Insights - July 2013

Insights July2013

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS Why the church needs young people

SYRIAN TRAGEDY: Working toward reconciliation and peace PERSONAL ACTS OF CHARITY: Encouraging voluntary participation JULY_COVER.indd 2

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1 Church 611 Bread Of Life Christian Church 63:16 Toluca 6kpb Mdc Jakarta A2a - Truevine Fellowship Abide In Christ Evangelical Church Abundant Life Church Abundant Life Family Church Abundant Living Faith Center Activate Church Acts Church Adam Road Presbyterian Center Adamstown Community Church Addnc Agape Christian Church

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Agape Church Agape Lighthouse Fellowship Agepe Christian Church Agi Church Agua Vivan Aicf Fairfield Aileu Aim Palm Island Airport Local Church Al Ain Evangelical Church Alabang New Life Christian Center Albany Hills Christian Alpha Omega Church Alive Church All Nations Christian Centre All Saints Anglican Church All Saints Presbyterian Church Alpha and Omega Am Suedring Amazing Church Anglesea Abaptist Church Anglican Bomaderry Anglican Parish Of Bruthen Anglican Parish Of Keppel Anglican Parish Of Ormond Aniban Iemelif Church Annerley Baptist Church Antioch Presbyterian Church Aog Christian Church Aog Coober Pedy Aog Koumac Aog New Caledonia Archbishop Memorial Church Arise Church Armidale Community Church Arundel Presbyterian Ashmore Uniting Asho Baptist Church Assamblea de Deus Central de Rio Das Ostras Assemble Of God Assemblée de Dieu de Normandie Assemblee de Dieu de Nouvelle Caledonie Assemblee Evangelique de Pentecote Assembleia De Deus Comunhao Crista Assembleia de Deus Esconderijo Do Altissimo Assembléia de Deus Vitória Em Cristo Assemblie Of God Of New Caledonia Auckland Full Gospel Church Austinmer Anglican Australasian Community Australia Burmese Christain Fellowship Australia For Christ Fellowship Australian Burmese Christian Fellowship Australian Indian Christian Fellowship Avondale College Church Awesome Church Aymea Baptist Babes of Christ Ministries Bacchus Marsh Christian Church Baker Road Methodist Baldivis Church Of Christ Ballarat Christian Fellowship Ballarat City Church Bankstown Baptist Church Likomba Barabool Hills Barker Road Methodist Church Baroon Anglican Barossa Community Barrabool Hills Baptist Basel Christian Church Malaysia Basilique Church Batemans Bay Salvation Army Bathurst Baptist Church Bay City Church Baylife Church Bayside Church Bayside Frankston Beachside Christian Church Beaconsfield Baptist Beaumaris Baptist Beijing International Christian Fellowship Beit Hamachiach Bel Air Bendemeer Faith Community Church Berlin Connect Berry Baptist Church Berry Community Church Berwick Church Of Christ Bethany Brisbane International Church Bethany Church Bethany Church Indonesia Bethany Church Singapore Bethany Ministries Bethany Sydney Bethany Youth Christian Centre Bethel Bethel Indonesia Church Bethel Marthoma Church Bethel Tabernacle Bethesda Frankel Estate Church Bethlehem Assembly Of God Big God Church Blackheath Baptist Blacktown Anglican Blacktown Uniting Bless The Nation Blessed Hope Christian Church Blessed John 23rd Blessed Sacrament Church Blue Church Blue Mountain City Church Blue Mountains Christian Church Blue Mountains Church Blue Wave Church Bobbin Head Anglican Bocmc Gold Coast Body Of Christ Ministry Bomaderry Anglican Bondi Life Church Boronia Community Church of Christ Bowen Christian Family Centre Box Hill Baptist Bracken Ridge Baptist Church Brandywine Community Church Bray Park Community Church Bread Of Life Christian Church Bread Of Life Melbourne Bread Of Life Ministries International Breakthrough Christian Church Breakthru’ Worship Community Church Bridemon Downs Baptist Bridge Church Bridgeman Baptist Bridgeman Baptist Community Church Bridgeman Coc Bridgeman Downs Baptist Bridges Brighton Christian Church Bring Back The Glory Brisbane City Church Brisbane Taiwanese Congregation Brismabe City Church Burmese Christian Church Burnside Elim Church Burwood Church Of Christ C.O.C. 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Restoration Church Evan Fozmosan Church Evangel Christian Assembly Evangelical Chinese Church Evangelical Church Of Al Ain. Evangelical Community Church Geelong Evangelical Grace Of Christ Evangelical Mennonite Church Every Nation Christian Church Every Nation Church (Singapore) Every Nation Church Singapore Exchange Community Church Exmouth Christian Fellowship Extended Hand Fellowship Faith Faith Assembly Of God Church Faith Casey Christian Church Faith Cc Faith Cc Casey Faith Center Tagaytay Faith Christian Church Faith Christian Church - Casey Faith Christian Church Casey Faith Christian Church Chadstone Faith Christian Church Dandenong Faith City Faith City Church Faith Community Baptist Church Faith Community Church Faith Community Church Of Life Faith In Christ Fellowship Faith In Christ Fellowship Macarthur Faith Life Faith Life Church Faith Promise Church Faith! CC Faith! 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Singapore Full Gospel Assemly Full Gospel Church Full Gospel Church Alor Setar Fusion City Church G 3:16 Gaborone Assemblies Of God Galilee Presbyterian Church (Urdu Ministry) Ganggalah Gateway Baptist Church Gateway Church Gateway Church Devonport Gateway Church Of Christ Gateway City Church Gateway Clc Gateway Devonport Gateway Family Church Gateway Fellowship Gatewaycitychurch Gayndah Acc Church Gbi City Church Gbi City Tower Gbi Glow Fellowship Centre Gbi On The Rock Gbi Rahamat Emmanuel Gbi Senayan City Gcbc Wamberal Gcfgc Generación 3:16 Generation Church Generation City Generation City Church Generations Christian Church Generations Church Generocity Church Generosity Church Genesis Christian College George River Community Baptist Georges Community Church Georges River Baptist Community Church Georges River Community Georges River Community Baptist Georges River Community Baptist Church Georges River Community Life Church Georges River Life Centre Georges Rover Community Baptist 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Christian Family Church Gold Coast North Anglican Gold Coast Salvos Good News Company Goodhope Christian Centre Goodlife Goodlife Church Goodlife Coc Goodlife Community Church Gore Baptist Church Gospel Baptist Church Gospel Church Of Jesus Gospel Generation Ministry Govely Christian Community Church Gpdi Betheden Gpdi Elohim Gpdi Gideon (Pentecostal Church In Indonesia) Gpia Immanuel Gpia Sion Grace Grace & Faith Ministries Grace & Faith Ministry Grace and Faith Ministries Grace and Faith Ministry Grace Assembly Of God Grace Baptist Community Church Grace Canberra Grace Christian Church Grace Christian Fellowship Grace City Church Grace Communion Grace Community Church Grace Church Grace Heart Community Church Grace Methodist Grace Methodist Church Grace New Life Church Grace Point Christian Church Grace Tabernacle Grace Vineyard Gracefield Christian Fellowship Gracemere Baptist Gracepoint Christian Church Gracepoint Presbytarian Gracepoint Randwick Grain Shed Grainery Grainery Christian Network Gralepoint Grcbc Greater Cleveland Community United Church Of Christ Greater Cleveland United Church Of Christ Greater Liverpool Greater Liverpool Sa Green Pastures Greenacre Baptist Church Greenlane Christian Centre Greymouth Elim Church Grove Community Church Gsja Bethlehem Gum Tree Christian Fellowship Gws Sydney Gymea Baptist Church Gympie Christian Family Gympie Christian Family Church H20 Baptist Church Haberfield Baptist Haberfield Baptist Church Haddon Church Of Christ Hallett Cove Hallett Cove Baptist Halls Creek People’s Church Hands Of Grace Hanouri Harbour Church Harbour Side Church Harvest Harvest Christian Assembly Harvest Christian Church Harvest Indonesian Church Harvest Life Harvest Life Christian Church Harvest Life Emerald Harvest Souls Mission Christian Church Hasanna Logan City Hawkesbury Church Hawkesbury Church Windsor Hawkesbury City Hawkesbury Valley Baptist Church Hawthorn West Baptist Hawthorn West Baptist Church Hcm Nepal Heart City Heathmont Baptist Hebron Chinese Alliance Hedland Christian Church Helensburgh Baptist Church Heritage Cc Heritage Christian Church Heritage Church Heritage College Church Heritage Gin Gin Christian Centre Heritage Of Faith Hfan Vancouver Highway Christian Church Hills Wesleyan Church Hillsborough Baptist Church Hillside Church Hillsong Church Hilltop Christian Centre Hinghwa Methodist Church Hinphwa Methodist Church Hinterland Christian Centre His Call Church Holroyd New Life Church Holy Cross, Birdwood Holy Family Holy Spirit Catholic Church Holy Trinity Baulkham Hills Honour Church Hope 2508 Hope Brisbane Hope Central Hope Centre Hope Centre International Hope Centre Logan Hope Chapel Hope Chapel Kaneohe Hope Chapel Olomana Hope Chapel Second City Church Hope Chapel West Oahu Hope Christian Centre Hope Christian Church Hope Church Hope Church (Singapore) Hope Church 2508 Hope Church Birsbane Hope Church Brisbane Hope Church Cc Hope Church Central Coast Hope Church Singapore Hope Church Umina Hope City Hope City Church Hope City Church, Malak Hope City Church, Palmerston Hope Community Baptist Church Hope Community Church Hope Family Church Hope Hobart Christian Church Hope In Christ Church Hope Internaional Ministries Hope International Ministries Hope Perth Hope Point Church Hope Uc Hope Unlimited Church Hope Valley Hope Valley Uniting Hope Varsity Lakes Hopepoint Church Horizon Christian Church Hosanna Hosanna Brisbane Hosanna Church Hosanna Hutt City Church Hosanna Logan City Church Hosanna Samoa Baptist Church Hosanna Samoan Papatiso Porirua Hosanna Brisbane House 3:16 House Church House Of Praise House Of Praise Church Of New Zealand House Of Salem Aog House Of The Rock Church House Of True Light House On The Rock House On The Rock Ministries Howick Community Church Hualien Bo-Ai Baptist Church Hughes Baptist Hughes Baptist Church Hume Ridge Church Of Christ Humeridge Church Of Christ Hunter Christian Hunter Christian Church] Hunters Hill Congregational Hurstville Indonesian Presbyterian Hutt City Church Hutt City New Life Iccci Icfc Regent Park Ies South Church Ies South Jakarta Ifgf Auckland Ifgf Singapore Ifgf Sydney Ifgfsg Iglesia Christiana Renacer Iglesia El Lugar de Su Presencia Igreja Batista Central Em Santo andré Igreja Batista No Lago Sul Igreja Crista Nova Vida Igreja Cristo É Poder Igreja Evangélica Irmãos Menonitas Do Xaxim Igreja Metodista Jardim Gabineto Igreja Missionaria Evangelica Maranata Igreja Presbiteriana Independente Imaginations Imagine Nations Church Imagine Nations Church Immanuel Immanuel Christian Church Immanuel Lutheran Immanuel Methodist Church Immanuel-Church-Nuremberg Impact Ministries In His Presence Ministries In His Presence Ministries Inc Increase Ministries Int Indonesia Christian Family Church Indonesian Christ Family Church Indonesian Christian Church Family Indonesian Church Indonesian Family Church Indonesian Full Gospel Fellowship Indonesian Praise Centre Indonesion Family Church Influencer 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C.O.C Mackay Christian Family Mackay Multicutural Church Macleay Coast Coc Macquarie Life Church Madaya Church Majestic Church Makaunga Aog Mamre Fellowship Mandurah Christian Life Centre Manly Life Manna Park Mannahouse Church Mannahouse Ministry Centre Manukau Hop Maranatha Maria Auxilio de Los Cristianos Marion Christian Church Marion Church Of Christ Maroubra Baptist Mars Hill Church Marthoma Syrian Christian Church Mary Immaculate Mavuno Church Mawar Sharon Church Maximise Maxlife Mayfield Baptist Mci Gracia de Dios Meadows Church Melbourne Chinese Church Of Christ Melbourne Chinese Glorious Christian Church Melbourne Myanmar Christian Fellowship Melbourne Praise Centre Melbourne Vietnamese Evangelical Church Menai Baptist Church Merion Christian Church Merrylands East Church Metford Community Baptist Methodist Centenario Metro Church Metro Gold Coast Metro Toowoomba Middlemount Community Church Midlands Community Church Mighty Living Waters Life Fellowship Miki Chapel Mill Park Baptist Church Ministry Blood Of Christ Miranda Congregational Church Miranda Salvation Army Mission Of Christ Mitcham Baptist Church Mitchelton Presbyterian Church Moe Corps Mona Vale Clc Moorooka Brisbane Taiwanese Uca Moorooka Uniting Church Moree Community Church Moroccan Uniiting Church Morwell Christian Community ChurchLanyon Valley Anglican Las Acacias Lautoka Full Gospel Tabernacle Church Leeston New Life Church Lesston New Life Church Liaf House Church Liberty Christian Life Centre Liberty Hill Christian Centre Life Anglican Church Life Church Life Expressions Church Life House Mosaic Mosaic Mt Maunganui Mosaik church Mount Annan Christian Centre Mount Clear Church Of Christ Mount Cotton Fellowship Mount Louisa House Of Praise Mount Mosaic Mount Pleasant Mount Pleasant Baptist Mount Warren Park Community Church Mount Zion Christian Fellowship Mountain District Vineyard Church Mountain Hope Church Orange Mountain Of Fire & Miracles Ministry Mountain Top Community Church Mountain View Church Moura Christian Family Move Church Mt Cotton Community Fellowship Mt Evelyn Christian Reformed Church Mt Gambier Uniting Church Mt Hope Mt Mosaic Mt Pleasant Baptist Mt Top Community Church Mt Warren Park Community Church Mt Zion Church Mueller College Mueller Community Church Murrumbeena Baptist Church Narrabeen Baptist Narrabri Church Narrabri COC Narrandera Crc Narwee

