About HOUSE Conference

HOUSE Conference is about theological reflection for best practice in youth and children's ministry within a community of youth and children's ministers. This annual conference for youth and children’s ministry is held at Youthworks Conference Centres Port Hacking.

Each day will include encouragement from God’s word, an opportunity to engage theologically and practically with one of the papers, and opportunities to workshop ideas and skills that will equip you as a ministry leader.

There will be plenty of time to connect and network with other people who are engaged in youth and children’s ministry and opportunities to form new friendships and share wisdom.

We hope you will join us and your peers youth and children’s ministry as we seek to grow in this aspect of our ministry.

2024 Conference

Sin: The Uncomfortable Truth

What’s the difference between personal sinfulness and the fallenness of creation? Is folly the same as sin? Is a desire to sin, sinful in and of itself? How does identity relate to sin? How do individual differences in traits and behaviours relate to sin?

These are some of the questions that have been raised at HOUSE Conference over the last few years as we’ve looked at various theological topics.

Sin keeps coming up

It’s a discussion that touches on so many areas of theology and ministry. It’s vital to a biblical understanding of God, Humanity and Salvation. A robust understanding of sin is crucial to evangelism, Christian living, pastoral care, parenting, and discipleship of young people.

It’s a doctrine that both condemns humanity and frees humanity.
And yet, in the western world, Sin is very uncomfortable to talk about.

So this year we’ve decided to put sin on the table to talk about, wrestle with and chew over. Together we’ll:

  • Take a good look at our understanding of sin and the language we use to communicate it.

  • Think about how the fallenness of creation and personal sin fit into our definition of sin.

  • Explore how that understanding impacts on how we present the gospel, care for and disciple young people.

To hear more about this year’s topic from our committee, watch the video below or listen to the full podcast on The Effective Ministry Podcast.

Registration

27-29 August 2024

Prices from $350 full time.
Tickets available until 11 August 2024.

Theology Paper Presenters

Rev Dr Michael Jensen

Michael has been Rector of St Mark’s Darling Point since 2013. Originally an English teacher, he taught Theology at Sydney’s Moore College. Michael likes to imagine himself one day getting fit, and loves British comedy and Eastern European food (cevapi, anyone?).

Michael has written a number of books including ‘Between Tick and Tock’, ‘Is Forgiveness Really Free?’ and ‘Subjects and Citizens: the Politics of the Gospel'. He co-hosts the podcast With All Due Respect.

He is married to Catherine and they have four children, a cocker spaniel and a two cats.

Michael’s Paper Synopsis

Sin is very much a lost idea in what we might call 'the West'. Why has it been lost? Because of the loss of coherent concepts of the good, of the agency of persons, and of history, we've descended into moral chaos, veering between the extremes of libertarianism and judgmentalism. If there is a sin, it is to not be true to one's self, or to prevent others from being their true selves - which makes the self the measure of all things. We see this in modern self-discovery narratives, such as Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat/Pray/Love or Harry Potter. But it is also implicit in narratives surrounding education - not unsurprisingly, society projects this vision of the emergence of the true self onto the young

However, the reality for human beings is that we find ourselves mysteriously at odds with ourselves. Paul shows us this brilliantly in Romans 7: we do not even do that which we intend, and we find ourselves doing that we would not do. But how is this existentially bearable - especially for the emerging conscience of the young person? The gospel of Jesus Christ shows how we can both honestly own the truth of what it is that we have done and what we are, and also receive this truth as a grace from God. 

Rev Tom Habib

Tom currently lectures at Moore Theological College in New Testament and Greek. Before serving at college, Tom was an assistant minister at Yagoona & Condell Park Anglican church.

He is married to Jess and they have three children.

  

Tom’s Paper Synopsis

People loved darkness: Sin in the Gospel of John

Is the way we talk about sin shaped more by Paul or by John?  In our kids’ lessons or youth talks, would we be more likely to explain that ‘there is no one righteous’ (Rom 3:10-12) or that ‘people loved darkness instead of light’ (John 3:19)?   John’s Gospel, whilst consistent with Paul and the rest of the bible, can deepen and expand how we think and talk about sin in our kids and youth ministries.   This paper will help us to explain what sin is and why we face judgment; to draw the connections between sin and unbelief; and to show how we can be free from sin and walk in the light. 

Ministry Electives

Ministry electives run on Wednesday afternoon of conference for approximately 2 hours. They are an opportunity for you as ministry leaders to dive deeper into a specific and practical aspect of ministry that fall roughly into three categories: leading self, leading others, leading young people. We typically have 3-4 electives to choose between.

The Privileges and Challenges of Leading Teams - Empowering and releasing others to lead
Fiona Smartt - Director of Ministry at St Luke’s Clovelly

"Looking for more leaders? Want to help existing leaders stretch and grow? Keen for a culture of joyful and sacrificial service? This is the final in a three year elective series on the privilege and challenge of raising up leaders. This year we'll explore how to coach, support and invest in leaders, of all ages and stages. We'll also look at some practical frameworks and resources to help you empower and release leaders to serve, under God, with increasing leadership responsibility.

