Insights October / November 2015
MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER
MARRIAGE: IT’S GOT US TALKING A LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE THROUGH THE EYES OF SCHOOL STUDENTS
FREE MEASURE & QUOTE!
WE COME TO YOU WITH SAMPLES We have over 50 years’ experience in flooring, both commercial and residential We have a huge range and styles of carpet, vinyl, vinyl tiles and floating floors
Welcome from the Moderator The power of words
I
Rev. Myung Hwa Park Moderator
The Moderator is elected to give general and pastoral leadership to the Synod, assisting and encouraging expression and fulfilment of faith, and the witness of the Church.
t is almost 12 months since I took up the role of Moderator in this Synod. Like a first-time mother, many things — new and unfamiliar — made me nervous and anxious. But with the grace of God, together with generous support through prayer and encouragement from many (and I mean many) people, I was able to witness the presence of God despite my fears. In every encounter I also tried, to the best of my ability, to communicate openly and earnestly the signs of hope and the promise of God.
I give thanks for the tireless work that our Synod’s Earth Ministry does to encourage us to be mindful of our call to stewardship and to remind us of the inconvenient truth about climate change.
In early September I joined with 12 other people at our Synod’s Eco Retreat at Leard Forest in Narrabri Shire, part of the New England North West Presbytery. What a beautiful place with mountains millennia old, birds of many kinds and beautiful red gums side by side with the glorious, dazzling golden wattles!
Sometimes people say ‘Out of sight, out of mind’, but thank God we are connected with each other and with the world beyond our immediate experience. Sinking islands in the Pacific are not off the radar for our Pacific Islanders, any less than the issue of coal mines and coal seam gas pipes damaging the Liverpool Plain is off the radar of many people in our Church!
In stark contrast, we also saw giant holes; mountains of soil removed to mine the coal beneath the famous Liverpool Plain food bowl. Coal mines not only threaten the life of fauna and flora in that region, but they place enormous pressure on the lives of farmers and the wider community, especially Gomeroi people who are the traditional owners of the region. In 2008 our Synod expressed a strong commitment to ecological sustainability within all aspects of our worship, witness and service. In 2013, we passed a resolution to call on the NSW Government to amend the NSW Strategic Regional Land Use Plan so that it would identify and protect vulnerable regions from mining and coal seam gas exploration, and to also stop investing in fossil fuel corporations and move to investing in renewable energy stocks. Surely that was a courageous response based on our belief that God created everything for the good of all creation, not just for us alone.
insights.uca.org.au
Recently I attended the Forum for Climate Change in the Pacific. Young people from the Pacific Islands together with UnitingWorld and Sydney Alliance expressed their concerns for the threatened Islands in the Pacific because of the rising ocean levels due to global warming.
At the celebration of Jubilee at Mascot Wesley Uniting Church in August, I was deeply moved by the active faith and strong communal spirit of our Pacific Island members who enrich our life together as a multicultural church. We are also blessed as an inclusive, engaging and responsible community of faith, which consistently expresses concern for the environment and responds with care and support for people who have experienced disasters, as well as those from many parts of the world who have been displaced. At the UTalk event I attended in Leura with retired UCA ministers, I heard a word of refreshing wisdom: “God is love so whenever we say ‘I love you’, we are actually saying ‘I God you!’” Every time we speak words of care for humankind and the world we share we are the means by which the love of God is revealed. What a calling! Insights October/November 2015 3
Contents 12
28 16 Cover story If we were to believe the headlines, we’d be forgiven for thinking the days of the church are coming to an end. While there is no denying there is some truth in such statements, how we choose to respond is an entirely different matter. To understand what the future could look like for the Uniting Church, we must first understand what is driving the change and why people’s attitude towards church and religion is transforming. Only then can we make an impactful difference.
30
Regulars 3 from the Moderator 5 letters 6 news
39 lectionary reflections 43 belief matters 44 fellowship news
MANAGING EDITOR Adrian Drayton PRODUCTION/DESIGN/ EDITOR Belle&Co SUB-EDITING Ben McEachen EDITORIAL/ADVERTISING/ DISTRIBUTION INQUIRIES PHONE 02 8267 4304 FAX 02 9264 4487 ADDRESS Insights, PO Box A2178, Sydney South, NSW, 1235
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. © 2015. Contents copyright. No material from this publication
4 Insights October/November 2015
45 culture watch 46 entertain me
may be copied, photocopied or transmitted by any means without the permission of the Managing Editor. CIRCULATION: 18,000. ISSN: 1036-7322 Commonwealth of Australia 2015
34 The Uniting Church in Australia is one of the country’s largest denominations. Our vision is that it will be a fellowship of reconciliation, living God's love, following Jesus Christ and acting for the common good to build a just and compassionate community of faith.
insights.uca.org.au
Your Say Uniting Theological College and Rich Harwood encouraged church people to make a personal choice to turn outward to those around us every day, as so many in the community believe they have no hope with their worries.
The next big mission field?
Thank you for the timely and thoughtprovoking articles on the church in the digital age. I love the comment by Rev. Jake Dell (Insights, August/September, p. 29) that 'Just because people aren’t going to church, it doesn’t mean they have stopped asking the big questions of life. The current generation has all the same questions that previous generations have. The difference is they go to Google for it, not someone in a clerical collar.' Is the digital world, then, a next big mission field? The internet has been around since 1995. Overall, as Church we have been slow to respond, at times clinging to the 1950's models of church where it was at the centre of the community. We are yearning for people to still come to us. For several years I have been mulling over how to engage in a meaningful way about life, Christianity, and the universe with the average Aussie (if such an average exists?). These Insights articles have added a significant piece to the puzzle of engaging with the ‘average’ Aussie; that having a full and meaningful online presence as a Church is no longer an optional extra. Rather, it is core to the expression of the gospel in contemporary Australia, and therefore core to the ministry of the Uniting Church in Australia. Pastor Cindy James, Wagga Wagga
Turn outwards to share our fait h
As Christians we need to reach out to people around us, beyond our church family, hear their stories, concerns about health, family problems, their children, work stresses, unemployment, etc. I recently attended a seminar at insights.uca.org.au
As Christians we have hope in a loving and provident God, revealed in the life of Jesus Christ. So we can share our faith, when God has been with us in difficult times, not trying to convert but show love or agape. At Umina, we are reaching out to children and young families with games, activities, craft, a meal and a Christian message. David Fulton, Broken Bay Parish
No one belongs in detention
We admire Insights. As members of Pitt Street Uniting Church it brings us valuable news of the life of the Uniting Church. Thank you. We write to you as people very concerned at the abuse of people coming here seeking our protection. One does not have to care about people seeking our help – asylum seekers – to be alarmed at the situation. The measures brought in to scapegoat these people are now destroying our democracy. The so-called ‘Australian Border Force’ is being used to protect our ‘security’. This Government is very fond of ‘force’ and flags and uniforms. It is fascism being let in by the back door.
freedom for people seeking our help. Let us stop this shameful refoulement (the forcible return of people to danger) that even countries that have not signed the 1951 UN Refugee Convention — we signed in 1954, but are making a mockery of it — are assumed not to engage in. We have a lot of ground to win back. And that is without mentioning the NT intervention. There is much we must do to make this a decent country. Stephen Langford & Pitt Street Uniting Church members
Code of conduct, not Christianity
I must admit I am puzzled as to what is left once Bronwyn Mannell ('Your Say', Insights, August/September) has completed her revision. Gone are the Fatherhood of God and the notion that He is a ruler to be honoured. Gone is eternal life in His presence, and gone also is any sense of our unworthiness and all that business about Christ’s body being broken and his blood being shed for us. Nothing remains but an excellent code of conduct, which we are unable to live up to, and some kind of fluffy newage spirituality. I gladly proclaim that I am a sinner, adopted by God (and therefore privileged to call Him Father) through the shedding of the precious blood of Jesus at Calvary and his glorious resurrection.
And ironically, it is those churches which proclaim this historic Christianity that continue to attract the young people This is not a ‘political’ letter. Both whom Ms. Mannell believe are offended parties are fostering a fearful, abusive society. Even the Greens misguidedly call by it. Gary Ireland, Camden for 30 days detention and imprisonment for people claiming asylum. Our governments cannot be trusted to have Be rewarded for the power of any detention without having Your Say charge or trial. Every contributor to Christianity tells us to welcome the Your Say gets The stranger. The Good Samaritan story Good Lie courtesy may have been more about how bad of EOne Home the priests were, than how good the Entertainment. Samaritan was, but the universalisation of Your Say letters its message in Christianity is admirable. should be sent to insights@ To our shame we are spending about $5 nswact.uca.org.au or posted to billion a year to ill-treat and traumatise Insights, PO Box A2178, Sydney the stranger in our midst. South NSW 1235. No one belongs in detention. Let Letters may be edited for clarity and length. our church be the standard-bearer for Insights October/November 2015 5
News
A welcome first response to refugees from Syria On 9 September, President of the Uniting Church in Australia Stuart McMillan welcomed the Federal Government’s offer of permanent resettlement to more than 12,000 refugees fleeing the conflict in Syria. “We have seen the human face of this tragedy and we can no longer turn our backs. The persecution of religious minorities, including Christians, has been most grave. It is right for Australia to welcome refugees regardless of their religion or ethnicity,” said Mr McMillan. “I thank the many Uniting Church members who have rallied alongside thousands of others around the country for their persistent advocacy over the last week [after a 3-year-old Syrian boy washed up dead on a Turkish beach]." National Director of UnitingJustice Rev. Elenie Poulos called the announcement a positive step in the right direction. “The increase in the humanitarian intake is very welcome, and I hope that in the weeks ahead the 6 Insights October/November 2015
Government commits to a significant permanent increase. The Government’s commitment of $44 million in financial aid for refugee agencies is also very welcome." “The UNHCR says there are over four million registered refugees fleeing Syria, and Germany alone is expected to receive 800,000 asylum seekers in the course of this year. There is still much more we need to do for the world’s most vulnerable people.” At the same time as welcoming the increased refugee intake, church leaders voiced concerns about the Government’s announcement of military intervention in Syria. Mr McMillan said: “Air strikes on a country in the middle of such a dire humanitarian crisis can only compound the suffering and misery of the Syrian people. We call on the Government to commit its energies instead to improving the delivery of humanitarian relief to the region through international aid organisations." The Uniting Church has long argued that all asylum seekers should be allowed to live in the Australian
community while their claims for protection are determined. “Refugees fleeing the violence in Syria and Iraq should be given permanent visas with work rights, [as well as being] supported to access appropriate healthcare and education in Australia,” said Rev. Poulos. "Any Syrians or Iraqis or others from the region who are currently imprisoned in our detention centres, here or on Manus Island or Nauru, should also be released. They too should be allowed to live in the community with work rights and access to services while their claims are processed." The UCA Synod of NSW and the ACT Moderator, Rev. Myung Hwa Park supports the call for Australia to urgently do more, such as being willing to accept 15,000 to 20,000 refugees. “We cannot stand on the sidelines hoping this humanitarian disaster will disappear,” said Rev. Park. “We pray for peace, for the safety of the Syrian people fleeing their war-torn country, that they will be welcomed openly and cared for in Australia."
insights.uca.org.au
News An experiment in living simply so that others may simply live How many snow peas does it take to change a Christian? Uniting Earth is working towards creating two exciting and unique opportunities in 2016, but they need your input.
Acknowledging past hurt can help build a healthier future for the Church On 26 August, Francis Sullivan held a round table group discussion for church leaders at the Centre for Ministry at North Parramatta. The topic was ‘Leading the Church in Light of the Royal Commission Into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (the Royal Commission). How do boards, leaders, church councils acknowledge past hurt while moving towards a healthier future?’ Francis is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the Truth, Justice and Healing Council (TJHC). The TJHC manages the Catholic Church’s engagement with the Royal Commission and part of its role is to identify systematic institutional failures that have impeded child protection in the past. Francis shared some of his experiences so far, in his role as CEO of the TJHC. In particular, he talked about his recent attendance at the Royal Commission Hearing in Ballarat, Victoria. It heard from residents, students and others about the impact of their experiences of child sexual abuse by Catholic clergy. His first-hand accounts prompted a discussion about not only the pain and suffering of the survivors, but also of the feelings of betrayal of the community as a whole. Francis emphasised the importance of believing survivors’ stories and insights.uca.org.au
ensuring that they are accepted and included in the church community. He encouraged the Uniting Church in Australia to accept and acknowledge past wrongs and warned against trying to qualify or explain away what has happened. He believes that religious organisations can only move forward and start to heal, after full recognition and acceptance. The Royal Commission has published its final report on redress. Our Church will review the Commission’s recommendations and until then, an interim Synod redress process is in place for survivors. Rebecca Haynes, UnitingRedress If you would like to make an inquiry about redress then please call, email or write to: Helen Basili, Social Worker, The Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of NSW and the ACT Phone: (02) 8267 4332 (Mon to Fri between 8:30am and 5:00pm) Email: HelenB@nswact.uca.org.au Write: “Confidential” The Uniting Church in Australia Synod of New South Wales and the ACT
One possibility is to spend the year in a communal house in Wauchope, attempting to live a ‘one planet’ lifestyle together. What does ‘living simply so that others may simply live’ actually look and feel like? The other is somewhere between a month and a semester, on an organic property just outside Bellingen, where you can live in your own tent, a shelter of your own construction, or share a giant communal shed. This will be very basic living in one of the ecoaware centres of the Mid North Coast. Both properties have large communal gardens to help you explore the links between food, faith, ecology and justice. You will be well supported by mentors and experts in various fields, as well as contributing your own knowledge and experience. If the idea of an ‘Eco discipleship’ adventure intrigues you, find out more or express your interest at http:// unitingearthweb.org.au/ oneearthcommunity or call Jason (0438 609 097). People of good will aged 18 – 30, who are willing to work together courageously and compassionately, and engage with Jesus’ life and teachings as they do so, are welcome to apply.
