Rex A E Hunt
MSc(Hons) GradDipCommMgt
Rex Hunt is a progressive 'grass roots' theologian (although he prefers 'religious naturalist'), liturgist, and social ecologist. Thirty-eight 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 Church of St James (2000-2009) in Canberra, ACT - Canberra being Australia's capital city.
Some highlights from a 43+ 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
• 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)
• 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 two 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). 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: Prof. Tom Boomershine (USA); 'Jesus Seminar' fellows Prof. B Brandon Scott (USA), Assoc. Prof. Joe Bessler (USA), Prof. Sir Lloyd Geering (NZ), Bishop John Shelby Spong (USA); and Fred Plumer (USA), David Felten (USA), Gretta Vosper (Canada). As well as supporting Australian 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.
• 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)
• 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 two 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). 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: Prof. Tom Boomershine (USA); 'Jesus Seminar' fellows Prof. B Brandon Scott (USA), Assoc. Prof. Joe Bessler (USA), Prof. Sir Lloyd Geering (NZ), Bishop John Shelby Spong (USA); and Fred Plumer (USA), David Felten (USA), Gretta Vosper (Canada). As well as supporting Australian 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.
In 2004 he was made a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International (Rotary Club of Canberra-Woden, now called Rotary Club of Woden) and prior to moving from Canberra, was made an Honorary Member in 2008.
He has published several 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 (Out of Print), and is working on at least one new book on progressive religion. 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