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Rex A E Hunt
MSc(Hons) GradDipCommMgt
Rex Hunt is a progressive 'grass roots' theologian and liturgist, and social ecologist. Ordained 36 years, he is a minister of the Uniting Church in Australia - currently serving at The Church of St James, Canberra ACT - Canberra being Australia's national capital.
Along with several parish placements he has also been the Director of Communications with the National Assembly UCA, a hospital chaplain, done a short stint as Acting Director, School of Continuing Education at the UCA Centre for Ministry in Sydney NSW, as well as enjoyed being a 'Country music' DJ on radio. His background is in communication/media, both individually and as Managing Director, Cressaid Media Pty. Ltd. in Central Victoria.
For 10 years he was part-time editor of Ministry: A journal of Continuing Education (a UCA professional development magazine). In 1990 he founded The Network of Biblical Storytellers, Australia, and was the initiative behind the establishment of The Centre for Progressive Religious Thought Canberra (www.progressivereligion.org.au) in 2002, where he is now its honourary director. CPRT Canberra has inspired chapters in Sydney (2004) and Brisbane (2005) as well as similar progressive networks in other Australian cities/states. In line with his progressive involvement, he was Chair of the Planning Team of an international gathering of progressive religion in Sydney, Australia, in August 2007, called Common Dreams: Progressive religion as a transforming agent. And continues in that role for Common Dreams2, being planned for 2009 in Melbourne.
Since 2002 he has been an associate of Westar Institute - an international progressive religious think-tank in California, USA. In 2005 he became a member of the Literacy and Liturgy Seminar which attempts to take seriously the difference scholarship on the 'historical' Jesus and early christianities makes, and how to reimagine what these new understandings imply for worship (the Sunday morning experience), preaching, prayer, and life in community.
His vision of ministry includes:
* Awakening others to the best/latest contemporary religious scholarship currently available, allowing that scholarship to shape liturgies, sermons, prayers and hymns;
* Shaping services of celebration, especially the Sunday morning experience, which blend tradition with the contemporary, using inclusive language, story, conversation, Australian images and new metaphors - all from a progressive/liberal theological perspective;
* Inviting parishioners to focus on a theology which advocates: Creativity - 'God' as expressed within religious naturalism; the humanity of Jesus; and an ethical/social stance which values compassion and social justice;
* Encouraging all to push theological boundaries - to reimagine, reconceive and reconstruct, rather than just restate.
Over the past 20+ years he has published several articles on various topics - media, communication, preaching, Christmas, liturgy, parables, etc. (some available on this site) - and edited a published collection of story sermons, New Green Shoots and other story sermons (Out of Print). He is recognised as one of Australia's leading progressive theological thinkers and commentators.
In 2004 he was made a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International.
Rex writes: "So here they are. A bit of this. A bit of that. Sermons. Liturgies. Articles. Read on if you are interested in wanting to push some theological boundaries in open and honest ways. Theology has always been an imaginative construction. Seek out those others who have helped me shape my thoughts for they have much more to offer than suggested here. And may we all be blessed and empowered as we
re-imagine the world".
Rex