the staff of all the Christian camps in the Auckland region. They are currently Directors of the Kodesh Community Trust ministering to new immigrants and foreign students in Auckland and are members of the
Avondale Network of Social Service Agencies. They have a burden for mainland China."
 


Reverend Canon Caroline Leys - R.N. (Comp.),
STM General Theological Seminary NY

   Caroline was born and grew up in Auckland, New Zealand. Since
   ordination as a priest in 1990 Caroline has worked in private
   practice as a therapist, facilitator and trainer. She works both
   inside and beyond the Christian community assisting individuals
   and groups to identify core beliefs and practices and integrate
   these into actions. Currently Caroline co-teaches a one semester
   course on “Spirituality for Ministry” as part of the Anglican
   Studies program at St John’s College in Auckland, acts a consultant
   for a drug and alcohol 12 Steps recovery program and is a
   super-visor and spiritual director in private practice. In 1999
   Caroline joined the Orama Trustees and has been involved pretty
   constantly with Orama community life in different roles since
   then Caroline will have been married to Stephen for 33 years in
   July, 2010. Stephen and Caroline have two adult children, both
   now married and living in Auckland and three grandchildren. In
   2006 they completed a new home on Great Barrier Island and
   are creatively engaged in turning their remote 44 acre coastal
   property into a bird sanctuary, in partnership with neighbours
   including the Orama Trust.		 

 

Bruce and Merrillyne Christensen

  Bruce Christensen Dip HSM and Merrillyne Christensen are
  both graduates of the Orama Christian Fellowship Bible School.
  Bruce and Merrillyne met and married at Orama in 1979 and
  have four adult children and three grandchildren.
  They have served as Orama Staff and or trustees for over 20
  years in various roles, including Resident Directors. Bruce is
  currently the Chair and Merrillyne a Trustee of the Orama
  Christian Trust Board. Bruce is a qualified “Skipper” and loves
  all things nautical especially diving and fishing, Merrillyne loves
  hospitality, making sure things run smoothly, having a
  good book to read and especially loves spending time with her
  grandchildren when she can. For the last 10 years Merrillyne
  has held Reception/Administrator positions and Bruce has
  worked in the addictions treatment field with the Salvation
  Army and they have just returned to Orama for another season
  of service.

 

Gary and Sandy Winger

  Gary & Sandy are currently associate members of the Orama
  trust and first joined the community as students in 1970. They
  both joined the permanent staff in 1973 and remained involved
  until 1997. Gary served as the onsite Orama director for several
  of those years.
  Gary is ordained by The Bethany College of Missions, USA,
  where he gained a bachelor of theology and missions, he has
  been a pastor with New Life Churches of NZ for 15 years. Gary
  and Sandy are both passionate about building and sustaining
  good relationships in marriage, family, and community.
  Currently, Gary works in pastoral care and mentoring in the
  secular workplace and with Orama on a contractual basis.
  Gary and Sandy have been married for 43 years, they have 5
  children and 11 grandchildren.
  They love the outdoors, boating, camper-vanning, overseas
  travel, and gathering family together. When Gary is not
  traveling he can be found snorkeling after crayfish which he
  loves to share with family and friends.