Revd Rex A E Hunt
PHF, MSc(Hons), GradDip(Communication Management)
Rex Hunt is a progressive 'grass roots' theologian/religious naturalist, liturgist, and social ecologist. Forty years ordained, first as a Presbyterian, he is today a retired (7/2009) minister of the Uniting Church in Australia, where his last placement was at the progressive Church of St James (2000-2009) in Canberra, ACT - Canberra being Australia's capital city, centre of national political life.
Some highlights from a 45 year 'progressive' career include:
• Founding Member, Editorial Committee, Catalyst: A Journal of Progressive Religious Thought (1967-74);
• Founder (1990), National Co-ordinator (1990-96) and Life Member (2008) of The Network of Biblical Storytellers, Australia & New Zealand. He was the Keynote Presenter at the Network's National Gathering in Victoria in 2011;
• Founding Director (2002-09) and Life Member (2009) of The Centre for Progressive Religious Thought, Canberra where he was a regular Keynote Presenter;
• Assisted with the establishment of The Centre for Progressive Religious Thought, Sydney (2004), The Centre for Progressive Religious Thought, Brisbane (2005) - now combined with the Progressive Spirituality Network, Brisbane, The Progressive Christian Network of Victoria (2006) and The Progressive Christian Network, Central Coast (2010-2012);
• Keynote Presenter at the launch of The Lay Forum - a progressive movement within the Queensland Synod of the Uniting Church in Australia (2009);
• Founding Director (2002-09) and Life Member (2009) of The Centre for Progressive Religious Thought, Canberra where he was a regular Keynote Presenter;
• Assisted with the establishment of The Centre for Progressive Religious Thought, Sydney (2004), The Centre for Progressive Religious Thought, Brisbane (2005) - now combined with the Progressive Spirituality Network, Brisbane, The Progressive Christian Network of Victoria (2006) and The Progressive Christian Network, Central Coast (2010-2012);
• Keynote Presenter at the launch of The Lay Forum - a progressive movement within the Queensland Synod of the Uniting Church in Australia (2009);
• Associate of the Westar Institute - an international gathering of scholars who advocate religious literacy, located within Willamette University, Salem, OR, USA. Between 2005-2009 he was a member of its 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;
• Chair of the Planning Team of three International Gatherings of progressive religion: (i) in Sydney, Australia, in August 2007, called Common Dreams1 Conference with the theme "Progressive Religion as a Transforming Agent". The Keynote Presenter was Bishop John Shelby Spong (USA), supported by Revd Stephanie Dowrick. And (ii) in Melbourne, Australia, in April 2010, called Common Dreams2 Conference where the theme was "Living the Progressive Religion Dream". Keynote Presenter was Revd Gretta Vosper (Canada).
• He continues in that role for (iii) Common Dreams3 Conference, scheduled for Canberra, Australia, in September 2013, under the theme "Midwives of Change: Progressives Shaping Religious Communities". Keynote Presenters will be Marcus Borg (USA) and Bruce Sanguin (Canada). You can check out the Common Dreams web site at: <www.commondreams.org.au>
• Has been able to facilitate the bringing to Australia of such international scholars and leaders within the progressive movement, as: 'Jesus Seminar' fellows Prof. B Brandon Scott (USA), Prof. John Dominic Crossan (USA), Assoc. Prof. Joe Bessler (USA), Prof. Sir Lloyd Geering (NZ), Bishop John Shelby Spong (USA), Prof. Marcus Borg (USA); plus others from the International progressive movements: Fred Plumer (USA), Prof. Tom Boomershine (USA), David Felten (USA), Gretta Vosper (Canada), Bruce Sanguin (Canada), John Churcher (Gt Britain). LIkewise, supporting Australian and New Zealand scholars and progressives such as: Dr Greg Jenks, Dr Val Webb, Michael Morwood, Prof. Elaine Wainwright, Dr Nigel Leaves, Dr Noel Preston, Dr Francis Macnab, Prof. Norman Habel, Dr Margaret Mayman.
• Chair of the Planning Team of three International Gatherings of progressive religion: (i) in Sydney, Australia, in August 2007, called Common Dreams1 Conference with the theme "Progressive Religion as a Transforming Agent". The Keynote Presenter was Bishop John Shelby Spong (USA), supported by Revd Stephanie Dowrick. And (ii) in Melbourne, Australia, in April 2010, called Common Dreams2 Conference where the theme was "Living the Progressive Religion Dream". Keynote Presenter was Revd Gretta Vosper (Canada).
• He continues in that role for (iii) Common Dreams3 Conference, scheduled for Canberra, Australia, in September 2013, under the theme "Midwives of Change: Progressives Shaping Religious Communities". Keynote Presenters will be Marcus Borg (USA) and Bruce Sanguin (Canada). You can check out the Common Dreams web site at: <www.commondreams.org.au>
• Has been able to facilitate the bringing to Australia of such international scholars and leaders within the progressive movement, as: 'Jesus Seminar' fellows Prof. B Brandon Scott (USA), Prof. John Dominic Crossan (USA), Assoc. Prof. Joe Bessler (USA), Prof. Sir Lloyd Geering (NZ), Bishop John Shelby Spong (USA), Prof. Marcus Borg (USA); plus others from the International progressive movements: Fred Plumer (USA), Prof. Tom Boomershine (USA), David Felten (USA), Gretta Vosper (Canada), Bruce Sanguin (Canada), John Churcher (Gt Britain). LIkewise, supporting Australian and New Zealand scholars and progressives such as: Dr Greg Jenks, Dr Val Webb, Michael Morwood, Prof. Elaine Wainwright, Dr Nigel Leaves, Dr Noel Preston, Dr Francis Macnab, Prof. Norman Habel, Dr Margaret Mayman.
In 2004 he was made a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International (Rotary Club of Canberra-Woden, now called Rotary Club of Woden) for Services to the Community, and prior to moving from Canberra, was made an Honorary Member in 2008.
He has published articles on various topics - Media, Communication, Preaching, Christmas, Liturgy, Parables, The 'progressive' Movement, etc. (some available on this site) - edited a published collection of Story Sermons, New Green Shoots and Other Story Sermons (1993 - now out of print), and with John W Smith, edited a book on progressive Christianity - Why Weren't We Told? A Handbook on Progressive Christianity, by Polebridge Press, January 2013 (Order HERE). A printed collection of some of his Sermons called Against The Stream! Progressive Christianity Between Pulpit and Pew was published by Mosaic Press in December 2012 (Order HERE or HERE). Up until his retirement Rex was recognised as a leader in Australia's progressive religious movement.
Rex writes: "So here they are. A bit of this. A bit of that. Sermons. Liturgies. Prayers. Affirmations. Articles. Read on if you are interested in wanting to push some theological boundaries in open and honest ways. Progressive 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