Insights June/July 2017

insights

JUNE/JULY 2017

ALL OF THIS IS US

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS: 1977-2017 SPECIAL ISSUE

The The

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W E L C O M E F R O M T H E G E N E R A L S E C R E TA R Y

Jesus is Lord REV. JANE FRY ACTING 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.

IN RECENT TIMES I’ve had reason to think about the phrase ‘Jesus is Lord’, one of the earliest and the shortest of Christian creedal confessions. I well remember the wrestling match that went on before I finally got to the point of making this confession and seeking baptism as a young adult. The struggle to that point had been intensely personal. At the time only very close friends were aware that God was bothering me. Many of them held the view that I was experiencing some sort of psychological malfunction and that I would, with appropriate help and support, be able to ‘get over it’ in time. This struggle took years — it’s not a trivial decision to make about the whole of your life, and I had had my own plans.

In baptism, what began as a personal conviction became a public confession. I became one of those people who commit themselves to seeing and responding to the world from a different perspective and trying to live the ‘Jesus is Lord’ story. This is what church is — the community of people corporately committed to living the ‘Jesus is

Lord’ story. Part of my recent reflections on this were provoked by a throwaway comment to the effect that, in a post-Christendom era, the confession ‘Jesus is Lord’ is no longer current or relevant because we have achieved a higher degree of theological or confessional sophistication. I beg to differ.

Different denominations give different emphases in the way they choose to live and tell the ‘Jesus is Lord’ story. The Basis of Union expresses it in the following language: The Church as the fellowship of the Holy Spirit confesses Jesus as Lord over its own life; it also confesses that Jesus is Head over all things, the beginning of a new creation, of a new humanity…’ It also claims that God has called the Uniting Church into existence to participate in the reconciling work of Christ, to be a fellowship of reconciliation through which Christ may work and witness. (Yes, I know I do go on about this but it is our core business and it requires constant attention and commitment. And yes, I also do know that nothing about it is comfortable or easy but such is my experience of ‘Jesus is Lord’.)

Forty years on in the life of the pilgrim people is a good time to take stock, do a bit of strategic housekeeping and prepare for the next part of the pilgrim journey. There are layers to this work:

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REVISIT THE BAPTISM QUESTIONS which are about repentance, turning to Christ and making a public commitment to being in the world in relationship with God. It’s old fashioned and unfamiliar language, but would you make the same promises now that you made when you were baptised, or that were made on your behalf? For the ordained, do you confess anew Jesus Christ as Lord?

REVIEW YOUR DISCIPLESHIP WORK. In what ways do you assist the Church to be a fellowship of reconciliation through which Christ may work and witness? Where do you see Christ leading the church to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and bind up the variously broken-hearted?

WHAT IS THE ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY OF THE UCA DENOMINATION IN CONTEMPORARY AUSTRALIA, IN COMPANY WITH OTHER DENOMINATIONS AND FAITH TRADITIONS? How does the church offer a prophetic word in an increasingly polarised, posttruth world and give shape to God’s promise of a new creation and a new humanity?

The whole of church starts from the whole of life ‘Jesus is Lord’ confession, moving from the first moment of repentance that recognises that it’s really not ‘all about me’ — and unfolding in the Jesus way of being in and for the world. i

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COVER STORY

We take a look back and wonder about the future of The Uniting Church in Australia in this special issue.

Our pilgrimage continues, to engage the world through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the outpouring of his Spirit.

All of this is us.

Contents

REGULARS 3 WELCOME 6

YOUR SAY

7 NEWS 39 DIGITAL MINISTRY 40 MAKING MONEY MATTER

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37

44

45

41 LECTIONARY REFLECTIONS 44

BELIEF MATTERS

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CULTURE WATCH

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ENTERTAIN ME

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.

MANAGING EDITOR Adrian Drayton EDITOR Ben McEachen PRODUCTION/DESIGN Rana Moawad 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. © 2017. Contents copyright. No material from this publication may be copied, photocopied or transmitted by any means without the permission of the Managing Editor. CIRCULATION: 16,000. ISSN: 1036-7322 Commonwealth of Australia 2016

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M O D E R AT O R ’ S R E F L E C T I O N

A history of blessings FORTY YEARS may not be a long time if we compare it with the 500th Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, or even the first European settlement on Australian soil.

But it can be a long time if we compare it to a person’s life.

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.

In 1977 at the age of 17, I left home for university, the place where I became a Christian.

At 20, I pledged myself to serve God wherever I was called even if that meant that I might have to leave home to go to the end of the world! At 24, I was sent to Pakistan as a missionary, a country my family never even knew existed. After three years of a life-transforming experience in Pakistan, I took another quantum leap to come to Australia. This was yet another unfamiliar country which my mother only knew of as a place with kangaroos and the White Australia Policy.

Here in Australia I became a Minister of the Word and have been serving the church which describes itself as a ‘pilgrim people who are on a journey to the Promised Land’. What better DNA match could I find for my evermoving faith journey than that of the Uniting Church in Australia? Furthermore, 31 years ago, this church of mine declared itself to be a multicultural church. So, my entire time with the UCA has been a sheer affirmation of God’s grace. I too offer praise as the Psalmist did, ‘My cup overflows with blessings.’

(Psalm 23:5) Since I took up the role as Moderator, I have visited many places from Broken Hills to Byron Bay, from

Talbingo to Tamworth. Mostly these visits have been for church anniversaries, on a few occasions for the opening of a church building, as well as for various meetings, rallies and retreats. I’ve met members of many Congregations and also ministers whose experiences were not too far from my own, though in some cases mixed with serious concerns and worries for the future.

shifting a pulpit, welcoming women and young people into leadership roles, engaging with hard topics and choosing to make a bold stand on controversial issues.

SOME MIGHT S AY T H AT I A M LO O K I N G AT OUR CHURCH THROUGH ROSECOLOURED GLASSES

Some might say that I am looking at our church through rose-coloured glasses. I might be an optimist, but why shouldn’t I be after what I have seen throughout my life of God’s overflowing blessings?

For the last 40 years, the Uniting Church has not been exempt from the challenges and threats that all other organisations in our increasingly secular and materialistic world have faced. In Australia’s globalised and multicultural society, the union of three churches 40 years ago meant we had to navigate a ‘movement’ instead of becoming yet another denomination. It has not been easy for the three traditions to let go of things dear to them, whether it was a particular way of doing a communion service or the regular singing of a familiar hymn.

Throughout this journey, many courageous steps have been taken, whether these meant moving a worship place, even

I am sure that there were overflowing blessings as well as times of stressful struggle over the years, as people allowed the Spirit to push and pull their experiences so that they became a church which is inclusive, cross-cultural, ecumenical and strongly committed to social justice.

Sometimes, we humans want to have all the reins in our hands. We want to not only see, but better still to determine, to control the future. And yet... ‘Do not be anxious… your heavenly Father knows… seek first God’s kingdom… and all these things shall be yours as well.’

(Matthew 6:25-33) As we mark 40 years of our Church’s journey, let us remember that God has journeyed with us. Jesus said ‘wherever, two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18: 20).

So let us be strong and courageous. Let us not fear or be in dread of any challenge or threat, for it is the LORD our God who goes with us. He will not leave us or forsake us. i

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LETTERS

Your Say Zena* and their children got out of there and are making a new life here.’

WELCOMING NEWCOMERS Thanks for the interesting article on what Rev Gaby Kabrossi (Insights, April/May) and the Bankstown District Uniting Church are doing to welcome newcomers. It is great to hear what other churches are doing ‘on the ground’ in the name of Christ.

I read it with interest because our church, Wagga Wagga Uniting Church, has also been involved in welcoming newcomers from Syria/Iraq.

We have had the joys and challenges of supporting refugees or ‘newcomers’ for more than a decade.

In 2016 we formed a small group of volunteers who would specifically support the most recent arrivals to Wagga Wagga - the persecuted minority group called Yazidis from Iraq and Syria. We are helping them get to doctor’s appointments, find secondhand bikes, get seeds to plant vegetable gardens, and find the right foods in supermarkets. We play with their children and talk with them about faith and life.

The people on TV from the Syrian IS crisis now have names we know. It means we no longer look at the TV and say, ‘Those poor people in Aleppo!’ ... instead we say ‘Thank God that Khalef and

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I encourage any Uniting Church seeking to change the world to ‘think global but act local’ and look at welcoming newcomers — whoever they may be — into their community. This is one way of being ‘salt’ and ‘light’ in the community, just as Jesus urged us to be.

Cindy James, Wagga Wagga *name changed for privacy

GOING BUSH? I wish to encourage ordained people in the UCA to consider coming to regional or rural towns and cities.