UnitingRedress PO Box A2178 Sydney South 1235 All inquiries are confidential and are treated in a timely and sensitive way.
Insights October/November 2015 7
News profile of the town includes a relatively young population, a low socioeconomic status and, interestingly, the second lowest adult church attendance rate in the UK. Telford's rate of 1.3 per cent is dramatic contrast with the overall average of more than 7 per cent. The move prompted Mark to think about new ways of connecting with the local community other than through traditional, denominational churches.
Brenda Baker of Coonabarabran and the Rev Maurine Redenbach of Peak Hill caught up during a break at the Rural Ministry Unit Field Days in Dubbo in August.
Delegates gather to rekindle life and faith Rekindling life and faith was the theme of this year’s Uniting Mission and Education and Rural Ministry Unit biennial Field Days in Dubbo in August. The four-day event attracted about 50 people from all over the state, including Broken Hill, Cobar, Nyngan, Forbes, Coonabarabran, Sydney, the Riverina, Narrabri and Glen Innes. They included the Moderator Myung Hwa Park and Uniting Executive Director Peter Worland. Rev. Karyn Burchell-Thomas is the convener of the Rural Ministry Unit (RMU) and the Dubbo-based Rural Resource Minister for the vast Macquarie-Darling Presbytery. She said the field days were a time of education, community building and refreshment for both ordained and lay church members. They also offer delegates an opportunity to meet and get to know staff from Uniting Mission and Education. Rev. Burchell-Thomas said the focus of the event was on supporting rural presbyteries and churches, and trying to provide participants with information and resources that would better equip them to continue their various ministries. The RMU has operated for some 25 years. It serves as an advisory group to the Synod, providing feedback on rural 8 Insights October/November 2015
“We had to think very seriously about how to do mission work to a town that does not go to church,” he told delegates. This predicament led to the formation of Safespace, a community of 10 – 12 believers who work with people who are seeking spiritual guidance and support as well as marginalised and vulnerable people.
ministry issues. It is also involved in advocacy on rural issues on behalf of rural congregations and communities through partnerships with other groups Mark said valuable lessons had within the church. come from the Safespace project. The RMU publishes Ruminations, These included the fact that small a quarterly journal that aims to help Congregations can have a significant support and encourage rural church impact on local communities; small goers and promote new ideas. ‘missional’ communities can be effective because members can Darren Wright is the Editor of more easily work together, support Ruminations. For a copy, contact each other and hold each other to him on (02) 6933 1403 or account; small groups are also more djwright@netspace.net.au flexible and able to serve others by acting justly, loving mercy and walking humbly with God (Micah 6). New-monasticism leader
guest at Rural Ministry Unit Field Days
A leader in the emerging newmonasticism movement in the United Kingdom spoke about engaging effectively with local communities when he addressed delegates at the Uniting Mission and Education and Rural Ministry Unit biennial Field Days. British speaker, teacher and writer Mark Berry shared his experience of moving into a highly secular community and working out how best to engage with that community as a Christian, because he had found limited opportunities to do so through local churches. Mark’s challenge started in 2005, when he and his family moved to Telford in Shropshire. The demographic
This small group, missional approach to Christian ministry has become known as new-monasticism – where believers try to live a life that points to the Kingdom of God and demonstrates the values expressed by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. New monasticism is nondenominational, renounces personal wealth and embraces hospitality, social justice, creation and creativity. For more information about Safespace, visit www. freshexpressions.org.uk/stories/ safespace Mark is the co-author of A NewMonastic Handbook: From Vision to Practice published by the Canterbury Press in 2014. insights.uca.org.au
News
Coming together to celebrate Aboriginal culture Burwood’s rich and vibrant Aboriginal culture was recently shared with the wider Burwood community when children and adults from many different cultures came together for a Family Fun Day for reconciliation. Aboriginal people from across Sydney and NSW came to support the day, which was hosted by Burwood Uniting Church. Desiree Leha is a university student with Aboriginal and Tongan heritage, and a member of the planning team. Desiree said: “What I admired most about the Family Fun day was that we were able to witness a truly unique, multicultural community come together and celebrate Aboriginal culture." "As I stood there watching people paint their own boomerangs, bead and weave their own baskets I insights.uca.org.au
realised that the event offered much more than this; it provided a space which welcomed and allowed people to share and embrace their own history and culture amongst fellow community members from all walks of life. “The Family Fun Day demonstrates a grass-roots approach to achieving reconciliation within Australia. It is only once we start embracing and sharing Aboriginal culture with the wider diverse community of Australia that we are able to truly grow towards being a reconciled country.” New migrants and old residents alike were Welcomed to Wangal Country by a Dharug knowledge holder and traditional custodian, Aunty Kerrie Kenton in both Dharug and English. Burwood Mayor, Councillor John Faker, spoke of his realisation that there are currently no places in Burwood named after
the Aboriginal peoples of the area, and how pleased he is that the new wetlands will be named in honour of the Wangal people. Aboriginal elder Auntie Sue Pinckham thanked the planning team for the event. “It was a great day. Seeing other mob [Aboriginal people] in Burwood was good for my soul. As a long-term resident it broke the isolation," she said. People discovered the delights of marshmallows toasted over an open fire, and the joys of damper with jam or golden syrup. The Church was open for reflection and learning with art, artefacts and historical information available. The only complaint heard was of the lack of space to actually throw the boomerangs and get them to return – so maybe there needs to be a Family Fun Day again next year, in the new Wangal Park! Insights October/November 2015 9
News The Uniting Church honoured at the ARPAs For the 41st year, the Australasian Religious Press Association (ARPA) gathered it’s 83 member publications and associated journalists for its ecumenical conference and awards night on 28-30 August in Brisbane. The ARPAs recognise and celebrate the significant contribution religious journalism makes to the media.
The road to Paris – A crucial time in history Representatives from 192 countries will meet in Paris this December, to try and solve one of the greatest challenges humanity has ever faced – climate change. The meeting aims to pass a new agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the years beyond 2020. For the first time, developing countries will be required to take action because they have become such significant greenhouse gas emitters. Australia’s actions make a difference because we are the world’s second biggest coal exporter and the fourth biggest producer. According to the Australian Climate Council, Australia is the world’s 15th biggest greenhouse gas emitter. By November, the United Nations (UN) aims to assess whether commitments are enough to stop the world overheating. If they are not, it will point out by how far they will miss the target. A major concern is that the 2oC target is not strong enough to save low-lying islands, certain coastal nations, and agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa. To have a reasonable chance of a safe climate, 80 per cent of global fossil fuel reserves must stay underground, say the Climate Council and other experts. However, the International Monetary Fund estimates that world governments 10 Insights October/November 2015
The Uniting Church in Australia was generously awarded in a variety of categories across our various state Synod Communications departments. These included the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania being named winner of the prestigious Best Publication of spend nearly $2 trillion annually the Year for Crosslight. Also, Crosslight subsidising oil, natural gas, coal and Executive Editor and Director of electricity production. Communications and Media, Penny The good news is that in 2014, for the Mulvey, won the Gold Award for Best first time in 40 years, global greenhouse Feature (Single Author) for her story entitled “Australia’s filthy little secret”. gas emission levels stayed level with emissions from the year before, despite Other awards included: no economic downturn. This was largely •C ross-platform editor Rohan due to China burning less coal and Salmond of Journey (the using more renewable energy. Queensland Synod’s magazine) was There is hope. According to Professor awarded Silver for Best Feature, Jiang Kejun of the China Energy (Single writer) for his article entitled Research lnstitute, China's emissions “Love Your Neighbour” could peak by 2025. This would enable •W estern Australia’s Revive the global 2oC target to be reached. won Silver for Best Theological As the Uniting Church in Australia Reflection enititled “On the road stated in 2006, so it still remains: to Jericho”. Revive also received a “Now is the time that governments, highly commended for Best Cover business, community and faith-based for its October 2014 edition organisations must commit to working • I nsights magazine was awarded together to address the impacts of Bronze for Best Faith Reflection for climate change for the sake of our the article written by Ben Myers planet and all its people.” entitled “How to make gravy: What can Christians do? Christmas for the lonely” • Show our love by joining a mammoth movement to keep our climate safe for generations to come
•S outh Australia’s New Times won Bronze for Best Profile Story entitled “The emigration of Emanuel”
• buy solar panels and hot water systems, or switch to 100 per cent green power
•W esley Mission won Gold for Best Magazine Design for their quarterly publication Wesley Impact
• be energy efficient • use public transport • check your superannuation, shares and banks are not investing in fossil fuels www.gofossilfree.org insights.uca.org.au
From the General Secretary’s desk Is evangelism a calling to mission?
I
recently had to organise a small conference for the World Council of Churches on the issue of ‘Evangelism in the City’. I am also teaching Mission, Evangelism and Apologetics at Uniting Theological College this semester. It’s fair to say the issues of mission and evangelism have been very much on my mind over the past few weeks, which led me to ask, ‘How do we, as a Church, engage with the world around us?’
Rev. Dr Andrew Williams General Secretary The General Secretary is appointed by the Synod to provide leadership to the Church by actively engaging in strategic thinking about the life, direction, vision and mission of the Church.
Our Church is often characterised as one which likes the ‘doing’ side of mission more than the ‘proclaiming’ side of evangelism. As the great missiologist David Bosch said: ‘The relationship between the evangelistic and the social dimensions of Christian mission constitutes one of the thorniest areas in the theology and practice of mission.’ But it remains true, as all leading thinkers attest at this time, that we must try to hold them together. Evangelism is important. I suggest four elements: 1. W ords are required. The message is necessary. It is unique. It cannot be replaced by unexplained deeds. 2. Words must be backed up by lifestyle and action. If lives are unchanged (unconverted) how can they call others to ‘conversion’? 3. Church membership cannot be the primary aim of the announcement. The gospel is news about God’s reign and action not about an institution. The Church growth movement often thinks the success of mission correlates directly to church membership growth. 4. There is no perfect set of words that captures the gospel. Again, Bosch famously said: ‘We may never limit the gospel to our understanding of God and salvation. We can only witness in humble boldness and bold humility to our understanding of that gospel.”
insights.uca.org.au
What has also become clear to me is that we cannot forsake the personal nature of the gospel message which we have received. Principalities and powers, governments and nations cannot come to faith – only individuals can! Making prophetic statements to governments may be mission but it is not evangelism, for evangelism is always addressed to persons. However, the personal response cannot stay on the religious surface of a person’s life. It has to penetrate all the way down to the core of a person’s being, uncomfortable as that may be. It cannot be motivated by social respectability, upward mobility, or cultural conformity. It cannot aim at satisfying rather than transforming people. Granted, the gospel does come as peace and comfort to people in tragedy and emptiness, but only within the context of it being a word about the Lordship of Christ in all realms of life. This personal response that is called for is a call to service. Jesus’ invitation to follow him is asking people whom they want to serve. Evangelism is therefore call to service – to win people to Jesus is to win their allegiance to God’s priorities… Evangelism then, is calling people to mission. Have we lost confidence in these basic truths? Are we willing to be a church that can both act out our faith and speak about our faith? This edition of Insights covers many areas where we hear stories of the Church engaging with the community around it. I hope that our engagement includes both words and actions, and that our proclamation is always filled with joy. As Pope Francis recently said: ‘There are Christians whose lives seem like Lent without Easter.’ He encourages those who share the gospel to let their lives ‘glow with fervour’ as people who have first received the joy of Christ. May it be so for us! Insights October/November 2015 11
Marriage: it’s got us talking W
hen the 14th Uniting Church Assembly met in Perth in July this year one of the major issues tabled for discussion was marriage. Bruce Mullan from Journey in Queensland explored some of the issues surrounding both the debate in the media and the implications this has for our Church. Marriage has been a constant theme in the political conversation in Australia for several years, as part of broader discussion about the legal recognition of same-gender relationships. The increasing public debate was acknowledged by the 13th Assembly of the Uniting Church in Australia meeting in Adelaide in 2012, which expressed its desire for the Church to have a “respectful conversation” about the issue. An initial consultation process coordinated by the Assembly Working Group on Doctrine in 2013 came to the conclusion there is no agreed theology of marriage among people in the Uniting Church and that there was a wide range of views among UCA members. Following the consultation process, a discussion paper on the theology of marriage in the Uniting Church was prepared and widely circulated throughout the councils of the church. A total of 438 groups and individuals responded to the discussion paper.
Diverse opinions Intentional conversations were held with the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC) and culturally and linguistically diverse groups within the Uniting Church. Recognised during these talks were the cultural challenges of discussing such issues within these groups. 12 Insights October/November 2015
“Indigenous people want the opportunity to look at matters slowly, with careful biblical and theological discussion, and not be pressured,” said Rev. Dr Robert Bos, coordinator of the consultation process. While the view that marriage is an exclusive term for the covenant between a man and a woman was held by the largest number of respondents, a significant minority supported a change to a more inclusive definition of marriage, which includes samegender relationships. “More and more people have experienced gay people in their own extended family networks and this has been a catalyst for rethinking,” says Rev. Bos.
