May 2013
SYNOD 2013 Royal commission: Bearing witness to the unbearable ProďŹ le: Parramatta Mission
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Welcome from the General Secretary Working together for the common good
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elcome to the new look Insights magazine. We’ve incorporated the General Secretary’s Newsletter so you won’t see a separate publication this month. We look forward to your feedback. April was a busy month for the Synod. Among other issues, we held Synod 2013 at Wahroonga, introduced our preliminary Leadership Charter, and showcased our new Telling Our Story Guidelines.
Rev. Dr Andrew Williams General Secretary
When we work together, we can serve the common good.
Overall, the message seems to be coming through that it was a positive Synod. Some people even commented that it was the best and most hopeful Synod for 20 years, which is encouraging. We faced some challenging and, at times, contentious topics but I believe it all held together well and a true sense of uniting for the common good was felt by those who attended. My sincere thanks go to everyone who was involved with organising and presenting at the event this year and for making it so memorable. When I take a moment to consider the implications of Uniting for the Common Good – the theme that will carry us through to the next Synod in 2014 – I am reminded of our legacy and our roots. We have a history of silos, of people and teams looking after their own
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.uca.org.au
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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
interests separately. Over the past 18 months we have recognised the need to break this down and for the Synod to see itself as a whole and to work together for the common good. This has resulted in us changing how things are done and has given us licence to look at other areas. This thinking has lead us to cast off the ‘silo mentality’ and to start thinking and acting in a cooperative and collaborative way. This lends itself nicely to the theme of uniting for the common good. Admittedly this thinking is still in its embryonic stage. I think the next step is determining how to deploy resources – not just for running our own office or enterprise but resourcing also for congregations and presbyteries. Once this is defined I believe the whole church will get a sense of “when we work together, we can serve the common good”. Choosing a new Moderator is always a special moment and I am particularly excited about the election of Rev. Myung Hwa Park. We are a multi-cultural church and at Synod 2013 I am convinced that we saw a greater demonstration of that. Perhaps in the midst of that we became more confident about saying, “the time is right to have a female, Australian Korean moderator”, and so it was done. I look forward to living out the theme and seeing it embodied in all that we do. any means without the permission of the Editor. Circulation: 20,000. ISSN: 1036-7322 © Commonwealth of Australia 2013
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ence. This is formed by a number of things – our behaviour, the things we say and the way we look. Recently our identity has undergone a metamorphosis. You’re getting your first glimpse of it throughout this edition of Insights. We’ve drawn from some of the best parts of the history and interpreted them in a new and exciting way. The result is the new “Telling Our Story” guidelines.
silos, build lasting connections and ultimately, unite for the common good. In his presentation to the Synod, John Kitchener, Executive Director, spoke of the need for change and how that would would be reflected in our identity. Specifically, he said we need to deliver: Inspiring messages to build faith and a vibrant community. A unified story about what we bring to our members and society. A way of connecting with people who
Who we are – defining our ethos
We are a Christian, inclusive, generous, welcoming, purposeful, supportive and humanitarian organisation. We work together for one cause. We are proud of our foundations, but not boastful. We assist those with less and speak for a more just and inclusive society. We offer a strong sense of belonging and leadership, but stand beside those
contents 14 telling our story
and which does not exclude particular groups of people. This means simple, honest language. It means talking with people not at them. It means talking about ‘you and us’, not ‘we’ and ‘them’. And our voice needs to be inspiring to build faith. doWnload (Insert lInk Here) or fInd out More froM eMaIl@ eMaIl.coM.au
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thread. One that binds us to God, our Church and the community. The ribbon embraces our idea of ‘uniting’ and is woven into our photography. The two tones of colour in the ribbon represent faith and mission. The tones also reflect our multicultural community - in tones of red representing people from the land, and in tones of blue/green representing people from the water.
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Welcome to Part I of our special feature on Synod 2013, which focuses on the faith and mission of our Church. We put the spotlight on Uniting Mission and Education (UME) and UnitingCare and hear first-hand from those who benefit from their work. Part II, in the next edition of Insights, will cover Uniting Resources with Property, other news, and our Treasury and Investment Services (UFS).
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28 mission profile 32 updates from the General Secretary
36 reviews
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Your say
News ‘Dancing in the Gap’ chaplaincy conference A pastoral care and chaplaincy conference will be held between 8 12 October 2013 at Saint Joseph’s Conference Centre, Baulkham Hills. The theme of the conference is ‘Dancing in the Gap’, which describes how chaplains and pastoral carers creatively respond to the challenges and opportunities that emerge from their ministry context. Rev. Dr Brian Brown, Moderator, will join Dr David Tacey, Associate Professor and Reader in Arts at La Trobe University, as the keynote speakers. In addition to teaching literature, spirituality and Jungian psychology, David is also author of 12 books on spirituality and culture. He is an experienced and highly engaging presenter. The conference will be open to UCA/ UnitingCare chaplains and pastoral care workers and UnitingCare pastoral volunteers. For more information, please email Joseph Abad: jabad@ unitingcarenswact.org.au
An important change to our regulations At the 15 - 19 March meeting of the Assembly Standing Committee, the regulation relating to the admission of a former Minister of the Church was amended. Regulation 2.5.3.1 – 2.5.3.4 became effective on 1 April 2013. If you think this regulation may apply to you but have not read it, or if you’re interested in viewing the content, you can find a copy of the regulation by visiting http:// assembly.uca.org.au/regulations
Putting an end to fossil fuel investments A day after calling on the NSW Government to act to protect farming land, water resources and conservation areas from mining, the Church’s Synod of NSW and the ACT has announced as a matter of policy that it will divest from corporations that extract fossil fuels (such as oil, coal mining and gas companies). insights.uca.org.au
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The General Secretary will now write to other Church synods and its National Assembly advocating they join the divestment campaign. To find out more about the campaign, read the story on page 6 and go to the Insights website for more news coverage at insights.uca.org.au
Living is Giving, making a change for the better We’ve been busy introducing a key change to our program. As you would know, Living is Giving is how we join in mission and help you stay engaged with our Church as we all unite for the common good. We ask congregations to nominate the total amount they’ve budgeted for Living is Giving contributions for the 2013-14 financial year. Congregations have received planning forms in April, which they need to complete and return to Uniting Resources by the end of June. We’re also proud to present our new mission focus areas for the coming year. To find out more details, head to our website at www.livingisgiving. nsw.uca.org.au
Want to become a part of the Living is Giving community? You can: •Visit us on facebook: www.facebook.com/livingisgiving. uca •Bookmark our website: www.livingisgiving.nsw.uca.org.au •Call us: 02 8267 4475 •Subscribe to our e-newsletter: Community Connections
The ‘right take’ on Scripture It is simply not true that Jesus was unconcerned about people not having “the right take” on Scripture, as asserted by Joe Tirrell (Insights, April 2013). The Gospels abound in accounts of Him in dispute with those He believed had the wrong take. He certainly did not say to them, “I am right and you are right. Isn’t it wonderful?" Quite often such inclusiveness is merely an excuse for sloppy thinking and a failure to submit one’s own beliefs to rigorous examination. The notion that a person’s opinions and beliefs are as much his private property as his backyard and that challenging them with something as politically incorrect as reasoned argument or, worse, contrary evidence, is tantamount to trespassing, is one that bedevils our present age. Nor is it confined to matters of religion, as anyone who has participated in a discussion on economics, literature, politics, climate change or even immunisation can testify. Gary Ireland, Camden NSW
The pen is mightier than the Skype A year ago my granddaughter and a friend took a ‘gap’ year to work in England as assistants in a boarding school. At first she was very homesick. I contacted her on Skype and the moment she saw me she burst into tears. I decided that I would not do that again. Instead, I wrote to her about every fortnight all the time she was away. She even wrote back a few times. On her return she showed me an album she had made, which included every letter I had written. She really treasured them and looked forward to receiving them so much. I could have sent emails. It was my hand which had written them that made them so special. Marie Standen, Faulconbridge NSW Insights May 2013 5
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hen we think of our favourite stories, we’re transported to another place. One that is warm, or happy, or thrilling, or peaceful. No matter what memories the story triggers, there is always one thing in common. A connection. Each time we come into contact with our audience, our members, our community, we have the opportunity to build the Uniting Church story. The extent to which people understand and respond to our story is dependent upon their affinity with the Uniting Church experience. This is formed by a number of things – our behaviour, the things we say and the way we look. Recently our identity has undergone a metamorphosis. You’re getting your first glimpse of it throughout this edition of Insights. We’ve drawn from some of the best parts of the history and interpreted them in a new and exciting way. The result is the new “Telling Our Story” guidelines.