It is very difficult for these Congregations to attract an ordained person. There are some myths about life outside capital cities. An old joke is that NSW stands for Newcastle, Sydney and Wollongong. The rest of the state is often ignored. Why is this so?

There are many good schools, colleges and universities located outside Sydney.

There are good medical facilities and houses are also cheaper. Now, I come to jobs for spouses, which is often the reason given by people in Sydney for not moving to the country. The situation has improved significantly in the past ten years. Towns like Dubbo, Bathurst, Orange, Wagga Wagga, Tamworth, Armidale, etc are connected to Sydney by road, rail and air.

So distance is not the issue it once was.

Chris Owens, Dubbo UC

THANK YOU

Be rewarded for having your say. Every contributor to ‘Your Say’ in this issue receives a copy of the DVD Loving, courtesy of EOne Home Entertainment. ‘Your Say’ letters should be sent to: insights@nswact.uca.org.au or posted to Insights, PO Box A2178, Sydney South NSW 1235.

Letters may be edited for clarity and length.

TELLING OUR STORY That’s the theme the Moderator Elect of the Uniting Church will take into his installation come September 2017 — ‘telling our story’.

I was pleased to read his reasons for such a theme in the News section of Insights (April/May). Rev. Simon Hansford said it was not to galvanise the Church, but as an affirmation of who we are called to be — giving voice to the hope within us, how our lives are woven into the story of God, spoken in Jesus Christ.

Part of my becoming a Christian was in a church youth group where we took turns in what was called ‘giving the paper’ (A Christian Endeavour term for a mini sermon – yes, I am an old man). But I found I had nothing to say.

However one Sunday night, before the Tuesday Youth group, on a bridge, overlooking the river in the NSW Country town of Wellington, I experienced such an awareness of the love of God, I said ‘Yes’ to Jesus Christ and His call to ‘Follow me.’

That was the start of my story I now tell under the

title ‘Knocked down but not knocked out’ (2 Corinthians 4:8, Living Bible).

Since then, experiencing “church” under such leaders as Gordon Powell, Alan Walker, Ted Noffs, Robert Schuller, Alan Jackson, and others, has confirmed many times over the validity of that by-the-river awareness.

When Billy Graham was speaking at a university once, a choir of students came on and sang the chorus of a Graham Crusade hymn.

Instead of singing ‘This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Saviour, all the day long,’ they sang ‘This is his story, this is his song, preaching baloney all the day long“ — apparently Billy made a very gracious remark about what good singers they were…

As we face a world that strongly attacks (through the media) the Christian Faith, we need to be able to tell our story in such a way that the concept of baloney becomes the joy of belief.

Geoff Hinds, Merrylands

News GOVERNMENT BOWS TO COMMUNITY PRESSURE TO FUND EQUAL JUSTICE THE UNITING CHURCH IN AUSTRALIA PRESIDENT STUART MCMILLAN HAS JOINED THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY LEGAL CENTRES (NACLC) IN WELCOMING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S DECISION TO REVERSE CUTS TO LEGAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES IN TIME FOR THE FEDERAL BUDGET. IN APRIL, ATTORNEY-General George Brandis announced the restoration of $55.7 million in funding to the legal assistance sector over three years, with $39 million for Community Legal Centres (CLCs) and $16.7 million allocated to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services.

advice to vulnerable and disadvantaged people across Australia.

“Reversing these cuts is a victory for equal access to justice and for those who joined in this campaign,” said Mr McMillan. “Together our voices have been heard loud and clear.”

The funding cut facing CLCs of $34.8m by 1 July would have affected the most vulnerable in society, including people with disability, those living in poverty, older people and single parent families.

“I thank each and every Uniting Church in Australia member who sent a letter to Attorney-General Brandis and signed onto our campaign to fund equal justice”

The Uniting Church in Australia joined the campaign to #fundequaljustice with the National Association of Community Legal Centres (NACLC) in December 2016, calling for an immediate reversal of cuts and additional funding for the legal assistance sector.

Community Legal Centres (CLCs) and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (ATSILS) provide free legal

CLCs assist people in a range of areas of law including family violence, relationship breakdown, debt, consumer problems, problems with Centrelink, tenancy disputes and employment issues.

“The announcement is a welcome one — it is excellent news for all those people who rely on the help of CLCs every day and for centres and communities across Australia,” said NACLC Chief Executive Officer Nassim Arrage.

“This funding is a lifeline for a sector that was facing significant cuts.

“The reversal will mean people across Australia will get access to the legal help they were going to be denied from 1 July if the funding cliff went ahead.

“As a sector we are extremely grateful for the support of the Uniting Church and others across the community.”

“Your support helped us illustrate to the Government the importance of these services and the impact the funding cuts would have had on people across Australia.”

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO LIVE A FAITHFUL LIFE AS PART OF GOD’S CREATION? On World Environment Day, June 5, preachers will offer us their snappy, engaging answers to this question in Uniting Earth’s Eco Preaching Competition. Join our temporary Congregation at the Centre for Ministry at Parramatta, from 6pm.

From a large field of entries, we’ve selected finalists to preach on the night. They have eight minutes each and our esteemed judges will select a winner in the beginner, intermediate, advanced and ecumenical/ distance categories.

Come along and cast your People’s Choice vote! There also will be refreshments and interaction as we engage with our preachers’ discussion questions.

Gold coin donation to be part of this event. Go to unitingearthweb.org.au and follow the links to RSVP — or just turn up on the night.

More info via website, or call: Jessica 0409 503 369 Jason 0438 609 097

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A GIFT OF THE SPIRIT FOR THE WHOLE CHURCH THE GOSPEL YARNING EVANGELISM CONFERENCE GATHERED CROSS-CULTURAL PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE UNITING CHURCH ON 16-19 MAY. THE AIM? “TALK ABOUT HOW THE CHURCH CAN BE A SERVANT OF THE GOSPEL IN CHANGING CONTEXTS AND INTO THE NEXT 40 YEARS.” AS THE UNITING CHURCH celebrates its 40th anniversary, the conference sought international and local speakers to offer wisdom on faith-sharing in all its contexts across the diverse Church we have become.

The Moderator, Rev. Myung Hwa Park reflected that Gospel Yarning “has provided an excellent opportunity to talk about evangelism, gospel and culture, who we are and whose we are.”

“Five days of the conference was like a feast, full of stories, insights and wisdom from many cultures, many places and many generations,” enthused Rev. Park.

“From Gospel Yarning, a renewed understanding of evangelism has helped to define our faith and our churches, especially as we celebrate our 40 years as Uniting Church in the backdrop of 500 years of the Reformed church.”

The event also recognised the 50th anniversary of the Federal Referendum to recognise Aboriginal persons, and the 500th anniversary of the Reformation movement.

“At the end of each day, I was energised and got excited for next day!” said Rev. Park of the conference and the experience.

“It was a sheer blessing that we had this opportunity to talk about evangelism with a fresh eye, with a renewed passion and with our cross-cultural experience. Gospel Yarning was a blessing and a gift of the Spirit for the whole Church.”

The conference sought affirmation and a renewed passion for the centrality of evangelism in the Uniting Church in its 40th year. The idea was to learn from each other – Uniting churches reflecting Asian, Pacific, Anglo, Middle Eastern, African and Aboriginal perspectives – and discover afresh the calling to the mission of God.

PATHWAYS PROJECT HITS THE ROAD REV. KATH MERRIFIELD and Melanie Dicks (Uniting) took to the road in May, travelling to meet members of Uralla in New England North West Presbytery, and Quaker’s Hill Uniting Church in the Parramatta Nepean Presbytery.

The two Presbyteries are participating in a pilot program in the Pathways Project, to discern together and consider how best to support the mission of God lived out in our Presbyteries and Congregations. Many questions are being considered about why, as a Church, we do what we do and who we are called to be.

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When Synod Standing Committee approved the project, Acting General Secretary Rev. Jane Fry said, “There is an urgent need to find new ways to engage with our communities, to tell our story and plan for the future. And yes — it is really scary and (at the same time) exciting.”

Pathways sits alongside other Synod-wide, inter-related projects, in the context of identifying missional priorities and creating an integrated, future-focussed plan for the Synod.

Pathways will report to Synod 2017 with the results of the initial pilot program.

REV. KATH MERRIFIELD AND MELANIE DICKS (UNITING)

FAITHFUL CHARITY ROLE AWARDED UNITING’S RESILIENT COMMUNITIES director Doug Taylor has made a career out of serving those around him and the University of Western Sydney recently awarded him for that, awarding him its Community Fellowship.

But despite such acknowledgment for high levels of service to western Sydney, Doug doesn’t do what he does for awards or praise. He does it because he’s a Christian.