A theological question The key questions for the Church are theological. How do we discern what God wants with regard to marriage in the 21st century? The Basis of Union clearly suggests that in the process of determining doctrine, the scriptures are not a standalone authority. John Wesley, leader of the 18th century Methodist movement, did not see all four sources of the Wesleyan Quadrilateral — scripture, tradition, reason and experience — as having equal weight when it came to discerning a church’s theological understanding. He understood the scripture as the preeminent norm, which interfaced with tradition, reason and experience in a dynamic and interactive way. Rev. Dr Robert Brennan, minister at Graceville Uniting Church in Queensland, agrees the diversity of opinion about how marriage is understood within the Uniting Church is as much about the relative weight given to each of the four sources as it is about how the scriptures
are understood. “From a conservative point of view I’d have to say quite firmly that the base is scripture, so that none of the other three can override it.” Those who are open to the possibility of same-gender marriage don’t ignore scripture and the wisdom of the Christian past, but place more significant emphasis on experience and a vital, inward faith upheld by the assurance of grace. Ethicist and progressive Christian Rev. Dr Noel Preston has been publically advocating for the recognition of same-gender relationships since 1974. “The Jesus I follow operated that way in his time and got straight to the point; it was about empowering people where they were,” says Rev. Preston. The second key question seems to be about how we read the scriptures and about which passages or verses are used to support preconceived positions — whatever these may be. The danger being that taking the text in isolation may possibly ignore the original intent. “A mature Christian ethical response takes account of the whole witness of scripture, but at the end of the day it must be contextual and deal with the realities of the human condition,” says Rev. Preston.
Living in the tension Convener of the Assembly Working Group on Doctrine, Rev. Alistair Macrae, said the group was somewhat dismayed that some respondents to the discussion paper on marriage seemed to think that quoting isolated Bible verses addressed the question comprehensively, while others indicated contemporary cultural norms should be determinative. “We argue that the Basis of Union reminds us that biblical interpretation insights.uca.org.au
insights.uca.org.au
Insights October/November 2015 13
14 Insights October/November 2015
insights.uca.org.au
is always an open and dynamic process. Our reading of scripture is nourished but not imprisoned by received interpretations,” he said. Uniting Church scholar Rev. Dr Bill Loader said, “Given that the biblical witness is clear in disapproving of same-gender sexual relations, the key question which should determine current discussion of same-gender relationships and their legitimacy must be whether any new knowledge causes us to believe that the first century believers did not have a sufficiently adequate understanding of samegender relationships. “Do new insights lead us to more differentiated conclusions than theirs?” he asks.
Will the status quo change? Given what the consultation process and discussion papers provoked, The 14th Assembly was unlikely to agree upon changes to the UCA’s current position on marriage. No agreement was reached. Instead, the Assembly committed to continue to engage in a culturally-appropriate conversation about marriage and same-gender relationships [See UCA President Stuart McMillan’s letter, below]. “Doctrinal change is only doctrinal change when it is actually
owned by the whole Church,” said Robert Brennan, who believes the conversation has to continue. “Until it is owned by the hearts of the people it isn’t actually the faith of Church. There has got to be an answer which maintains the integrity of the gospel and still offers grace and hope to all people.” While the Assembly probably will encourage the church to continue the conversation, dozens of other churches worldwide already approve the marriage of same-sex couples. After 30 years of debate, members of the Presbyterian Church (USA) voted this year to change the definition of marriage in the church’s constitution to include same-gender marriage. The Presbyterian vote amends its constitution to broaden its definition of marriage from being between “a man and a woman” to “two people, traditionally a man and a woman.”
An ongoing discussion Convenor of the National Working Group on Doctrine. Rev. Alastair Macrae believes the UCA should do its work carefully and according to its theological convictions and processes. “Changes to the Marriage Act will not determine the Church’s response.”
The Uniting Church in Australia is still guided by the Eighth Assembly’s 1997 Statement on Marriage, which defines marriage for Christians as the freely given consent and commitment in public and before God of a man and a woman to live together for life. While Uniting Church ministers are not prohibited from conducting blessings of same-gender relationships, they are not permitted to offer a marriage service to samegender couples. Ministers are always free to accept or refuse requests to celebrate marriages under the Marriage Act and are required by Commonwealth law and Assembly requirements to use the marriage order of service approved by the Assembly. Even if the Australian parliament were to change the Marriage Act, unless the Church agreed to change its definition of marriage, Uniting Church ministers remain bound to the 1997 statement on marriage and therefore will be expected to refuse requests for same-gender marriage. This article has been edited and updated, but was first published in the May issue of Journey, the publication of the Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of Queensland.
President’s Pastoral Letter on Theology of Marriage discussions Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. When we gathered as the body of Christ for the 14th Assembly in Perth this passage of scripture was in my mind: “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. (Eph 4: 2-3 NIV) At the 14th Assembly meeting we received the Report of the Task Group on the Theology of Marriage and Public Covenants for Same-Gender Relationships within the Uniting Church. This work was commenced by the Doctrine Working Group on referral from the 13th Assembly in 2012. A challenging, at times difficult and emotional discussion of the report and the proposals arising from the report took place over a number of sessions. The Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress exercised its right not to participate in the discussion, but remained in the gathering. The Multicultural and Cross Cultural National Reference Committee urged us through its paper to make ‘space for grace’. I now write to you as members of the Uniting Church to express the pastoral concerns of the gathering for the whole church. Friends, we continue as a community of culturally and linguistically diverse people to have respectful conversations. We will employ culturally sensitive processes, to be insights.uca.org.au
determined by the First and Second people groups within our Church. We have been encouraged by the Multicultural and Cross Cultural Ministry National Reference Committee to allow the space for grace. In this space, communities will be able to, firstly, engage with the concept of marriage and, secondly, engage with the concept of same-gender relationships. We seek to be an inclusive church that celebrates diversity and embraces LGBTIQ people as full members of the Church community. For the times we have failed to be this loving community of Christ and caused hurt, we apologise, ask forgiveness and pray for healing and reconciliation for us all. Christian community modelled on Jesus’ unconditional love and acceptance is what we strive to attain. We know that the world is watching to see how we treat one another. Paul says in Romans we belong to one another. The commandment is to love, to put the interests of others ahead of our own interests. In this next three years, my prayer for us all is that we might listen deeply to one another, with our heart and to the Spirit who grants us understanding beyond human wisdom. Shalom. Stuart McMillan, President Insights October/November 2015 15
Moving forward together
16 Insights October/November 2015
insights.uca.org.au
I
insights.uca.org.au
f we were to believe the headlines, we’d be forgiven for thinking the days of The Church are coming to an end. While there is no denying there is some truth in such statements, how we choose to respond is an entirely different matter. To understand what the future could look like for the Uniting Church, we must first understand what is driving the change and why people’s attitude towards church and religion is transforming. Only then can we make an impactful difference. The good news is the evolution of thinking and action within the Uniting Church has already begun. In fact, some would say it’s always been there in our DNA, but it’s only now that we’re recognising how forward-thinking our foundations are.
Insights October/November 2015 17
The truth behind the numbers In 2013, with the help of NCLS Research and the Synods, the Uniting Church conducted a national census of Uniting Church Congregations and ministers. The results were confronting. • The number of UCA Congregations was down 31 per cent to 2,078 (since 1991) • The number of weekly attenders had fallen 40 per cent to 97,200 (since 1991) • The UCA’s demographic is the oldest among Australian denominations • Almost half of all UCA churches had between 20 and 49 people, and 25 per cent had fewer than 20 weekly attenders • Less than 75 per cent of UCA churches had children in Congregations and only 20 per cent ran youth groups The report confirmed how very different the Church is today. The big UCA institution of the 1970s, and its predecessors of the 1960s, have largely disappeared. But the challenge of declining numbers isn’t unique to the Uniting Church. If we look back over the past few decades in Australia, there has been a decline in the proportion of Australians who say they belong to a church. This is confirmed by the recent Australian census, which showed only 61 per cent of people identified as being Christian. According to Ruth Powell, Director of NCLS Research, there are three ways to describe how "religious" Australians are — belong, believe and behave. All three of these measures have been declining. “Firstly, there’s a new category called ‘no religion’, which has been increasing. Today, 22 per cent of Australians no longer identify as belonging to a religious group. For the younger generations, belonging and identifying are not so important. It doesn’t mean they don’t believe [or] they don’t practise their religion, but the label is not as important and that’s not how they choose to express themselves," notes Ruth. The number of people who say they ‘believe’ has also reduced. “About 69 per cent of Australians still say ‘I believe in God or some kind of higher power’ but this number has declined over recent decades." 18 Insights October/November 2015
The other measurement — ‘behave’ — has also gone down. “Behaving refers to how you practise your religion: do you pray; do you do devotional activities; do you go to church; and so on." "Our most recent figures show around 15 per cent of Australians attend church at least once a month, which is down from a peak of around 44 per cent in the 1950s," states Ruth. So what’s driving this decline? Rev. Dr Brian Brown, ex-Moderator, believes there are four broad reasons. “Firstly, the population of Australia is ageing, so naturally your age profile will match the ageing population. While it’s true there are other churches where that’s not happening, such as the Pentecostal churches and some Baptist churches, it is the experience of the Uniting Church. Without younger generations coming through to replace numbers, decline is inevitable,” explains Rev. Brown.
Young people want more than what we’ve been able to provide “Secondly, I believe it’s a societal trend in terms of the choices people now have. Four or five decades ago there weren’t many options as far as what people did on a Sunday and it would just be the normal and natural approach to go to church. That’s where you’d meet people; that’s where you’d have community. Today, there are just so many other options for Sundays, like sport or going out for breakfast or shopping. “Thirdly, many churches were complacent with their big numbers, say, in the '50s and '60s, and didn’t foresee the coming changes and decline, and therefore didn’t adapt their style of worship or ways of meeting or types of meeting places. So in a society that was losing interest in sitting in straight rows and listening to one person talk, some churches were very slow to get rid of pews and just change the style of their worship, and so numbers fell away. “Finally, I think society in general no longer believes some of the fundamental doctrines of the church. For example, the literal heaven and hell. There are fewer people who buy into that sort of reward and punishment idea that probably kept
a lot of people faithful because of the fear factor or the reward factor. And I think as that has become less believed in the community at large, churches that have just clung on to that have lost people because people just say ‘I can’t believe that stuff anymore, I don’t hold to that.'" These trends aren’t confined to the urban churches. For the rural churches, these challenges are very real. Bronwyn Murphy, Lay Education, Discipleship, and Rural Ministry Consultant for Uniting Mission and Education, shares her observations on the changing face of the rural church. ”One of the initial things that affected the rural church was young people leaving rural towns to attend boarding school or university in the city. We found many of them who left didn’t transition to another Congregation in the city and so they drifted. They also didn’t come back so that next generation wasn’t coming through the church,” observes Bronwyn. Much like the experience in urban churches, the rural church has found that religion is no longer as important to people. “The rise of rural sports has had a huge impact. In the past, a lot of people in rural areas didn’t play sport on a Sunday and farmers didn’t work. Today, people who might be interested in church are now seeing more value in their children participating in a team sport than sitting in church on a Sunday”, Bronwyn said. But sport alone isn’t the reason for the shift in numbers. “The things we are teaching in Sunday school have lost credibility. Teaching Noah's ark and creation as literal history — and expecting children to ignore science and their natural inquisitiveness." “There is also a generational issue at play," continues Bronwyn. "Religion and your relationship with God is a very private matter for older generations, and the idea of communal sharing of your beliefs doesn’t bode well. But this doesn’t resonate with young people. They find church lacks authenticity. “I think young people want more than what we’ve been able to provide. We’ve always operated from the position of wanting young people but only so we feel safe about our future. To make the leap to empowering young people to do something within the life of their Church — when it’s likely that they may or may not turn up and they may not prepare insights.uca.org.au
Doing things differently has been fundamental to the success of growing Avalon Beach Village Church.
Lina, 49. Regular churchgoer
When I was growing up, church was part of our Sundays. In my family, everyone had to go to church. It was our way of life. When my marriage broke down I was left to raise my two teenage children on my own and I found the only thing I had to turn to was God. Even throughout my marriage, God was my only ‘place’ to vent. And that’s why I go to church today. I feel guilty if I miss church; guilty in the sense that I can’t take God with me through the next week. For me there is nothing more important than church. These days I think people are becoming so self-obsessed with themselves; they’re just so involved with their own personal life that they’re not making time for church. They seem to be finding ‘issues’ with the church and use that as an excuse not to go. I’m really grateful to my parents for planting that seed in me when I was younger and now I’m doing the same with my children.
Nicole, 33. Returned to church I grew up always going to church. My parents forced me to go – not negotiable. So when I moved out of home at age 25, I decided to stop going. I still believed in God but I found it boring. Really boring, and I hated the singing!
When it came time to get married, I wanted to do it in a church. The sacraments still held significance for me. So I returned. But it wasn’t until my daughter was around one year old that I thought “I need to do what my parents did for me – I need to bring her back to church”. And so I came back regularly. Church gives me hope; a sense of peace. I feel like there is a sense of community. It’s not preachy. The services are more like discussions around everyday things that you might read in a self-help book on how to be a better person. And there’s no sense of guilt. Everyone is so relaxed and no-one takes themselves too seriously. Church is always comfortably full. I think the church needs to become more modern. It’s got to evolve with time and be more reflective on how society is. To shake itself from the old.
20 Insights October/November 2015
insights.uca.org.au
— sends the 'empire builders' spinning because they’ve always been reliable. It’s a highly complex issue.” NCLS Research director Ruth Powell supports the notion of generational change as a driver of decline. “I don’t think we realised how significant the social and cultural changes of the '60s were,” states Ruth. "Before then when people left the church for whatever reason, they always came back and brought their children with them. From the '60s onwards, when people left they didn’t come back nor did their children. And with each generation, it’s getting worse. “It’s through the family that faith gets passed on. So if your parents aren’t connected, it’s really hard for the next generation to receive faith and pass on faith."