June 30 - July 4, 2014 Allphones Arena, Sydney hillsongconference.com #noothername

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BRIAN & JENN JOHNSON & BETHEL BAND BILL HYBELS LOUIE GIGLIO MATT REDMAN & BAND ROBERT MADU STEVEN FURTICK 21/06/13 11:13 AM

Welcome from the General Secretary Giving a voice to the next generation

H

ere are some startling statistics about our Church: the last National Church Life Survey revealed that about 45% of members in our Synod are over the age of 70. We are well educated, but we are declining in numbers. We are desperately missing young people in our Church.

Rev. Dr Andrew Williams General Secretary

I have listened over the years to calls for young people to get involved in the councils of the Church. I have heard the lament, “There aren’t any young people around here”, when I know that the local high school is thriving.

I appreciate not all churches in the same area are facing the situation we have in quite the same way.

Some places still have active youth groups (and yes, I am writing from my particular cultural perspective, I know).

We need a new commitment to growing the Church. If we decide not to grow we are deciding to stagnate and that means deciding to die. I cannot believe that is what God called us to when we worked towards the dream of the Uniting Church.

We need to be investing in working with young people if there is going to be a bright future for us.

We need to be investing and working with young people if there is going to be a bright future for us. We need to trust young people and the contribution they can make. We need to make room for them as leaders of the Church. It was wonderful to have a contingent of young, high school-age people fully involved in the life of the

Editor Sarah Sullivan Production/Distribution/ Advertising Adrian Drayton Design Brooke Lyons Editorial & advertising inquiries: Insights, PO Box A2178, Sydney South, NSW, 1235 Phone 02 8267 4304 Fax 02 9261 4359 email insights@nsw.uca.org.au web www.insights.uca.org.au

Insights is published by the Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of New South Wales and the ACT. Articles and advertising content do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editor or of the Uniting Church.

Subscriptions: Australia $38.50 (incl. GST); overseas $50. © 2013. Contents copyright. No material from this publication may be copied, photocopied or transmitted by

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Synod this year when we met at Knox Grammar School.

I am thrilled that in this issue of Insights we have exciting and incredibly inspiring stories of young people and how they are contributing to the life of our Church. Their wisdom belies their years.

We have some incredible young leaders in our Church – some are coming through the work of Uniting Church in Australia Tertiary Students Association (UCATSA), or the School of Discipleship or President’s National Young Leaders Conference. Some may come from National Christian Youth Convention (NCYC) – to be held in our own back yard in January 2014. Some are in the stories of people you will read about here.

But none of them will come to maturity in Christ unless they are nurtured and encouraged and given opportunities to be involved in every aspect of the life of the Church.

I candidated for the ministry at 18. I shudder to think back at the memory of some of those early sermons that I preached! For most of my time in college I was the youngest student around.

There have been many times in my journey in the Church when I have still been the youngest person around.

Please…I don’t want to be the youngest one around when I retire! any means without the permission of the Editor.

Circulation: 20,000.

ISSN: 1036-7322 © Commonwealth of Australia 2013

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Contents 9

22

32

12

Cover story

37

There is global trend towards young people leaving the church. So what are we doing as a church to buck this global trend? We sat down with a number of leaders, both within the Church and in their own right, to understand their thoughts on the issue and to uncover some of the inspiring work that goes on inside our four walls.

Cover photo: Katelyn Stevenson, Youth Pastor at North Rocks Uniting Church and member of the Yurora 2014 team.

Regulars 5 letters 5 news 8 from the Moderator 4 Insights July 2013

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26 updates from the General Secretary 27 fellowship news

36 belief matters 37 culture watch 38 entertain me

38 insights.uca.org.au

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News

Your say Food for thought

Opening our arms to refugees and asylum seekers

Graham Lancaster’s letter on fossil fuel in the June issue was certainly food for thought, but it was regrettably also a lesson in how not to make friends or influence people, no matter how strong one’s convictions are. It may well be true that the decision that he quotes was misjudged or even just plain wrong, but to tell folks that their decisions are ludicrous and hypocritical will only make them reject anything you say without further thought.

On Saturday 22 June 2013, 500 Sydneysiders, including 70 representatives from the Uniting Church and UnitingCare, came together in Parramatta Park for the common good: to let refugees and asylum seekers know they are ‘welcome in Australia’.

One should play the ball, not the man. However, even though our investments may be only a drop in the collective investment bucket, our decisions here can be influential and the case seems worth re-examining.

The Welcome To Australia Sydney march was part of a series of marches across Australia that seek to increase the understanding of the experiences and history of asylum seekers,

My personal view on the evenbroader issue is that as a country we are unwise to continue the rush into extracting nonrenewable resources (remember that they took millions of years to lay down) in the mistaken belief that “growth” is everything.

Bruce Graham, Oatlands NSW

A wake up call Listening to the ABC I was appalled to hear that the Church was divesting itself of its “evil” fossil fuel portfolio. Are you Continued over >>

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On a rainy day in Sydney, locals braved the elements and took to the streets to show empathy and create awareness for those who seek refuge or asylum on our shores.

Centennial celebrations at Oatley Uniting Church When J. W. Bayley decided he wanted a Methodist church in Oatley, he built an enclosed veranda onto his house in Letitia St, and on the 14th of September 1913, the Rev. J. W. Berryman conducted the first service there. Fifteen people were present, the collection was 5/3d, and after the service the preacher’s horse bolted, so he returned home by train.

A year later the rapidly growing church moved to the School of Arts, before finally coming to the corner of Frederick and Letitia Streets in 1917, where a weatherboard church

refugees and other new arrivals.

The message of the day was ‘authentic friendships begin with a genuine welcome and are deepened through greater appreciation of the stories of those we befriend’.

A range of inspiring speakers provided the perfect conclusion to the march.

They included first-hand accounts from refugees and an impassioned plea from MP Julie Owens, who emphasised that seeking asylum is not illegal.

To see more great photos from the day go to the UnitingCare facebook page:www.facebook.com/ UCNSW.ACT. was built. Worship continued in that church until the current building was dedicated in November 1958.