“I think it’s fundamental to the whole Christian tradition and to Christ’s commands; to live a life of meaning and purpose, and to try to help the least, the last and the lost,” explains Doug, after receiving his Community Fellowship.

“I think it’s innate to the commands and directions of Christ. But, equally, you can think about church history and the way the

early church – and Christians in it – thought about that call.”

Since doing a Bachelor of Arts at University of Western Sydney, Doug has dedicated himself to positions of community enhancement. “My work, and professional and voluntary involvement in the community, has particularly looked at some areas of disadvantage or social exclusion.”

At Uniting, Doug oversees home care, disability services and early learning, leading 3000 staff.

Doug considers himself fortunate to have been able to combine his Christian faith and beliefs with what he does for a job. While he knows not everyone is able to do that, Doug encourages all Christians to be what and who they are, always: “I think those principles of following the example of Christ, can be lived out in whatever context you are in.”

WHAT ‘MAKES YOU WONDER’?

A NEW APP for leaders and church groups was launched recently at the Centre for Ministry during the Gospel Yarning Evangelism Conference.

The Makes You Wonder app puts a program (developed by Ian Robinson, while on beach mission) into the hands of people in their busy lives.

Ian originally designed the materials for “people being people and talking to each other about what was on their hearts. And if you open your heart to somebody, they meet the Jesus who lives there.”

“Makes You Wonder is a resource which helps people connect with their communities and their world. The overall theme is to help people find their voice, with their own faith, in their own world. It doesn’t ask people to run more programs, but put a kind of authenticity into the people you already are,” says Ian, who is

PRAISE GOD FOR A ‘TWINNING’ RELATIONSHIP

Uniting Mission and Education’s Alan Walker Lecturer in Evangelism, Mission and Leadership.

The Makes You Wonder app can put Ian’s materials in the hands of an international audience.

“Makes You Wonder has been proven to be an effective tool for unlocking the story of Jesus,” says Ian. Among the many materials and resources available on the app there is a leadership curriculum that has been separated into four exercises: My Story, which examines the personal aspects of being a Christian; Your Story, with exercises designed to help a friend to see God in the everyday and encourage faith sharing; Our Story, which examines the Church; and The Story, that looks at who is Jesus and how to engage in the tough questions about him.

There are also resources and other free downloads that all can be in the palm of your hand.

The app allows the user to embark on a ‘Year Of Wonder’, with questions to ponder every day which will spur you on in your faith journey.

Ultimately, says Ian, the app can “help people to find their own voice for their own faith in their own situation.”

The launch of the app was attended by the Moderator and leaders of the Uniting Church. The app is now available to download from App Store or Google Play.

For more information makesyouwonder.org

THE UNITING CHURCH at North Ryde (North Ryde Community Church) and St. Paul’s Uniting Church at Junee celebrated 25 years of their “twinning” relationship this year, with an activity-filled weekend in March.

Members from North Ryde travelled south-west for the weekend and visited the many tourist attractions in the Junee and Temora areas. “[The weekend] was a time of friendship, communication and sharing in which both churches gained a better understanding of each other’s situation,” St Paul’s member David Carter said.

At the Sunday service, the Congregation heard of each church’s activities and mission within their respective communities.

“I hope more Congregations will build on already existing associations and initiate twinning relationships,” said Carolyn Thornley after the successful weekend.

St. Paul’s Junee works ecumenically with four other churches in Junee, a necessity as the church hasn’t had a minister for 12 years. North Ryde is always impressed with the faithfulness and commitment of members of the Junee Congregation and greatly values the 25-year relationship it has with them.

Both Congregations give to praise God for opening their eyes to this wonderful form of shared ministry.

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L L AF S O HI IS T S U P 12

All of this is us

LOOKING FORWARD WITH HOPE TO THE FUTURE P 19 STATEMENT DELIVERED TO THE NATION P 24 VIVID ILLUSTRATIONS P 26 4OTH ANNIVERSARY REFLECTIONS

At the UCA’s inauguration service on Wednesday 22 June, 1977, the first President Rev. Dr Davis McCaughey (the primary author of The Basis of Union) remarked that church union “meant absolutely nothing, unless it drives us back to the fundamental questions – where do you come from, where are you going, and who are you?”

“Are you and I prepared to find our bearings afresh?” asked McCaughey as he urged the 1977 faithful on a new pilgrimage, to engage the world through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the outpouring of his Spirit.

Insights spoke with Moderator’s past, present and future to discuss the 40th anniversary and where we might be headed in the next four decades. We also take a look back at inaugural illustrations by Tom Thompson, and investigate what the UCA was built upon. Our special edition wouldn’t be complete without personal reflections from all over the Church as we celebrate: “All of this is us.”

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F E AT U R E : A L L O F T H I S I S U S

Looking forward with hope for the future It isn’t often that you have three Moderators in the room together and one Moderator-Elect on the phone from Tamworth. And so in our 40th year, Insights took the opportunity to sit down with Rev. Niall Reid, Rev. Dr Brian Brown, Rev. Myung Hwa Park and Moderator-Elect Rev. Simon Hansford to ask some pertinent questions about their tenures, some key issues facing the Church and what makes us a truly Uniting Church. What we discovered is that 40 years is a good time to begin to look forward confidently as a body of Christ, and that our strengths still lie in our unity, whatever shape that might take as we chart a hopeful future.

What did you feel your focus was/is as Moderators?

Niall Reid: Unintentionally, the focus for me became our engagement with Sydney Alliance. I suppose that made me think differently about the role of the Church and being engaged out in the world and partnering with other people and organisations. That really did become the focus at a time when I think I had very significant responsibility for bringing the Uniting Church into that.

The other area I focussed on was Grace Workshops throughout the Synod.

The heart of the gospel is about grace. I felt in some ways we were losing that sense of grace in the Church. In my experience as Moderator, the Synod was talking a lot about mission and property. I felt it would be good to talk about something that was not necessarily about bricks and mortar.

Brian Brown: Firstly, the theme of the common good

was the theme of the Synod.

This set the overall scene for my time as Moderator. It came into sharp focus with the issue of asylum seekers.

I tended to focus a lot on the ethos of the Uniting Church as being the Church for the common good. It was such a privilege to be part of a Church willing to then put itself on the line over key issues such as asylum seekers.

Secondly, something that happened that I didn’t intend or expect was the contact with the rural and regional church through the Murray Darling Basin issue.

When the draft water plan came, I received a phone call in December in my first year as Moderator asking, ‘Does the church care about us?’

The Church again picked up its role in reconciliation and working not to push one line or the other but to try and bring people together on this community issue. That carried right through until

Myung Hwa picked it up and has continued with it.

Thirdly was my perception of the Church as needing renewal. This came into focus and picked up on my [previous] work at the steelworks with people facing grief and job loss, the idea of people facing endings and new beginnings. So the workshops and retreats that I became involved in continued with the theme of ‘endings to new beginnings’.

NR: I was given ‘Moving with God, transforming communities being courageous, inclusive and generous’ as a message. It was part of why I picked up on Sydney Alliance which was about transforming communities; those two things came together there.

BB: That carried on right through my time. It had legs!

NR: The other thing was the challenge to think about — What does it mean to be an

inclusive Church? That was the hardest.

Myung Hwa Park I am still in the place! As a church, we are working for the common good. The little things adding to that are important. So I came up with the ‘Holy Spirit renewal in the church; renew creation, renew ourselves.’

This became the theme for the 2016 Synod meeting – ‘Come Holy Spirit, Renew Our Hearts.’ My focus for the last 27 months was very much on the spirituality of people; how we actually stand in our relationship with God. There are lots of other things that are concerning and people respond differently but as a Moderator, I constantly encourage and bring people back to our relationship with God. It is God who actually called us, sustained us and also continues on the journey with us. So that has been my focus for the three years.

In the Murray Darling Basin (see side panel on page 15) work there were a number of things involved in that: environmental issues; community issues; and also what we do as a Church.

My focus constantly is to encourage people to connect to where God is and how we are relating to God — the pastoral and theological emphasis. I am very content and happy with what Brian has started and our Church has continued.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

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I BELIEVE CHURCH IS NOT AN INSTITUTION. CHURCH IS A BODY OF CHRIST

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My focus has also been on spirituality, but more on our relationship with God, individually and as a Church.

I think Niall brought that with his Grace Workshops, discovering where God’s grace is evident and what that means for the Church.

Bringing it back to the more basic Christian practise had been done through UTalk – a series of gatherings with different groups that explores how God has worked in their lives. It has been a very interesting exercise for me to invite people to talk about the kind of things that people assumed that they all had experiences of. It is an opportunity for us to let the Spirit have a presence in among us. I believe Church is not an institution. Church is a body of Christ.

The last thing that has been very illuminating to me and that I didn’t expect as I took up the role, was the Assembly extended the invitation for me to co-chair the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC).