The other side to the story The Uniting Church is a tale of two stories. One speaks of decline and the challenge of engagement, while the other recounts the great and wonderful ministry and mission the Uniting Church does within local communities. “I would say we are at the forefront of ministry and mission”, explains Rev. Brown. “Theologically, the Uniting Church has been very open to embracing what I call ‘progressive theology’. This is a much more open and inclusive way of understanding the Christian faith. "It’s not based on reward and punishment but instead on calling people to a Christ-like lifestyle — basing faith on the life of Jesus and the example of Jesus,” states Rev. Brown. The Uniting Church is renowned for its strong position on social justice, social service, the environment, asylum seekers, gender equality, multiculturalism and inclusion. This provides the Church with the opportunity to engage a broader reach of people who share the Church’s views and stance on community issues, including Christians from other churches and people from outside the Church. “We recognise that society in general is engaging in social justice issues and we like to be strong on social justice," says Rev. Brown. “On asylum seekers we’re very out there in terms of saying we don’t believe in offshore detention. We don’t believe in people being kept in detention. insights.uca.org.au
"It’s a complex issue, but we take a stand there. “When it comes to gender equality, I think the Uniting Church is way ahead of most denominations. The critical and social justice issues of, say, the environment and global warming — we are very clear what we believe. “And then there is the whole social service arena. Uniting Care, Wesley Mission, the Social Justice Forum and our other mission congregations have a very strong focus on service that recognises the gap between rich and poor and the need to have effective service organisation for people who are ageing, people with disabilities, families in crisis, children in detention, affordable housing, and domestic violence. We are very strong across all these areas and I believe that is where the Uniting Church truly shines,” explains Rev. Brown. Setting aside its strong position on social justice issues, the Uniting Church is also making headway in trying new initiatives to engage Congregations and people from outside the Church. Initiatives like Men’s Sheds and food barns in rural Congregations are just two examples of how we’re engaging in a different way.
Energy to go into new ways of engaging with the community At a Synod level, we’re creating opportunities to connect with young people to be energised and equipped to return to their local communities. Some of these include regional gatherings, training events, Yurora (NCYC 2017) and Plunge — a one-year gap course for 18–23 year olds. For Fiona Blair, Pastor at Avalon Beach Village Church, doing things differently has been fundamental to the success of growing her Congregation. When she came to Avalon, the morning Congregation was only 20-strong and the afternoon was smaller. The response to decline at Avalon was an initiative of Pittwater Uniting, a local, larger church. To reinvigorate the dwindling worship community, Fiona and her team planted an afternoon Congregation. Having spent her child and adult years in large, thriving Congregations, the
concept of decline felt foreign. “When I came on board I admit I was in denial about decline. But here I was sitting in a circle thinking, ‘This can’t just be about six people,’” recalls Fiona. “I realised we had to become one family, not two Congregations with a different sense of purpose. The afternoon Congregation would provide the life and the morning Congregation the stable base for the life to grow. Almost at once I noticed a change in mindset. We no longer had a ‘decline’ mentality. The people in the church expected to grow. “Both the morning and afternoon congregations have grown in numbers and we get new people almost every week without fail. Between the two congregations there is no sense of ‘we don’t do things like that’ or ‘we don’t worship that way’. There’s this beautiful family thing going on. I saw this as the only way forward. If we’d cut ties with one another and tried to do our own thing, we’d both have failed. Together we’re owning what it is to grow,” reflects Fiona.
Moving forward, together To move forward, we need to accept that we are not the same church as we were in the 1970s, and cannot afford to think and act as if we were. While change may be easily accepted by some, for the majority it can be unwelcomed and uncomfortable and we need to recognise and accept that. But things don’t happen by chance and great outcomes are often born from a change in mindset. On the question of how we move a mass of people back to church, Rev. Brown suggests “a critical change of thinking” has to happen. “We’ve discovered that trying to get people back to church is not working and is probably the wrong question to ask." "I think there’s some recognition now that the way forward is not to get people back to church, but to get people in the church into the community,” suggests Rev. Brown. The dilemma is that with shrinking numbers and shrinking resources, many Congregations don’t have that many people who can effectively get themselves out into the community and exercise ministry in a Christ-centred way. “This approach will lead to a Church that looks quite different in 20 or 30 years’ time to what we have now. We’ve Insights October/November 2015 21
got a lot of adapting to do, and some of that is starting to happen with things like young leaders coming through." “Our energy has to go into new ways of engaging with the community. It will evolve eventually, it’s just a matter of how much bleeding is going to happen before it does. I think the set-up where the Church was the stable centre of the community, and one of the power brokers, is not there now or at least it’s dramatically declined.” Shifting the focus to being more community-centred resonates with the rural experience, according to Bronwyn. “Rural congregations have got to accept that young people don't want what we’re currently offering on a Sunday morning. That's hard for us. And so what that's going to evolve into is anyone's guess, but it will be far more relational and authentic than anything we've known, and it will probably be a lot more creative. Church as we know it will still exist in some form, but it can’t survive in its current form." “The Church needs to turn so it’s outward facing and lose its fear about itself; fear of who will run the committee and keep worship going in the same way. It needs to turn its eyes to the community where it belongs and become life-giving. Ask yourself: ‘What can I put down in order to leave space for someone to do something new?’ Is killing yourself to run the Church what you think God is asking of you? You need to give yourself permission to stop; to let some things go and to open up to new ways. “I think the future will be social justice and committing to something that’s more than just yourself and your own program. This is where we shine and it’s in our DNA. The movement like Yurora creates opportunities for relationships to grow. They're attracting large numbers of young people who want to contribute and they want to make a difference. We need to embrace that." Bradon French, Next Gen Consultant at Uniting Mission and Education, believes leadership and organisational structures are a barrier to fully engaging young people within the Church. “Our systems are over-crowded and out-dated. I meet young people within communities of faith who have passion and vision for our movement. I look forward to the Church they will shape." “The Church has the opportunity to develop resilient families, to point young people to Jesus and to create spaces 22 Insights October/November 2015
where all generations can learn, play, laugh and cry together. Ultimately, the Church can add colour to a black and white world." Ruth Powell believes we’re in a stage of experimentation. “Some things will work better than others and that’s okay. Local church communities are getting better at using the internet. Churches that have got their head around using Facebook for communicating means they talk to young people who are not at church every week. There’s so many possibilities; churches are experimenting and having a go."
Together we can write our own headlines for the future “We’re time poor and I think that churches have to be realistic about that and experiment. For example, having Sunday afternoon services because it means we can connect with families. They can get up late, go and have a family lunch, do their sporting thing, then come to Sunday afternoon. It’s not just a copout; it’s a reality of today’s life. “What makes a healthy Church is where there is a strong, shared sense of clear and owned vision for the future. If you have leadership that is equipping and empowering, you find a Church that is growing, that is attracting people. Where people feel they belong, they’re growing in their faith [and] they are connecting with their community. The same principles apply to rural and urban churches. “Acceptance is a stage of grief. I hope that we can keep finding the courage to plant the seeds for the future. If we don’t do it now the generational issues will keep growing. We should be asking ourselves: 'What can we do that impacts young people and supports families in faith formation, to create communities that people can be part of to do their faith journey with — what does that look like in today’s society?'," asks Ruth. "This is our reality and it’s time we got back to basics and actually do what we’re supposed to be doing. Let’s continue to celebrate where there are positive responses. Let’s not focus on the decline of the institution but embrace positive stories of people being faithful and participating in God’s mission."
Pete, 47. Left the church
When I was growing up I used to go to church with my mother and grandmother every Sunday. I didn't necessarily enjoy it, and the whole idea of having to dress up and go to church just wasn't something that excited me. And sitting around listening to some guy preach just didn't grab me. When my dad died my mother lost her ‘spiritual drive’. In a way she blamed God — why would he have done that? And so we stopped going to church. When my first son was born my wife and I decided to have him christened. We wanted him to have some sort of Christian foundation. But we were made to feel so guilty that we were left feeling quite angry. We were told that we could christen our first born but no other children if we weren’t going to set the right example and come to church regularly. Since that experience there has been nothing to draw me back. I always feel there is something missing in my life from a spiritual perspective and wonder if religious people experience more ‘fullness’ in terms of what they do. But I guess I’m still stuck in my old ways of thinking about the church and how a service is run. I feel like I'm a decent person, leading life with a strong sense of values, and I question what more will I gain from engaging more with my church? What would it take for me to return? I think it would need to be led by someone that I feel I could connect with; someone with a more modern way of thinking. Not having someone preach at me but discuss what’s going on in the community and how, as a collective, we could help and support each other to deal with challenges.
Sarah Sullivan insights.uca.org.au
"Both the morning and afternoon congregations have grown in numbers and we get new people almost every week without fail." - Pastor Fiona Blair (pictured below left)
Darling River Tour God's creation, issues of sustainability, and us
F
or nine days in August, a group of 35 from NSW, ACT and Victoria set out on a journey along the Darling River. The group departed from Dubbo and followed the course of the Darling — as it weaves its way through rural Australian to the junction with the Murray River at Wentworth — before returning to Dubbo via Broken Hill and Cobar. Their goal: to experience the river and outback, learn about life in the Basin, and meet with churches and communities along the way. Together they grappled with perspectives on water use, land use and other complex issues, and reflected and shared about who we are in Creation and what God is doing in western NSW.
DIVERSITY AND COMPETING NEEDS Phill Matthews, Narrabri The Darling River tour was bigger than last year’s Murray River tour – with two buses, two trailers and two 4x4s. Our participants came from many places and not all were church attenders. There were farmers, eco-ministers, First Nation leaders, and Moderators past and present. Hearing the commentary on the road was informative for me because as Rural Chaplain, I drive these roads. I now know better what is happening ecologically – dry creek beds are okay; they are there for when it rains to move water across the landscape. In 2012, the Menindee lakes were full and the banks covered with recreational vehicles. Today, bird numbers are down and just a trickle runs through the gates of the lake. This is hard on those in tourism, but this is how it is. The lakes, like the creeks, fill only when it floods. The problem is that Broken Hill needs water from the lake for its town water supply. But others want a lake system for boating and fishing or just that 24 Insights October/November 2015
great feeling of sitting next to water. These are the issues the Synod’s MDB group is listening to: God’s creation, and people’s needs for farming, living and playing. These claims are all important, but who will share? Can we all have our needs met always?
The isolation of the people who live in this part of the country was very apparent MEASURING OUT TIME IN THIS ANCIENT LAND Margaret and Ivan Roberts, Sydney We gathered high on the ‘Walls of China’, the enormous sand dune on the shores of Lake Mungo’s ancient dry lake bed, home to Mungo Lady, who walked this land more than 40,000 years ago. Paakantyi elder Graham Clarke crouched on his haunches, smoothed some sand and began to draw a circle that spiralled out into ever larger and larger circles. Graham looked up into our faces and suggested as, one by one, the circles spiralled out beneath his fingertip, we later-comers have divided time into circles of hours and days, seasons and years, even life-spans; but for Indigenous people, time is measured in millennia. Looking up from Graham’s drawing in the sand, we slowly rotated our bodies taking in the uninterrupted 360-degree horizon stretching off in all directions across the plain of this vast and ancient land. One could not fail to be moved by the eternal mystery that surrounds us all. Despite the seeming insignificance of one’s own existence against the endless sweep of the horizon, or knowledge of the eons of time past since Mungo Lady walked this land,
we also became aware that we were part of a bigger picture including, but also beyond, ourselves. We were in relationship with a deeper reality that gave meaning to our existence and clothed all humankind with dignity. As we walked down from the Walls of China to the dry lake bed below, we began to feel the deep sense of connectedness the First Peoples have with the earth, and the responsibility we all share in caring for the well-being of all creation entrusted to us in our shared humanity.
ISOLATION, RESILIENCE AND HOSPITALITY Myra Cowell, Finley Not long into the tour we got a feeling of the vast distances which the people iving out there have to cope with. It's a long way between towns. Mostly these were communities of a few houses and a hotel which was also the general store. Not the general conveniences which some people on the tour were used to! There were long, dusty, corrugated roads to travel. When it rains these are impassable, adding to the isolation. The Darling River is a vital part of these communities. The isolation of the people who live in this part of the country was very apparent; however the people seemed to take this in their stride. On a station south of Menindee, we heard about the difficulties obtaining permission to move the pump in the drought. The usual waterhole had dried up, costing time and money to access stock and domestic water. Here, they rely on a generator for electricity. Very special people live in this country. Despite the tyranny of distance and isolation, they love where they live, and they are happy to share their stories. The hospitality and resilience of these wonderful people can only be admired. insights.uca.org.au
insights.uca.org.au
Insights October/November 2015 25
THE SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGE John Williams, Canberra The pilgrimage down the Darling reinforced for me the difficult dilemmas that face us as Australians seeking to live sustainably on this continent. The Darling Basin is huge and very flat, with only about 100 metres of fall over the 1,600 kilometres from Bourke to the Great Southern Ocean. Most of the landscapes we saw were floodplains of ancient rivers, which had carved many prior stream channels that served wetter and dryer climates of long ago. Past flood levels at the tops of tall red river gums and old buildings tell of a hugely variable climate. This is how the Darling works — large floods fill these landscapes only to slowly empty as water flows back to the main channels and down to the river, or remains behind to be evaporated. The river’s health and its ecology thrive on this sequence of floods and droughts. It is very hard for us to build stable communities in these environments. Regulating flows cannot be done easily on the Darling, and the use 26 Insights October/November 2015
of naturally ephemeral lakes like those around Menindee has lots of problems. Unfortunately, decades of research into hydrology, ecology and geomorphology tell us that engineering interventions like these will not always help and can even make the problems far worse.