In 1980 the congregation amalgamated with St David’s Hurstville Grove, and in 2003 with St Stephen’s Oatley West. Today the church has a traditional morning and a contemporary evening service, Sunday School, Adult Fellowship, Bible study groups, Youth group and a Messy Church. It runs the Penshurst Opportunity Shop, supports the work of Bible translators in West Asia, and until recently, was the home of the Oatley Caring Centre, which it set up to provide respite care for the elderly.

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aware that CO2 is only 0.04% of the atmosphere? Of the 0.04% only a tiny fraction is produced by human activity. A major contributor is volcanoes.

Current satellite data indicates a planet that’s greening, a good thing. Surely you would support this as it is enabling marginal land to produce food for those who need it?

If you can believe these financial measures will in anyway ameliorate climate you are in the wrong business. I support caring for the earth and the people on it but not by deindustrialising the world and plunging us into a dark age of superstition, which the UN policy on climate change is designed to do.

Wake up to the truth, pray to God for the real answer on what is happening.

Annie White, via email

C ongratulations on your moral action As an atheist (for some reason God has not chosen me) I am overwhelmed that the Uniting Church has taken action to disinvest from the fossil fuel industry and, from what I understand, to be the first major institution in Australia to do so. I cannot congratulate you enough for the rational and moral action you have taken to help address a problem that is very likely to be a serious threat to our future.

I have often blamed the Christian religion for promoting a belief that the world is there for us to abuse at our pleasure. You have restored my faith that it is people not religion that leads us to wrong.Thank you so much.

Simon Leslie, via email

Keeping us in the loop I am concerned that the WCC Assembly in Korea is so near and no information is being given to congregations. This assembly is especially significant in the light of the economic, political and social aspects of China, USA,

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News Oatley Uniting Church is marking their centenary with a service of celebration on October the 13th, which will be followed by a lunch. For further details, contact Linda Lim on 0412 712 520 or Helen Phillips on 02 9578 3578.

10th WCC Assembly in Busan, Korea In October this year, all eyes will focus on Busan, Korea, when it hosts the 10th Assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC). The theme of the Assembly is ‘God of life, lead us to justice and peace’ (Isiah 42:1-4).

Major agenda items include: • t heological reflection on the missional tasks for the church and the world • f ellowship and unity among churches around the world • c ommon witness of the world churches to the world etermining the overall policies and •d programs until the next Assembly • election of a central committee.

The Uniting Church in Australia has been an active member church since its inception.

The 10th Assembly of the WCC will be a unique opportunity to deepen fellowship among the churches which confess the Lord Jesus Christ, respond to God’s calling in the face of economical, ecological and spiritual cries of the 21st century, and suggest alternatives and visions for a lifeenhancing civilisation full of Godgiven life.

If you are interested, you can participate as a registered observer.

Go to www.oikoumene.org to register or for more information.

International volunteering – it’s all about relationships The Hilton Hotel in Sydney was the venue for the recent international volunteering event. Hosted in partnership by Austraining International and UnitingWorld, the evening showcased the involvement of Australian Partner Organisations in the Australian Volunteers for International Development (AVID) program.

“UnitingWorld is a stand out organisation that engages and supports the program in a number of different ways,” said Stephanie McConachy, Austraining’s Stakeholder Relations Coordinator.

UnitingWorld has supported placements in Tonga, the Philippines, PNG, Indonesia, the Solomon Islands and Kiribati through Host Organisations. ‘Aioema ‘Atiola, historian, educator and leader in The Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga spoke of how volunteers are taught new life skills while in Tonga. They learn how to do without certain things that are readily available in Western cultures and learn to adapt to new circumstances. “This is valuable life experience”, said ‘Aioema.

Elizabeth Mullan and UnitingWorld’s own Laura McGilvray openly expressed the highs and lows of volunteering in another culture and affirmed their experiences as both fulfilling and life-enriching. “The work is important but who you are is what counts most. It’s about building relationships,” Laura said.

Anyone considering a volunteer placement overseas can contact Laura McGilvray at lauramc@unitingworld. org.au or 02 8267 4222.

For more information about becoming an Australian PartnerOrganisation please contact partnerships@austraining.com.au.

Christian & interfaith conference by the sea ‘Jesus, the only Way? Christians and Interfaith’ is the title for the upcoming weekend conference to be held at the Chapel by the Sea, Bondi Beach, from Friday 26th – Sunday 28thJuly.

Conference organiser, Rev. John Queripel, stated, “It was Martin Luther King who expressed the sentiment that, ‘we learn to live together or we will not live at all.’ In an age marked both by closer faith contact and growing religious intolerance, the need for interfaith understanding has never been stronger.

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unapologetic progressive stand in believing that we need to move from past ‘certainties’ to struggle with the nature of faith in the 21st century.

We need ask new questions and to wrestle with the uncertainties these questions raise.”

Conference details, guest speakers, topics and registration details can be found at www.chapelbythesea. unitingchurch.org.au or by calling 02 9130 3445.

Rural Ministry Conference The 2013 the NSW/ACT Rural Ministry Unit Conference will be held at the Edmund Rice Retreat Centre in Mulgoa, NSW over the weekend of the 2nd to 4th of August.

The weekend promises to be a great time of storytelling, resourcing, worship and celebration. Together we’ll reflect on what has been possible and what is still possible in our ministry within the rural regions of the Synod.

You’re invited to join us and: •h ear first-hand experiences of people connecting with community • s hare your story with others from rural communities who are experiencing their own stories of faith and hope •w orship with others from around the Synod in creative ways • c elebrate what the rural church is going through •p rovide the church with different stories from your rural communities, stories of faith, hope, engagement, struggle and change • l earn more about creative community engagement and faith from a variety of voices • l isten for the voice of God in our rural communities For more details, contact Marie Weller on 02 6862 2783 or marie.weller@uniting.com.au Forms available at: www.riverina.unitingchurch.org.au insights.uca.org.au

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In early June Rural Chaplain Julie Greig attended the celebration to “officially handover” the bus to teachers and students.

What about the bus?

Last year, Rural Chaplain Julie Greig linked Pymble Uniting Church to a small primary school in Enngonia to help them raise $32,000 to purchase a new school bus. The school had enlisted the help of the Variety Club, who agreed to come up with a third of the money.

Pymble began their campaign in earnest but quickly the story of the bus attracted the attention of UnitingCare. Through the 2% Development Fund, UnitingCare offered $10,000 towards the bus. With this money and another $10,000 contributed from their Church, Pymble had only $12,000 to find to fund the bus. Another donor contributed this, as well as extra money to cover registration and fees.

Enngonia had got the bus and more.

Having their own bus cuts their transport costs by at least 50%, allowing children from this very isolated village to get to events including sports carnivals and lessons with other small schools.

“I felt very privileged to be able to join with the kids and staff to celebrate the bus and what it means to the school”, noted Julie at the ‘official handover’ in early June this year.

“I’d like to acknowledge the hard work of Pymble Uniting Church congregation for making this all happen and St Vincent’s Foundation, UnitingCare, Variety Clubs and Investaplan Dubbo who all donated the thousands of dollars needed.”

On tour at the Emanuel Synagogue

book”, said John Queripel of UCA Bondi Beach Mission, Chapel by the Sea.

Around 30 members from a number of Uniting Churches recently paid a visit to the Emanuel Synagogue, Woollahra, which was organised by the Uniting Church Synod’s ‘Relations with Other Faiths’ committee.

“Partway through that 3-hour service we were ushered out and given the choice of two other options: a ‘bat mitzvah’ or a very different style of worship, which was described by one of the rabbis as the nearest we get to ‘new age Judaism’”, said John.

“For those there early enough there was an Orthodox service with plenty of Hebrew led by a cantor with Rabbi Jeffrey Kamins guiding us to the right English translation. The style was not too dissimilar to some Christian services I have attended, done by the

The Relations with Other Faiths committee is already organising the next interfaith visit. If you would like to become a member of the committee, please contact interfaith@nsw.uca.org.au.

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India, Pacific-Asian countries and Australia.

The Rev. Dr M D Yang has been working through the Uniting World Mission with the Korean Church for many months and was recently in Geneva for a progress report. I have suggested to him that he write an article for Insights to inform congregations of these preparations and of issues to be discussed at theassembly.

Perhaps Insights could share that article with other Synods through their Synod papers.

Rev. Harry Roberts (retired), Peakhurst NSW (EDs note: See story page 6 for more information about the WCC Assembly in Busan, Korea.)

Walking down the road I was somewhat surprised to pick up the June issue of Insights and find there was no mention of the 36th anniversary of the Uniting Church.

Granted we have a story to tell, however, part of that story surely includes the journey we have made since 22 June 1977.

The heritage we brought into the infant Church’s beginnings was rich in faith and witness. Equally the road we have travelled over those years since union has added to our faith story.

36-year anniversaries are not marked as significant milestones or given a special title. Whatever the number in years let’s recognise the date and quietly celebrate as in the words of Robin Mann, we keep “walking down the road”.

News UnitingCare Ageing wins Pride in Diversity award

turned into frontline war zones, and disease is rife in refugee camps.

UnitingCare Ageing was recognised for achievement in LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex) workplace inclusion at the ‘Pride In Diversity’ Luncheon and Awards held on Friday, 17 May. As a new category in 2013, UnitingCare Ageing is the first to receive the Not-For-Profit LGBTI Workplace Inclusion Award.

On World Refugee Day last month, the NSW Ecumenical Council, Peace and Justice Commission and Act for Peace invited a representative of the Mussalaha Reconciliation Initiative and spokesperson for the Catholic Media Centre of the Diocese of Homs, Hama and Yabroud, Syria, Mother Agnes Mariam of the Cross to brief representatives from churches and other organisations about the situation in Syria and what is being done to try and establish peace and reconciliation in the region.

“We are very proud to receive this award,” said Director UnitingCare Ageing Steve Teulan. “UnitingCare has a deep commitment to social equality and last year we appointed a LGBTI Project Officer to reach out to older people from the LGBTI communities to help the organisation better meet their needs and to also promote cultural awareness among our staff.

“Partnerships with LBGTI health and community service organisations have been vital in beginning to break the barriers of concern by the LGBTI community in dealing with faithbased organisations and accessing community and health care services and we look forward to building on this.

“We have a real opportunity to give a voice to the needs of this community as well as creating opportunities for improvements in our own service delivery and employment practises,” Mr Teulan stated.