These guidelines provide the basic elements of the Uniting Church identity – logo, colours, font, language and visual style. They are the component parts which, when put together, form the foundation of telling our story in words and visually.
Why the change?
Our history is built on unity, but we have struggled to speak with a unified voice. It is accepted throughout the Church and Synod that this needs to change. We need to break down the silos, build lasting connections and ultimately, unite for the common good. In his presentation to the Synod, John Kitchener, Executive Director Uniting Resources, spoke of the need for change and how that would be reflected in our identity. Specifically, he said we need to deliver: Inspiring messages to build faith and a vibrant community. A unified story about what we bring to our members and society.
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Inspiring messages to build faith & a vibrant community A way of connecting with people who need, and want to know, who we are and what we’re doing. A clear direction for the way the church tells it’s story. What better way to demonstrate this thinking than with an identity that imbues these qualities?
Who we are – defining our ethos
We are a Christian, inclusive, generous, welcoming, purposeful, supportive and humanitarian organisation. We work together for one cause. We are proud of our foundations, but not boastful. We assist those with less and speak for a more just and inclusive society.
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We offer a strong sense of belonging and leadership, but stand beside those in need. We represent faith, hope and love. We use the phrase ‘Uniting from the inside out’ to describe our purpose. Uniting = in uniting with faith we connect with God. Sharing faith unites us with others. Inside out = From within our congregation out into the community, faith begins within and emanates out.
How we look – the ribbon of unity
The ribbon symbolises a common thread. One that binds us to God, our Church and the community. The ribbon embraces our idea of ‘uniting’ and is woven into our photography. The two tones of colour in the ribbon represent faith and mission. The tones also reflect our multicultural community - in tones of red representing people from the land, and in tones of blue/green representing people from the water.
How we sound – speaking with one voice
Our story is one of our most valuable assets. It’s part of what makes us unique. How we tell our story visually and how it sounds speaks volumes about who we are and what people think of us. Our voice fosters an emotional and spiritual connection between our members and our church. Our values of integrity, inclusion and diversity mean we must communicate in a way that is inclusive, honest and supportive, and which does not exclude particular groups of people. This means simple, honest language. It means talking with people not at them. It means talking about ‘you and us’, not ‘we’ and ‘them’. And our voice needs to be inspiring to build faith. Download http://nsw.uca.org.au/ church/Uniting-Church-GuidelinesDD07.pdf or find out more from adriand@nsw.uca.org.au
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Telling our story... it’s all about connecting with people 8 Insights May 2013
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The Rev. Harry Walker
Boogilmar Mission 02/92-08/92 & Tabulam 09/92-12/99 Retired in January 2000 insights.uca.org.au
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The Rev. Dorothy Harris Gordon
Grafton Goorie Good News Mission 08/99-08/04 Retired September 2004 insights.uca.org.au
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From the Moderator’s desk Positivity abounds in God’s autumnal hue
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range is the colour card that members of Synod show when they agree with a speaker or a proposal. When all the cards are orange, we have consensus. It is the way we say “Yes, I agree”. A blue card says “no”.
Rev. Dr Brian Brown Moderator
In this divine space, on this holy ground, our compassion becomes deeper, our desire more passionate to see the flourishing of all.
I should hasten to add that Synod members were not just a bunch of “yes” people. There were a few things we could not agree about, and sometimes we had to say “no” as a way of getting to “yes”. However, with the Spirit’s guidance, we were able to maintain a strong respect for those who spoke, and hopefully, a safe place for all to explore that which was put in front of us for discussion and decision. The overwhelming sense was of a community of faith working out of its ethos of inclusion, hospitality and social justice, deciding to say “yes” to many important things, including: Endorsing the efforts of the leadership team of the General Secretary and Executive Directors of Boards in working together to bring about the structural changes called for by Synod 2011, and to break down barriers between their respective groups; Affirming Fair Trade as a way to support primary producers in poorer nations in getting a fair price for their goods, and encouraging all parts of the church to use and promote Fair Trade products; Agreeing to act against global warming by the Synod divesting itself of its investments in companies that extract fossil fuels, and investing in renewable energy;
Perhaps the biggest “yes” was shown by the participation in worship that placed God at the centre of the Synod’s life, and expressed itself in a vibrant and multi-cultural way. Each day’s program, which was preceded by prayer gatherings, featured a oneand-a-half hour worship service that inspired us to keep Christ in our hearts and minds through the other matters. I thank the many people who gave so much of themselves to the life of this Synod. More than anything, I personally appreciated the prayer that upheld me and others through four days of intense focus. As I now enter the second half of my time as moderator, my orange card is for the theme of the 2013 Synod: Uniting for the Common Good. My message to the Synod is for us all: “Friends, I urge you to see that we have much more reason to be positive and hopeful than to be negative and critical. Yes, our limitations are obvious, and at times cruelly exposed by the prophets, ancient and modern. Yet Christ calls us on, and calls us anew to a deeper spirituality that enables a more profound experience of God. In this divine space, on this holy ground, our compassion becomes deeper, our desire more passionate to see the flourishing of all.”
Encouraging the NSW Government to make greater efforts to protect important agricultural land, vital water resources including underground aquifers, and fragile ecosystems from coal seam gas exploration and other mining. 10 Insights May 2013
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New Working With Children Check (NSW) to begin 15th June 2013
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he new NSW Working With Children Check will begin on 15th June 2013 and be phased in over a five year period. This new check applies to all those directly working with children, both paid workers and volunteers. The clearance numbers issued through this check are valid up to five years. From 15th June 2013, this new legislation puts the onus on individuals to apply for their own working with children clearance, and then employers/organisations must verify an individual’s clearance number. An individual cannot begin in a new role until clearance has been received. All new employees to be engaged on or after 15th June 2013 will need to apply for a clearance number under the new working with children check BEFORE commencing in child-related work. New volunteers will continue to use the existing manual ‘Volunteer declaration’ (unless deemed high risk volunteer circumstances) until their existing counterparts are phased in. In the majority of cases this will be during 2014. For existing employees and volunteers, you may not need to apply straight away. The new check will be phased in over five years, by sectors. For religious organisations such as the Uniting Church, Ministers and Pastors are to be phased in during 2013, while other employees and volunteers working with children are to be phased in during 2014.
will complete the online form on your behalf). This system will not be operational until 15th June 2013. You cannot apply before that date, or before your sector is phased in. For example, a volunteer SRE teacher will not be able to apply for clearance under the new check until on or after 1 January 2014, when “Religious Services (children’s services)” sector begins phase in. Whereas a Minister can apply on or after 15th June 2013 but NO later than 31st December 2013, as this is the required phase in period for “Religious Services (Ministers, etc). The second step is to take the application number to a motor registry or government access centre, pay the fee (if applicable) and have your identity confirmed (you will need to take appropriate identification with you). The new check will be free for volunteers and cost $80 for paid workers and self-employed people. A volunteer check cannot be used for paid work with children. The Synod is currently formulating a “Background Check” policy that will apply to all Uniting Church organisations within the bounds of the Synod. This policy will be released shortly. Further advice will also be given before 15th June as to the process of registering as a childrelated employer, if applicable, for the purpose of verifying clearance numbers.
