Festival of Learning generates important conversations

This year’s Festival of Learning was held from 16-19 February in a fully online mode and attracted over 100 registrations from all around Australia. Built around the theme, Speaking Many Languages, Hearing Once Voice, the program offered participants an introduction to a number of subjects offered by ALC including biblical languages, as well as the opportunity to attend a wide variety of elective sessions ranging from deaf ministry through to a presentation on the hidden language of bias. Daily panel discussions on current issues facing the Church also proved popular with topics including Church planting in the variety of Lutheran school contexts and Changing ministry contexts.

Many participants made the most of attending ‘conversation hour’ which was held at the end of each day and enabled discussion about topics that were offered across the day. Within these sessions, themes often emerged across the different presentations and participants were able to hear about sessions they were unable to attend. It was in these sessions that the comment, “We need to keep having this conversation (in the church)” was mentioned again and again. One of the aims of the Festival was to open up theological conversations and these remarks demonstrate that ALC was successful in this endeavour.

Feedback received from the event was overwhelmingly positive and included comments such as:

• Stimulating
• Powerful
• Fabulous
• I learnt so much
• I never knew that
• Interactive, useful, made to feel completely comfortable.

ALC plans to hold another Festival of Learning event in 2023, so keep an eye on our website for further information including a date claimer and program outline, which will be available later in the year.