Note: You do not need to have attended the previous year to come to this elective."

Cultivating the Mental Health of a Leadership Team

Trinette Stanley - Mental Health Educator for Anglicare’s Family & Life Skills Education Team

Join Trinette as we think through how to cultivate an emotionally safe and mentally well leadership team. We’ll explore culture shaping and how to use ministry structures to promote mental wellness. This highly practical elective will consider underpinning principles and accessible applications for the local church context.

Guided discussions on topics arising out of the Papers

In 2024 we will be running a handful of Guided Discussions on larger topics/questions that we think will arise out of the papers. We will organise some experienced ministry workers to prepare an introduction to each topic and then lead a small group discussion where participants will work towards having some concrete plans or ideas to implement in their ministry after conference.

The topics we’ll be focussing on are:

  • Sin and Gender

  • Sin and Sexulity

  • Sin and “The Grey” (Wisdom and Ethics)

  • Sin and your Leadership Team

House Program

Tuesday, 27 August

10:00 — Launch Session

10:45 — Prayer

11:15 — Morning Tea

11:45 — Paper Presentation - Rev Dr Michael Jensen

12:30 — Lunch

13:30 — Paper Responders, Table Discussion And Q+A

15:00 — Afternoon Tea // Free Time

16:45 — Networking In Regional Areas

18:00 — Dinner

19:00 — Evening Session Bible Talk

20:30 — Free Time // Supper

 

Thursday, 29 August

08:00 — Breakfast
(Check out of rooms by 9am)

09:00 — Landing Session

10:30 — Going The Distance

11:00 — Morning Tea

11:30 — Closing Session

12:30 — Lunch

13:30 — Depart

Wednesday, 28 August

08:00 — Breakfast

09:00 — Paper Presentation - Rev Tom Habib

10:30 — Morning Tea

11:00 — Paper Responders, Table Discussion And Q+A

12:30 — Lunch

13:30 — Free Time

15:00 — Free Time // Afternoon Tea

15:45 — Ministry Electives

18:00 — Dinner

19:00 — Evening Session Bible Talk

20:30 — Free Time // Supper

FAQ’s

  • Because HOUSE provides a space to "learn how to fish" instead of simply "get a fish". That is, HOUSE invites you into a space to theologically reflect on your practice with your peers in youth and children's ministry, and the space to work out a way forward in your context. Most other conferences focus on models, skills, programs, and "how-to's". There's nothing wrong with that approach, HOUSE includes practical electives too, but HOUSE aims to deliver more. HOUSE encourages you to develop your professional skills in adapting and reflecting on your practice in your own context from year to year.

    You should come because HOUSE will help you lead an effective youth and children's ministry that is theologically and biblically faithful, reflective, contextual, and growing disciples.

  • No. It is a deliberate objective for HOUSE conference that youth and children's ministers gather and confer together in person. You can read good theology in books, you can get practical tips for youth and children's ministry from podcasts, you can watch presentations on Youtube. But you only get the personal connection, the fellowship, and the shared community knowledge by turning up in person to be part of it. Why not take some time-out and come along?

  • It is always a bit daunting coming to a conference when you don’t know anyone, but you’re coming to a conference with other like-minded youth and children’s ministers, and they love to hang out and chat about almost anything! There is opportunity on Monday night to network with other people around specific topics of interest in proximity to a fireplace and a hot cup of something. You can just turn up, join a topic group and start chatting away.

  • We’re all grown ups here, so you can carve out time wherever you like to do the work you need to do. There's at least 2 hours of free time each day and you can always choose not to do an elective. Just remember that this is a unique 3 day opportunity that doesn’t come around all that often and you want to make the most of it for your own wellbeing and the advancement of those you lead.

  • After you register online, you'll be sent an email about electives closer to the date of the conference. If you don’t intend on going to an elective at HOUSE, you can, of course, elect not to (see what we did there?).

    This will help our presenters to have a more accurate idea of what numbers they have, the group dynamics and what resources to provide. You are welcome to attend an elective you haven’t booked for while you are at HOUSE, but we cannot guarantee that you will have any of the resources that come with that elective.

    In addition to these electives we hope to have a number of impromptu workshops that form resources in response to the sessions and papers that are presented.

  • Each year we organise our own onsite speciality coffee for purchase. You can buy quality coffee served in all your favourite ways.

    Of course you can still take the free option and use the site's instant machines or be “that guy” who brings their own beans, a hand grinder and an aero-press.

  • HOUSE will be at Deer Park, Chaldercot and Telford at Youthworks Conference Centres Port Hacking, Rathane Road, Royal National Park.

  • Youthworks is a COVID safe organisation. As such, in the event HOUSE is cancelled or an individual is unable to attend because of NSW Government COVID restrictions, Youthworks will refund your ticket price in full (less $2 third party booking fee).

  • This information is available in our booking terms and conditions that are agreed to when tickets are purchased.

  • Contact Youthworks Ministry Support via the form below or call 02 8268 3355.

If you have further questions, please contact Youthworks Ministry Support via ministrysupport@youthworks.net or call 02 8268 3355.