It is very hard for us to build stable communities in these environments Science is telling us a hard message: we have run out of easy solutions and need to make difficult adjustments. I can see great resilience in communities and opportunities for our faith communities to work with and support our people in building knowledge and human capital, to plan and find new solutions to living and prospering in the boom and bust of the Darling Basin.
WHO SPEAKS FOR THE RIVER? David Reichardt, Sydney Ten years ago I criss-crossed the Basin for several months, asking
groups of people from Uniting Church congregations about how they related their Christian faith to the environment in which they lived. The wonderful tour our diverse group has just enjoyed has taught me that attitudes are, as they were then, basically anthropocentric. While it was important and valuable to hear these stories of people living in the Darling Basin, and while each of them has its own validity and value as our society wrestles with how to do justice to jostling interests, I found myself thinking, 'Thank God that we’re learning to talk with each other, at least in the Uniting Church.' But in this discussion, who speaks for the interests of the Basin’s biota? Who speaks for the river? The Darling River Tour was organised by the Synod’s Murray Darling Basin (MDB) Group. The group is taking forward the Synod’s vision for our Church to be a transforming presence for the common good in the Murray Darling Basin. Please visit http://www. unitingearthweb.org.au/murraydarling for information about the group and future MDB tours. insights.uca.org.au
COME HOLY SPIRIT, RENEW OUR HEARTS The theme for the Synod Meeting 2016 follows on from the Triennial Assembly in Perth which was “Hearts on Fire”. The Moderator Rev. Myung Hwa Park has said of the Synod Meeting 2016 theme “Come Holy Spirit, Renew our Hearts,” that as we meet, we wait on the Holy Spirit Spirit to enliven and renew our sense of mission, purpose and calling in our communities and our state. The Moderator’s liturgy for the event bears witness to her encouragement for the members meeting at the event:
Come, Holy Spirit, Renew our hearts renew our faith; renew our love for you; renew our openness and compassion; renew our sense of justice . Come, Holy Spirit, Renew your Church renew our love for the Gospel; renew the liveliness of our worship; renew our commitment for the care for the poor; renew the church in its understanding of its calling. Come, Holy Spirit, Renew the Earth teach us to protect our environment teach us to care for other people as our own brothers and sisters; teach us to imagine all living things as we are connected to each other; So may the peoples and all living things live in harmony with the earth.
WE’VE LAUNCHED THE SYNOD MEETING 2016 WEBSITE The website for the Synod Meeting has been launched. Check www.Synod2016.uca.org.au for all the regular updates and news on the event. Soon representatives elected by their presbyteries to attend the event will be sent information about how to register
MINISTRY MATTERS P lacement Vacancies as at 1 October 2015.
At the time of print the following placements have submitted profiles to the Placements Committee and are either in, or soon to be in, the process of seeking to fill a ministry vacancy. Placements are available to specified ministers of the UCA. These placements are listed as being suitable for a Pastor under Regulation 2.3.3(a)(ii). A non-ordained minister may offer to serve in an approved placement through a written application to the Synod. Expressions of interest may be made in writing to the Associate Secretary, Rev. Jane Fry, janef@nsw.uca.org.au or to the Presbytery’s Placement Committee representative.
CANBERRA REGION Eurobodalla 70% (ADVERTISED) South Woden (ADVERTISED) Weston Creek (up to 80%)
KU-RING-GAI PRESBYTERY St Ives Mt Colah Normanhurst
FAR NORTH COAST PRESBYTERY Lismore Regional Mission (ADVERTISED)
NEW ENGLAND NORTH WEST Narrabri
GEORGES RIVER PRESBYTERY Bardwell Park Caringbah Engadine 80% Brighton-Kogarah
insights.uca.org.au
PARRAMATTA-NEPEAN Northmead West Epping SYDNEY PRESBYTERY Tonga Parish
THE HUNTER PRESBYTERY Hunter Presbytery Officer (ADVERTISED) OTHER Multicultural Consultant – Uniting Mission and Education (ADVERTISED) Pymble Ladies College Chaplain (ADVERTISED) Chaplain Arrunga (Ermington) & Thomas Bowden (ADVERTISED) UnitingCare Ageing Chaplaincy - Central Coast West Emu Plains (ADVERTISED)
Chaplain Springwood Village Aged Care Facility (ADVERTISED) UnitingCare Ageing - Chaplain Bowden Brae (Normanhurst) (ADVERTISED) Illawarra South Hub Chaplain – Farmbourough Aged Care (Unanderra) and Elanora Care Facility (Shellharbour) (ADVERTISED)
Insights October/November 2015 27
A life-changing experience through the eyes of school students
S
ince 2012, Sydney’s Ravenswood School for Girls has offered Year 11 students the opportunity to travel to Cambodia, with boys from Knox Grammar School. All students are required to raise a minimum of $800 for MatesAbroad, the NGO that works with CVCD (Cambodian Volunteers for Community Development) in Cambodia. While in Cambodia, the students visit five schools run by CVCD — teaching lessons and assisting in the classroom with one-on-one reading. As part of the immersion, students take part in a number of cultural activities and visit places of significance such as Tuol Sleng, the Killing Fields and the Temples of Angkor. Genevieve and Emma were two year 11 students who experienced the wonder, challenges and beauty of Cambodia this year. This is their story. Our first morning was spent visiting the Royal Palace and testing our limited Khmer (the Cambodian language) in the Russian Markets. This was followed by visits to Tuol Sleng and the Killing Fields, sites of horror and destruction in the 1970s under the regime of the Khmer Rouge. At the end of each day, a reflection session was led by one of our three fantastic teachers. After our first day, the general feeling of reflection was sadness. However, we were all amazed by how warm and happy the Cambodian people were.
The next day we began teaching. Our first school was in a community called Phoum Boun, the poorest that we would visit. We were greeted with the smell of rotting food and dirt. The community is situated to the side of a working train line. The tin shacks that housed our students for the day were in stark contrast to the modern, multi-national company skyscrapers that were barely a kilometre away. We taught two lessons and played with the children after class. While in 28 Insights October/November 2015
the community, we also enjoyed a talk with an elder, which gave us a greater understanding of the life and hardships of many Cambodians. Standing in front of a class of 30 kindergarten students was harder than we thought, but it was incredible. We were the last group to visit this community. It will be gone by the time next year’s group visits Cambodia. It was heartbreaking to find out that the Government was going to kick these families out of their homes at any point in time. The kids we taught were so eager to learn. Their thirst for education was inspirational and their stories were moving. We also stayed in one of the communities for two nights. It was humbling to live in the same conditions the people we were meeting lived in. On our final night, we danced with the kids for two hours. We would sit and laugh along as they made fun of our dancing and games. We would lift them up and spin them around as they squealed.
presented two soccer balls from Australia, as well as a cheque from the proceeds of the premiere of a documentary of last year’s trip. Although it was raining, the boys wanted to play, so we had a massive soccer match on the dirt ‘pitch’ in front of the home. As the game progressed, it became more and more slippery but everyone kept laughing and having a go. After an eye-opening week in the poorest communities of Phnom Penh we took a nine-hour bus ride to Siem Reap. Here we spent a day seeing the sights of the impressive Temples of Angkor. We also had a fantastic day in the life of a villager. We assisted a family in planting a rice field and thatching roof panels. We never thought we would become so close as a group. When we got on the plane as strangers, we started to bond through the love of similar movies, sharing food on the plane and falling asleep on each other. The different personalities all worked together and we all became great friends due to our shared experiences.
Our final activity was to visit a pool with a group of boys from the Home of Hope. These boys all had either HIV/AIDS or a disability such as Down Syndrome. We all had one or two Khmer boys to look after and we became very close to them. Their laughter and smiles were constant; it was honestly the most joyful day of our lives.
The dynamic of the group changed as we became closer. We discovered so much about each other from telling stories and singing and dancing with the children. Everyone had a chance to shine and show their strengths. The friends we made will last forever as our memories link us.
There was no plan for the day, instead we spent our time splashing in the pools and playing on the inflatables that we had brought. One of the boys who touched us in particular was Tay. He was paralysed, but had the warmest smile and loveliest nature of anyone you could meet.
This trip to Cambodia was life changing. To see first hand poverty was confronting and highlighted how lucky we are to live in a country like Australia. It was also interesting to see the Cambodian people’s thirst for learning and to contrast it to our own attitudes. It showed many of us that we need to appreciate our schools more. It also expanded our world view, and challenged us to look outside our problems to other people’s problems, which are so much worse than ours. It has forever changed us.
The mood of the group changed after we left the pool and returned back to the Home of Hope. It seemed a cold and sterile environment for such warm and bubbly boys. We saw that some of the boys were already in theirs beds, sick from their day out. However, the atmosphere again changed after we
Genevieve Blenkin and Emma Humphries insights.uca.org.au
insights.uca.org.au
Insights October/November 2015 29
30 Insights October/November 2015
insights.uca.org.au
Stamp of approval for ministry volunteers I
For more information about the work of the Committee, contact Carol Smith on (02) 9484 5401.
Members of the Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of NSW and ACT’s Stamp Committee collect and sell used stamps to help support the work of the church. The Committee has operated since 1977 and over this time has raised an estimated $670,000. On average, that’s more than $17,000 per year.
Alistair: a long-time supporter of stamp ministry
n an age when electronic communications are increasingly the norm, one group of Uniting Church volunteers and supporters continues to rely heavily on the humble postage stamp.
The Committee relies on supporters who make the effort to collect used stamps and deliver them to the committee’s sorting room in Pilgrim House – the Church’s head office in Pitt Street, Sydney. Many supporters also have friends and family members enlisted to help supply stamps. Sometimes whole Congregations are involved in the work. Occasionally, large stamp collections are donated to the committee. There have been many dedicated volunteers involved in this ministry over the years, but the work of these volunteers is getting harder as our reliance on posted mail is replaced by electronic mail. The number of posted letters sent in Australia peaked in 2008 and, since then, has been declining at an increasing rate each year. Despite this decline, there is still a strong demand from collectors for used stamps. Committee secretary Carol Smith said the committee was always looking for new volunteers to be involved in this ministry — either as collectors or committee members. Anyone can help with collecting stamps — just remove them from letters you receive. Some people have stamp albums they no longer use. Most Uniting Churches have a representative who sends bundles of stamps to the committee or you can mail them to: PO Box A2178, Sydney, NSW 1235. insights.uca.org.au
Readers from the ACT and nearby can deliver bundles of stamps to the Canberra Presbytery office on the first floor of Pilgrim House, 71 Northbourne Avenue, Canberra.
Although he retired from full-time ministry in the Uniting Church more than a decade ago, the Rev. Alistair Christie is still actively involved in various ministries — including the Stamp Committee. Alistair coordinates the collecting and bundling of stamps within the Canberra Presbytery and has helped the Committee negotiate some significant challenges during recent years following the retirement of some long-serving Committee members. Alistair, who grew up in Canberra and returned after retiring, is a former Moderator of the Synod of NSW & ACT (2002–2004). He first became aware of church stamp-collecting ministries during the 1940s, when one of his aunts collected stamps to support the work of the Presbyterian Church. In most of the parishes in which he has served there have been parishioners involved in supporting the Uniting Church Stamp Committee. Indeed, Alistair’s late wife Connie was a big supporter — she would coordinate the collection of stamps within Congregations and would often be clipping and sorting stamps on the kitchen table ready to send off a package to the Committee. After a long battle with breast cancer, Connie passed away in 1999. But Alistair has maintained his enthusiasm for the stamp ministry, which he says is one of those ministries that anyone can be involved in. “You do not have to have any special gifts or talents, you just have to clip and collect some stamps,” he said.
Alistair noted that several longserving Committee members had made significant contributions to the ministry, including: Helen Thorburn — who was instrumental in establishing the Committee; the late Merv Riddle, who was known in Church circles as the ‘Stamp Man’; Tony Boughton (former committee chair); Joy Swanson (the chief stamp seller); and Edith Kidd (the publicity officer).
Stamp Committee ministry facts and figures • T he Stamp Committee was established in 1977 when the Uniting Church in Australia was formed • T he Committee comprises volunteers whose sole aim is to raise funds to support the work of the Uniting Church •V olunteers from churches all over NSW and the ACT contribute to this ministry by donating stamps (and occasionally whole collections) to the Committee •D onated stamps and collections are sold to dealers to raise funds • T he Committee also puts together books of stamps to sell to collectors • I n 2015, more than $11,360 has been raised through stamp sales • T he total amount raised since 1977 is estimated to be more than $670,000 (about $17,630 per year) • An increased reliance on electronic communications has resulted in the number of posted letters declining •S ome Stamp Committee members have notched up more than 30 years’ service •A nyone is welcome to get involved in this ministry Insights October/November 2015 31
Broken Hill-based flying padre has the outback covered
A
five-word advertisement on a billboard near the airport in Port Pirie, South Australia, changed Pastor David Shrimpton’s life. It was the late-1990s and David and his wife Jenny had only recently completed their theological training through the Salvation Army in Melbourne.
proper rain and be running out of water – they face that uncertainty every day and there is no pay packet at the end of the week,” he said. “They have to weather the good times and bad times to survive.”
While driving to the airport one day, he saw a billboard that said: Learn to fly for $2,000. As a kid growing up in Geelong, David had always dreamed of becoming of pilot. So he took the plunge, reasoning that even if it did not work out, he would only be $2,000 worse off.
People often marvel at the size of the territory he covers – just over halfa-million square kilometres – up to the Queensland border, a large chunk of western NSW, down to Wentworth on the Victorian border and parts of northern South Australia. But it’s one-sixth of the area he covered in the Top End.