Mother Agnes Mariam of the Cross discusses the disastrous consequences of the conflict in Syria.

Allan Gibson, Cherrybrook NSW

Is there a path to peace in Syria

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10 million people have been displaced in Syria. Atrocities carried out on citizens by rebel forces and factions are commonplace. Factories and cities have been destroyed and

“You have eighty nationalities coming inside Syria to fight and nobody knows what they are doing.

Each faction has its own source of finance, its own commanders and its own agenda. So they are spreading chaos and destruction”, Mother Agnes-Mariam said of the situation.

M. Agnes Mariam has played a prominent role in helping those in Syria who suffer as a result of conflict, giving shelter and assistance at the monastery to those in need.

“We don’t have an immediate answer to humanitarian situation.

We have talked with many officials, especially here in Australia, which is the first country to back the result of the findings of the Commission of Inquiry on Syria. For us this is a big encouragement and that is why we are in close contact with Mr Bob Carr and the Australian government”, states M. Agnes Mariam.

Pray for those working for peace on the ground in Syria, and pray for the conflict to be resolved peacefully without more loss of life. If you would like to make a donation, Act for Peace is responding with emergency assistance including food, shelter, household items, hygiene kits, blankets, infant supplies and health and educational support. The need is great. Please give generously if you can! http://www.actforpeace.org. au/Be_Informed/Latest_News/ Emergency_Response/Syria_ Violence_Emergency_Appeal.aspx insights.uca.org.au

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Uniting Church in Australia members meet with Bill McKibben. From left to right: Dr Miriam Pepper, Rev. Dr Brian Brown, Bill McKibben, Justin Whelan, Rev. Elenie Poulos, Fiona Johnson.

US environmentalist sings praise for Synod divestment The Synod’s recent decision to divest from corporations engaged in the extraction of fossil fuels has won high praise from one of the world’s foremost campaigners for addressing the effects of climate change.

Bill McKibben, the founder of 350. org, took time out of his busy schedule to meet Moderator Rev. Dr Brian Brown in person and congratulate him on the Synod’s stance. “It’s a great honour to

be here and to be able to personally say thanks to the first denomination in the world to manage to divest from fossil fuels,” Mr McKibben told the Moderator.

Dr Brown and Mr McKibben discussed the need for more people of faith to step up and take action.“Hundreds of members of the Uniting Church came together to make this historic decision.

I am proud that the Uniting Church in Australia is the first denomination in the

world to divest in fossil fuels”, said Dr Brown.

Mr McKibben described the overall religious response to climate change as “a remarkable act of witness.” He said his group 350.org was committed to faith-based environmental activism and that he was exploring the possibility of bringing Uniting Church activists to the United States to campaign with 350.org.

FUTURE DIMENSIONS IV

JESUS, THE ONLY WAY?

Christians and Interfaith Ian Pearson, Jim Mein, Brookes Mc Tavish, Glenda Blakefield, Matthew Wilson, Paul O’Shea, Manas Ghosh, John Queripel Friday 26th- Sunday 28th July 2013 Chapel by the Sea, Bondi Beach Registration Details: www.chapelbythesea. unitingchurch.org.au Phone: 9130-3445 (Monday-Friday, 9 am -5 pm) insights.uca.org.au

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From the Moderator’s desk Respect, conspicuous by its absence . .

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ne of the many virtues that seem to have gone missing lately in the arena of community relationships and national debate, is respect for those from whom we differ or with whom we disagree. The absence of respect is conspicuous.

Rev. Dr Brian Brown Moderator

From a casual derogatory remark from the Socceroo’s coach about women needing to “shut up” in public, to personal vitriol aimed at former Prime Minister Julia Gillard, women are primary targets of disrespect.

Worst of all are the revelations about some military males who have been rightly and roundly taken to task by their Commanding Officer for alleged disgusting, degrading and predatory sexual behaviour towards selected female victims.

Respect has also gone missing following racist remarks by a young teenager about Sydney Swans player, Adam Goodes, during a game celebrating Aboriginal players’contribution to the sport.

From the letter columns of newspapers, it is clear that some people still do not “get it” about the impact of such insults, even when delivered in ignorance. The responses of Collingwood CEO, Eddie McGuire, in someways demonstrate the contradictory attitude of Australian society towards racism.

It seems our better selves know what is right and how to behave appropriately, which we do in most circumstances. Then there are those times that can creep up on us, when disrespect, or worse, bubbles to the surface. It pays to acknowledge that like Mr McGuire, we all have the potential for both types of behaviour.

We therefore need to be alert to the clues that our worse side is about to express itself, such as when we

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start a sentence with“I’m not a racist but…” Sexism and racism are cousins.

They identify a person or group according to a basic characteristic such as gender or race, then belittle, or even persecute, others on the basis of who they are. Such sweeping generalisations carry over to other uncivilised attitudes, for example, towards people who are lesbian or gay, and even towards male hairdressers, and men in blue ties!

I think it is true to say that the level of respect we show others is indicative of the level of respect we have for ourselves.

On the other hand, if we want to know what respect for others looks like, we need go no further than the Gospels. Jesus treated people with the utmost respect who, in his society, were often labeled and discounted as unworthy. Luke’s Gospel is a particularly fertile area of exploration, such as when he accepts the hospitality of the disparaged woman in the home of Simon the Pharisee; hospitality denied to him by his host.

Jesus’ respect for women, Gentiles, and other disenfranchised people often had a transformative effect upon them. His teaching also, such as in the Parable of the Good Samaritan, has caused countless people to think again about their prejudice.

I think it is true to say that the level of respect we show others is indicative of the level of respect we have for ourselves. Hence the powerful words of Jesus: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself”. More of that next time!

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Voting for a just society

The Rev. Elenie Poulos in Canberra speaking with journalists at the launch of the resource A Just Society: Your Faith, Your Voice, Your Vote.

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nitingJustice, a unit of the Uniting Church in Australia Assembly, has publicly launched its Federal Election resource: A Just Society: Your Faith, Your Voice, Your Vote.

The Rev. Elenie Poulos, National Director of UnitingJustice, said the resource is an expression of Christian faith and hope, focussing on the good of all people and the planet.

“This resource is a call for all Christians to raise their voice and share in the Church’s vision for a just society. As Christians, we have a responsibility to think carefully and cast our vote with the needs of the most vulnerable in mind.”

A Just Society is an invitation to Uniting Church members and others to consider the values which underpin the policies of political parties and candidates in the upcoming election. It contains materials to assist Church members identify the important issues facing Australia, and invites them to listen to politicians and political parties with discernment.

The resources include a range of

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We seek a country that lives out its concern for those who live in poverty and those who are sick and isolated. issues papers and hot issues briefs on topics including asylum seekers, aged care, climate change and human rights.

There is also an election toolkit with ideas for how to get actively involved in the local community and with local candidates.

“This is a time when many are disappointed in the lack of vision and passion in the current political climate”, said Rev. Poulos.

“As Christian voters we can make an impact before, during and after the election – sharing and working for a vision for the future of our country that arises out of a deep and abiding Christian hope.”

“We seek a country that lives out its concern for those who live in poverty and those who are sick and isolated.

We hope for a country which is built on compassion and generosity, and where all people are treated with dignity and respect. Now is the time to remind our political leaders that we care about these things.”

UnitingJustice is the justice policy and advocacy unit of the Assembly of the Uniting Church in Australia. It works on issues of social and economic justice, human rights, peace and the environment.

It supports the Church in its response to contemporary social and political concerns and is an expression of the commitment of the Assembly to engage in public life as it seeks to live out the gospel in the world.

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Strength

in numbers Why the church needs young people

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here is a global trend towards young people leaving the church.

In a recent interview for Think International, David Kinnaman, author of You Lost Me, shared his thoughts on why young people aged 16 – 29 were leaving their church and rethinking their faith.

David and his team of researchers spent four years interviewing and surveying young people. The findings of their study revealed a set of deep and complex issues that young people face when it comes to making decisions about their faith and church.

“They [young people] feel the church is overprotective...that their experience of God is missing from the church. They feel the church is anti-science. They say the church is doubtless, that there’s not a safe place for those admitting their most pressing life questions.

They say the church is exclusive and traditionalist”, states David.

For many readers, these findings may appear quite startling, extreme or simply unbelievable. But a failure to heed these sentiments, and take notice of the changing dynamics within our congregations, risks more than just losing the presence of young people in our Church.

So what are we doing as a church to buck this global trend? We sat down with a number of leaders, both within the Church and in their own right, to understand their thoughts on the issue and to uncover some of the inspiring work that goes on inside our four walls.

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David Forward Tertiary mission worker, Sydney University and University of Technology Sydney conviction — relationships with both God and with the Church community.

A deeper relationship with God gives authenticity and drive in the faith.

The stronger the Church community young people have, the better they are supported in their journey and the more valued and comfortable they feel as individuals.

Young people are the leaders of the future Church. By church I do not only mean church as the organisation, but church as a community, church as a driver for social justice, as a voice for the marginalised and for the glory of God. Future leaders need a strong foundation in order to have a sustaining and strong conviction in what they believe and why they believe it.

I think young people are attracted to the Uniting Church because there is something lovely about it. How it was formed — as an overarching response that the glory of God is greater than anything that divides us. The Uniting Church provides an authentic and honest environment for people to be guided and to grow in the knowledge and love of Jesus and his message.

One of the great aspects about the Church is community – it allows you to be supported by like-minded people. After every Bible study we hold Communi-Tea. It’s a place where we have tea and biscuits to talk about what went on in the bible study or to hear people’s concerns, or just talk about what they’re doing.

Bible study can sometimes feel a bit like a lecture, but in Communi-teaTea, you get to know the students and you see a big change in the way they act.

Students can be withdrawn but after a few visits they really start to show their colours and are more comfortable asking questions and exploring their faith.

I think the best thing we can do to encourage young people to stay is to build relationships and strengthen

Conviction comes not only through strong factual belief in the existence of a divine being and the theology that comes with that, but also a conviction that that belief has substance, value and is worthwhile believing in. Conviction that there are valuable consequences for the belief and faith and that it’s ‘bearing fruit’.

Relationships and conviction builds the resilience required for young people to stay through the easy and challenging times.

