{"id":307,"date":"2019-02-21T00:39:38","date_gmt":"2019-02-21T00:39:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/marereport.namma.org\/?p=307"},"modified":"2023-11-14T21:45:36","modified_gmt":"2023-11-14T21:45:36","slug":"building-bridges-conference-summary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/marereport.namma.org\/index.php\/2019\/02\/21\/building-bridges-conference-summary\/","title":{"rendered":"Building Bridges: Conference Summary"},"content":{"rendered":"

MARITIME MINISTRIES TRAINING CONFERENCE<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Apostleship of the Sea, The Mission to Seafarers, and other Ecumenical Partners<\/strong><\/p>\n

held at Mary MacKillop Place, North Sydney, 11 -14th<\/sup> February 2019<\/p>\n

BUILDING BRIDGES: CONFERENCE SUMMARY<\/strong><\/p>\n

by Mr. Graham Miller, Manager, The Mission to Seafarers Townsville, Australia<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When I first saw the Conference program sheet, I immediately noted three secular icons pictured across the top \u2013 the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Sydney Opera House and the NZ Fern representing our venue and regions.  However, one image stood out in what we have been developing between the MtS and AoS\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2018<\/strong>The Bridge in Curve\u2019 <\/strong>by Grace Cossington Smith<\/a>, a Sydney artist<\/em> recognised as a great Australian artist of the early modern period. In her painting here, there is an aura of colour that surrounds the construction into the sky from the ongoing construction of the bridge. The cool, soft colour which follows the forms of the bridge and the buildings focuses the eye on the actual work being done to complete the structure. The effectiveness of this painting for participants at the conference is that the artist has emphasised the task of building, rather than the completion with the activity, the energy and plain hard work required to achieve the final creation.<\/em><\/p>\n

I chose this painting as a symbol of what the various maritime ministries were meeting for during the week\u2019 conference as the AoS and MtS reach out in the bridge-building of shared ministry to the seafarers who visit Australia and Oceania. Also of note is the symbolism of metal and rivets in the creation of the bridge, of welding and safety issues, of pay, and use of international workers all involved in its successful construction.<\/p>\n

Many millions of people have crossed the harbour since it was completed, proving that sturdy construction and continuous maintenance is a symbol for the work ahead<\/strong>. Any bridge building requires attention – to maintain, to enhance, to prove itself worthy of carrying humanity safely, while being admired world-wide for its presence.<\/p>\n

When asked once about her painting, Grace Cossington Smith quoted that the colour in her painting, \u2018must be colour within colour, it has to shine: light must be in it.\u2019 [1]<\/strong><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

As Christians, we have a special relationship with light; and we pray that the light of Christ shines forth from our centres; from the presence of the ship visitors; that seafarers might recognize Christ\u2019s presence throughout our network of centres and our ship visiting ministry, dedicated to caring for the seafaring stranger.<\/p>\n

We also share a history of working, sometimes with, sometimes alongside and sometimes against each other is this ministry of caring and sharing the Light of Christ in our various port ministries.<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t lost on me that we might in the past have referred to the \u2018Bridge\u2026. over Troubled Waters\u2019, <\/em>but then I looked at the lyrics again\u2026that \u2018Bridge Over Troubled Water\u2019 <\/em>is in fact a phrase which Paul Simon took from a Baptist church hymn. He liked the phrase and he used it. What appears superficially to be a song of sorrow, is in fact a song to do with \u2018being there\u2019<\/strong> – for someone, a helping hand when things become too difficult \u2013 \u2018when darkness comes\u2019 and \u2018pain is all around\u2019. And, once again, we are reminded of the maritime ministry of caring \u2013 no matter the creed, the colour or the country.<\/p>\n

On Tuesday, Feb. 12, Dr. Jason Zuidema spoke of WELCOMING the stranger, the command of Jesus in Matthew\u2019s Gospel: 25 31 \u2013 40 and VISITING with seafarers as seen in the Letter to James, 1:27. This welcoming and visiting is the ministry we offer from both great organisations; and is as important today as it was in the days of our beginnings, with men and women \u2018Doing what you can with the means at your disposal and leave all the rest calmly to God\u2019<\/em> slightly paraphrasing the words of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop\u2019s.<\/p>\n

The delegates were also asked to reflect on our personal perceptions of seafarers \u2013 and for us to encourage \u2018positive rather than negative perspectives\u2019<\/strong> among our centres and ship visitors.<\/p>\n

We observed during our talks that \u2018the seafarer really doesn\u2019t care too much about who is offering the assistance \u2013 they simply cherish that fact that help is there…that \u2018being there\u2019 for them is what is required.\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

Today\u2019s seafarer brings complex issues to our ship visitors, clergy and volunteers beyond that of a purely spiritual nature. We hear cries for help in issues of justice and welfare, of unjust work practices and mental health, of depression and abuse. Everyone who visits seafarers on board, or has crew speak quietly to them in our centres understands this. This is important as we see the commonality<\/strong> of what we see and hear daily in our work of caring.<\/p>\n

It is also important that we remember that carers require nurturing<\/strong> as well, that training and debriefing<\/strong> is important. For every seafarer on board the ship visited, or who enters our seafarers\u2019 centres has a story to tell – whether Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist or any other faith or philosophy or none! Many of these stories remain with us long after they depart, and some at least require further discussion among our peers. We were encouraged to have weekly meetings [over coffee] to share and de-brief. In all of this we were reminded \u2013 \u2018that whatever we take on board the ship, the most important part of the ship visiting package is YOU! <\/strong>\u2026as we heard from stories of listening and being there!<\/p>\n

During the week, we also looked at the \u2018History and Models of Ministry\u2019 in Maritime Ministry. Originally, AoS, MtS, and our ecumenical partners began with the purpose of providing pastoral care of a spiritual nature to the various crews over the decades; and this aspect remains the core of maritime ministry \u2013 providing spiritual guidance and the sacraments of our Churches, nurturing Christian belief for Christian seafarers, all the time being Christ\u2019s channel of care and love to those outside our faith system through our actions and prayer.<\/p>\n

But, we are keenly aware that Maritime Ministry and Seafarers\u2019 Clubs must undergo continual change to keep abreast of the challenges and opportunities\u2026that the dormitories, dances, and \u2018sparkling personalities\u2019 of the past; [a reference to a video of the Seamen\u2019s Clubs around the mid-20th<\/sup> Century<\/a>,] are part of a wonderful heritage; but that we have new challenges ahead with the ever-changing shipping industry.<\/p>\n