As it happens, it did work out and he obtained a private pilot’s licence within 12 months. In the 15 years since then, he’s notched up more than 4,500 hours of flying. After a few years in Port Pirie, David was given a parish at Golden Grove in Adelaide’s north. But 18 months into the job, the Salvation Army asked him if he would take on the role of flying padre in the Northern Territory. The brief was to carry the Christian message to remote communities and isolated people on stations across the top end of Western Australia and the Northern Territory. David spent 11 years flying across Australia’s far north, covering about 3.25 million square kilometres, from the Queensland border in the east, south to Tennant Creek (NT) and west to Broome (WA). This enormous area — four times the size of NSW — takes in more than 120 remote cattle stations, communities and small towns. “It’s amazing country… everything is lush and green at the end of the wet season, then you watch it slowly dry back to the red brown country. It never ceases to amaze me how a little bit of moisture gets everything going,” he said. David tried to visit each station and community two to three times per year. He soon came to admire the incredible resilience and stoic nature of the outback people and communities he served. “These folk are resilient; it can be tough... they might not have had any 32 Insights October/November 2015
In March last year, David accepted a role as the flying padre with the Uniting Church based in Broken Hill.
David said the thing he enjoyed most about his role was the opportunity to build relationships with outback families and workers. To be able to support and encourage them. “I love getting to know the folk out on the stations, catching up with them and making connections,” he said. “This role is really about building relationships and being a listening ear. When you arrive at a property it is a different conversation; you are there to see them as people and find out how they are going. “It is also knowing what support services are out there and getting their permission to involve them when needed; empowering them to help tackle some of the difficult issues they face.” David said there were some stations where he was only welcome provided he did not “bring the God stuff”. “On most stations they are happy to talk to you about spiritual matters when they want to, but I do not go out there sprouting the gospel message otherwise the doors will be closed,” he said. “There are some places where you can do this, but often you are just there in a role that is about building relationships so that you can be an ongoing support when and if needed. “You are aiming in some cases to be someone they can turn to if they need any support or just someone to talk to.” And this approach has worked well for David over the years. He often takes heart in recalling what one outback station
owner once told him: “We never knew when you were going to come out, but when you did, it made a difference.”
Help keep this outback ministry in the air Earlier this year, the Broken Hill Flying Patrol faced a bleak future and Pastor David Shrimpton was prepared for the worse. Broken Hill media reported the service would be grounded at the end of June. This sparked a backlash from communities in NSW's far west. Supporters, including Uniting Church members, rallied behind the service. The result was a reprieve. The Patrol will operate during the 2015/16 financial year thanks to funding commitments made by the Uniting Church Synod of NSW and the ACT, the Presbytery of the Macquarie Darling, UnitingCare and the Broken Hill Uniting Church congregation and expressions of support from the Broken Hill community. Mark Filmer
We need your help to keep the Broken Hill Flying Patrol in the air. This year alone it will cost more than $100,000 to keep flying. To support this ministry financially, you can make a direct deposit online or in person at any Westpac branch to: Account Name: Broken Hill UC Ministry Bank: Uniting Financial Services BSB 634-634 Account number: 100017272 (Include the reference ‘BHFP’ and your surname so your support can be identified) Or Mail your cheque/money order made payable to Broken Hill Flying Patrol to: Broken Hill Flying Patrol PO Box 79, Broken Hill NSW 2880 (Please include your contact details so we can thank you and keep your informed about our ministry) insights.uca.org.au
insights.uca.org.au
Insights October/November 2015 33
The Bible and the 21st century – there’s an app for that…
A
s we become exponentially busy in our lives, it can be difficult to make time to engage with the written Word of God. Some of us have Bibles gathering dust on our bedside tables, so we have downloaded a Bible app on our smartphone or laptop. To help us get back into God’s Word. But no app really engages in a way that makes use of smartphone’s cutting edge visual technology.
Philosopher Karl Barth famously said of the theological practice of merging the everyday with scripture: “Take your Bible and take your newspaper, and read both. But interpret newspapers from your Bible.” What he meant by this is that we are required to engage with the Bible through the lens of our everyday, doingand-being lives. Chris and Andrew Breitenberg have conceived a smartphone app that does what Karl Barth recommended. Called Parallel Bible, the app enables users to reflect on everyday life through the lens of the Bible. In this age of constant visual barrage, the Breitenberg brothers have developed a reflective practice on the very device we use every day. It slows us down, makes us think creatively about how we interact with scripture. The brothers began by asking the question: What can we do to represent the Bible in a way that engages our modern communications desires, expectations, patterns and imaginations? “Our vision was to create a new social and visual tradition of the Bible — an entirely unique way of conceiving and sharing the word of God; putting it into new hands and ultimately of changing lives,” Chris explained recently about how the idea came about for the app. “The Parallel Bible is a smartphone app with a really simple concept. “You take an image on your phone, 34 Insights October/November 2015
you tag it to a verse, and put it in alongside a caption and then you share it in a social network.”
to our everyday lives — the Parallel Bible app is a fantastic way of interacting with the Bible through your everyday life.
“A couple of years ago I was talking to a 15-year-old. I held up my iPhone and I held up a printed Bible and I said ‘What would you prefer to spend your time with’ and you can imagine the response was ‘I’d like the iPhone please’. And why wouldn’t we? It’s sleek and colourful, active, engaging. It’s social, it’s visual.”
“The idea is to deepen the links between the Bible and our everyday lives, creating a dialogue between the two and allowing us to more fully participate in both. The app creates deeper, more elegant links between people and their stories and scripture. It’s the platform we know with the content you want, the Bible.”
When developing the app, Chris reveals “it was about presentation for us. The Bible hasn’t really changed to suit the information landscape of the 21st Century. We are living in a social and visual age. There are a lot of Bible apps, but we don’t have Bible apps that really change the medium. Because when the medium changes, it changes the way we engage with the material. And we know the material is powerful, so when we change the medium, we change our interaction and we ultimately are changed.” Parallel Bible is a smartphone and Android app that uses the connectivity of social media by creating a community of like-minded people who share their stories alongside scripture. As Time magazine noted: “It’s silicon valley, meets the Sermon on the Mount.” Parallel Bible has all the same functionality of social media apps like Instagram. One of the main differences from many social media platforms is that people’s everyday reflections interact with the sacred text of the Bible. Your pictures, your stories, right alongside scripture. As a user, you can carry in your hand what amounts to a daily devotion. As you post alongside others, daily reflections appear alongside your posts. This enables a spiritual community of people to share, reflect and comment on each other’s posts.
“Our hope is that we can create new ways to research and explore the Bible. We are visual people who desire to be in relationship so the process of doing Parallel Bible can be a creative spiritual discipline. It’s something you can do every day. Creative reflection on the Bible can be transformative.” The Breitenberg brothers’ core belief is the theological principle that the Bible is inherently more than a book; it is a shared, lived and creative experience. “Our vision is to create a new social and visual tradition of the Bible – an entirely unique way of conceiving and sharing the word of God... This is a way of helping people tell their stories, slow down and have time to see and feel and understand God’s part in their lives.” Adrian Drayton
Download the Parallel Bible App and start sharing
Go to the app store on your smartphone or Google Play to download the app. To find out more about the app, visit the website at www.i.theparallelbible.com
While interpreting scripture isn’t a new idea — in churches, small groups or Bible studies everywhere, we have always considered how scripture relates insights.uca.org.au
Our vision is to create a new social and visual tradition of the Bible — an entirely unique way of conceiving and sharing the word of God...
Position Vacant Board Member
The Queensland Synod of the Uniting Church in Australia is seeking to appoint a new member to the Board of UnitingCare Queensland. The appointment will take effect from early 2016. On behalf of the Uniting Church, UnitingCare Queensland provides health and community services to thousands of people every day of the year through its service network – Blue Care, UnitingCare Community, UnitingCare Health and Australian Regional and Remote Community Services (ARRCS). Our 16 000 staff and more than 9 000 volunteers provide health care and support people from all walks of life, including older people, people with a disability, and children and families. We have an extensive geographic footprint with a strong regional and remote presence across Queensland and the Northern Territory. The UnitingCare Queensland Board is responsible to the Church for developing the overall strategic directions of the organisation, ensuring the organisation is dynamic, visionary, true to its mission, values driven and sustainable into the future. Community service, health, business and professional leaders who can demonstrate appropriate qualifications and outstanding achievement are encouraged to express their interest. We are seeking candidates who have board and senior executive experience in large complex organisations. Community service, aged care or health industry experience will be highly regarded. To obtain an information kit or to submit an application please email Geoff Rogers, Director Human Resources at UnitingCare Queensland (geoff.rogers@ucareqld.com.au) or phone mobile: 0421 053 971. Applications close Friday 23rd October 2015.
insights.uca.org.au
Insights October/November 2015 35
CANBERRA CANBERRA REGION REGION PRESBYTERY PRESBYTERY CANBERRA REGION PRESBYTERY At its meeting on 15 August 2015 the Canberra Region Presbytery unanimously decided to write this open letter to the wider church in response to the conversations that are occurring across our church.
To the people who are the Uniting Church in Australia in NSW and the ACT, We write this open letter to the wider church at a time when we are aware that many congregations feel it is difficult for them to have a voice within the Synod of NSW & ACT. We affirm that together we are the Body of Christ. We affirm that our congregations are the living expression of the way and word of Christ, even though they are often the least resourced within the body of the church. We affirm that congregations of faithful children, women and men, past and present, are more than just numbers and property resources to be drawn upon. We acknowledge and celebrate the wonderful capacity of the Uniting Church to engage in practical local mission, through congregations great and small. We affirm the relationship we all have as one Christian community of faith and seek to rediscover the deeper meaning of what it means to be the church together. We acknowledge that the resources of our church are for God’s mission and these resources have been entrusted to our good stewardship. We long for these resources, to be utilised in ways that reflect the abundance of God’s grace. Constant obsession with finances ultimately corrupts and compromises our relationships in all spheres of the Body. We long for the leadership of our visionaries, missional leaders, ethicists and prophetic thinkers to be heard along with the leadership offered by our accountants, bankers and lawyers in all spheres of our Uniting Church. We commit ourselves to ongoing, honest, transparent and faithful discernment with the whole church as together we listen to the Spirit in the days ahead. We offer this for your reflection and prayer and invite your response. office@canberraregion.unitingchurch.org.au
We, the ministers in placement in Canberra Region and Presbytery Office-bearers, endorse the decision of our Presbytery in publishing this open letter: Rev. Steve Coster, Vanessa Crimmins (Chairperson), Rev. Kevin Dilks (Presbytery Minister), Pastor Hannah Dungan, Rev. Mark Faulkner, Rev. Julie Furner, Pastor Don Hobbs, Rev. Tim Jensen, Rev. Aimee Kent, Rev. Chris Lockley, Rev. Dr Ockert Meyer, Pastor Daniel Mossfield, Rev. Dr David Oliphant, Rev. Will Pearson, Lay Pastor Keith Robinson, Rev. David Russell, Rev. Anne Ryan, Rev. Jangwon Seo, Rev. Jean Shannon, Pastor Pam Skelton, Rev. David Stuart, Rev. David Thiem, Lay Pastor Geoff Wellington (Presbytery Minister), Rev. Alan White
GPO Box 221GPO Box 221 Canberra GPO Box 221Canberra ACT 2601. ACT 2601. Canberra ACT 2601.
Email–office@crp.unitingchurch.org.au Email–office@crp.unitingchurch.org.au Telephone – Telephone (02) 6248 – 9311 (02) 6248 9311 Email–office@crp.unitingchurch.org.au www.crp.unitingchurch.org.au www.crp.unitingchurch.org.au Telephone – (02) 6248 9311 www.crp.unitingchurch.org.au
Making Money Matter Turmoil or empowered by contentment?
I
was overseas for most of August. I had a great time, but was looking forward to getting home. What I would come home to seemed uncertain, though, as the headlines on my phone told me that Australia was gripped with fear and dealing with carnage on a daily basis. Maybe I should stay in Italy a bit longer?
Warrren Bird Executive Director Uniting Financial Services
Of course, what the headlines were referring to was the decline in the stock market, not something really serious for the nation. Things like the stock market are normally mentioned quickly at the back of the news but, in late August, front pages lit up as the ASX200 stock index fell by 13 per cent from where it had been at end of July. According to what I was reading, all of you back home were in despair as you watched the value of your superannuation be decimated, along with the value of the shares held in your funds. All sorts of reasons were given by the journalists to try to help you understand why this devastation was being unleashed upon you and why you should worry that the crisis was only going to get worse! As the manager of the Uniting Church’s funds and a personal investor in the share market, I’m keenly interested in what goes on in investment markets. I’m not making light of the sharp fall in share prices that took place. It was, without doubt, a significant downwards move and the portfolio managers at Uniting Financial Services researched to understand what was behind the fall so we could make appropriate decisions. However, the media headlines were far from helpful. There was no need for anyone to be deeply afraid. In fact, sharp falls in the share market happen fairly regularly. As do significant increases in share prices. Media coverage of investment markets is terribly biased. I don’t remember headlines back in February talking about people dancing in the streets, filled with joy and wonder at the blessings we were having poured
insights.uca.org.au
out on us because share prices had risen by 12 per cent. No, it’s only when the market gives back those gains that the media decides to try to play on our dark emotions. Fiddlesticks. Sensible investors know that an investment in the stock market is a long term thing, playing out over years, not weeks. They also know that, whatever is happening to share prices from week to week, the income that the shares are generating for them is fairly stable. Sensible investors know, therefore, that the swings in the value of their share portfolios do not need to be accompanied by swings in their state of emotional well-being.