Young people are the leaders of the future Church I think often there is a stress among young Christians that they are somehow doing ‘it’ wrong. That they are constantly feeling mildly guilty that they’re not sure what they’re meant to be ‘doing’.

And if they are actively working for the Kingdom of God and enjoying it then it must be wrong, that somehow the two aren’t compatible. But if you truly love God then your values and aspirations for your life will be aligned with his.

I think the reason young people leave in the first place is because they originally got involved by just being around the church, like being part of a family that grew up in the church.

They believe in what they believe but haven’t really had that belief challenged by a non-Christian perspective before.

Often when young people become more exposed to the world – if they haven’t had their belief really challenged before and the support to work through those challenges, then it’s easy to see the church as irrelevant if those doubts haven’t been brought to life.

Share your voice so all may benefit The Next Gens Project is a project to initiate and support collaboration across the Church in connecting with younger generations and publishing resources. At the heart of the project is the desire to harness the wisdom of all generations and promote inter-generational conversations, encounters and activities.

We invite you to get involved so that Uniting Church Congregations, Faith Communities, Councils, Schools, Agencies, groups, associations and ministries of all kinds may draw upon your genuine experience, wisdom, insight and ongoing study for the benefit of everyone.

The Project team will publish the contributions of those who join, and share them as widely as possible. It is not about turning individual and group efforts into one huge study, but creating links and mutual learning opportunities for a host of smaller and larger initiatives – and to help them happen.

For more information on this project visit www.barna.org or www.davidkinnaman.com or email Insights@nsw.uca.org.au.

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Christian Students Uniting Open Day at Sydney University 2013 insights.uca.org.au

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Robyn Wray Family Ministry Resource Worker, Bathurst Uniting Church Leader (volunteer), young adults group It is hard being a young Christian in the 21st Century. With all of the pressures and influences that life has to offer it can be hard to stay connected to a church community. But what we all need to remember is that if you keep God at the centre of your life and keep him in control of all of your decisions in life, you will be able to overcome this challenge of being a young Christian in the 21st Century.

At Bathurst Uniting we have a continuous cycle of programs for young people, from babies through to young adults and young families. There is a playgroup (0 – 5 year-olds), a KUCA club (Kids in the Uniting Church of Australia) for primary school children, a youth group (years 6 – 12), and a young adults group Bathurst Uniting Young Adults (BUYA). We also have a Messy Church for young families.

The biggest positive of this approach is that there are groups that engage or connect people with our Church community, growing their faith regardless of what age they are.

I think it’s really important that we have the opportunity to do this.That we've have leaders at each step of the journey to help support and guide young people. Let's face it, young people do fall off the face of the earth as far as church is concerned when they get a bit older and find that life gets in the road of everything.

It is not a new story as to why young people don’t attend church or participate in church activities. These days, young people and young families have even busier lives than previous generations.

Sundays are generally a day to get the house and garden work done, do the shopping, be involved in family events, and drive kids to work/sporting activities.

So it’s no wonder church and God are not necessarily a major priority in some people’s lives these days.

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But young people face other challenges.

Comments from their peers like: “Church is boring!”, “I would rather sleep in”, “Why would you go there?”, “Church is for losers!”, “Why would you believe in God when he lets bad things happen?”, mean they don’t just have all the other pressures that life has to throw at them, but they also need to stand up to comments like these.

My passion is to bring people (young and old) beyond the street and the footpath and bring them into our Church community so they can have the opportunity to make friendships and to know God.

If you can build relationships with people and develop friendships, that’s what will keep young people connected and wanting to stay for the long term In the Uniting Church we need to be careful in how we go about encouraging young people and we need to give them a lot more attention and make sure they’re part of decisions being made that impact them. Doing so will help bring about change as far as worship is concerned and provide for a more modern outlook for the Church.

The biggest thing we need to do now is to stop and listen. Listen to what young people want and then work with what we’ve heard. Show them we’re happy to work with them to bring about positive change.

Too often I think we’re too focused on seeing the results. I think rather than trying to put a time limit on when we see results we need to invest more time into nurturing the seed we’re planting so it may grow into a relationship with God. At the end of the day if you can build relationships with people and develop friendships, that’s what will keep young people connected and wanting to stay for the long term.

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Katelyn Stevenson

Youth Pastor, North Rocks Uniting Church Member of the Yurora team

I love the Uniting Church so much.

It’s given me so much and as a young person, I’ve been offered so much and I just want to be able to give that back to all the other young people that I work with. I’m looking forward to doing that at North Rocks, which has an amazing community spirit and really successful youth groups.

I believe young people all need something different from the church.

It’s about gauging what they need and what we can provide for them, and how they connect with people of different ages and different backgrounds.

Apart from praise and theology, Bible study, and learning and growing in that area, I think the Church offers unconditional acceptance and a place to belong. It’s a place of enjoyment and happiness, and growing and love, and I think that offers so much to young people.

On the other hand, young people offer so much to the Church and that’s something we really need to take advantage of. They offer creativity and compassion, excitement, love and faith – a willingness to try anything.

They want to get involved, they want to provide for others and they want to do what they can to make a difference.

The problem is many of them don’t know how.

I think there needs to be a process.

We need to listen and we need to sit down, and we need to dream a little bit.

We get so caught up in programming and planning and logistics and the reality of things that I think we forget to dream. It would be so wonderful to think of a world where young people were heard from and had a say in the Church.

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That means listening to young people; hearing what they have to say, and working with them one-on-one. We often don’t do that. It’s much easier to go and do things ourselves because we know that we can do them and we know we can get them done. But that’s not necessarily going to make a difference. Showing a young person that we can do things or telling them what to do doesn’t work. We need to connect with them, listen to them and offer them our time and energy and hear from them.

I think we need to find realistic ways to work around their timetables. Maybe Bible studies during the week or youth groups on Friday nights don’t work too well. We need to sit down with them and ask them what’s going on and understand what can we do for them as a church, as a congregation, as a youth group. Ask what we can do to get them involved and why is it that they’re not coming anymore?.

It would be so wonderful to think of a world where young people were heard from and had a say in the Church If we want to do it properly, we need to put considerable time and energy towards it. We need to explore different ways of getting young people involved.

As a Church we really miss young people. They give so much to us and no one else can really bring that, but young people.

I want to see changes and I want to see young people heard and I want to see them standing up in front of churches and preaching and sharing their stories and sharing their journeys because they go through so much and there’s no reason we can’t all learn from those things. I’ll do anything I can to support young people and to give them those opportunities.

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Turbulence

A vibrant young adults group in Orange

Loud and Exciting

Sunday night in Orange can be loud and very exciting; that is, if you attend the Turbulence youth service.

Vibrant and energetic, Turbulence was first formed in 2005, the purpose being to focus entirely on youth and encourage participation in the community. With an emphasis on genuine worship and engagement, the group gained its name by encouraging young people to rely on God during the rough patches and also to get out of their comfort zones.

There are groups called TYuth and Turbulent Life Girls/Guys for high schoolers to discuss life issues and where God fits into their lives.

With a yearly camp and other community activities, Turbulence is yet another vibrant group of young people in the Uniting Church. insights.uca.org.au

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TheDdksdhsodhsd Tongan National

EEtConference ditatis aboremolor anti sae brings natet, eos ipsantion nosae ma together Tongans from 20 Insights July 2013

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all over Australia

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Joyce Tangi

Youth Group leader and university student My passion is maintaining a sense of God’s love within the young adults that I work with. Growing up with the Church, different youth leaders planted small seeds in my mind, which left me with a great feeling of God’s love for me. I maintain this passion through daily prayers and through weekly devotions with other youth leaders (2nd Gen Team) and also through activities and through socialising with my youth group.

I think it’s important to attract and retain young people in the Church because they are the future and, more importantly, the present. Including them now, gives them a sense of belonging and then they’ll realise they are needed for the future.

As young people, we are seeking spiritual nourishment. So offering young people their own space to learn about God’s love is important. Hosting youth groups gives them opportunities to learn and socialise outside of the Sunday morning church services with others in the same boat.

Helping lead my Youth Group on Friday nights in activities, such as Bible studies, singing, testimony sharing and discussions, also helps open their eyes to different ways of learning more about God.

I think it's important to attract and retain young people in the Church because they are the future and, more importantly, the present A major challenge I see in attracting young people to the Church is them having the motivation to get out there and seek ways to find the Lord. Young people are at a stage of their lives in which there are different factors in life that could take them in directions other than Church. insights.uca.org.au

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I would like to encourage the young people to have an open mind and open heart when seeking the Lord. The Uniting Church offers many programs for young people to join and learn more about God’s love for everyone. Within the Uniting Church you meet people that are helpful and willing to help you on your path to find the Lord.

The Tongan National Conference (TNC) is an annual event and an example of how the Church is uniting us. The event brings together Tongans within the Uniting Church from all over Australia for a weekend at the Merroo Christian Centre, Kurrajong. A weekend where everyone looks forward to meeting new faces, watching Tongan cultural performances and most importantly, being encouraged and empowered by God’s Love.

The theme of this year’s TNC was 'Power of God’s Love'. As the weekend played out through the different drama skits, cultural dancing and anthem singing, the atmosphere was electric.

As a young adults, we search for ways to feel God’s presence outside our church walls, and at TNC you definitely become a witness to the Lord’s grace and power.

Investing in the next generation David Kinnaman’s 3 key tips

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The need for relationships

Many young people get involved with church activities but don’t have meaningful relationships with other adults or people who are Christians beyond their youth pastor. We want to help these young people but don’t always have the capacity to be friends with them. We need to build and nurture relationships.

2

The need for a clear sense of calling and vocation

Young people often don’t understand how the Bible applies to what they’re called to do or what they’re really good at. We can teach and guide them.

3

A renewed sense of revelation

Young people know about the Bible; they esteem it, but they don’t necessarily believe the Bible has claim on their lives. So we need a renewed sense that God is really speaking to them and is interested in their obedience.

I find young people look forward to getting together and seeking the Lord’s grace and power at this event. Not only Tongans — the event has become a multicultural space where more people have just come to be witnesses to God’s work. It’s events like these that help build connections between our community and the Church, and start the foundations of relationships to carry you through life.

