Rex A E Hunt
MSc(Hons) GradDipCommMgt
Rex Hunt is a progressive 'grass roots' theologian and liturgist, and social ecologist.
Ordained more than 37 years, he is a (recently) retired minister of the Uniting Church in Australia, where his last placement was The Church of St James in Canberra - 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 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.
Other highlights in his 40+ year career include:
• Founder and Managing Director (1976-82) of Cressaid Media Pty Ltd, in Central Victoria.
• National Editor (1977-82), The Apexian (Apex Australia)
• Founder and Managing Director (1976-82) of Cressaid Media Pty Ltd, in Central Victoria.
• National Editor (1977-82), The Apexian (Apex Australia)
• Editor, Ministry: A journal of Continuing Education (a UCA professional development magazine).
• Founded (1990) The Network of Biblical Storytellers, Australia.
* Director (2002-09) of The Centre for Progressive Religious Thought, Canberra
• Chair of the Planning Team of an international gathering of progressive religion in Sydney, Australia, in August 2007, called Common Dreams1 Conference with the theme "Progressive religion as a transforming agent". He continues in that role for the Common Dreams2 Conference where the theme is "Living the 'progressive' religion dream" - planned for April 2010 in Melbourne, Vic.
• LIfe Memberships:
(i) The Network of Biblical Storytellers Australia/New Zealand (2008)
(ii) The Centre for Progressive Religious Thought, Canberra (2009)
• Founded (1990) The Network of Biblical Storytellers, Australia.
* Director (2002-09) of The Centre for Progressive Religious Thought, Canberra
• Chair of the Planning Team of an international gathering of progressive religion in Sydney, Australia, in August 2007, called Common Dreams1 Conference with the theme "Progressive religion as a transforming agent". He continues in that role for the Common Dreams2 Conference where the theme is "Living the 'progressive' religion dream" - planned for April 2010 in Melbourne, Vic.
• LIfe Memberships:
(i) The Network of Biblical Storytellers Australia/New Zealand (2008)
(ii) The Centre for Progressive Religious Thought, Canberra (2009)
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 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.
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: (i) Creativity-God as expressed within religious naturalism; (ii) the humanity of Jesus; and (iii) 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 27+ years he has published several articles on various topics - media, communication, preaching, Christmas, liturgy, parables, 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 two new books. 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. Prayers. 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