I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content I’m sure that, in reality, the vast majority of Insights readers barely gave a second thought to what was going on in the share market in late August. However, as I became agitated about the sensationalism of the media’s coverage, I couldn’t help but think of what the apostle Paul said about changes in his economic fortunes. “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content,” he wrote to the Philippians. “I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (4:11-13) Our media seem to think that ordinary Australians’ spirituality is so connected with wealth that we experience inner turmoil and are ripped apart when the stock market falls. That is very different to the contentment of someone like Paul, whose trust in the Lord Jesus empowered him to remain functional and effective no matter what financial volatility raged around him. Weakened by inner turmoil or empowered by contentment? I know which I prefer. Insights October/November 2015 37
A TRADITION OF CHRISTIAN CARE AND CONCERN
Richard & Deborah Spiteri, proprietors
FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED FUNERALS CONDUCTED THROUGHOUT SYDNEY
MEMBERS OF THE FUNERAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION OF NSW
POSITION VACANT
Minister of the Word @ The Gap UC The Gap Uniting Church is an active and vital congregation of The Uniting Church in Australia located in the inner west Brisbane suburb of The Gap in Queensland. We seek to live out our vision of ‘Growing Lifelong Disciples of Christ” through intentional mission planning, community engagement and intergenerational ministry. We are seeking a Minister of the Word with vision, energy and a commitment to team leadership to provide strategic resourcing, pastoral and worship oversight and encouragement of discipleship. Our Congregation thrives on growing and involving leaders in line with their passion and gifting and also the active involvement of members in all aspects of worship & teaching, discipleship and local & overseas community based mission. 38 Insights October/November 2015
We seek a person with a passion to engage, connect and encourage God’s work and people in their life and ministry. The Minister of the Word would be called as a team member within the existing Ministry Team, currently consisting of a Families Pastor and administration support. For a Position Description and more information about how to apply via the Synod Placements Committee, please visit our website at www.thegapuca.org.au/about-us/ seeking-a-minister/
insights.uca.org.au
Lectionary Reflections October - Responding to Jesus' leadership
This month, in the gospel of Mark, we read of many ways that Jesus spoke about what it means to live within the kingdom of God. From marriage to wealth, correct use of power to seeing rightly, Jesus calls listeners to hear and follow his every command.
4 October, Mark 10:2-16 Jesus’ approach to divorce is not one of moral conservatism. He acknowledges as being necessary the correct conduct established about divorce. There is neither mystery nor judgement in Jesus' teaching about marriage. He simply states what is obvious when we see beyond the loaded emotional dynamics that are inevitable around a union as intimate as this. Jesus’ comments regarding children indicate that sophisticated selfjustifications are a hindrance when it comes to matters of God's Kingdom. The survival strategies we employ as we grow, take us further away from the innate vulnerability of kingdom ways. hat are the sophisticated selfW justifications you can observe among the people of faith who you know?
acceptable manner. Yet this man — who has everything — serves to expose that the ‘everything’ he has is not really anything! This man who has everything is still searching for the life he identifies in Jesus. hat do you trust more than all else W as the source of your richest life? The clue for the true answer to this question is found in what you are willing to let go of and what you will hold on to no matter what!
18 October, Mark 10:35-45 The measure of the mystery of God’s kingdom is even Jesus’ closest followers had so little idea about what it meant prior to Jesus’ death and resurrection. The power that Jesus exercised is always open to all… it is the power of self-giving love. Any person can exercise it and no person can take it away from anyone else. We hold ourselves back from this power/authority. We fear the cost is too great and the reward not rich enough. It is precisely at that point that we fail to believe in Jesus. If following Jesus means anything, it means following him in this!
T o what extent have you tasted the awesome power and richness of the kingdom Jesus invites you into even now?
25 October, Mark 10:46-52 There is a sense in which church should be a place we find socially unexpected behaviour. The people who were keenest to follow Jesus frequently crossed the boundaries of established cultural norms in the process of their following him. The important thing in this story is that when Bartimeaus’ eyes were opened, he did not simply say ‘Thanks, mate’ to Jesus and go off to pursue his erstwhile life. Rather, he saw Jesus and followed him on the road to Jerusalem. Many things may draw a person to Jesus. To what extent is Jesus the fulfiller of your desires/agenda and to what extent for you is Jesus a model for a new agenda/desires? These reflections for October and September were prepared by Rev. Dave Gore, Ultimo Mustard Seed Uniting Church.
Such things are near impossible to see in ourselves (even when pointed out by others). Ask a mature person you trust, and who knows you well, to indicate a sophisticated self-justification they can see functioning in your own life (do you know anyone that wise/honest?).
11 October, Mark 10:17-31 This is perhaps the most troubling of all the encounters in the gospel for those formed by consumer culture. The man who approaches Jesus on this occasion is a person our culture would recognise as successful in every way. Wealthy, young and powerful – and he seems to have achieved all this in a socially/culturally/religiously insights.uca.org.au
Insights October/November 2015 39
Lectionary Reflections November - What it means to follow Jesus
Giving your life to Jesus is an amazing privelege. But doing so involves things that challenge the ways of the world and customs of religious practice. Jesus didn't ignore these difficulties and, as God's chosen king, explained how best to navigate them by following him.
1 November, Mark 12:28-34 There are many ‘commandments’ in scripture. Various groups at different times and places have championed particular themes according to their preference. The answer to the question, ‘What commandment is the most important of all?’ provides a kind of hermeneutical key. A way to understand the outworking of all other things Jesus taught, by grasping the answers he gives in this passage. God is first. No one really challenges this — in part because we can not know what it means on its own. There is a sense in which Jesus' second answer ('Love your neighbour as yourself') gives flesh (outworking) to the first saying. If you love God, you love your neighbour (see also James 2:14-17). Understanding these concepts still only means you are ‘not far from’ the kingdom. You have to live them if you want to actually encounter the kingdom. How do these two sayings guide your response to God?
8 November, Mark 12:38-44 There are many dangers in religion. A common danger is something that I can ‘meaning leach’. Religious practices and structures designed to mean one thing can have that meaning 'leach away'. This then causes the practice or structure to take on a different meaning. In Jesus' time, the scribes served the community by preserving the scriptures. They became experts in the ‘letter of the law’ and (by association) the authority of God. But the meaning of the scribes’ 40 Insights October/November 2015
esteemed role leached, and the esteem part became central. Those who give from their excess effectively quarantine themselves from giving themselves. It is hard for the rich to enter the kingdom! Where do you source the specific values that direct your behaviour and life direction? To what extent do your decisions and action reflect the values you tell yourself you hold?
15 November, Mark 13:1-8 Upheaval is a recurring theme in the gospel. Jesus spoke of the first being last and the last first. In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus indicated the hungry would be satisfied and those currently excluded would become central. Jesus continually broke the rules by doing things like healing on the Sabbath. In this passage ,Jesus tells his disciples that the most stable and certain of their iconic fixtures is to be utterly destroyed. As his disciples push Jesus on this matter, there is further description of a time of massive upheaval and uncertainty. Jesus sums up these comments with the ominous words, ‘These things are merely the beginning of birth pangs’! To what extent does your current understanding of the gospel equip you to engage with upheaval of this nature?
22 November, John 18:33-37
It seems ironic that one of the clearest identifications of Jesus’ royal status was made by a disinterested observer. When you think about your own sense of who Jesus is, take some time to consider the extent to which this represents your own conviction or, more generally, the views of particular people around you.
29 November, Luke 21:25-36 During the past two millennia, the Christian church has frequently been at the forefront of monumental social change. There have been examples of the outworking of kingdom values in the major shifts that have taken place in the areas of healthcare, public education, emancipation of slaves, provision of housing and micro-finance in developing economies (to name but a few). It should come as no surprise that the return of Christ will bring massive change at every level. Most humans find change threatening. It can be reassuring for us that the while everything else might change, the word of God — that which has been revealed to us in Jesus — does not change. Jesus clearly anticipated the temptation to hopelessness and disconnection in the face of the upheaval of the approaching kingdom. It would be easy to assume that the plot had been lost (by God and by everyone else) as the events indicated by Jesus unfold. The challenge is to see the kingdom dynamics at work even as the world structures are shaken to their core.
Throughout his earthly life, Jesus was coy with regard to his identity. He chose the self-identifying title of ‘Son of Man’, which focused away from his divine and royal credentials.
How wedded to the current status quo are you?
In this encounter with Pilate just before his crucifixion, Jesus accepts the royal title 'King of the Jews'. He accepts it and reframes it by saying his kingdom is not like the kingdoms of this world.
These reflections for October and September were prepared by Rev. Dave Gore, Ultimo Mustard Seed Uniting Church.
Will you welcome the kingdom or fear its coming?
insights.uca.org.au
F4388
Cross cultural ministry in Australia United Theological College (UTC) is part of Charles Sturt University’s School of Theology. Cross Cultural Ministry in Australia (THL230 /THL486) is being offered as an Intensive subject in Session 1, from 18-22 January 2016. Explore theological themes and practical skills relating to the practice of cross cultural ministry in the Australian context. This subject will provide the opportunity to discuss issues relating to understanding and appreciating the challenges and opportunities which arise in multicultural and cross cultural ministry settings. It will also involve a field trip to one or two Uniting Church congregations to explore first-hand what model(s) of cross cultural ministry is at work there. Learning objectives: • • • •
identify and describe a range of cross cultural issues evaluate a range of cross cultural theology models analyse the role of ministry in building inclusive communities detail the challenges facing Australia as a nation of cultural and ethnic diversity.
This subject is open to anyone who has a keen interest or who would like to deepen their knowledge of cross cultural ministries.
ENROL NOW FOR SESSION 1, 2016 This subject may be studied as an individually assessed subject, for interest only or provide credit towards further study. For more information: Sef Carroll secarroll@csu.edu.au www.utc.edu.au/courses
To register: Student Admin 02 8838 8914 StudentA@nswact.uca.org.au
www.utc.edu.au/courses
UTC is constituted within the Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of NSW and the ACT, and Charles Sturt University’s School of Theology.
insights.uca.org.au
Insights October/November 2015 41
Win Woman in Gold on DVD Woman in Gold is the remarkable true story of one woman’s journey to reclaim her heritage and seek justice for what happened to her family. Sixty years after she fled Vienna during World War II, an elderly Jewish woman, Maria Altmann (Helen Mirren), starts her journey to retrieve family possessions seized by the Nazis, among them Gustav Klimt’s famous painting Portrait of Adele BlochBauer I. Together with her inexperienced but plucky young lawyer Randy Schoenberg (Ryan Reynolds), she embarks upon a major battle which takes them all the way to the heart of the Austrian establishment and the U.S. Supreme Court, and forces her to confront difficult truths about the past along the way.
For your chance to win Woman in Gold on DVD, simply visit the Insights website at insights.uca.org.au and enter.
WOMAN IN GOLD ON DVD, BLU-RAY AND ULTRAVIOLET FROM 7 OCTOBER
42 Insights October/November 2015
Counselling & Supervision Info Days
See website for details
▶ PYMBLE 19 & 31 OCT ▶ SHOALHAVEN 22, 23 & 25 OCT ▶ CENTRAL COAST 31 OCT Courses CHC51712 Diploma of Counselling CHC80208 Grad Dip Relationship Counselling 10348NAT Grad Cert in Professional Supervision (Clinical)(Pastoral)
www.stmarks.edu.au
insights.uca.org.au
Belief matters
Four reasons to have hope in Christ
G
ospel work is a process. And there are days when the road ahead feels not just rocky, but downright treacherous. Christians have all had those days and it is in such moments that it can feel difficult to go on with Christ’s work. When all feels hopeless, here are some ideas of what you can do.
Consider the birds of the air We often forget just how holistic God’s work is. God can manage the concerns of His creation; surely He can manage our concerns. Jesus once said: “For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, what you will eat, and not for your body, what you will wear. Consider the birds of the sky that they do not sow or reap or gather produce into barns, and your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth more than they are? And who among you, by being anxious, is able to add one hour to his life span?” (Matthew 6:25–27 LEB). Anxiety and worry is easy. Faith is hard. But if we lack faith, we need to look no further than the birds of the air to realise God’s faithfulness. In the midst of hopelessness, we must realise that we serve a God who shows us every day that we can indeed have hope (Hebrews 11:1). insights.uca.org.au
Consider the flowers of the field
“Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:31–34 LEB)
It can seem a bit cliché at times, but it’s an important reminder: God’s creation is beautifully clothed, so why would He not also care for you or me?
If we seek first the kingdom of God, everything else fades into the background. Jesus is the perfect example of someone living this out. No wonder he’s the hub of hope for how to battle life’s issues such as anxiety.
We struggle over our concerns of today, but how often do they merely fade into the background when tomorrow comes? At times, we wonder where God’s provision will come from while we forget what He did yesterday. But let’s think of what God did yesterday, because that may change everything about today.
Consider the ‘value’ anxiety brings Anxiety brings no real value to our lives. Instead, it concerns our mind and occupies our time. It distracts us from what is real and important — what matters, which is our loving God and the work he wants to do through our hands. In Matthew 6, Jesus concludes His remarks about worry and anxiety by saying: “Therefore do not be anxious… for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow, because tomorrow will be anxious for itself.”
Why our ‘concerns’ truly matter When we change our perspective from our worries and concerns — from food, clothing, materialism, and even our personal goals — and turn our focus towards God’s goals, we have an opportunity to truly change the world. Around our globe there are people who are suffering in poverty, and people who have never had the opportunity to hear the name of Jesus. If our perspective is skewed, we will never find the strength we need to address these issues. We will lack the courage necessary to do God’s work, because we will be paralysed by fear. But if we have courage, imagine what could happen. God has incredible things in store for this world. Joining Him means partnering with Him, and partnering with Him means setting our eyes on Jesus. John D. Barry Insights October/November 2015 43
Fellowship news News from Uniting Church Adult Fellowship
The 77th Hunter Presbytery Rally Hosted by Warners Bay UC and North Lakes Congregations, the 77th Hunter Presbytery Rally was held on 6 August at Warners Bay. The opportunity to catch up with acquaintances was much enjoyed. The theme was ‘Working in Partnership’ and we were given great insights into what these Congregations are doing in their community and abroad. Helen Fenwick, from the Multicultural Playgroup and Homework Support group, outlined the activities they do. Helen Ann from Mums Cottage explained the special services offered to parents having problems and what a difference it makes. Tony Smith outlined the program they run in Zimbabwe with Uniting World. Presbytery chairperson Rev. Haloti Kaloti and UCAF NSW/ACT chairperson Allan Secomb brought greetings.