Further Information
www.newcheck.kids.nsw.gov.au Commission for Children and Young People is offering local briefing sessions on the new working with children check, including face-to-face briefing and Q&A sessions as well as online ‘webinars’. There are also a collection of helpful dowloadable fact sheets from the Commission website. Those who have already attended the briefing sesions across the state have found them very useful.
Any further questions? Vicki Roper Employment & Industrial Relations Manager (Uniting Resources) 02 8267 4365 vickir@nsw.uca.org.au Emma Parr Safe Church Training Coordinator (Uniting Mission & Education) 02 8267 4290 emmap@nsw.uca.org.au
Applying for clearance under the new Working With Children Check is a two-step process. The first step of application can be completed online, or over the phone (where the phone operator
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here were emotional scenes at Melbourne’s County Court last month, as survivors of child sexual abuse and support groups gathered to witness the first public hearing of the historic Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. In his opening statement to a packed courtroom, the Chair of the Commission Justice Peter McClellan said he and his fellow commissioners saw “the bearing of witness” on behalf of the nation as an important part of their task.
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Bearing witness to the unbearable: Royal Commission into child abuse opens in Melbourne “The bearing of witness informs the public consciousness and prepares the community to take steps to prevent abuses from being repeated in the future,” said Justice McClellan. “For the individuals who have been traumatised, giving an account of their experiences and telling their story can be an important part of their own recovery process.” “The bearing of witness can break the silence over the abuse a person has experienced, in many cases, years ago. It allows the person to be heard and understood and have his or her experiences recorded.” More than 5,000 people are expected to give evidence to the Royal Commission. Private hearings are now underway. Public hearings are not expected to begin before October. Senior Counsel assisting the Commission, Gail Furness, also delivered an opening statement. Ms Furness outlined the types of institutions the commission would be investigating. These include residential care facilities such as orphanages; all religious organisations and their various entities; recreational and sporting groups; child care centres; state government child protection agencies; state government departments and authorities including the police force; detention centres including those that house refugees; defence forces; educational facilities including kindergarten, primary, secondary schools and boarding schools; as well as juvenile justice centres. The parents of two daughters who were sexually abused by a parish priest when they were in primary school told the ABC the hearing was “a milestone for their family.” insights.uca.org.au
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Other survivors said they’d like to be involved, but needed more information on how to tell their story. Since the hearing the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, has announced funding of $44 million for counselling for people who relive traumatic childhood experiences in the course of the Royal Commission.
Uniting Church leaders universally welcome the Royal Commission Assembly President Rev. Prof Andrew Dutney said he hoped the Royal Commission would be an opportunity for healing, justice and reconciliation. “This reinforces for us the importance of the Royal Commission and the way in which it’s enabling people who are survivors of sexual abuse to have their pain and suffering acknowledged and their concerns heard publicly,” said Professor Dutney. “Child sexual abuse is abhorrent. Our Church has a strong commitment to justice and reconciliation and we are committed to working openly and transparently with the Royal Commission.” “We want to reflect our Christian principles by making sure the Uniting Church is the safest possible place for children, and that means paying close attention to any learnings that may arise in the course of hearings.” Professor Dutney wrote to every Uniting Church Minister earlier this month, reminding them of the Church’s commitment to the Royal Commission process and of their responsibility to cooperate however possible. The Church established national and Synod response task groups shortly after the Royal Commission was announced. Former VicTas Synod
Associate General Secretary Rev. Allan Thompson has been appointed Executive Officer of the National Engagement and Response Task Group. The Assembly Standing Committee met in March and approved a Values Statement in relation to the Royal Commission. You can review the statement here: http://assembly.uca. org.au/rcvalues Claerwen Little, the Director of the Children, Young People and Families Service Group (CYPF) of UnitingCare NSW/ACT has been appointed Chair of the NSW and the ACT Synod Task Group. Ms Little said she hoped the Royal Commission was a healing experience and that it would create a safe future for all children. “This is an important and welcome opportunity for survivors, who now have the chance to tell their stories,” said Ms Little. “The Uniting Church and agencies have a long history of working with children and families in need.” “We are absolutely committed to ensuring the highest level of safety for children in our care and will cooperate fully with the Royal Commission.
Individuals and organisations can register interest in giving information to the Royal Commission by calling 1800 099 340, writing to GPO Box 5283, Sydney NSW 2001, or sending an email to registerinterest@childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au More details are available on the Royal Commission’s website www. childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au Insights May 2013 13
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elcome to Part I of our special feature on Synod 2013, which focuses on the faith and mission of our Church. We put the spotlight on Uniting Mission and Education (UME) and UnitingCare and hear first-hand from those who benefit from their work. Part II, in the next edition of Insights, will cover Uniting Resources and Treasury and Investment Services (UFS).
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Synod 2013 Highlights from
Part 1
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o the haunting sound of clapping sticks, the swish of gum leaves and a seed shaker, indigenous elders from the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress and other Uniting Church leaders processed in to the great hall at Knox Grammar School for the opening service of the Uniting Church’s Synod meeting in Wahroonga on April 13.
The Synod of New South Wales and the ACT meets every 18 months to consider matters affecting the Church’s life and mission. This year, the Hon. Barry O’Farrell, Premier of New South Wales, attended the opening along with 400 members of the Uniting Church from New South Wales and the ACT. Rev. Dr Brown, Moderator, said the theme for the meeting — Uniting for the Common Good — would challenge the Synod to think about how the Uniting Church, the nation and the community
used its resources to ensure that people benefited widely and that the people who most needed resources received them.
they are needed and gets rid of them as soon as they become unnecessary, to help describe the approach the Synod should take.
President calls Synod: “Lay down your baggage, pilgrims!”
“As we discern together where the Spirit would lead us next in this pilgrimage to the promised end, we need to check our baggage and work out what we’ll need and lay down the rest by the roadside — with a prayer of thanksgiving for what it has meant to us and how it has served us in the past, and a heart full of joy at the privilege of being invited and resourced afresh to share in God’s mission today.”
The President of the Uniting Church in Australia, the Rev. Professor Andrew Dutney, has urged the Synod of New South Wales and the ACT to dump any extra baggage for the next challenging phase of its journey.
The Church’s core business as the body of Christ was to discern what God would have us be and do in mission. Quoting the church’s foundational document, The Basis of Union, Professor Dutney said the dominant image of life in the Uniting Church had always been “pilgrimage” with its members “on the way to the promised end”. Professor Dutney used an analogy of a backpacker who picks up things as
Counting the real cost of mining The Synod of New South Wales and the ACT has called on the New South Wales Government to act to protect farming land, water resources and conservation areas from mining.