Last Synod, we did a morning of Open Space and people expressed a high level of interest in what we can learn from First People and the UAICC. This has been followed up with a number of people who came to the ‘Walking on Bundjalung’ tour [Turn to page 29]. We have made it actually happen, moving from just interest and concern to something we can do. That has really encouraged me.

Simon, what do you think the next three years might hold for you as ModeratorElect?

Simon Hansford: Where I feel most of my leaning at the moment is building on the engagement stuff which Brian has talked about; what I will call broadly, the justice engagement and the sense

of the Church being engaged in that way. Also, both Myung Hwa’s and Niall’s sense of what I will broadly call spirituality. I think what I will be focusing on is being able to articulate our sense of faith in the gospel.

I think the UCA has articulated the gospel in a range of ways and perhaps 40 years ago [there was more understanding in Australian society of the gospel message]. But I think there is now. I think we have not only a necessary but also a wellreceived understanding of the gospel, which needs to be articulated more clearly.

I don’t know that we are particularly good at that, a lot of the time. That will be where I will be placing my energy in the next three years.

What do you think the Uniting Church does well?

And what don’t we do well?

MHP: On an ecumenical level, I wonder if we had stayed as separate churches, would we have reached this amount of inclusiveness and openness and dared to tackle the difficult issues? If you go to any ecumenical service, always the Uniting Church is there. I think ecumenism is our strength.

BB: I think that the Uniting Church does wholeness well.

Even in this conversation we have spoken about social justice and spirituality almost as dualism, not that we meant to. But it is hard for any individual or any Congregation to get wholeness. As the Uniting Church I believe we have the elements of wholeness, we hold each other together so if we drift too far, someone will say, ‘Yes but what about this?’ I think it’s inclusive in that sense and I think we are different as a church in that way. That is a unique identifier we have, and that I value.

SH: If we use the word ‘inclusion’ and we talk about a gospel in which people are invited and welcomed, rather than a gospel which people have to find their way into. We talk about a sense of salvation where God is striving, with all God’s might, to save the creation. We say this rather than a God who has already reserved places on the plane and the rest aren’t going to get on.

That’s the good language that we use and people in the community have not heard that and certainly don’t hear it. The funeral directors tell me that as well. Certainly, in terms of what we understand to be the gospel, we articulate it very differently.

How do you think the Uniting Church is perceived in wider Australian society?

BB: I think we are marginally recognised by fellow travellers in the wider community whose lives touch that of the Uniting Church. But in the wider community, the media as I understand it has not recognised the Uniting Church as different. And why would they? When it comes to marriage equality, the Anglicans will come out and say ‘We’re against it’ and the Catholics will say ‘We’re against it’, and that gets headlines. And what does the Uniting Church say: ‘We’re discussing it.’ I think we’re doing the right thing but we’re not going to be noticed as a Church because we’re just discussing it. You almost have to get into a different boat to be recognised as different and we’re not there yet.

SH: One of the questions that I have both socially — and, even more importantly, theologically — on the marriage equality issue is if we decide as a Church to either be ambivalent or supportive, we’re making an

THE MURRAY DARLING BASIN GROUP The Uniting Church in Australia Murray Darling Basin Group consists of scientists, farmers, environmentalists, theologians, pastors and educators, was formed in 2014 in response to the draft Murray Darling Basin Plan and to the struggles of life on the land in the last drought for Basin communities. The Group is taking forward the Church’s vision and ministry to be a transforming presence in the Murray Darling Basin, offering pastoral care to the people and a prophetic voice for the reconciliation and renewal of Creation. ecumenical decision, which is significant. We have to be aware of that decision and that the Church thinks in those sorts of terms, as a whole Church. If we decide to support people in marriage equality, what that means ecumenically is that we’re walking further and further away from our colleagues. Even if they’re playing catch up, we are still a long way away from them.

NR: We say ecumenism is important but so are social justice issues and sexuality issue. Sometimes it’s difficult to be both.

And it’s also true that ecumenically, [marriage equality] will be very hard, like with Orthodox churches — which strangely enough we have more to do with than any other [denomination] — and it will be an issue with them.

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Has the perception of the Uniting Church changed over the past 40 years and has it worked to address any issues — or should it?

MHP: When I have an opportunity, I have tried to visit churches other than the Uniting Church and see what’s going on. If you only go to your own church you are only getting that one idea. But most Sundays I attend churches [in Sydney] or in urban areas, rural areas and all around, seeing our services.

Our church services haven’t changed. We have faithful, loyal people, but there is still one person preaching at people.

Tradition is important, but people today are busy; people are versatile, mobile and seeking creativity. This is one thing I wanted to do something about but I think I failed because it’s not the responsibility of one person.

It’s culture and it’s tradition, How do we make our Christian faith an expression that fits the 21st century?

NR: I’ve just started reading on the train this morning a book about beginning to connect with God and where

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God is taking us, and it’s probably not looking like the Church as we know it. And it’s not about us being in exile because that suggests that we need to get back to where we used to be; it’s about a completely new way of being and that’s really tough.

One of the things I’m trying to do at Northmead Uniting Church is different ways of how we can be a Church.

Some of those things came out from my walking group.

I thought, ‘Why can’t church be like this?’ If I could wave a wand, I would get rid of all those buildings because they’re costing us far too much trouble. So that’s been a real challenge for us since Union.

The other side I’ve noticed into my term of ministry, that almost spans the time of the Uniting Church, is that in the beginning there was a real sense of trust the people in the community had in you as a minister, whereas now they are very suspicious.

SH: At an equal marriage gathering in Tamworth just recently, I was talking to this bloke about the Ireland [Same-Sex marriage Referendum, 2015]. He was talking about the fact

that if [sexual abuse] hadn’t happened, he thinks the voice of the church would have been far more clearly heard.

But people just ignored the voice of the church. Ireland historically was so dominated by the church, for so long.

For understandably good reasons, this voice is being ignored or, worse, disdained.

I watched a program on Australian war history recently. One of the people spoke about Gallipoli, saying how we are, in fact, a backward-looking nation.

We look back to Gallipoli to form our opinions about ourselves rather than looking forward to form our opinions.

I was thinking about the challenge of looking back over our shoulder at Union; does that drag our heads backwards rather than helping us look forward?

This conversation we have been having has allowed us to look forward: How we link with the community; how we link with social justice issues; how we articulate the gospel; how we see our way moving forward. Rather than just saying, ‘What did we did back then?’ I was 14 years old when we united; I have no

sense of ownership of that decision now.

That shakes things up for an incoming Moderator.

It’s a very different view of the world from my dad.

For example, he was actively involved as a Congregation member and a participant member in the process of Union.

MHP: What struck me about the photographs of the inauguration service [is that] all you see are men. One thing that I often hear as I travel the Synod, particularly from people who are non-Uniting Church members, is that they are amazed or in awe that there is a woman Moderator.

And the second thing is ‘Oh, she is also Korean!’ [laughs] I know this seems like a novelty, but nevertheless I see that the Uniting Church has given, without realising it, that challenge in the public arena by putting forward women leadership and even lay women leadership.

If you go to the many rural areas, many of the worship leaders are women. Do you agree, Simon?

SH: Yeah, I think in many ways that has been the natural migration. Women

have been running the church for generations and, certainly in Australia, it’s true abosutely to define it as leadership! In terms of the Uniting Church, I think that’s true.

What do you say about the suggestion that for most young people, celebrating 40 years of the Church is not really a big deal?

SH: My Congregation is a hybrid. Those who were present at the Union are pleased that it happened, but there is no real sense that we should be doing something about [commemorating it].

The ones who weren’t part of Union say, ‘I don’t get it. We like being here, we enjoy the Congregation, and we enjoy the life that is here but we just don’t get it.’ It is an interesting generational conversation.

NR: Union happened 13 years before my son was born.

That is history as far as he is concerned. Just like the Second World War is history for me. It’s not part of my world, my understanding. I can talk to people who have experienced it, like my father who is 91. But it’s not my experience and it’s not really about my life and who I am and I guess it’s the same for my son; the Uniting Church has always been there.

MHP: I would like to think that the 40th anniversary is being viewed as that preparation for the next jump. So, 40 is not something to blow the horn about, but are we asking whether we are taking thisfortieth mark as a serious preparation for an entry into a newer church?

SH: Where are we headed?

That’s the big question for the Uniting Church.

We spend a lot of time asking two questions: ‘Where have we been?’ and ‘Who are we?’

And I think how introspective that is. Rather we need to ask: ‘Where we are going?’

For me, I get excited about asking what the next 40 years have in store. There is a crippling sense of nostalgia for some parts of the Church; I use the word ‘crippling’ advisedly because people think ‘If only we were that Church from back then,’ but I think ‘Well we’re not, in so many ways.’

