But it won’t be all one-way traffic into the church grounds.

The church also has plans to get out and boost its profile in the area, and to become “a better neighbour”.

Since arriving at his new posting at Morisset Uniting Church in November, Reverend Rob Hanks, 54, has become increasingly aware of what a wonderful resource the community has in the church’s Stockton Street site.

“I’m really interested in talking to any individual or groups who think they might be able to make use of this space,” Reverend Hanks said.

The site is already home to Morisset Meals on Wheels, an op shop, and community garden.

Reverend Hanks can see potential for musical performances in the church’s leafy surrounds. And his not just talking Christian music, either.

“I’m looking at opening up a space for music and art that connects with the faith story,” he said.

“That might mean we feature a jazz musician who has social justice ideals that we have in common.”

Or a rock band with a soft spot for homeless people.

“If we both have the same ideas on how the world might be a better place, then we can make something happen here.”

Reverend Hanks said the strategy was aimed at building confidence and credibility.

“Today the challenge for churches is to be a good neighbour and be part of the community, not try to create a community of their own,” he said.

He acknowledged that some people had long considered church to be, at worst, an intimidating place and, at best, not relevant to them.

To that end, Reverend Hanks said his church was committed to “engaging with people’s hopes and hurts”.

That would involve learning what local people considered to be good news, and discovering what they were looking for in their lives.

A former youth worker of 30 years, Reverend Hanks has a strong focus on helping the church to engage with more young people, and having more young people engage with the church.

The church faces a challenge on that front.

“Young people say ‘Don’t preach to me about how good the community could be if we all followed Jesus’,” he said.

Old-school religious preaching clearly isn’t going to cut it with those youths.

But opening the gates of the church, providing some music and art, and having the church as an active participant in the community, might just help to break down some prejudices, he said.

Reverend Hanks cited the Morisset PCYC as a neighbour the church should forge closer ties with.

“There is an organisation [PCYC] that is primarily for a better world, and surely that is our agenda, too,” he said.

Reverend Hanks said he had been welcomed by the Morisset community who had responded to his new approach.

Church attendances had been boosted by locals “wanting to see the new bloke”, he said.

At the first Sunday service Reverend Hanks presented in Morisset, the congregation was quick to notice his attire.

“I rocked up wearing black jeans and an open-neck shirt with no tie,” he said.

It was apparent “the new bloke” does things differently.

Community consultation would be a big part of that, he said.

“I want to do the listening first, before I come up with any grand schemes,” he said.