Synod heard how the New South Wales Government had moved recently to protect certain areas including residential areas, wineries and horse studs from Coal Seam Gas (CSG) exploration and mining. However, valuable farmland, forests and aquifers in the New England and North West remained unprotected from CSG and coal mining threats. Speaking on the proposal, the Rev. Simon Hansford and the Rev. Robert Buchan, from New England North West 16 Insights May 2013
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Presbytery, said, “From the Hunter Valley through Werris Creek, Quirindi and Gunnedah on the Liverpool Plains, through Boggabri, Narrabri and Moree on the black soil plains of the north west, the coal seam runs. “The country south, west and northwest of Tamworth is at environmental risk with the mining of coal seam gas. The aquifer of the Artesian Basin runs a phenomenal way, to Papua New Guinea, and the risks of damage to the aquifer from cracking are considerable. They said the decision of the State Government to protect wineries and horse studs from the impacts of coal seam gas exploration was a minimal response to the issue and ignored the
Professor Dutney said hard decisions were currently being made in every Synod, the National Assembly and in every Presbytery and Congregation of the Uniting Church about what practices and institutions had served their purpose and so had become extra baggage — slowing the Church down and holding it back. He left members with a closing thought, drawing again on the backpacker analogy and their approach to carrying books on the road. “Once a chapter finished, it was torn out and left behind…Worse than redundant it was heavy…Allow the book to do what it was always meant to do…Love it for that. But don’t let sentimentality and misplaced principle turn it into a pointless burden.”
realities and implications for those who provided food to much of Australia and to the rest of the world. “The role of the church in this process is not simply to approve this proposal and move on. The role of the church is to be engaged in the conversation, offering mediation in the heat of the debate, offering a voice for those who appear to have none, in the face of the politics and the power of the mining industry. “We are called to be wise stewards of the earth. In terms of our fragile planet, we are facing an ecological crisis. Respect for nature and ecological responsibility are key parts of our faith. Caring for creation is a strong part of Christian tradition. insights.uca.org.au
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Synod celebrates
From the opening ceremony, Synod celebrated together
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A call for prayer
Rev. Dr Brian Brown shares inspiring words with members, encouraging them to come together for the common good
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Moderator calls for prayer as Synod meets Rev. Dr Brian Brown said people’s prayers were crucial for what lay ahead in the life of the Church. He said the Synod theme — Uniting for the Common Good —which is borrowed from the Church’s delegation to the Sydney Alliance, recognised that “we as a church are connected to our wider community, both in fellowship and in service as we together seek the flourishing of all. “In this wider community we recognise that we have both a pastoral and prophetic role, following the way of Jesus Christ. “The social issues that demand Christian response are multiple and complex. They include our treatment of refugees, the disparity between rich and poor, and, perhaps the most important of all, climate change and global warming due to human activity, especially the burning of fossil fuel”. Rev. Dr Brown said the Church “recognised the realities facing presbyteries and congregations: numbers continued to decline and the average age continued to rise; there was loss, and for some groups the death, of all that was comforting and familiar.” At the same time, he said, fresh expressions of mission were abounding across the Synod, and gave hope “that the God who promises to walk with us every step of the way is doing a new and Pentecostal thing in our midst. “All of this means that we need to be organised in such a way as to be effective in the ways and places that our mission takes us.
“It is obvious but needs to be said that if we are to be effective in serving the Common Good in responding to the big issues of our day, we need to be Uniting for the Common Good in our own gathering. “We need both inspiration and community solidarity to carry us past the roadblocks of self-interest and make Christ-like decisions. We rely on the Grace of God, the example and teaching of Jesus, and the power of the Holy Spirit to help us be the best that we can be.”
Moving forward in a strategic way The past 18 months have been a turning point for the Synod. We’ve recognised the need to reform the way we operate, shifting from an organisation working in silos to a united group that draws on the skills and strengths of others to deliver outcomes that are for the greater good.
We need both inspiration and community solidarity to carry us past the roadblocks of selfinterest and make Christ-like decisions “Changing the structure alone was never going to be enough to effect the change we needed. So, senior staff leaders in the Synod have been working together to clarify this vision”, said Rev. Dr Andrew Williams, General Secretary. “We concluded that much could be
Good news story Open all hours St Columbus Uniting Church in Braddon, ACT, was singled out as a first class collaboration effort. This winter, the St Columbus Uniting Church will open the doors of Lewis Hall for homeless men to sleep one night per week. The Safe Shelter project had been developing for two years but hit hurdles around building certification, reluctance from the ACT government, and the loss of several organisers. However, in late 2012, with support from the new UnitingCare Community Development Worker (ACT), the Safe Shelter organisers have been able to jump these hurdles and the pilot project will be launched in winter 2013. On any given night there an estimated 1,360 people are homeless in the ACT – approximately one in every 40 residents. insights.uca.org.au
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achieved by intentionally changing behaviour within the Synod office. It’s clear that recent history has seen the development of silos of activity within the Synod. This has fostered a culture of competition and suspicion as people behave in a way that lacks transparency and mutual accountability,” Andrew said. One of the outcomes from this process is that we have drawn up the draft 'Leadership Charter'. The Charter is intended to act as a compass on who we are, what we do and the behaviours we adopt in order to achieve our purpose, vision and mission. The starting point for the Charter was our purpose, which is contained in our Constitution. Much consideration was given to the wording of our purpose as its definition is so far-reaching in its impact. You can review it by visiting the National Assembly website in the resources section. The same attention to detail and rigour was applied to our vision and mission statements.
Church partnerships change lives By focusing on partnerships, UnitingCare has worked with other Church entities to change lives, Synod heard during the board’s report on April 14. Interim Executive Director of UnitingCare, Peter Worland (who started in his role on February 5), praised the work of UnitingCare staff and board members over the past 18 months. “Our people — unequivocal experts with mountains of evidence at their fingertips, passionate, articulate, intelligent to a T — deliver powerhouse advocacy on behalf of society’s most devalued people. This is our Church in action”, he said. Jo-Anne Hewitt, Director, UnitingCare Disability, put forward the example of a partnership between Singleton Uniting Church, the Hunter Presbytery and UnitingCare NSW.ACT. The union had developed a disability respite service that delivers an afterschool program and holiday activities to children with disabilities, providing them with experiences similar to those of their peers. Mr Worland said he would like to see Synod learn from such collaborative efforts and cited UnitingCare’s willingness to share its substantial infrastructure including IT services to strengthen the capacity of the entire Insights May 2013 19
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Synod in the future. “The challenge now is to find more good ideas for collaborations to grow”, said Mr Worland.
Synod upholds support for NDIS The Synod of New South Wales and the ACT has commended all members of the House of Representatives for their unanimous support of the National Disability Insurance Scheme Bill 2012 (NDIS) and commended the New South Wales Government for being the first State Government to reach a funding arrangement for the NDIS with the Federal Government. Approximately 1.3 million Australians have a profound or severe disability. What is of more concern is that 45% of Australian people living with a disability live in or near poverty (the OECD average is 22%). Furthermore, Australia has the highest correlation between disability and poverty of any country in the OECD. Once implemented, the Synod expects the Scheme will provide people with a disability with a secure and consistent pool of funds in order to arrange individualised and person-centred support, based on the choices of that person and their family. It will be a fair, efficient and effective way of ensuring people with a disability, and their carers, receive the care, support, therapy and equipment that they need.
The price of education funding cuts In September 2012, the Minister for Education, Adrian Piccoli, announced that the state education budget would be cut by $1.7 billion over four years from 2013 to 2016. This announcement has raised concerns that access to education, especially TAFE, would become more difficult for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Of particular concern was the possibility of cuts to TAFE Outreach Programs. Outreach programs ensure TAFE NSW education is accessible to people who face barriers to learning such as geographical and social isolation, language and cultural factors, financial hardship, lack of educational confidence, cultural factors, living with a disability, family commitments or being in a correctional centre. 20 Insights May 2013
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Good news story Built for comfort
In Yamba, a partnership between the local Uniting Church and UnitingCare Ageing has also changed lives. The coming together of engaged volunteers from the congregation, professional staff from UnitingCare Ageing and Federal government funding resulted in the construction (on land at Yamba Uniting Church) of ten, one- and two-storey townhouses offered as affordable housing for financially vulnerable and disadvantaged residents. This also enabled further use of additional community facilities including a playground, community centre, opportunity shop and a function centre.
The TAFE proposal came before Synod following a report from UnitingCare. UnitingCare Burnside has a long history of working with TAFE Outreach to support vulnerable people and communities in re-engaging with education and employment. Burnside’s work demonstrates the integral role second-chance education plays in creating positive outcomes for people experiencing hardship and disadvantage.