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Rev. Chris Goringe

Minister, St John’s Uniting Wahroonga sand will represent the desert – and the story teller tells the story focusing on the physical things while everyone is watching – looking and listening to what’s happening in the story.

After the story we have a ‘wondering’, which is a series of questions along the lines of “I wonder what...” Such as what your favourite part of the story was. And the kids are all then invited to say what they think. This is not about being right or wrong. We strongly encourage the children not to disagree with one another. Just say what you think – contribute your thoughts.

The philosophical theories as to why we use Godly Play with scripture, and also in other places, is that the idea is to get children to understand that their spirituality and faith is not a matter of other people telling them what to think but is a matter for them exploring and engaging with it.

When it comes to church, I believe the main challenge is the sheer busyness of children's and families' lives. My impression is that a lot of the turn off in church by young people – teens in particular – is because it has always just been something that has been imposed on them by family.

Now they’re reaching an age where they’re making their own decisions and forming their own opinions.

What I’m finding is that children are not questioning their faith but about their faith. We have children from a diverse theological background, from those who regularly attend church to those who don’t go at all. So their level of knowledge is vastly different. They will start to question aspects of their faith, not so much their faith itself.

They still fundamentally believe what they have been told is true but what it means and how it works is what they will raise questions on.

So our job is not to tell them what to think but to explore together the stories we have through the Bible and to encourage them to explore how that makes sense to them – how it’s meaningful to their life and where they might be with respect to that story.

This is about getting the kids to emotionally and intellectually engage with the story. Jesus used parables a lot and didn’t explain them and we take a fairly similar approach with the kids. If they get something themselves it will be more meaningful for them.

Discovering meaning for themselves, instead of being told it, means the kids are far more likely to hold onto it.

When it comes to church, I believe the main challenge is the sheer busyness of children's and families' lives Our teaching approach helps people want to come to our special religious education (SRE) classes. We have people transferring into our class not out of it. In terms of the primary years when kids start putting pressure on their parents to opt-out, we haven’t been losing numbers. In fact we doubled our numbers between the first year and second year.

It's our faith that they will have heard and at least partially internalised the story of God, and this will encourage them to continue to explore faith via Church, High School SRE, youth groups or whatever. We very much see our work as seed planting.

We lean heavily on Godly Play. It’s a Montessori religious-style education.

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Tongan National Conference The power of God's love

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7/10/2013 4:44:23 PM

Reconciliation & peace essential

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he most bloody and critical conflicts in the history of the Syrian Arab Republic simmered through the protests and the riots against the government, the ruling political party since 1971.

Military revolution and uproar demanding reformation and calls for freedom of speech through the extremist Islamic movement resulted in religious and denominational persecution along with fear, looting, destruction of factories and cities, engulfing Syria into the frontline of a bitter war. 10 million people are already displaced in Syria.

Both sides blame each other for the development of the conflict. According to the opinion of observers, this conflict should be undeniably called a civil war.

Thousands of homeless people are seeking refuge in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and even Iraq. In the prevailing unrest, the industry is suffering and factories are not operating. The cost of living has dramatically gone up and 90% of the population is unemployed.

The situation is serious and there is substantial need for assistance.

However, God acts in mysterious ways in performing miracles. In Psalm 136:25-26: “He gives food to every living creature; his love is eternal. Give thanks

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It is time to act.

We need to plead for an an end to the use of weapons.

Reconciliation and peace is essential. to the God of heaven; his love is eternal.”

An Armenian Evangelical minister in Aleppo recently arranged for 100 packs of bread to be baked for his Church members. A lay member volunteered to get the bread in order to distribute the pack of loaves to the needy parishioners.

With a fellow lay member he was driven through three checkpoints before arriving at the Bakery.

They paid and drove back to the church afraid they would be stopped and the loaves taken from them but to their great surprise the guards were ‘off duty’. On receipt of their pack an elderly couple said, “Minister we did not have a piece of bread today and we prayed asking God to provide for us and here we received the answer to our prayers.”

It is time to act. We need to plead for an end to the use of weapons.

Reconciliation and peace is essential.

Our fervent prayers will help those struggling to survive.

Many organisations and humanitarian institutions are trying their utmost to support the people in need in Syria. We as churches are trying our best to do our part in this great turmoil.

In this regard, the Armenian Missionary Association of Australia, a registered Charitable Organisation in Australia and acting as a district committee of the Armenian Missionary Association of America, is raising funds to add to the many contributions raised to help our brothers and sisters in Christ.

We appeal to all the members of the Uniting Church and especially to the Synod of New South Wales and the ACT, Presbyteries and individual congregations to help us financially, to support the people in need.

God bless you.

Rev. Krikor Youmshajekian Minister of St. Andrew’s Uniting Church Longueville If you would like to know how you could help or where to pledge your appeal, please email Krikor Youmshajekian: varak@tpg.com.au insights.uca.org.au

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Another chapter in telling our story Uniting and transforming Next generations are not only the church of tomorrow, we need to include them today, transforming the ministry of young people to speak out for the common good

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n the May edition of Insights, we introduced you to the new Telling our Story Guidelines and offered an insight into the history and future of the Uniting Church story.

what we look like, how we sound and what we stand for.

We hope you’ve taken some time to familiarise yourself with the new guidelines and that you find them as inspiring and aligned with what we do.

It is important that we get them right, and apply them correctly, to be transparent as we need to be with our communities, the Australian public, and our Australian regulators, including the new Australian Charities and Not-forprofits Commission.

The ‘Telling our Story Guidelines’ are important for us to deliver our story in the right places and the right way. After all, the Guidelines embody who we are,

For those of you who have offered us your feedback, our most sincere thanks.

We always value your thoughts and opinions.

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If you would like to view a copy of the guidelines, you can download them from our website at http://nsw.uca.org.au/ church/Uniting-Church-GuidelinesDD07.pdf Alternatively, we’d like to work with you to apply them in your group’s context. Please contact Adrian Drayton, adriand@nsw.uca.org.au

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7/10/2013 4:26:58 PM

An update from UME

Stories of Hope

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here are a number of stories of hope that are bubbling along within our Synod. Stories of people and the Church engaging with God’s work in the community.

There are all kinds of creative, thoughtful and engaging responses growing as we seek to engage with a nonchurched society, share in a multi-faith context, and seek to find and share the way of Jesus with a world that seems to have lost much of its way.

It never ceases to amaze me how faithfully and creatively people are drawn to respond to the call to be God’s people — engaged with the world, sharing the Good News of love identified by their relationship with Christ.

A small network of people involved in varied positions and placements through the Synod have been meeting to explore Community Engagement expressions of ministry. The group meets three times a year to share ideas and resources, encourage one another, explore different models of being the church, and reflect theologically.

Between gatherings it works as a network of support, encouragement, partnership and ideas. Primarily the group seeks to explore how Community Engagement not only helps the church make connections with people from the wider community, but how we might share faith authentically and with integrity in the midst of those connections, and form communities of faith around them.

It’s not too late to join us for ‘Reimagining Mission’, a journey of exploration and discovery, taking place over the next three months. Led from within our own networks, visiting people and ministries within the UCA, we will be exploring what it means to be the church in mission, sent and living out faith contextually in the wider communities of which we are a part. There will be opportunities to learn, observe,

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participate and engage in activities and thinking with people and leaders who are responding a little differently to the missional context.

Over three Friday/Saturday blocks, we will spend time in very different places, finding where God is at work, and where and how we as the Uniting Church are joining in.

Run as a joint venture of Uniting Mission and Education and United Theological College, the program is part of a course that can be done for academic credit as part of a Master of Ministry (MMin).

From the beginning of July, our Pitt Street based staff have joined those already located at the Centre for Ministry at North Parramatta. We are enjoying settling in to our new home, excited by the possibilities for collaboration and new connections.

Please pray for us, as we move through stages of transition and renewal, and as we continue to pursue new expressions of the Uniting Church’s faith and mission through the implementation of exciting new initiatives.

You can contact us at our new location on 8838 8900 or umeinfo@nsw.uca.org. au. All our individual email addresses remain the same and if you would like a list of direct phone numbers, please contact us and we will be happy to email it to you.

Rev. Graham Anson, UME’s Consultant for New Initiatives and Congregational Development For more details on the content and structure of the Community Engagement initiative, please contact Adele Smith on 0407 106 083 or adeles@nsw.uca.org.au For details about studying this course for academic credit, please contact Peter Kaldor on 0419 279 745 orpk@pnc.com.au insights.uca.org.au

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UME’s Consultant for New Initiatives and Congregational Development

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UTC Student profile Seungjae Yeon

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eungjae Yeon loves to play the guitar. As a teenager, this led to forming his own rock band, ‘Etcetera’. While the lead singer of the band pursued stardom, for Seungjae, music enabled him to make different connections to pursue a life of serving Jesus.

Born in Seoul in 1975 with its population of 15 million people, Seungjae, with his parents and sister, belonged to a strong community of faith.

It was through music that in a Christian youth group Seungjae met his wife, Grace who is now also studying music.

A great influence in Seungjae’s life was the teachings of the Rev. Jae Joon Kim, a scholar who had introduced biblical criticism to Korea - encouraging a move away from a literal interpretation of scripture to a more participatory approach to the text. Seungjae continues to be challenged by applying the different perspective of Biblical Criticism.

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John Stott’s, “The Radical Disciple”, was also key for Seungjae, as he has sought to follow Jesus.

It was these principles which led Seungjae to visit Sydney in 1999, to assist the Korean church for a year working with the Aboriginal Mission team of Nanima (Wellington) and Wreck Bay. During this time Seungjae met UAICC’s Rev. Wali Fejo, “a great thinker” who helped him to understand that simply giving to, or imparting Western and Christian ways on the First People, fails to recognise the Aboriginal people’s need for self-determination. When this is acknowledged, then there is harmony.

With a Bachelor of Theology from Wesley Institute, Seungjae is now a candidate for ministry undertaking a Liberal Arts degree at United Theological College (UTC). What stands out for Seungjae is the commitment of the UCA to being cross-cultural and UTC reflects this openness to engage with a diversity

of people and ideas.

“Difference in language causes you to think in a different way. Being inbetween or cross-cultural is a reflection of Jesus the mediator,” says Seungjae, who believes that as people seek to communicate with each other beyond their own culture they find an alternative way - a third way - to understand each other.