BB: So if you take the image of 40 years in the wilderness, a good question would be like you said there, Simon: ‘Can you see the promised land from here and what does it look like?’

SH Absolutely!

denominations is a big question mark.

In a way, ‘uniting’ possibly has enabled us to break away but if we could have just broken away sooner; It took us about 20 years.

How could we have prepared ourselves in way that would have enabled us to move forward? I don’t know what the answer to that is.

SH: For me, the impossible thing to say would have been: ‘Everyone over 50, you can hand it over now.’ So there wasn’t all the keeping of the good china — metaphorically — we are actually handing it over to a new generation.

was about eldership and what that said about the ministry of all believers and recognising leadership gifts. Also, what it said about gender, the affirmative action and rules — which worked, up to a point — and inclusion.

Before I came to Australia, I wrote to the Methodist Church of Great Britain first and they said, “No, stay where you are.” I wrote to the Australian Uniting Church and they said, ‘Come, you’re welcome.’ That’s coming from a different perspective. My own experience was that this was a breath of fresh air in so many ways.

AS A MODERATOR I CONSTANTLY ENCOURAGE AND BRING PEOPLE BACK TO OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. IT IS GOD WHO ACTUALLY CALLED US, SUSTAINED US AND ALSO CONTINUES TO JOURNEY WITH US With the Uniting Church turning 40 this year, if you could go back to Union and give the Church some advice, what would it be?

NR Sometimes I think — don’t do it! But I think, yes, they had to do it. Although in some ways in doing it, it has set us back because we have spent so much time since then trying to be together and work together. And actually, we were at a time of such transition in the world. The world was changing all around us and we were so focused on ourselves, we were missing that. Whether we would have been any better as separate

I think a part of the agony with my colleagues who are no longer part of the Church — friends who left youth group and they didn’t go to church anywhere else — was that they were never allowed into the conversation.

And that’s the problem, as you were saying, Niall; We spent 20 years forming ourselves and having these arguments. I still have people say to me ‘Oh you young people.’ But I’m 53! Let it go!’

BB: I came from another country just after Union and my experience was that I had so much gratitude for what had just come into being. It

What I would want to say to the Church if we went back is wake up quicker, because that was the time of change.

NR: I think that the Statement to the Nation was just a fantastic ‘Here We Stand’ and we are making it very clear that, as Christians, our first allegiance is to God. It really makes it clear where this Church stands.

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HOW DO WE MAKE OUR CHRISTIAN FAITH AN EXPRESSION THAT FITS THE 21ST CENTURY? Whether that helped create the ethos, or the ethos helped to create the statement, that Statement is something I am very grateful for.

MHP: I came to the Uniting Church ten years after the Union. I didn’t have any recollection or even asked what occurred before.

Looking at the Uniting Church Basis of Union, it still makes sense and is still

inspiring. If I need inspiration, I go back to the Basis of Union.

multicultural Church. But there is still a long way to go to be a truly multicultural church.

I would tell those three churches at Union: ‘Look at what coming together has inspired. It has inspired the Church to become a multicultural church.’

Because those three traditions or cultural traditions, by coming together, has helped create the DNA that proclaims the Uniting Church is a

I would also like to say to them, ‘Thank you that you have actually tried to address that core unity.’ That is what Jesus prayed for, that we all become one. That spirit of coming together in unity is what we want to continue. i

M O M E N T S T H AT S H A P E D O U R WO R L D 18 January - Australia experiences its worst railway disaster at Granville, near Sydney, in which 83 people died

Apple II and Commodore PET personal computers were first sold and the Atari 2600 video gaming system was released

Jimmy Carter suceeds US President Gerald Ford as the 39th President of the United States of America George Lucas’s Star Wars opens in cinemas in May and later becomes the highest-grossing film for that time

Elvis Presley dies in his home in Memphis Tenessee in August

NASA launched the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 unmanned spacecraft

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1 February – The Federal Court of Australia began to exercise its jurisdiction

1977 8 October – The Tasman Bridge in Hobart re-opens after repair to the damage sustained in the Tasman Bridge disaster

7 February - 418 refugees of the Vietnam war arrived in Melbourne. The refugees, from Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, left refugee camps around Bangkok for the largest airlift of war victims from Thailand 8 March - The Australian Federal Government held a reception for Queen Elizabeth

22 June - three churches come together to form the Uniting Church

F E AT U R E : A L L O F T H I S I S U S

Statement delivered to the nation Many years of prayer and hard work culminated on 22 June 1977 when three denominations (Congregational, Methodist, and Presbyterian) came together.

Rev. Dr John Squires, director of Education and Formation at the Uniting Church WA, celebrates this union and explores some of the Uniting Church’s founding documents.

THE CONGREGATIONAL, METHODIST and Presbyterian Churches joined together as one Uniting Church in response to the prayer of Jesus, which is reported biblically in John 17:21 — “May they be one.”

There, Jesus prays for his earliest disciples, and for those followers who come after them, “that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (John 17:23) The unity of the church gives expression to this final prayer of Jesus and bears witness, to all people, of God’s love for the world.

This prayer is also important for the international ecumenical movement around the world. Not only was the Uniting Church formed in Australia in 1977, but last century also saw the formation of the United Church of Canada (1925), the Church of South India (1947), the Church of North India (1970), the Church of Pakistan (1970) and the United Reformed Church in the UK (1972).

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The worldwide umbrella organisation for churches, the World Council of Churches (WCC), was formed in 1948, and this body includes churches from the Anglican Communion, many Orthodox churches, the Lutheran Church and many other Protestant Churches (including the Uniting Church).

The Roman Catholic Church is not an official member, but sends observers to each meeting of the WCC.

ONE BODY, ONE SPIRIT, ONE LORD

These churches seek to live out the principle that is stated in the letter to the Ephesians: “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all.” (Eph 2:4-5)

Another biblical text that is important to the Uniting Church, and the international ecumenical movement, is the radical claim made by Paul in his letter to the church in Galatia. Paul states that for those who are baptised into Christ, “there is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28) This verse can be applied to the Church – to those who are ‘in Christ’ because they have been baptised. But it can also offer us a Christian vision for society as a whole – relating to everyone in creation as those who are ‘in Christ’ because they are the people whom God loves and values.

Over the 40 years of its existence, the Uniting Church has sought to take these

THE STATEMENT CHALLENGED SOME VALUES WHICH WERE FELT TO BE OVERLY IMPORTANT IN SOCIETY... AND CHALLENGES TO BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS

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words very seriously in the way that it lives in society.

The Church is committed to take action to support people who are experiencing discrimination on the basis of one of more of the factors identified by Paul — ethnicity, class, or gender — as well as from other causes.

The Uniting Church has always been committed to working to ensure that noticing what makes people different does not lead to stereotyping or discrimination, especially for those who are particularly vulnerable in our community.

BUILDING OUR FOUNDATIONS

The foundation of the Uniting Church was formed on a document known as The Basis of Union, which set forth our primary values and commitments. It also describes our structure and ways of operating. At the same time as The Basis of Untion’s release, the UCA’s First Assembly (in 1977) issued a Statement to the Nation. This set forth our commitment to the kind of society which was described

by Paul in Galatians 3. (Turn to page 22 to read the Statement to the Nation).

In this Statement, the Church declared that “our response to the Christian gospel will continue to involve us in social and national affairs.”

And so, it decreed that it was eager “to uphold basic Christian values and principles” in society. It then identified some of these values: “The importance of every human being, the need for integrity in public life, the proclamation of truth and justice, the rights for each citizen to participate in decision-making in the community, religious liberty and personal dignity, and a concern for the welfare of the whole human race.”

Accordingly, the Uniting Church pledged itself to action which would “seek the correction of injustices wherever they occur.” The statement specifically identified “poverty and racism, equal educational opportunities, adequate health care, freedom of speech, employment or dignity in unemployment” as key areas in which it would seek “to oppose all forms of discrimination which infringe basic rights and freedoms.”

That is quite a list.

The Statement also challenged some values which were felt to be overly important in society, especially acquisitiveness and greed (including the daily widening gap between the rich and poor), and challenges to basic human rights. These still remain as pressing issues in 2017.

A prophetic paragraph in the 1977 Statement highlighted the Church’s strong commitment to environmental responsibility.

In the Statement, the UCA affirmed that it “will urge the wise use of energy, the protection of the environment and the replenishment of the earth’s resources for their use and enjoyment.”

Back then, that was pioneering. Now, every denomination places ecological concerns at the heart of its faith.

RECOGNISING INJUSTICES INFLICTED ON AUSTRALIA’S FIRST PEOPLES

The 1977 Statement offered a bold affirmation of the right of a faith community to propose policies and lobby for actions which would further the welfare of all persons everywhere. But one striking area of social and national policy and action is not to be found in this Statement.