Burnside’s work demonstrates the integral role secondchance education plays in creating positive outcomes for people experiencing hardship and disadvantage. In addition to calling on the Government to reconsider the decision to increase TAFE fees, the Moderator, the Rev. Dr Brian Brown will ask it to make a particular commitment to ensuring the ongoing provision of TAFE Outreach courses to disadvantaged people and communities and maintain existing levels of TAFE Specialist Support Services. Congregations will be encouraged to contact their local State Member, the Premier, and the Minister for Education to urge them to do the same.
Early to learn, early to rise The Moderator will call on the Federal Government and Opposition to commit to maintaining the current standards in early childhood education and care (ECEC) services across Australia.
He will also seek assurance that children from disadvantaged families have greater access to high quality ECEC services. High quality ECEC improves outcomes not just in the transition to school but also students learning throughout their school years. Research shows that children from disadvantaged families gain the most from having access to quality early childhood education and data shows that children from disadvantaged backgrounds are often the ones who are missing out on access to a high quality service. The National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education and Care (NQF), which came into effect across Australia on 1 January 2012, plays a vital role in improving outcomes for children in ECEC through increasing qualified staff, quality standards and lower staff to child ratios. By improving access at a young age to high quality ECEC services, vulnerable and disadvantaged children will be given the best possible start in their education. That will mean they will no longer be left behind.
What’s the common good for community? What is community? How can communities be uniting? What is the common good for community? These three questions were at the heart of Ace (Sung Kwang) Kim’s contemporary witness/Bible study held on Monday April 15. Mr Kim encouraged Synod members to remember that the Bible was the living word of God, which should be used to direct all aspects of a Christian’s life — including life in community. It was important to remember that community was not formed just by gathering people together. Rather, the insights.uca.org.au
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“Our challenge now is to seek out more good ideas for collaboration and growth. What ideas does your congregation, does your Presbytery, does your group have? We’d like to hear them.”
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The Rev. Myung Hwa Park
has been chosen as the next Moderator of the Synod of New South Wales and the ACT, 2014 – 2017
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origin of community outlined in the Bible was the community of the Trinitarian God in the beginning of God’s creation, he said. Mr Kim reminded Synod members that community was broken and destroyed by sin. Adam and Eve were attacked and tempted by Satan, he said, which resulted in the brokenness of their community. Mr Kim also said that communities could be uniting through the: Work of Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:3). The strength and power of the Holy Spirit unites us in God’s work. Gospel of Jesus Christ (John 17: 21). Jesus came to communicate with us and teach us how to restore community. Gellowship of the church (Ephesians 1:22-23). The Spirit of God encourages us to understand that we are the body of Christ. Certain characteristics of community had their roots in the common good, Mr Kim said, and this could help the Uniting Church to answer “What is common good for community?” “The Bible teaches us to live in community with others through fellowship, hospitality, love, kindness and the willingness to help one another,” he said.
Meet our new ModeratorElect — Rev. Myung Hwa Park The Rev. Myung Hwa Park has been chosen as the next Moderator of the Synod of New South Wales and the ACT, 2014 – 2017.
Community spirit
Mr Kim quoted three Bible passages to support this understanding: Genesis 1:26-27 — Then God said, “Let us make man in our image in our likeness … in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Genesis 2:18 — The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Matthew 18:19-20 — “Again, I tell you, that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”
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The role of Moderator
The key features of the Moderator’s role in the Synod of New South Wales and the ACT are to: Hold the vision of God’s people before the Synod, the Standing Committee and Synod staff. Offer pastoral and prophetic leadership into the life of the Synod at large. Support the Synod to hear the Spirit and articulate a vision for the future. Act, if necessary, as an agent of healing and reconciliation in the life of the Synod. Rev. Park is the fifth woman and the second person from an Asian background to be elected Moderator of the Synod. Rev. Park is minister of the word at St Columba’s Uniting Church and Canberra City Uniting Church in the ACT and also works as a chaplain at ANU (Australian National University) and the University of Canberra. Born in Il Shin Hospital, Busan, in the Republic of Korea (South Korea), Rev. Park studied at Ewha Women’s University, taught hearing impaired children for two years and then served in Pakistan as a Methodist missionary from 1984 where she ran a centre for disabled children. Rev. Park came to Australia to reflect on mission at Pacific Mission Institute then began theological training at United Theological College in 1988. She was ordained as a Uniting Church minister in December 1990. Rev. Park speaks four languages, Korean, Urdu, Tongan and English and sustainable living is her passion. On hearing the news that she had been chosen as Moderator-elect, Rev. Park said she was thankful for the opportunity to serve God and the Synod in the role. “Like the boy who offered only small things — five loaves and two fish [to Jesus to feed the 5,000], I don’t have much but all I have I offer to serve.” Rev. Park said it was her passion and commitment to God, the giver of life, and the church, the body of life, that had led her to this point and it was her faith in God that that equipped her for the challenges ahead.
“I am exceptionally lucky with having lived and been influenced by four major world religions in my life. I was born and raised in a Buddhist family, became a Christian while I was seeking reason and ideas, and worked among Muslims and Hindus. “When I encountered Christianity, I realised that being a person means more than being with others but to love others as Jesus did. Now my faith in God, this incredible life giving force, gives me a greater appreciation of everything from small and insignificant things to a vast and beautiful world.
Reading Grumpy to make us happy Members of the 2013 meeting of the Synod of New South Wales and the ACT were entertained on the afternoon of April 15 with a rendition of “I’m A Little Teapot”, sung enthusiastically by Mia, Owen, Hunter, Nathan, Lily and Marley – six children currently attending the UnitingCare Susanna Children’s Centre. Susanna staff member, Cobie, then read aloud a Susanna favourite: The Very Grumpy Bear, a delightful book about a very grumpy bear and his animal friends’ well-meaning attempts to cheer him up. Susanna is a long-day pre-school learning centre in the western Sydney suburb of St Mary’s, where friendly and capable staff care for children aged 2 to 5 and take a contemporary approach to teaching literacy, numeracy and science. Synod heard about Susanna Children’s Centre’s most recent literacy initiative, Let’s Read at Susanna, which was launched early last year by the Rev.
Good news story There’s no place like home UnitingCare Singleton Disability Respite Services was established in 2007 to meet the needs of children living with a disability in Singleton and surrounding areas. Part of their work is planning and fundraising to build a fivebedroom sleep-over cottage using land donated by Bert and Janet Ray. It is envisioned that it will be a place where kids, their friends and siblings can have fun in a homelike atmosphere supported by professionally trained staff. Insights May 2013 23
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David Reithmuller of St Mary’s Uniting Church. Let’s Read at Susanna was born when centre staff noticed that many children in the St Mary’s area did not have books or a regular reading-time at home. A grant of $5,000 from the James N. Kirby Foundation was used towards the purchase of much-needed children’s books for a lending library. The reading program was developed in partnership with the local congregation and a range of beautiful story books were purchased. Having access to those books has helped the children at Susanna to make a better transition to primary school and learn to love reading.
“Our journey has not always been easy and in lots of ways the work has just begun,” Executive Director the Rev. Kath Merrifield said. “Consolidating the new team and its priorities has taken time but UME is making progress toward articulating how the Church can work and engage with people differently. UME presented Synod with a video report covering its work with UAICC, Corrimal Uniting Church, Goulburn Uniting Church, parish missions, university mission workers, schools, colleges, and learning institutions including the Margaret Jurd College. Rev. Merrifield said it had taken some time to gain a clear picture of the situation in congregations and that UME’s focus initially had been on providing much needed rural training, but online and cross-cultural training resources were on the agenda for attention in the future.
“We are called to be wise stewards of the earth. Caring for creation is a strong part of Christian What has UME achieved in 15 tradition.” months?