Seungjae believes that the role of the pastor is one of a servant in the community. “You cannot separate Christianity from the community, ” he says. This is Seungjae’s hope for ministry - in serving the community we are serving Jesus.

Seungjae Yeon - exploring and developing his “Korean-ness” in ministry.

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The Norman and Florence Price Memorial Trust (Price Trust)

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he Price Trust provides oneoff funding for projects aimed at relieving poverty and the promotion of education.

The returns from The Price Trust are shared equally between UnitingCare and Uniting Mission and Education (UME). This year, $94,000 is available to UnitingCare for projects aimed at relieving poverty.

Food Pantry, Gungahlin Uniting Church will also operate a café and have already begun looking to produce a simple food preparation booklet called “20 Simple Recipes With 5 Simple Ingredients”.

Through the good work of projects such as the Mustard Seed Food Pantry, the demand for food and the struggle for many is allievated. No doubt this resource will be an important part of many people’s lives in the near future.

One successfully funded project is the Mustard Seed Uniting Food Pantry run by the Gungahlin Uniting Church in the ACT. The project received $4,500 in early 2013.

Thanks to the support of the congregation and community the Pantry is now open to the public.

Do you have a project that needs funding?

The Pantry provides nutritious food to neighbours in need, and the past few weeks have been incredibly busy as work has been finalised. Each week, food orders are taken from Food Bank NSW in Sydney and delivered by Roadmaster.

Applications will be assessed on how your project’s activities align with a set of objectives, notably the:

The congregation is particularly aware of the support received through the Uniting Church Synod of NSW and the ACT, Hands Across Canberra, The Snow Foundation, and The Price Memorial Trust.

Along with the Mustard Seed Uniting

To be eligible for a project grant, your organisation needs to be accountable to a congregation, presbytery or mission within the Synod of NSW and the ACT.

• relief of poverty • level of analysis and planning evident in the outline of the project • capacity of the organisation to manage the project • commitment of organisation members / volunteers (financial or in-kind) to the project

• level of collaboration with consumers and / or other services.

Grant submissions should be made using the standard application form accompanied by a budget outline. You can request these forms and evaluation guidelines from Jenny Gallagher by calling 02 9376 1421 (Monday – Thursday) or emailing jgallagher@ unitingcarenswact.org.au Alternatively, you can download the forms at www.unitingcarenswact. org.au/resources/grant_programs/ price_trust.

Submissions for the second half of 2013 must be received no later than 5pm Friday 23 August 2013.

A volunteer stacks the shelves in readiness for orders from the community

3 x Pastoral Care Positions • Part-time Positions - 16 hours per week • Penrith/Emu Plains, Richmond and Springwood Are you looking to make a difference in your community and the lives of others?

In these challenging and rewarding positions, the Pastoral Care Workers, in liaison with the aged care service Chaplains, are responsible for the provision of professional pastoral care and support which is culturally relevant, age appropriate and sensitive to the needs of our residents.

The successful candidates will have relevant theological study and a Clinical Pastoral Education qualification or equivalent.

Whilst not essential, previous experience within a similar role is a bonus! Candidates will be someone who is a natural when it comes to building rapport with residents, their families and your colleagues.

These positions provide support and operate across a number of

our services, so a current NSW drivers licence is desirable.

Applicants must be in a position to demonstrate the values of UnitingCare Ageing, have a high level of personal integrity and a willingness to work within the ethos of the Uniting Church.

To apply confidentially, please email westernregionjobs@ unitingcarenswact.org.au. Please include in your application the reference number PRO011 Copies of the relevant position description are available upon on request.

Applications for these roles close on 2 August 2013 (For further information please contact John O Martin on 0408 115 210 or email: jomartin@unitingcarenswact.org. au)

www.unitingcareageing. nsw.uca.org.au We offer a supportive and friendly team environment, we are an EEO employer. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply. Only people with the right to work in Australia may apply for this position. Relevant criminal record and medical checks shall be conducted on applicants recommended for employment/ appointment to positions within UnitingCare Ageing.

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Investing in personal acts of charity “W

hen we look in the faces of our most demonised and devalued people, we see Christ.”

These were the words spoken by pastor, theologian and martyr, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, as he awaited execution by the Nazis.

And he was right. It is this defining feature of our Christian faith that drives us to acts of personal sacrifice. But in a changing modern world it can be easy to forget.

Outsourcing our personal acts of charity to others has become too convenient and accessible. Peter Worland, Interim Executive Director of UnitingCare NSW.ACT, feels that such trends pose a threat to the vitality of mainstream churches across the developed world.

The antidote, says Peter, lies in finding new ways to promote personal participation. Over the past few weeks he has been visiting Uniting Church congregations and UnitingCare services issuing a call to arms, and says the response has been encouraging.

“The challenge is to return to a culture of helping people through voluntary service”, says Peter. “Increasing numbers volunteering overseas each year tells us that there’s interest in these values amongst young people, but volunteering in Australia is on the decline. To reverse that trend we in the Church must be innovative and create exciting, contemporary ways to engage people.”

Like many great recipes, Peter’s thesis for change involves just a few simple ingredients. Conversations so far have isolated four essential elements:

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1. Sustainability

This requires a viable number of services targeting those most in need grouped and/or co-located together.

2. C ollaboration

Managers of these services need to meet as a team regularly with the Minister of the Word and develop and implement strategies jointly.

3. Advocacy

The Minister must be highly visible and plausible in her/his media profile by advocating on the evidence base of the services delivered.

4. Volunteerism

The team needs to develop compelling opportunities to engage increased numbers of volunteers, especially young people, from the congregation and the broader community. “It is my conviction that when our services are sponsored and nurtured locally, they develop deep roots and grow to be strong and resilient”, explains Peter. “They are also less at the mercy of fickle government funding and policy change. The mutual benefits to congregations and UnitingCare services are self-evident.”

“What I find inspiring is that this message is being swept along by a wave of positive energy. Our people are hungry for action. They understand that strong communities are built on the engagement and participation of their members. Working with volunteers is messy but I’m seeing a real preparedness to work harder at it.” insights.uca.org.au

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Updates from the General Secretary Information of interest to individuals and congregations

Welcoming new placements The following placements/positions have been confirmed: • T he Rev. Rebecca Lindsay began a placement with Hope Uniting Church on 1 February.

• T he Rev. Suzanne Phalen was welcomed at Glenbrook St Andrew’s on 1 March.

In loving memory • The Rev. (Robert) Arthur Oakley passed away on 10 May 2013.

•M r Grahame Shepley, son of the Rev. Barry Shepley passed away on 21 April 2013.

•M rs Gladys Nash, wife of the Rev. Roy Nash, passed away on 12 May 2013 • T he Rev. Roy Nash passed away on 20 May 2013.

• Mr Glen Watts passed away on 6 July 2013.

•D r Winifred (Win) Ward passed away on 25 May 2013.

•M rs Roslyn Lockhart, wife of the Rev Bill Lockhart, passed away on 8 June 2013.

The joy of new life

A prayer for good health

Centenary celebrations

The Rev. Mark Watt, The Rev. Dr John Hirt, The Rev. Dr Ann Wansbrough.

Gloucester Uniting Church will be celebrating the centenary of the Methodist Church on 26-27 October 2013. Would you like to join us. Contact Colleen McKay 02 6558 1390 or email colleenmckay1@bigpond.com.

Ordination The Rev. John Barker was ordained by Sydney North Presbytery as a Minister of the Word, effective 24 April 2013.

Calling it a day The Rev. Dr John Hoskin has added an extra week to his final retirement date, which has moved from 30 June 2013 to 7 July 2013.

Susan, wife of the Rev. Jorge Rebolledo, gave birth to a baby girl, Olivia Charlotte, on 15 May 2013.

What’s happening?

Want something included in the updates from the General Secretary? Every month we wll be featuring what is happening in congregations and other information of interest. Send your articles to insights@nsw.uca.org.au.

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7/10/2013 4:28:37 PM

Fellowship news Habitat for Humanity

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llawarra Presbytery Uniting Church Adult Fellowship (UCAF) Rally was held at the lovely South Coast town of Kiama. Hosted by Kiama Uniting Church Fellowship, the event saw more than 100 guests come together to share the warmth and friendship of the day.

After a wonderful morning tea, guest speaker Christine Franks spoke on “Habitat for Humanity”. She shared the story of a single mum of three children who lost her home in the Victorian Black Sunday bushfires. Habitat for Humanity was able to build a house for her, which brought security and normality to the family and provided a place to call their own. Mrs Janice Willis, Chairperson of UCAF Synod Committee was also present and brought greetings.

The Jamberoo Quartet entertained with fine singing and the morning session closed with Communion led by Rev. Peter Chapman from Gerringong.

The afternoon session featured special guest speakers Reuben and Marion Rattray, who spoke of their time helping

in prison ministry with “Kairos”, and of Marion’s involvement with the “Shine” movement. The whole day of fellowship was inspiring and challenging, and everyone looks forward to next year’s event at Mittagong.

Brain matters Mid North Coast Rally at South West Rocks Uniting Church in May was another wonderful day of sharing and fellowship with 60 —70 from the area attending.

Mrs Auriel Steverson and Mrs Loraine Jones from the NSW/ACT UCAF Synod Committee shared their reports and special guest, Linda Grant from Alzheimer’s Australia, presented her engaging and informative session titled: “Your Brain Matters”.

The afternoon session featured Rev. John Squires and Rev. Elizabeth Raine, who call themselves Deborah and Boaz.

They provided musical entertainment, which centred on music in the time of Jesus.

Everyone was provided with a musical instrument and encouraged to join in. A very entertaining afternoon followed.

An update on the Joan Stott Bursary Applications for the Joan Stott Bursary are now closed. Submitted applications are currently being reviewed and will soon be presented to the National UCAF Committee from Western Australia. This Bursary supports young people under the age of 35 who are in Youth Ministry or Theological training. Up to two can be chosen annually.

Dates for your diary •S ydney Day Mission Thank Offering Service: 10am 12 August at Roseville Uniting Church.

•H unter Presbytery Rally: 15 August at Charlestown Uniting Church.

