Who is teleios?

Stephen Baxter ex. Managing Director Alive Magazine/On Being

teleios draws upon the theology and thinking contained in the publications of James Thwaites for its initial impetus. During the past ten years in particular, James has been active in many countries promoting the hebraic vision of church and the corresponding emphasis this brings on one’s work in creation. His first publication ‘the church beyond the congregation’ remained a best-seller in Britain for a number of years; it has now become a reference book for many church leaders and authors in regards to church strategy and the theology of work.

Thwaites has been particularly involved in these past five or so years working in health and business settings – mentoring leaders and consulting to organisations, particularly in regards to leadership development, ethics and organisational design. During this time, he has been able to work with many thought leaders and see first hand the ways in which wisdoms arise from good work and subsequently can be used to multiply the effect of the work and wisdoms of many others.

As the links between he and others grew, it became clear, both to himself and certain friends and associates, that the time was ripe for this work to take on a larger ‘intentionality’. Many people in many countries who had now travelled some distance on the basis of the hebraic understanding of the church in creation, had grown to a place where they felt the need for more resources for their own work and greater links to others working in the same and/or related field to their own. In response to this, it was decided that the kind of work that had been done by Thwaites could now be enlarged so as to achieve more.

The intent in this initiative is not to establish a formal network; rather the objective is to resource both individuals and networks to achieve their own goals in both work and community. The many ways in which this might be done will become more evident over time, and will be the subject of exploration at the May conference. Suffice to say that the work of teleios will be to assist individuals and groups to discover, articulate and bring to the fore the wisdoms God has given them; this with a view to assisting them to achieve that which Paul the apostle spoke of in Ephesians 3:9-11.

teleios associates

The ‘teleios idea’ has a core group of people that have now come around it. There are a number of people involved, but by way of introduction, I will mention the australian associates:

Stephen Baxter: ex. editor/publisher Alive (On Being) Magazine. Head of Training, Fusion (Founded by Mal Garvin) Australia

Richard Barton: ex. Church Consultant Hillsong Church Waterloo, Director of Australian Home Renovations.

John Barker: (CPA). Director of Barker Harrison Accountancy Practice: Director of Healing Rooms Manly.

John van Geldermalsen: ex CEO Time Magazine Australia, Program Mentor for the Vincent Fairfax Ethics in Leadership Program.

Chris Hayes: (Dr.)Director Hunter Integrated Pain Service NSW.

Joanna Harnett: BHSc MHSc: Naturopathic Practitioner.

Peter Jones: (Dr.)Honorary Fellow of the University of Sydney. Governor of the Science Foundation for Physics for many years and its President from 1993 to 1996. Pioneer in the development of super-computers.

Bruce Judd: (Dr.) Associate Professor and Visiting Senior Research Fellow in the City Futures Research Centre at the University of New South Wales. Housing and urban researcher, government advisor, local church and national network leader.

Michael Martin: (MBA)ex. Church Consultant Christian City Church Oxford Falls, Local Church Pastor North Sydney.

Rob Nichols: Chairman of the Christian Business Connection, Hunter Valley/Newcastle. Managing Director Control Synergy Pty Ltd

Tim Morris Smith: Corporate Finance ex. American Express, Honeywell, Chubb, TNT. Currently head of outsourcing for United Technologies Australia.

Robert Wood: Managing Director WCD – Workers’ Compensation Solutions Pty Ltd

Many of these people will be contributing their insights and perspectives to the conference workshops. We believe that the teleios conference in May 2008 will offer a significant contribution to the thinking, strategy and work of those who have a desire to see the church emerge in creation.

see books and articles for more information about the theological basis of teleios