A lesson in collaboration Uniting Mission and Education (UME) has been showing that collaboration is not only possible — it is also beneficial. UME assists the Church to provide education, theological insight, strategy, research and resources for leadership, initiatives, discipleship, ministry and mission. In June, UME brought together representatives from the UME board, Ministerial Education Board, UTC faculty and the UME resourcing team to explore ways of developing a Synod vision for theological education, resulting in changes to the shape and responsibilities of the UME and the Ministerial Education Board.
• The resourcing team has conducted over 45 workshops/training activities and an additional four events. • Staff have connected with more than 500 leaders across the Synod in every presbytery. • Each UME consultant has visited around eight presbyteries in the year including 500 individual congregations. • UME has been gathering Uniting Church parish missions together to share stories, offer support and encouragement.
A lively exercise session run by sari-clad presenters of the Sri Om Healthy Living for Seniors Program woke Synod members from their late Saturday afternoon drowsiness and saw them shimmying, swaying, wiggling their hips and raising their hands. The healthy living program is run in Blacktown by Sri Om and Grantham Uniting Church and has received funding from
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of the recent strategic review were to: •W ork with the senior leadership team to develop a framework, which includes green visions, strategic direction, priorities and actions of the Synod. •A ssist this senior leadership team to improve indigenous alliance and share ideas. • I mprove the functioning of the synod in all its roles. •P rovide advice regarding research and advocacy in the Synod in line with its strategic direction. •P rovide initial advice on the structure of Uniting Care as a function of the Synod of NSW. ACT. In recognition of the need to collaborate, the leadership team will agree together on the priorities and actions, and support each other on the strategies to get things done. “We are intentionally identifying opportunities for collaboration and I believe a unified Synod Leadership Team will present a very different face to the broader synod. “It’s important this work is given time to progress as it’s the first essential stage of the strategic directions work”, said Rev. Dr Andrew Williams.
• UME has worked with rural presbyteries and congregations to offer education, training and opportunities for isolated people to come together through the UME resourcing team.
Good news story Synod goes all Bollywood
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The key objectives
UnitingCare Ageing and the State Government. Since 2007 it has helped older Indian and Sri Lankan people socialise with their peers and develop their strengths and abilities. Synod members heard how the program plays a vital role in improving the quality of life of its day centre attendees. Many of these people came to Australia to assist their children with child minding but as the children have now grown up they feel redundant. The program offers them a place to rebuild their sense of purpose and feel part of a community. insights.uca.org.au
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Uniting for the common good Good news travels fast
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uring the Synod meeting in April, Interim Executive Director Peter Worland reported on projects that highlight the close relationships UnitingCare has with congregations, presbyteries and Synod, as an important part of the broader Church. We would like to share a few of these with you.
Seeking refuge and finding home Syed, an Afghan refugee, came into contact with UnitingCare demonstrating high levels of vulnerability. He had lost two close family members and since coming to Australia he had lived in two detention centres. More recently he’d spent four months with UnitingCare in Sydney, where he was beginning to form bonds with his peers and carers. But life is full of curve balls. Syed was told he would be sent to another state where he would have to start over. He began self-harming and acting out in ways that were contrary to his usual behaviour. The grief he had suffered from the passing of his family members, combined with his forced removal, perceived loss of social connections and ultimately his complete powerlessness had become overwhelming. With the ongoing support of UnitingCare, Syed is slowly finding his feet again. UnitingCare will continue to advocate on behalf of refugees. But there is an opportunity for broad participation from the Church to partner with the skills and resources of UnitingCare to make a greater impact on young refugees and help them feel welcome and at home. To register your interest and stay involved with this important advocacy area for the Church, email editor@ unitingcarenswact.org.au with your contact details.
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Perter Worland Interim UnitingCare Executive Director
Building communities together Since the death of her son, Christine Preston has been on her own — unemployed and unable to meet escalating rental costs. Her need for security led her to UnitingCare, where she embarked on rebuilding her life thanks to the unique partnership between the Yamba Uniting Church and UnitingCare Ageing. In late 2009, the Yamba Uniting Church Congregation and UnitingCare Ageing North Coast Region collaborated on an idea to utilise land owned by the local Church and leverage the resources of UnitingCare Ageing to build infrastructure and services for the local community, including ten affordable housing villas and community centre. The collaboration between UnitingCare Ageing and the Yamba congregation has led to a great outcome and a uniting of spirits for building communities together. Today, Christine is thrilled to have the home and security that she desperately wanted. It means she can continue to
rebuild her life with the added bonus of friendly neighbours within a close knit community that she has become an integral part of.
Living out faith “Libby Davies and her Board, Harry Herbert, and the managers and staff of UnitingCare have done an outstanding job.…we have in UnitingCare NSW.ACT a world class set of services delivering exemplary outcomes for Jesus poor and marginalised people across NSW and the ACT,” reported Peter Worland. “Ours is not a transactional business, we are not just about providing some food here or a bed there, we are about transformation. Just as those we serve are changed, so too are we. “I invite you to look deeply into these examples and there you will also find our Church is changing and growing. In these islands of success our Church is being transformed. “Our challenge now is to seek out more good ideas for collaboration and growth. What ideas does your congregation, does your Presbytery, does your group have? We’d like to hear them.” Insights May 2013 25
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Community and sense of purpose The Sri Om Healthy Living for Seniors Program helping improve quality of life.
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From Parramatta AND beyond: a parish on a mission
A lesson in co llaborat ion
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here’s a good chance you’ve heard of Mission Australia and Wesley Mission, but what do you know about Parramatta Mission? Parramatta Mission provides services for people who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, or who are living with mental illness. Some of its services include: Lifeline Western Sydney and headspace Mt Druitt, Parramatta and Penrith (which are part of UnitingCare Mental Health). The Mission is lead by the Rev. Keith Hamilton, who wears the dual ‘hats’ of Senior Minister and Acting Group CEO. Steering a ship with a staff of over 300 (and growing fast!) and equally as many congregation members is no mean feat, and is a task which faces constant challenges. “Parramatta Mission has been operating in its current form for approximately 40 years, however, its broader history can be traced back to 1821 with the opening of the first Wesleyan Methodist chapel on the current head office site in Macquarie Street Parramatta” he explained. “The Mission’s expansive community programs of today were borne out of the early Wesleyan’s ethos of worship, outreach, community and inclusiveness. We’re now one of the largest providers of community mental health services in NSW, as well as one of the largest providers of community services to people who are homeless and facing crisis in Western Sydney”, said Keith.
Good work in action
Wesley Apartments – a home away from home Opened by Parramatta Mission in February 2010, Wesley Apartments was 28 Insights May 2013
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designed to provide private, long term accommodation to the families of seriously ill children at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead. The Apartments come with the added support of a dedicated supervisor, Belinda Morgan, and have been a monumental success.
Sydney into its UnitingCare Mental Health programs, thus expanding the assistance it is able to provide to people.
“Recently a 15-year-old boy from Griffith was airlifted with his dad to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead. The boy had a life-threatening illness”, explained Belinda.
“Last year Lifeline answered 541,000 calls on its 24/7 crisis line, which is the highest number in its history and we expect this number to grow in 2013 and beyond. In January this year, Lifeline Western Sydney answered more calls than any other Lifeline centre in Australia – a total of 6,247 calls”, Sharon Pedersen, Centre Manager, said.
“The dad spent one night at Wesley Lodge Motel (which is also run by Parramatta Mission), before being offered a place at the Wesley Apartments for a week, where vacancies are few and far between due to demand.
“We are only able to answer this many calls because of our dedicated and committed team of volunteers and staff. At Parramatta we have about 90 volunteers, plus staff, who work around the clock.
“He was quite overwhelmed that he would be directly across the road from his sick son, and then when I presented him the ‘Welcome Pack’, which is supplied by the Congregation, he was so emotional, that this big strong man from the country began to cry. I think the Welcome Pack was the last ‘straw of kindness’ shown to him!” said Belinda.