Curiously, there is a reference to the reality that we live within the region of SouthEast Asia and the Pacific.

However, there was no specific reference at all to the original Indigenous inhabitants of Australia — the First Peoples, those Aboriginal and Islander people who had cared for the land of this continent, the islands nearby, and the seas which surround it, for millennia.

So, in 1988, the year which commemorated the bicentennary of the first European settlement of Australia, the Uniting Church issued a further Statement to the Nation, which made explicit and detailed reference to First Peoples.

This document was promulgated at the meeting of the 5th Triennial Assembly.

This second Statement included words of confession and commitment.

There was a very clear confession of “the injustices that have been inflicted on those of us who were Aboriginal people” as well as a commitment to “legislative action which honours the Aboriginal plea for justice… and popular action by which the Australian people express their willingness to support Aboriginal Australians in the quest for justice and their struggle to reconstruct their society.” Sadly, these commitments remain unfulfilled; they remain as pressing and urgent matters in our own time.

YOUTH PUSH

The 1988 Statement went on to underline the commitments made to particular issues in the 1977 Statement, including action “to work for justice and peace… challenging acquisitiveness and greed, opposing discrimination and prejudice, condemning violence and oppression, and an intention to challenge all

To read The Basis of Union and the Statement to the Nation (1977 and 1988), visit the Uniting Church in Australia Assembly website at assembly.uca.org.au/ resources/introduction.

To read the Young Adults’ Statement to the Nation, visit: bit.ly/2rRkTjn A short video version of this Statement can also be found at: bit.ly/2rRth28 social and political structures and all human attitudes which perpetuate and compound poverty.” That, too, remains a matter about which we can continue to be concerned.

The 1988 Statement strengthened the affirmations of the earlier document, concerning the natural world as God’s creation. It affirmed that the world is “good in God’s eyes, good in itself, and good in sustaining human life”; it offered a commitment “to promote the responsible management, use and occupation of the earth by human societies… [and] to challenge all structures and attitudes which perpetuate and compound the destruction of creation.”

In 2012, after time spent at the church’s National Young Adult Leaders’ Conference (NYALC), young adult leaders of the Uniting Church in

Australia wrote a further Statement to the Nation.

With themes developed from earlier Assembly documents, the young adults issued a direct challenge for “our church, our government and our nation to listen deeply to the knowledge and culture of our First Peoples.”

They asserted that “continued displacement and oppression of the Indigenous people of Australia must stop” and advocated for recognition of Indigenous people in the Australian Constitution.

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The same statement developed the ecological concerns of the earlier documents, by noting: “We are upset at the misuse of the natural environment for greed and consumerism and the lack of compassion toward those affected”. They advocated for “investment in renewable energy” and endeavoured “to make responsible, ethical decisions in our day to day living.”

Their Statement to the Nation ended with a commitment “to work towards God’s promised goal of the reconciliation of all things by working for justice and for peace in our nation and beyond.”

In 1977, the Assembly concluded its Statement to the Nation by pledging the Church “to hope and work for a nation whose goals are not guided by self-interest

STATEMENT TO THE NATION 1 JULY, 1977 People of the Congregational, Methodist and Presbyterian Churches have united. A new church has been born.

We, who are members of the first Assembly of the Uniting Church in Australia address the people of Australia in this historic moment. The path to unity has been long and at times difficult, but we believe this unity is a sign of the reconciliation we seek for the whole human race.

We acknowledge with gratitude that the churches from which we have come have contributed in various ways to the life and development of this nation. A Christian responsibility to society has always been regarded as fundamental to the mission of the Church. In the Uniting Church our response to the Christian gospel will continue to involve us in social and national affairs.

We are conscious of our responsibilities within and beyond this country. We particularly acknowledge our responsibilities as one branch of the Christian church within the region of South-East Asia and the Pacific. In these contexts we make certain affirmations at the time of our inauguration.

We affirm our eagerness to uphold basic Christian values and principles, such as the importance of every human being, the need for integrity in public life, the proclamation of truth and justice, the rights for each citizen to participate in decision-making in the community, religious liberty and personal dignity, and a concern for the welfare of the whole human race.

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alone, but by concern for the family of the One God — the God made known in Jesus of Nazareth, the One who gave His life for others.”

A similar sentiment occurs at the conclusion of the 1988 Statement: “As a Christian church, born out of the struggles of Australian Christians to live in obedience to God in Australia, we find hope in Jesus Christ.”

“We recognise that we Australian people are of diverse faiths and cultures and our desire is that we live together here in one community in justice, peace and mutual respect.”

May that still be the case for the Uniting Church in Australia in 2017. i

We pledge ourselves to seek the correction of injustices wherever they occur. We will work for the eradication of poverty and racism within our society and beyond.

We affirm the rights of all people to equal educational opportunities, adequate health care, freedom of speech, employment or dignity in unemployment if work is not available. We will oppose all forms of discrimination which infringe basic rights and freedoms.

We will challenge values which emphasise acquisitiveness and greed in disregard of the needs of others and which encourage a higher standard of living for the privileged in the face of the daily widening gap between the rich and poor.

We are concerned with the basic human rights of future generations and will urge the wise use of energy, the protection of the environment and the replenishment of the earth's resources for their use and enjoyment.

Finally we affirm that the first allegiance of Christians is God, under whose judgment the policies and actions of all nations must pass. We realise that sometimes this allegiance may bring us into conflict with the rulers of our day. But our Uniting Church, as an institution within the nation, must constantly stress the universal values which must find expression in national policies if humanity is to survive.

We pledge ourselves to hope and work for a nation whose goals are not guided by self-interest alone, but by concern for the welfare of all persons everywhere — the family of the One God — the God made known in Jesus of Nazareth, the One who gave His life for others. In the spirit of His self-giving love we seek to go forward.

SMART, CAPABLE PEOPLE

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YOUR SUPPORT

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AUSTRALIAN AID FUNDING = FREEDOM FROM POVERTY

GIVE YOUR GIFT TODAY 1800 998 122

www.unitingworld.org.au/freedom

Your gift combined with Australian Government funding, will have up to six times the impact for capable people working to free themselves from poverty.

POVERTY ENDS WHEN PEOPLE STAND TOGETHER FOR CHANGE DISABILITY, BIBLE AND THEOLOGY

29 AUGUST – 1 SEPTEMBER A United Theological College intensive.

Louise Gosbell will focus on disability and the Gospels in this intensive for the MTh subject Seminar in Biblical and Theological Interpretation (THL535) Anyone is welcome to join in the four day week as enrolled student or as interested participant.

Contact Jenny Stockton or Renee Kelly at UTC to enrol or register attendance on 02 8838 8914. www.utc.edu.au

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F E AT U R E : A L L O F T H I S I S U S

Illustrations vividly capture union The 1977 inauguration of the Uniting Church in Australia was captured most vividly by snapshot illustrations drawn by renowned artist Tom Thompson. But they almost did not see the light of day...

IN 2009, THE SYNOD Archives heard that Tom Thompson was selling works from his personal collection, including a sketchbook gallery of the Uniting Church of Australia’s birth. Incredibly, this was the first time the Archives — and everybody else — had heard about the illustrations, 32 years after Tom drew them.

“What’s interesting about these sketches is that they provide a different view of a historical moment,” says Rev. Dr Rod Pattenden who, with artist and conservator Stephen Coburn, seized the opportunity to preserve this unique slice of the church’s history.

The pair had 16 of the drawings framed, sponsored by limited funds from the Camden Theological Library Trust Fund and generous donations. A ceremony was held at the Centre for Ministry in North Parramatta, which Tom attended.

“A photograph just takes a flat record of a moment in time, whereas an artist is using their eye to hone in on a detail to amplify a particular person or moment,” said Rev. Dr Pattenden, Adamstown Uniting minister and an accomplished artist.

Tom’s father was a Presbyterian minister and his artist son tagged along with him to the 1977 inauguration. The result: A seeming silent film of sketches of that momentous day,

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from people spilling out the Town Hall station to the sombre signing ceremony.

Today, the display of illustrations hangs in the Camden Theological Library. Rev. Dr Pattenden describes the illustrations as vibrant, energetic on-the-spot sketches.

Taking a look at the most significant moment of Uniting Church in Australia history scrawled magnificently across pages is inspiring. Tom’s eye for detail breathes life into the images, especially the profiles of key figures. And that’s why these artworks are so unique, according to one of the men who helped preserve them. “[The illustrations] capture what it’s like for him to be there.

He clearly recognised it was a historical moment that was worth recording; that is expressed in the vigour and the delight of the line,” says Rev Dr. Pattenden.