For more details, please contact Judy Hicks: judyh_rnh@hotmail.com

Scholarships Uniting Mission and Education and United Theological College are offering scholarships to assist you to further your ministry skills and knowledge.

“The scholarship allowed me to achieve my learning objectives which continue to resource me in my ministry within the Church — like a cup flowing over.”

Categories include: General, UTC Students, UTC General, Candidates, Continuing Education, Clinical Pastoral Education, Deacons, Post Graduate, Overseas and Library.

There are three Application Forms (which provide more information) depending on your situation: • UME Application Form for Continuing Education • UTC Application for Undergraduate Education • Educational Grant for Short Term Training Applications for the second round close Tuesday August 6, 2013.

Please call for an Application Form or visit ume.nsw.uca.org.au or utc.edu.au to download them yourself.

Offering finanical assistance • Uniting Mission and Education • United Theological College

02 8838 8915 | Centre for Ministry, 16 Masons Drive, North Parramatta insights.uca.org.au

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Belief matters “I believe...”A communal word

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he first word is perhaps the strangest part of the whole Apostles’ Creed: “I.” Who is that I? Whose voice is speaking in the creed?

If you’ve been to a wedding ceremony lately, you’ll know that couples nowadays like to write their own vows. In the past, one of the things that made a wedding special was the fact that you got to say exactly the same words that everyone else said. But today we’re skeptical about the past. We assume the truest thing we can say is something we’ve made up ourselves.

For the same reason, we tend to be suspicious of the Apostles’ Creed, simply because we didn’t invent it. This is why so many churches today are more comfortable with mission statements than with creeds. The thing about a mission statement is you always get to make it up for yourself. It’s like writing your own wedding vows.

In our society there is nothing more conformist than a mission statement.

But there is something daring, strange, and countercultural about confessing the creed. When we say the creed we’re not just expressing our own views or our own priorities. We are joining our voices to a great communal voice that has spoken unceasingly across the centuries, saying the same thing in many languages, generation after generation.

Who is the “I” speaking in the creed?

It’s the body of Christ. It’s a community stretched out across time and place, “terrible as an army with banners,” as C. S. Lewis memorably put it in The Screwtape Letters. It’s the whole company of Christ’s followers that cries out this threefold “I believe.” In baptism we weren’t invited to come up with our own personal statement of belief; we were invited to join our individual voices to the voice of the church.

Perhaps the truest and most important things we can ever say are not individual

words but communal words. Most of the words of my life are trivial and fleeting.

They fall from my lips and drift away like dead leaves. But in the creed I am invited to say true words. In confessing the creed, I allow my own individual “I” to become part of the “I” of the body of Christ.

It’s then that I’m saying something really true, something of fundamental importance. It’s then that my words have roots.

Dr Ben Myers is Lecturer in Systematic Theology at United Theological College

Uniting Church in Australia Presbytery of Western Australia

Uniting Church in the City of Perth (UCIC)

The UCIC in Perth is looking for three new Ministerial placements to form a Team Ministry to serve and lead the worshipping communities.

The UCIC is a vibrant, established and growing Christian community across the CBD of Perth, with Trinity, Wesley and Ross Memorial forming the main worshipping communities.

Other worshipping communities include the Afrikaans Ministry and the Youth Ministry under the stewardship of various churches.

As a Minister, you will work as part of a team responsible for proclaiming the word, pastoral care, as well as maintaining current and initiating new mission activities.

Applicants should be a minister in good standing in the Uniting Church in Australia or a recognised partner Church. Experience in team ministry will be a strong recommendation.

All expressions of interest to be directed to: Amanda Badenhorst (Pastoral Relations and Placements Administrator)

Marked for attention: Rev Vivien Larkin (Associate General Secretary (Pastoral))

Uniting Church in Western Australia GPO Box M952, Perth WA 6843 e: amanda.badenhorst@wa.uca.org.au p: (08) 9260 9846 f: (08) 9328 2731 Applications close 5pm WST time, 29th July 2013.

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insights.uca.org.au

7/10/2013 4:29:16 PM

Culture watch

#firstworldproblems a young girl standing beside a polluted river where her friends are pounding their clothing clean.

I

f you haven’t been living under a rock for the last twelve months, you’re probably familiar with #firstworldproblems. It’s a Twitter site that lists what some might label ‘utterly trivial’ concerns that only impact people living ‘on top of the world’: “I have so much food in my fridge there isn’t room to fit my left-over pizza”, “I hate it when the WiFi on my boat isn’t working properly”. You get the picture.

As is the way of the web these days, it wasn’t long before #firstworldproblems was parodied. An international aid group capitalised on this fact by creating a powerful video showing people in abject poverty reading excerpts from #firstworldproblems.

“I hate it when I leave my clothes in the washer so long they smell bad” is particularly confronting. It’s presented by

The 3rd Common Dreams Conference will draw together people from Australia, New Zealand and other parts of the world to explore ways that progressive religion, including progressive expressions of other religious traditions besides Christianity, can contribute positively to the common good, so that religion enhances human life rather than diminishes it.

The punch line? #Firstworldproblems aren’t problems. But I suspect we all knew that already. So when we ironically hashtag, Facebook and tweet them, how do we feel about them? What are we saying about our lives and ourselves?

Part of it is a humorous reminder to simply get a grip – let’s keep it in perspective, hey? And that’s good.

The fact that excess creates so many frustrations for us should be a great reminder that we have more wealth, more resources, more STUFF than any people, anytime, anywhere in the whole of human history. But if simply laughing awkwardly at ourselves is all we do then we have a problem.

The accumulation of all this magical mind-blowing wizardry didn’t just happen.

The ONLY reason #firstworldproblems exist is because some people have too much while other people have too little. In other words, poverty doesn’t just happen.

It happens because you and I have too much and we don’t share. That’s more than a little confronting.

3rd Common Dreams Conference “Midwives of Change: Progressives Shaping Religious Communities” CANBERRA 19 -22nd September 2013 th

So what’s a reasonable response to #firstworldproblems?

1. Laugh. It’s good to keep it in perspective.

2. But also do an inventory on all your stuff. How much do you need? How much could you give away? Think twice before you buy.

3. Take a look at your income. www. globalrichlist.com measures your earnings against the rest of the world and tells you exactly where you rank. It will get you thinking.

4. Consider travelling with UnitingWorld to lend your skills as a volunteer or simply to spend time with our partners in Asia, Africa or the Pacific. Visit www. unitingworld.org.au/experience for our current list of placements.

The only bad response to #firstworldproblems? Just ignore the whole thing.

P.S.What’s all this ‘first world’ stuff anyway? Last time I looked we all lived in the one world…

Cath Taylor, article first appeared on the Uniting Church’s Transit Lounge site www.thetransitlounge.com.au

To be held at Manning Clark Centre, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia, it will feature major presentations by the renowned scholar, teacher and writer, Professor Marcus Borg, Rev Bruce Sanguin, Rev. David Felten, Dr Val Webb, Dr Margaret Mayman, Dr Greg Jenks, Dr Nigel Leaves, Dr Lorraine Parkinson, Rabbi Aviva Kipen and Prof. Norman Habel among others and much more, including workshops & seminars.

To register online & for more information, including other guest speakers and key event times, visit the website at www.commondreams.org.au For enquiries call (03) 9571 4575 or email info@commondreams.org.au insights.uca.org.au

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Entertain me read this

press play

BIG SCREEN

World War Z (M) Who would have thought a mainstream film about the zombie apocalypse starring Brad Pitt could generate so much discussion about what makes us human, the nature of the soul and humanity’s resilience against the odds?

Jaw-dropping sequences set in Jerusalem have zombies quickly and fluidly moving through the streets enmasse keep the heart pounding as protagonists escape, just barely with their lives.

Surprisingly, for such a high budget film, Brad Pitt is the only star in the film. The actor playing his wife,the U.N. boss and the Israeli soldier, for instance, could easily have been wellknown names, but having relatively fresh, non-distracting faces in these roles plays well. Daniella Kertesz as an Israeli soldier, in particular, makes the most of her part.

Makeup effects are frightening and effective, particularly in sequences set in Cardiff in the UK in the last third of the film.

Reminiscent of Children of Men, the film resists the triumphant ending opting for a more subdued approach, which follows the books theory about a problem that will take some years and generations to eradicate.

Amongst the infected hordes a number of pertinent questions arise: What do we make of a human without a heart, a soul, empathy or the ability to feel or be killed? It’s a monster we must escape from, into the arms of a loving God. It’s a rollicking and visceral thrill-ride to boot.

38 Insights July 2013

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Zero Dark Thirty (M) The film represents the view of director, Kathryn Bigelow, and writer, Mark Boal, that there is no black and white; only annoying shades of grey in the war against terror. By steering clear of the politics and focusing on the people carrying out the mission to kill Bin Laden, Bigelow paints a view of the human experience — the struggles between justice and mercy, war and peace.

It’s this complex look at what the world has become since 9/11 that makes this such an important film.

The war on terror has now become part of political rhetoric and, for better or worse, part of the cultural and moral landscape.

Liturgy as a Way of Life, Bruce Ellis Benson Philosopher Benson explores how the arts inform and cultivate service to God, helping the church to not only think differently about the arts, but also act differently.

Working from a biblical structure of call and response, Benson rethinks what it means to be artistic and recovers the ancient Christian idea of presenting yourself to God as a work of art. This will appeal to people who want to examine how culture intersects with theology and philosophy and to those who are interested in engaging issues of worship and aesthetics in a postmodern culture.

LISTEN

SURF THIS

ReelDialogue.c om Reel Dialogue facilitates engagement with films without disengaging ones faith — helping bridge the gap between faith and culture.

Its group resources have been developed (or sourced) to help people approach film through the filter of the gospel, to build groups that can engage with entertainment in a way that will invigorate their faith and witness.

Revealing Jesus Darlene Zschech The name Darlene Zschech is synonymous with worship music and Revealing Jesus is her debut solo live worship record. The album utilises the Hillsong template of panoramic, built-for-stadium anthems (most of Hillsong’s records were helmed by her). It also adds a welcoming nostalgia with the inclusion of a couple of revamped hymns and old favourites. insights.uca.org.au

7/10/2013 4:29:57 PM

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