As the demand for the Lifeline telephone crisis service is always high, we are continually looking to expand our team. We run courses throughout the year — both day and evening classes — at our training centre at Parramatta”, said Sharon.
Lifeline Western Sydney –where lives are always on the line
For help – call Lifeline 13 11 14
Lifeline Western Sydney is celebrating Lifeline’s 50 years of service to the Australian community. Lifeline was founded in 1963 by the late Rev. Dr Sir Alan Walker, when he took a call from a distressed man who later took his own life. Determined not to let isolation and lack of support be the cause of more deaths, Sir Alan launched a 24-hour crisis support line. Parramatta Mission’s Rev. Gloster Udy started Lifeline Western Sydney in late 1973. Today Parramatta Mission integrates the work of Lifeline Western
Help us help them
To find out about the Lifeline Telephone Crisis Supporters Course: m 0427 320 690 p (02) 9689 2860 e training@ucmh.org.au To donate to or find out more about Parramatta Mission, including Wesley Apartments and Lifeline Western Sydney: p (02) 9891 2277 f (02) 9891 4577 Parramatta Mission, Locked Bag 5360, Parramatta, NSW, 2150 e wecare@parramattamission.org.au w www.parramattamission.org.au insights.uca.org.au
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Educational Resourcing Network a shared passion for the greater good
For John, Glen, Sharon, Clarissa, Philemone and Tuilivoni, members of Uniting Church congregations across NSW and the ACT, Monday 15 April 2013 will be a date they won’t forget. It was the day members of Synod unanimously agreed to the principle of a new and innovative education network, one that will help train and equip disciples live out their faith.
We’re all in this together
The UME Board’s proposal is to establish an Educational Resourcing Network that will span the entire NSW and ACT Synod, across all congregation groups that worship each week in their own language. Young adults will be especially encouraged to explore their faith, and local leaders who have served their congregations for decades will also be supported. The Rev. Elizabeth Raine, a member of the UME Board explained to the Synod
that the Network would resource various people. “From a faithful leader in a local congregation who is looking to gain skills for new roles alongside familiar roles to a person whose new-found discovery of faith invites exploration.”
What it takes to be successful
To be successful, the Network will need to be user-friendly and accessible to all faithful disciples who are seeking encouragement and who wish to be equipped. It also needs to be diverse and so will include short-term workshops in local areas, practical training weeks in preaching or leading worship, months-long training in certificate courses, or academic study in bachelors, masters or doctoral degrees. “I am excited about this proposal”, declared Rev. Kath Merrifield, Executive Director of UME. “UME is a new entity, whose operations only began at the last Synod meeting 18 months ago.
One of the first tasks the new Board undertook was to review how we could best resource the Synod through our responsibility for education. And so the idea for the Network was born”. According to Ms Merrifield, there has been a deliberate and intentional process of consultation, exploration, visioning and planning since mid2012. The Network reflects the fruits of that consultation and planning. It is a visionary attempt to respond to the needs of the Church. It is guided by a purpose statement that declares that we are “called to equip and develop lively and diverse followers of Jesus Christ, fully engaged in the world.
United in purpose
“We want to see all of the educational resources of the Synod — those employed by the Synod and those in presbytery and congregational settings — working together in a coordinated way toward agreed objectives,” said Ms Merrifield. “We want to ensure education is focussed appropriately and proportionately on all members of the Church, lay and ordained, regional, rural and urban. This is not about education for education’s sake; it is about education for mission.”
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A hub of experience
Central to the Network will be the Hub: a gathering together of skilled, experienced educators, based at the Centre for Ministry in North Parramatta. Each person will bring their own expertise, and will link with other educators in their own specific community of learning – each with a distinctive focus and target. Resourcing Team members and UTC Faculty will work co-operatively, ensuring regular liaison with resource ministers in presbyteries, clusters, congregations, UnitingCare, and other associated UCA organisations.
Traditional gets a contemporary makeover
To help strengthen ministry, explore spirituality, and deepen faith, the Camden Theological Library, also located at the Centre for Ministry, will offer resources through a mobile library system. The Network will also deliver content using the online resources of the Charles Sturt University, video links and email. For more information about the Network, contact the UME office: (02) 8267 4293 or (02) 8267 4295; or visit umeinfo@nsw.uca.org.au
Rev. Kath Merrifield Executive Director of UME
No Strings Attached Attend subjects - no strings attached! With our Audit option, you can engage with others to develop your theological understanding, without study obligations to complete assignments or exams. Studying a graded subject or earning credit towards a degree is also available.
F3108A
Here’s some of the subjects being offered in Session 2: • Being the Church
• Preaching
• Ethics
• Pastoral Care
• Evangelism
• Biblical Studies
• Christian Education
• Christianity in Australian History
ENROL NOW FOR SESSION 2, 2013 For more information: Joanne Stokes joanne@nsw.uca.org.au (02) 8838 8967
To register: Renee Kelly (02) 8838 8914 reneek@nsw.uca.org.au www.utc.edu.au/courses
Why not audit a subject?
UTC is constituted within the Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of NSW and the ACT, and Charles Sturt University’s School of Theology.
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Updates from the general Secretary In loving memory
a prayer for good health
Welcoming new placements Mr John Barker (EC), Balgowlah (North Sydney) on 1 May 2013
Mr Reg Cadenhead, father of the Rev. Warwick Cadenhead, passed away on 5 March 2013
Rev. Dr Gordon Dicker Rev. Stephen de Plater Rev. Mark Watt Mr Glen Watts Rev. Dr John Hirt Rev. Dr Ann Wansbrough
Mrs Enid Goodwin, wife of the late Rev. Cyril Goodwin, passed away on 10 March 2013
recognising an achievement
Rev. Rob Silver passed away on 20 March 2013
Joy Balazo was awarded the 2012 World Methodist Peace Award at a service of celebration on 14 February 2013
Mrs Margaret Haire, mother of the Rev. Prof James Haire, passed away on 27 February 2013
Mrs Margaret Thomas, mother the Rev. Gareth Thomas-Burchell, passed away on 21 March 2013 Rev. Barrie Howard, Methodist Minister and father of the Rev. Browyn Murphy, passed away on 8 April 2013
calling it a day
a change of scenery Rev. David Jackson will be moving to the Synod of NSW and the ACT on 1 December 2013
What’s happening Midwinter Arts & Crafts at Yarralumla Uniting Church June 28 - June 30. Official Opening at 6.00 pm on 28. Exhibitors, refreshments and concert. Enquiries 02 6281 3396 ; 02 6281 6316
Rev. Dr John Hoskin will be retiring on 30 June 2013
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Let the experts Tell us your come to you story Pastoral Counselling Institute If you’re located in a rural area and are looking for training in pastoral care, stay where you are. The Pastoral Counselling Institute will bring their team of training experts to you. The Institute offers training in a number of areas for churches and ministry teams. These include programs on: Learning How I Listen I’m Going Visiting Qualities of Leadership Each of these programs is designed to encourage members of your congregation to increase their skills in pastoral care. And to ensure you’re getting the most from your training, each course can be be tailored to suit the needs of your congregation.