Serving during World War II at Bougainville as a tank gunner at just 17 years old, Tom Thompson returned to Australia and developed into a celebrated artist. He has murals in the Parramatta City Council offices and works displayed at Sydney airport and Australia House in London. Tom was also the former Head of the National Art School, Sydney.

You can view Tom’s 1977 Inauguration illustrations at Camden Theological Library, North Parramatta. i

TAKING A LOOK AT THE MOST SIGNIFICANT MOMENT OF UNITING CHURCH IN AUSTRALIA HISTORY SCRAWLED MAGNIFICENTLY ACROSS PAGES IS AN AWE-ECLIPSING MOMENT TOM THOMPSON

F E AT U R E : A L L O F T H I S I S U S

40TH ANNIVERSARY

reflections

Our stories and recollections connect us across our shared experiences of the Uniting Church. It wouldn’t be a celebration without some reminiscing about the past, present and future. In this way, we can truly say that “all of this is us”.

TRAVELLING FROM THE OLD TO THE NEW, A PERSONAL REFLECTION OF 40 YEARS ALLAN GIBSON, OAM | CHERRYBROOK ONE SUNDAY AFTERNOON in late July 1971, members of Methodist Congregations throughout NSW voted.

I vividly recall going into the choir vestry at Gosford Methodist Church to cast my vote on a decision that would, as I discovered much later, change the landscape of Protestant denominations in Australia. The decisions taken by people that day, Church Union Sunday, now enable us to reflect on 40 years of journeying as a people of God since the 1977 inauguration of the Uniting Church of Australia.

The news of this “new Australian church” was front page in The Sydney Morning Herald. Try to find a good news story about a church today on the front page of a newspaper! Yet then, such was the social and religious mix of the community.

The ABC broadcast live the Inauguration across Australia. This was an historical event at Sydney’s Town Hall and I watched the telecast with a sense of “pride” that this was my church.

Whilst the past 40 years have created many historical moments in the life of the

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broader church, the life and witness of the Uniting Church has created its own unique history in the lives of countless people.

The tireless work of both lay and ordained members has helped build a community of faith for our nation.

Personal milestones help me define my journey and they include: • Service as the treasurer for the first full-day Child Care Centre to be built, funded and opened under the Child Care Act; • a 35-year association with The Girls’ Brigade; • service in four congregations across three Synods in roles of Elder, Chairperson, Treasurer and Secretary; and • a Synod involvement of over 10 years in the governance and risk area.

To paraphrase the words of Sydney Carter, my journey has been one of trusting God as I have “taken one more step along the road, travelling from the old to the new”.

THE GIBSON FAMILY, CIRCA 1977

THE DECISIONS TAKEN BY PEOPLE THAT DAY NOW ENABLE US TO REFLECT ON 40 YEARS OF JOURNEYING AS A PEOPLE OF GOD

2 1. GOVERNOR GENERAL SIR NINIAN AND LADY STEPHEN (RIGHT), WITH REV. MICHAEL AND MRS FRANCES JOHNSON, AT THE OPENING OF THE NEW CANBERRA CITY UNITING CHURCH, ON 20 FEBRUARY 1988. Photo supplied by Colin and Ian French.

2. AFTER THE INDUCTION OF REV. IVAN ROBERTS AT CANBERRA CITY UNITING CHURCH ON 12 SEPTEMBER 2008, MEMBERS OF THE CHOIR OF THE TOE TALATALANOA CONGREGATION SURROUNDED (LEFT TO RIGHT) REV. IVAN ROBERTS, MRS MARGARET ROBERTS, HRH CROWN PRINCESS (LATER QUEEN) NANASIPAU‘U OF TONGA AND CANBERRA REGION PRESBYTERY DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON, REV. COLIN BRADFORD. Photo by Momota To’uli.

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THE FIRST 40 YEARS OF CANBERRA CITY UNITING CHURCH

JENNY ROWLAND, HISTORIAN | CANBERRA

BEFORE THE INAUGURATION of the Uniting Church in Australia in 1977, Canberra City Uniting Church had just one Congregation worshipping as the Congregational National Memorial Church. Christians from a wide range of countries were beginning to worship with us, partly because of the church’s proximity to the Australian National University.

In 1982, a Tongan fellowship asked to worship on our site. Two years later its members became the first ethnic Congregation officially recognised in the then Presbytery of Canberra. Our Tongan friends, more recently known as the Toe Talatalanoa Congregation, were followed by a Korean Congregation.

Canberra City Uniting Church moved into a newly constructed church building on Northbourne Avenue in 1988, with its neighbouring office block, Pilgrim House. At the end of that year, the Congregations welcomed 25 West Papuans. We were the closest church to the events of the World Council of Churches’ Assembly in Canberra in 1991.

We still pray for countries around the world according to the World Council of Church’s ecumenical prayer cycle. However, we experience almost first-hand the joys and difficulties of many countries through having, in our midst, worshippers from diverse origins.

We are proud that we have provided two chairpersons of the Presbytery, Revs. John Bennett and Ivan Roberts; the current Moderator Rev. Myung Hwa Park; and a President of the Uniting Church from 1991 to 1994, Rev. Dr D’Arcy Wood (while he was our minister).

What sustains us? Love of God and the certainty that his peace and hope surround us.

We know that God will grant us the strength to be welcoming to people of all cultures, abilities, ages, family structures and sexual orientations, as we begin our next 40 years representing the Uniting Church in Australia in Canberra City.

DARING TO CHANGE, LISTEN AND EXPRESS

ANNE EMPSON | SCHOOLS RELATIONSHIP AND GOVERNANCE MANAGER

WHEN THE UNITING CHURCH came into being, I was in year 11 at Methodist Ladies’ College, Burwood. I was not a member of any church but my family had been associated with MLC since 1945 and continue to be so. Rev Ken Cornwell, our Principal, announced to the whole school that the Methodist Church would no longer exist; we were now the Uniting Church.

When I became a Christian at 19, I joined the Anglican Church but over the years I remained closely associated with the Uniting Church through MLC School. In late 2008, I joined the Uniting Church because the theology of the place of women in the Anglican Church did not sit well with me.

My views on the Uniting Church have changed a lot over the years. Before I joined, I used to think that the Uniting Church did not stand for much as it seemed the line between secular and Christian doctrine was blurred and changeable.

Having studied a Graduate Diploma in Theology at UTC and spent a few more years as a member of the UCA and part of the MustardSeed Ultimo — an active, growing and vibrant café church — I now see this fluidity as the main strength of the UCA. The Uniting Church is a church which constantly asks questions and changes as it feels the Spirit move. It examines the meaning behind the Scriptures and views them through a cultural and historical lens to seek God’s message for this place and time. It listens. It’s not a ‘one size fits all’ church and there is room for a wide variety of theological viewpoints and types of worship.

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LIFE GOES ON BUT THE REAL STORY IS WHAT HAPPENS NEXT THE BUZZ OF BEING PART OF UNION

GAVIN GASKIN | CARLINGFORD

THERE ARE LOTS of special moments in the path to the Uniting Church. I grew up in Chatswood South Methodist Church. Shortly before I reached my mid-teens, I heard that the fellowship at that Uniting Church was one of the biggest in Sydney.

But by the time I was old enough to join, numbers had drastically dwindled. But the youth in the area were already uniting, as we had the United Fellowship of Christian Youth which was primarily Methodist, Presbyterian and Congregational youth groups.

We had regular meetings and many exciting social events.

To us, it was a ‘no brainer’ to create the Uniting Church. But some of the older members of the various churches had other ideas and there are many stories that could be told about their concerns. While Wednesday 22nd June 1977 is the official date of union, what is particularly precious in my memory was a worship service at the Hordern Pavilion that weekend. It was a tremendous celebration and I still get a buzz thinking about it.

My wife and I hold a mini record in that we were the first to get married in Chatswood South Uniting Church less than a month later. Since then, that church has further dwindled such that I understand it has now been sold. But before it ceased to be a functional church, my son also was married in that church. Life goes on but the real story is what happens next.

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IN OUR 40TH YEAR, HOW ARE WE GOING?

JASON JOHN | UNITING EARTH MINISTRY NSW/ACT

‘HOW ARE YOU GOING?’ I grew up knowing that ‘Fine’ was the only answer required for that common question. So I was surprised when I joined the Church in my 20s, to discover that people there often did want an answer. They cared.

And if the answer was ‘Not great,’ they didn’t want to leave people in their suffering, but to help them move on.

So, how are we going? As part of an international community of humans, on a warming planet, we’re going terribly, and getting worse.

The targets of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change already seem unlikely to be attained. Less than three quarters of countries have signed on, and the US is going to pull out or renegotiate for less reductions. Our own government capitulates to the coal industry.

