This exciting event is in the planning stages. Keep the 14th and 15th of November free, join the Facebook group, and keep an eye on our Events page for more details!

In keeping with ELM’s commitment to being inclusive for pirates, we recently ran a chapel service with a ‘pirate liturgy’. The order of service and liturgy is now available for download on our Resources page.

A number of new events have been listed on our Events page, including a ‘Psalm Singing’ workshop; retreat and leadership days for Elders and other leaders; and a marriage enrichment course, “After the Honeymoon”. There are also more timetable details for the Ched Myers, “Radical Discipleship” event as well as details of the program highlights for next year’s Lay Ministry In-service week.

ELM is pleased to announce that it will begin a cycle of Lay Preacher’s Schools in the Riverina, beginning next Semester with Old Testament. Details may be found on the Events page and you can book online too if you want.

Information requested by participants from the recent ‘Seeds of Hope’ Conference are available for download on our Resources page. These include the President’s slideshow, the Litany exercise used in opening worship, and the Labyrinth Instructions (in 3 parts due to differing page sizes).

The full timetable for the "Seeds of Hope" Conference (National Lay Preachers Conference / NSW and ACT Synod Lay Pastor's Inservice) is now available from our downloads page. If you haven't registered yet, it's not too late. Download the registration form (Note: two different registration forms for Lay Pastors and for all other attendees) or register online.

This new resource by Dr Christine Gapes is an introduction to reflective practice, pastoral supervision and theological reflection, and is a great addition to the resources available for Lay leaders. The resource consists of four modules, as well as an outline of a reflective practice workshop. Get it from our Resources page now!

After a brief absence while the new website was developed and the material was reformatted for easy downloading, the Period of Discernment material is now available on the website again. There is a short page introducing the idea of the POD; then on our Resources page you will find a complete POD Resource Kit for people wishing to undertake a POD or for Presbyteries. There is also a short checklist resource for Presbyteries to download.

We at ELM have been very excited about the upcoming visit of Ched Myers, a significant biblical scholar and prophetic voice. Ched is attending the School of Discipleship in Canberra in July, but as a co–sponsor of Ched's tour, ELM was keen to ensure that Sydney people had an opportunity to hear him too. So we're please to announce that Ched Myers and Elaine Enns will be participating in a 3 day ELM Event, "Radical Discipleship, Restorative Justice and Non–violence" to be held on July 18th - 20th. Details will be found on the Events page.

Online registration is now available for all events. We have also provided the opportunity to pay for courses online securely by credit card, via Paypal. This can be used whether you have a Paypal account or not.

Our website renewal is now complete and the old website will be removed. Feel free to drop us a line about the new site via email or our contact form.

On our resources page you will now find copies of three great ELM publications available for free download.

'Moving with God' is a series of five studies based on the Synod Vision statement: Moving with God, Transforming Communities. The studies are suitable for home groups, church councils, elders' groups or other similar groups who want to explore the theological and biblical basis of the vision heard and articulated by Synod Moderator Jim Mein (Moderator: September 2004 - September 2007).

"Talking Faith: Works in Progress" is a compilation of excellent quality work from students at ELM Lay Preacher Schools.

"Caring in times of loss and grief" is an ELM resource kits with various articles, group discussion material and liturgies designed for use by those suffering grief and loss, or especially for those caring for them in their time of grief.

If you're interested in publicizing "Seeds of Hope" - the National Lay Preachers Conference / Synod Annual Lay Pastors In-service, then feel free to download a copy of the publicity 'postcard' available now on our downloads page.

The 2008 National Lay Preachers' Conference is being held in conjunction with the NSW / ACT Synod Annual Lay Pastors' In-Service (see Events). Now registration forms for Lay Preachers and Lay Pastors (Note: 2 different forms) are available from the Downloads page.

The application form for an ELM scholarship to pay for tuition fees, travel or accommodation for students is now available for download.

Did you know you can subscribe to an RSS feed from this page? That way when we highlight news about changes to the ELM site you'll get the skinny straight away. Just click on the RSS symbols on this page!

With the help of Deb Everist at the Synod Communications Unit, we now have our web site hosted on a permanent server and our domain names (elm.org.au, elmcentre.org.au and elmcentre.org) have been pointed to this server. Feel free to poke around the site as we bring it all online over the next month, but the original site will continue to be there till we get the new site bedded down.

All speakers are confirmed for the National Lay Preacher's Conference and it's going to be a great time. See the dedicated section regarding the Conference on our Events page for more details.

Sadly for ELM, from the end of January, Karyl Davidson will be leaving the team. We wish Karyl all the very best for the next stage of her life and ministry.

On the 1st February, the ELM team will be joined by Rev Chris Lockley. Chris' position (Resource Ministry Consultant) and in view of the fact that Chris will be working with both congregations and Ministers, this is a joint appointment with ELM and the School of Continuing Education. You can see all the ELM team on our Contacts page.

Well I've finally got some time on my hands and so the ELM website is finally getting a makeover. Drop back regularly to see what we've added. If you have any feedback or suggestions they would be gratefully received by the webmaestro.