Rallying around alleviating poverty Parramatta-Nepean Presbytery Gathering was held at Blacktown UC in July with special guest speaker Rev. John Darcey from Bidwill
UC. He spoke passionately on the theme of ‘The Importance of Relationships in Alleviating Poverty’. In the afternoon, four members of the Blacktown UC Tongan Congregation presented items and led a sing-along. It was a wonderful day for all who attended. Dr Andrew Thornley, Presbytery Chairperson, and Allan Secomb brought greetings.
Mid North Coast (South) Presbytery Rally Mid North Coast (South) Presbytery Rally was held on 9 September at Taree UC and it was a blessing to all who attended. Special guest speakers were Judy and Geoff Hicks from East Maitland who shared experiences from their four trips to Nondugl Western Highlands of PNG. There were plenty of questions and time for more discussion over lunch. Led by Jillian Bunn, the singing really raised the rafters! In the afternoon, positive discussions centred around the continuation of the rallies and how to encourage Congregations and their members to host and attend.
Allan Secomb spoke about ‘Shine A light” — the Synod project for 2015 — and continued to encourage donations. The day concluded with a communion service led by Rev. Narelle Penman.
Retired Ministers/Ministry Persons lunch Morisset UC hosted the annual Retired Ministers/Ministry Persons lunch in the Hunter Presbytery. Around 40 people attended. A morning service, led by Rev. Ray Atkinson, followed a wonderful morning tea. A superb lunch was enjoyed by all and the afternoon gave those attending a great chance to catch up. The day concluded with a short musical program.
Rallies and gatherings Macquarie Darling Presbytery at Broken Hill UC on 21 October. Members of the NSW/ ACT UCAF committee will join them as an encouragement visit. If you would like to share your fellowship news or have any questions, please contact Judy Hicks: judyh_rnh@hotmail.com
A Family Owned Funeral Service Hamilton Funerals is a boutique family business owned and operated by Adam and Michael Flanagan. Hamilton Funerals’ aim to fulfil the needs of their clients in the most dignified, professional yet personal way.
North Shore 9489 2228 Eastern Suburbs 9326 9707 Northern Beaches 9907 4888
hamiltonfunerals.com.au 44 Insights October/November 2015
insights.uca.org.au
Culture watch
How God shapes our stories
T
he Martian is more than a brilliant science fiction yarn; it’s the fantasy story that shouldn’t exist. As a novel, publishers rejected it so many times that author Andy Weir ended up giving it away online. Now, it’s a major motion picture. Which goes to show, just because those who should know better don’t recognise the truth, doesn’t mean it isn’t true. Something worth remembering when it comes to spotting God in The Martian. The cinematic version released this month stars Matt Damon as astronaut Mark Watney, an engineer attached to the third manned mission to Mars somewhere in humanity’s not-too-distant future. His crew has only been on the surface of the planet a few days when a fierce dust storm forces their mission to be scrubbed. However, Watney is swept away by flying debris, leading his comrades to believe his heart has stopped. They blast off without him... but Mark isn’t dead. He wakes up half buried in sand and realises he is alone on a hostile planet. Armed with only today’s science and the will to live, Watney has to find a way to survive for four years before any rescue attempt can reach him – assuming he finds a way to let earth know he’s still alive. insights.uca.org.au
The Martian’s focus is split between Watney’s inspired survival efforts and the worldwide effort to secure his rescue. The result is a thrilling ride filled with geeky science that advances a believable theory about what it means to be truly human. Though at times we might be desperately selfish, The Martian suggests humanity is ultimately a social species that values the life of every individual.
On the whole, The Martian is presented as a triumph of scientific rationalism that might even suggest there is no need for a god to pray to. Yet in the middle of a story that celebrates human ingenuity and the power of the human spirit, we still make room for the hand of God. The sheer number of “lucky breaks” Watney benefits from amount to a silent argument there is someone moving behind the scenes.
Watney, and the world reaching out for him, realises that even if he is able to find a way to survive indefinitely on Mars, it won’t amount to life as it was meant to be. In Genesis 2 we listen in on our Creator’s conversation and learn, “It is not good that man should be alone.” (Genesis 2:18, NKJV)
We may write about how high the human spirit can rise but God’s presence and His thinking continue to shape our stories. A truly atheistic version of The Martian would have left Mark to die alone. He is only one man and the billions spent trying to engineer his safe return could logically save the lives of millions. There is, after all, no sympathy in a world with a purely evolutionary outlook.
It’s this axiom, and the subsequent struggle to bring Mark home, that makes a two-hour exercise in practical science such an inspiring and encouraging tale. With The Martian movie presenting such compelling results on-screen, how could professional publishers have got it so wrong and rejected Weir’s tale? They missed the success story under their noses because they couldn’t see the truth behind the equations. It’s the same reason most people will miss God’s presence in this production.
Yet The Martian routinely makes space for repeated doses of luck because we recognise Mark’s ingenuity isn’t enough to guarantee his survival. And those who long for his safe return unconsciously reflect the value our heavenly Father places on every human being: “‘For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone,’ declares the Lord God; ‘So turn, and live.’” (Ezekiel 18:32, ESV) Mark Hadley Insights October/November 2015 45
Entertain me PRESS PLAY
BIG SCREEN READ THIS
Miss You Already (M) It is a rare thing to have a friendship that lasts a lifetime in this social networking era. Since school, Milly (Toni Collette) and Jess (Drew Barrymore) have maintained their camaraderie. Their long-suffering bond is put to the test when Milly learns she has breast cancer and Jess attempts to have her first baby. How will their friendship hold up under these trying circumstances? Director Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight) provides a glimpse into the unique bond that occurs between women. Throughout the horrific ordeal of cancer, Hardwicke keeps focus on the ties that bind these forever friends. But the ‘warts and all’ portrait has Milly coming off as unappealing and overly selfish. Miss You Already should have encouraged sympathy for the central characters, but it doesn’t generate this emotional release. In trying to communicate a beautiful story of a friendship between women, it turns into a depressing and occasionally hopeless story. Towards the film’s end, Milly states that she hopes there is a heaven. A muddled and sad conclusion is reached, but that remains a question worth considering. Fortunately, God does not leave us without an answer. Life after death is real and through the good news of Jesus, heaven and hope in eternal life can be ours. Russell Matthews 46 Insights October/November 2015
Celia and Nonna, Victoria Lane and illustrated by Kayleen West Celia and Nonna looks at ageing and adjustment through a child’s eyes. Celia loves staying at her grandmother’s house, which is filled with special things just for her. Nonna calls Celia an angel and reads her up to nine books at bed time. However, Nonna is beginning to find it difficult to live by herself and has to move to a new home, where people can help out when she forgets things. The pictures are lovely and homey, and the book has an excellent way of gently explaining the more difficult aspects of getting old to children. As the book is child focused, it centres more on Celia’s feelings of loss and her efforts to deal with the changes, rather than how her grandmother is coping. Nonna seems to have accepted her new situation very well, but perhaps she adjusted well because of Celia’s help and eventual acceptance. Celia and Nonna is suitable for children aged four and over, and the text is in OpenDyslexic Font to make it easier for children with dyslexia to read it. Colour backgrounds will also help these children to see the print more clearly, as well as parents with tired eyes. Katy Gerner
Jurassic World (M) Throughout literary and cinematic history, from Frankenstein to Jurassic Park, humankind has been running from what it has created. Staying within this monstrous tradition is Jurassic World, the highest grossing movie of 2015. The return of the Jurassic franchise allows us to visit the fully-functioning dinosaur theme park promised by the first movie. The park has been in operation for ten years and attendance is declining. The owners of the park want to develop dinosaurs which have the ‘wow’ factor. In creating bigger and ‘badder’ dinosaurs, what could possibly go wrong? Jurassic World taps the perpetual discussion about humankind tinkering with original creation. Striving for new scientific breakthroughs should be encouraged, but what can happen when we ignore out relationship to the original plan for this world? In a story such as Jurassic World, tinkering with creation and playing God seems to inevitably lead to disastrous results. If that’s the case, should we consider the ultimate designer being who is behind it all? Take time to actually consider God. And as you do, sit back and watch the running and screaming in entertaining Jurassic World — from the comfort of your couch. Russell Matthews insights.uca.org.au
PREsident’s syrian refugee appeal Image obtained by Act for Peace.
Thousands of Syrian refugees have arrived in Australia having fled conflict in their home country.
As we observe from a distance, we must remember that God values every human life. We mourn every life lost and pray for those who are suffering.
The Australian Church community will play an important role in welcoming these refugees and helping them integrate into our communities.
Along with your prayers I ask that you do what you can to support. As Australians we are blessed to live in a prosperous country relatively free of armed conflict.
Uniting Church President Stuart McMillan has launched an appeal asking people to support the UCA’s involvement.
If you are able, please share of God’s abundance by giving generously to the Uniting Church Syrian Refugee Appeal.”
Stuart says “Like all of you I have been shocked and moved in recent weeks by the plight of those fleeing Syria and Iraq.
In addition to supporting activities within the UCA community that offer welcome and integration, donations will also support the Uniting Church’s community service agencies (UnitingCare) as they provide supports beyond those that are funded by the government.
The personal tragedies and struggles we see in the nightly news are heart breaking. But they are just the tip of the iceberg. The scale of the humanitarian crisis that is occurring is truly overwhelming.
Please note: Donations to UCA Welcome & Integration activities are non tax-deductible. Donations to UnitingCare services are tax-deductible.
Every day thousands of people are seeking refuge with little other than the clothes on their backs. They join more than four million who’ve fled this conflict in the last four years.
YES!
I will help! Here is my gift to the Syrian Refugee Appeal:
Donation Amount $ UCA Welcome & Integration (non tax-deductible)
UnitingCare services (tax-deductible) (
Both *please indicate amounts: UCA $
UnitingCare $
(Mr/Mrs/Ms/Miss/Dr/Rev) First Name
Surname
Address Suburb
State
Phone
P/Code
I enclose my cheque/money order (made payable to UCA Syrian Refugee Appeal) Please debit my:
Mastercard
Visa
Amex
Card Number Name on card
Expiry Date
/
Signature
Please return your completed form to: UCA Syrian Refugee Appeal PO Box 24154, Melbourne VIC 3001 Fax: (03) 9251 5491
46 Insights October/November 2015
More information: Phone: 1800 668 426 E: appeals@victas.uca.org.au W:www.shareappeal.org.au
insights.uca.org.au
Working for you and your community.
When you invest with Uniting Financial Services, you can be sure that your investment is contributing to your community, as well as your own wellbeing. We put money to good work. Reliable returns guided by high ideals are the pillars of our success. Please join us!
It’s about earning and enriching.
Call 1300 133 673 or visit
Level 3, 2, 222 222 Pitt PittStreet, Street,Sydney SydneyNSW NSW2000 2000 PO Box Box A2178 A2178 Sydney SydneySouth SouthNSW NSW1235 1235
Financial services services are Limited ACN 000 022 480, ABN 89 89 725725 654654 978,978, AFSL 292186 and and by The Church in Australia Property Trust Financial are provided providedby byThe TheUniting UnitingChurch Church(NSW) (NSW)Trust TrustAssociation Association Limited ACN 000 022 480, ABN AFSL 292186 by Uniting The Uniting Church in Australia Property (NSW) ABN 77 00577 284 605 pursuant to a s.911A Act 2001 (Cth.) authorisation and APRA Banking Exemption 4 of 2014 (“Uniting Financial Services”), for The Uniting Church Australia, Trust (NSW) ABN 005 284 605 pursuant to aCorporations s.911A Corporations Act 2001 (Cth.) authorisation and APRA BankingNo. Exemption No. 1 of 2011 (“Uniting Financial Services”), for TheinUniting Synod of NSW and the ACT pursuant to ASIC Regulatory Guide 87 exemptions. Uniting Financial Services® is a registered trademark of The Uniting Church (NSW) Trust Association Limited and is used Church in Australia, Synod of NSW and the ACT pursuant to ASIC Regulatory Guide 87 exemptions. Uniting Financial Services® is a registered trademark of The Uniting Church (NSW) Trust with permission by The Church in Australiaby Property Trust (NSW). Association Limited andUniting is used with permission The Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (NSW). Neither The Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of NSW and the ACT, The Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (NSW) nor Uniting Financial Services is prudentially supervised by APRA.An Neither The with Uniting Church in Australia, Synod from of NSW the ACT nor Uniting Financial Services is Act prudentially by APRA. investment with or contributions will not benefit from investment or contributions will not benefit the and depositor protection provisions of the Banking 1959. Allsupervised financial services and An products are designed for investors who wish to promote the depositor protectionpurposes provisionsand of the Banking Actconsiderations 1959. All financial services and products areindesigned for investors religious and charitable for whom profit are not of primary importance their decision to invest.who wish to promote religious and charitable purposes and for whom are not of primary importance in their Information decision to invest. Pleaseprofit refer considerations to the Product Disclosure Statement and the Product Brochure for Terms and Conditions.
Please refer to the Product Disclosure Statement and the Product Information Brochure for Terms and Conditions.