What’s coming up? The Pastoral Counselling Skills Course
(Formerly Cert IV – currently in accreditation process with ASQA) This course is a part-time, full year course. Basic counselling skills integrated with theology will teach you to integrate your faith and effective listening
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skills to provide a caring link between church and community, turning your compassion into practice. This course teaches people to provide practical visitation in both parish and community settings, compile a referral kit and experience liturgies for specific pastoral care situations. It covers topics such as Introduction to Counselling and Communications Skills. It is also designed to meet continuing education requirements. It’s offered intensively so if you have 10 or more people committed to studying the course, we will come to you – call us to discuss possibilities. If you would like more information on any of the Pastoral Counselling Institute activities please call on 9683 3664 or email to pciuca@ihug.com.au
Do you have something your church is doing that you think would be of interest to the Church community? We want you to tell us your stories, send in ideas for articles and give us feedback about what you think of Insights, because stories connect us with each other and the community in which we live. For more information about we would like to receive your images and stories, and even some tips about how to take photos and write articles about your events go to insights.uca.org.au/about/ contributors-guidelines on the Insights website. Alternatively, ring (02) 8267 4304 or email insights@nsw.uca.org.au and we can walk you through the guidelines.
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Mention Insights when you order your copy of Raising Difficult Children at www. difficultchildren.org and you’ll pay only $20.
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READ THIS
Fools, Liars, Cheaters and other Bible Heros Barbara Hosbach, Fransciscan Media Barbara leads you through a series of short studies (28 actually) on a few of the ‘characters’ in the scriptures, throwing in a couple of questions at the conclusion of each reflection to draw out insights and applications for your own spiritual journey and process. The overall message is that God’s grace reaches beyond our weaknesses, infirmities, social backgrounds and knowledge. It also assures us “that God has a plan for us” and that “we can faithfully perform the tasks at hand. When opportunities present themselves, we can accept the responsibilities that come our way.” Despite drawing on sociology, anthropology, history and a good quota of imagination in a light psychological delving into the nature of God’s dealings with his people, it did leave me with a couple of questions: what task it is that God calls us to and what are these opportunities? Barbara does examine a number of people and situations to help you explore God’s purpose but I didn’t really find these much help. In fact it left me with the impression that whatever I am involved in doesn’t seem to matter.
Bedtime StorieS Phillip Adams, ABC Books Phillip Adams is Australia’s number one autodidact/public intellectual. Add to that premier raconteur, acquaintance of more interesting people than anyone, kingmaker, and most listened-to radio interviewer by people who love ideas rather than those who are ‘famous for being famous’. I love his conversational speaking and writing style — lots of sentences without finite verbs. And his selfdeprecation (“this little wireless program”, “this little book” — even though it has 274 well-written pages). The book is riveting. Because of Phillip’s by-passed formal academia there’s a cornucopia of creative novelties in his thinking. Everywhere there are little gems of both useful and useless information and turnsof-phrase, and stuff that’s close to being libellous, which I’ve filed away to ponder. Like these: “No matter how old you are you’ve a 90 per cent chance of being alive in two and a half years.” “As rare as rocking horse manure.” “Billy McMahon looked like a Volkswagen with both doors open.” “The Duke of Edinburgh had an affair with a friend of mine.”
Greenwash: Big Brands and Carbon Scams Guy Pearse, Black Inc. When I was a kid we used to mix up lime and make whitewash to smarten up the back shed and chooks’ house. How times have changed. Guy Pearse uses the term “greenwash” to describe the rash of current attempts to delude us into believing businesses and organisations are tidying up their activities to reduce their carbon footprint. In alphabetical order, starting with the big financial institutions under “Banks” through to the confectioners and chocolate industry under “Sweet Treats”, he details how large well-known companies in different categories have all attempted through their advertising to delude us into believing they have taken seriously the threat to the environment from their particular activities. The book is thoroughly researched and the proposals extensively documented. He raises serious issues and sees through the sham and pretence. John Atkinson
Rowland Croucher
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Won’t Back Down (PG) Wdhe. Dvd/Bd Won’t Back Down, is a drama about the disaster that is today’s American public education system. It’s not a glamorous subject but an important one nonetheless. The film pins educational malaise on a great many diverse causes, from students mired in videogames, to bad teachers, to an overly stodgy curriculum, to good teachers who have sunk, over the years, into a kind of grinding hopelessness that just about anyone in their position might share. It’s about the battlers, the parents of children who are not given opportunities because of the underfunded system. Starring are Maggie Gyllenhaal as a disgruntled financially-strapped single mother and Viola Davis as a worn-down veteran teacher, who is trying to lift herself out of the apathy she feels for the system. In the process they take on bureaucracy. The film attracted a lot of negative publicity about its portrayal of the teachers’ union. Conversely, rather than demonise any particular group, the film seems to highlight that the crisis is really due to a lack of change. Adrian Drayton
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Jack Reacher (M) Paramount. DVD/BD
Quartet (M) paramount. dvd/bd
The movie opens with the assassination of five innocent civilians by a crack sniper. The police believe it’s an open-and-shut case and are quick to arrest the suspect. But others are not so eager to jump to the same conclusion. Enter the District Attorney, Helen (Rosamund Pike) who believes the suspect to be innocent.
There are a couple of notable things about this wildly nostalgic film that celebrates the gift of music. One is that it is directed by Dustin Hoffman. The second is that it stars the cream of Brit-talent including Maggie Smith, Tom Courtney and representing the Scots, Billy Connolly.
After the suspect asks for Jack Reacher (Tom Cruise), Helen gives it her all to get Jack him on the case and help her prove his innocence. And so the car chases, shot-outs, betrayal and tense lift scenes ensue.
Adapted from a stage play, it is a genuinely heartfelt look at what it means for talented artists when age has well and truly set in and institutionalisation beckons.
Based on the highly popular Jack Reacher series by Lee Childs, this action crime thriller is a little short on twists and in parts is bordering on cliché, but the narrative has enough smarts to keep the pace moving and the action rolling until the end. Like any protagonist film, the conclusion lends itself nicely to another film. I get the impression this won’t be the last time we meet Jack. Despite being slated for taking on the role, Cruise manages to pull off a convincing portrayal of Reacher (who in the books is a 6+ foot war veteran of solid statue). Sarah Sullivan
The beauty of the film is that it revels in the witty conversations about aging gracefully with dignity and (some) faculties intact. The journey to the conclusion is enjoyable thanks to a veteran cast that knows how to turn predictabilities into dramatic gold, with a soundtrack to match. Adrian Drayton
Want to engage with culture without disengaging your faith? Visit www.reeldialogue. com for film discussion resources, commentaries and news. Insights May 2013 37
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BIG SCREEN Fifteen years later, Luke and Avery’s sins will be visited on the heads of their sons and is what gives the film it’s thematic through line.
The Place Beyond the Pines (MA) Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper Ryan Gosling stars as Luke, a talented yet emotionally stunted motorcycle rider in a travelling carnival who discovers by accident that he has a son. Feeling a sense of responsibility, he quits his job and starts to look for work to support mother and son. Unfortunately the way he intends to provide for the family is through crime, which puts him on a course to cross paths with Avery (Bradley Cooper), a cop dealing with his own family obligations.
Sometimes the film feels like interlocking short stories, each with its own lead. The fact that the film spans time means it can clearly demonstrate that actions – of theft, of careless flings, of seemingly random and small choices – have consequences and can irrevocably alter lives. Despite some heavy-handed symbolism there is something about The Place Beyond The Pines that sits with you after you see it. The film asks us to walk a tricky line: with the characters, we must sort out how to live in a world where the right thing is rarely the most attractive thing. Confronted with the same choice I suspect, we, too, would have a hard time taking the righteous path. It’s good for us as viewers to experience that along with the characters, which makes the film worthy of your time. Adrian Drayton
Iron Man 3 (M) Robert Downey Jr. When Stark finds his personal world destroyed at his enemy’s hands, he embarks on a harrowing quest to find those responsible.
Star Trek: Into Darkness (M) Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto As our heroes are propelled into an epic chess game of life and death, love will be challenged, friendships will be torn apart, and sacrifices must be made for the only family Kirk has left: his crew.
For more information: Joanne Stokes 02 8838 8967 joannes@nsw.uca.org.au
To register: Renee Kelly 02 8838 8914 reneek@nsw.uca.org.au
www.utc.edu.au/courses
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