Our problems aren’t just limited to climate change. While the Environment Minister is promoting the few positives in Australia’s recent independent State of the Environment Report, the report laments a lack of political vision and leadership, and casts doubt over our environment’s ability to sustain us into the future.

But we know all this, don’t we? We just want to say ‘Fine’ and not deal with what’s actually going on.

In response, the Church needs to be the community which asks our politicians, for example, ‘No — how are we going, really?’ And when we finally get the honest answer, ‘Not great,’ we need to lead people from our collective suffering, and move on.

So what do we do about our deteriorating relationship with the rest of God’s creation? How do we seek healing? Repent? Move from despair to hopeful action? We do it collectively in the power of the Spirit.

So join us at: unitingearthweb.org.au

www.facebook.com/groups/UnitingEarth2017/

WHO WE ARE NOW IS DIFFERENT TO THEN

BRONWYN MANNELL | SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS ZONE

‘FINDING OUR BEARINGS AFRESH’ seems vastly more difficult in 2017 than in 1977, as societal change skitters ahead of us faster than most of us can keep up with. Those who focus on the question of where we come from make the error of backward looking, sometimes even hankering after a way of ‘being church’ that is forever gone. Who we are is different now for different people. But what identifies me is follower of the Jesus way, and from there it is ‘what do I do?’ that becomes the essential question.

It is in the interface between church and community, in the present time, that I find encouragement for the future.

Just near our property is a Rural Fire Service shed and right across the road a little historic church, which serves the surrounding community. Jesus and ‘everyday life’ come to mind as the firetruck is blessed at the beginning of the fire season; Carols by Candlelight are held in the fire shed in wet weather; the generator on the firetruck provides electricity for lights and organ. Many people are more comfortable with church in the shed than church in the church.

Most readers would be familiar with the sentiment that, if Jesus were alive today, he wouldn’t be in the church, he’d be ‘out there’, in the community. That being so, we have our direction for beyond 40.

PASSION AND FAITHFUL SERVICE

DOUG TAYLOR | UNITING

AT UNITING, we truly have the sense of ‘standing on the shoulders of giants.’ All the work that Uniting leads is as a result of the foresight, passion and faithful service of people from the Uniting Church and the wider community. Of course, meeting the needs of the community is not just the responsibility of Uniting or our various missions — this call is for each of us who are part of the life of the Uniting Church.

It can be seen in the hundreds of community activities lead

by Congregations.

THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A MORE CHALLENGING TIME IN THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY THAN NOW TO BE FAITHFUL WITNESSES TO JESUS CHRIST 40 YEARS! FOR A LOT OF US, THAT’S HALF A LIFETIME! MARGARET PENGILLY | COWRA

I HAVE BEEN very fortunate, to have been part of a worshipping Congregation for all of my nearly 80 years, first the Methodist Church, and then for the past 40 years, in the Uniting Church.

I think about those early years with much affection. They seemed to me to have been the best years of my life. In my teenage years, we were blessed with a minister who had wonderful gifts that he used to foster the love of Jesus in the lives of the young people.

We went along to the Methodist Girls Comrades (MGCs) and Order of Knights (OKs), then I met and married my husband in our Cowra Methodist Church, and together we have been able to worship and serve our Lord.

We face enormous challenges in sustaining this work into the future and it’s tempting to say it’s all too hard, turn inward and be concerned with our own survival. Yet there are ever-more people in the community in need of life-changing support.

As we have over the last 40 years, we must stay connected and responsive to the world.

Then in 1967 the Church was faced with the challenge of changing its name and identity from ‘The Methodist Church’ to ‘The Uniting Church’. For me personally, this was a time of great sadness and bereavement. I loved my Church and although I recognised that change would have to come, I wasn’t very happy about it. I did vote for it, though, and prayed that we were all doing the right thing.

At Union, our Church leaders discerned a vison for the work of the Church for a changing world. More than that, they courageously acted by creating a whole new Church.

We moved on... For the last 10 years, we have been one of a growing number of churches in our Presbytery who have become a ‘Lay-led’ congregation, ministering to very few young people and quite a number in the ‘over 70’ bracket, becoming a happy and vibrant church community.

Courageous action is something we talk about a lot at Uniting as a way to drive the change required to ensure we stay true to the mission of the Uniting Church. ‘Courageous action’ has probably also got some currency for the wider Church given we are in a period of considerable change and are likely to be for the next 40 years!

We moved on... Our children were very blessed with being able to attend a vibrant Youth Group, a large Sunday School and Christian Endeavour group, and giving their lives and hearts to the Lord themselves.

Then, it seemed our church went through another great deal of challenge and change; the young people all began to leave, as they went to the cities to further their education.

We moved on... and found an important mission to our town community. Along with a lot of other towns in the State, our church in Cowra provides a weekly Food Hall program, providing food and fellowship at affordable prices for those in need. We are working together to be the Church in this place — The Uniting Church — 40 years on!!

We must move on... Whenever the people of the Uniting Church see visions and dream dreams to bring about God’s love and peace in the world, working together, supporting each other, (whether with ministerial appointment or Lay-led), I see it can do great things for our Lord.

There has never been a more challenging time in the history of our country than now to be faithful witnesses to Jesus Christ, and the Uniting Church must be there at the forefront.

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L L AF S O HI IS T S U KEEP PLANTING THE SEEDS OF CHANGE

TERENCE CORKIN | FORMER GENERAL SECRETARY OF ASSEMBLY

ON JUNE 22 1977, as a 20 year old, I was privileged to attend the Uniting Church’s Inauguration at the Sydney Town Hall. The next year I was at United Theological College as a candidate for Minister of the Word. How the world and the Church have changed in 40 years!

As I sat in the crowd at the Inauguration, I was struck by the abundance of old men in dark clerical garb that dominated the stage and the proceedings. There was the occasional woman who made an appearance or a younger male minister to be seen, but not too often. Most of the women on the stage were in the choir that contributed to the very generous collection of old fashioned hymns and music that occupied the airwaves of Sydney Town Hall. I have no memory of an Aboriginal person or someone from a culturally or linguistically diverse (CALD) background participating in the liturgy.

The uniting churches were “of their time”. This is to be expected – the Christian faith is inherently incarnational.

Thankfully we are in a different time and the contrast with the opening worship and meeting of the 14th Assembly could not be more striking (see: assembly2015.uca.org.au/category/ media/media-releases/).

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However, the seeds for these transformations were planted in the faithfulness of those uniting churches, way back in 1977. The recognition of women in leadership, commitment to justice, ecumenical and international understandings of what it means to be church, respect for and welcome of the ministry of lay and ordained persons, were not invented after June 1977.

Over 40 years, the Uniting Church has built upon a faithful foundation. Even so, there remain many ways in which the 40-year-old Uniting Church has remained locked in the past. In too many places we worship in ways which are dated or foreign to people who have not been part of church culture (and CALD communities are as much at risk of this as anyone else). Evangelism was not the norm in the Christendom churches of the 1970s and evangelism needs to be embraced far more willingly and effectively in the Uniting Church. Theological education and formation need to be less dependent on the ‘academy’ and one physical location for its delivery. We also need to be more open to mystery, not knowing, and the Holy Spirit.

If there is a danger for the Uniting Church, it is that it too will become

a Church of its time. We live in scary times of social and religious conservatism. These times entice the Church to return to views that undermine women in leadership, to hold narrow understandings of evangelism and the gospel, and to be socially conservative and less adventurous.

As the members of the Uniting Church in June 1977 grew the seeds of change for the Church, to became a different Church than the one they inherited; it is my hope that those of us around in the next 40 years will do the same.

EVANGELISM NEEDS TO BE EMBRACED FAR MORE WILLINGLY AND EFFECTIVELY IN THE UCA

I VOTED FOR CHURCH UNION

KEITH HAMILTON | SENIOR MINISTER / GROUP CEO PARRAMATTA MISSION

TOWARDS TRANSFORMATION

REV. REBECCA LINDSAY | HOPE UNITING CHURCH, MAROUBRA

MY ENTRY INTO the Uniting Church was through Bible Study. I discovered Christian Students Uniting, part of the Synod’s tertiary chaplaincy work, in my last year of study.

In the weekly Bible studies I found a space in which to explore previously unasked questions about how God, life and discipleship fit together. Being part of this discipleship community strengthened my desire to follow after Christ. I found my faith coming alive in a new way.

As I learned more about the Uniting Church and it’s founding, I saw that this vibrance had always been there — in The Basis of Union and the vision of three diverse denominations bringing their treasures together to worship God, as well as in the inaugural Statement to the Nation and its desire to speak into the wider Australian community.

I still see that vibrant discipleship and am excited about the possibility of God’s Spirit continuing to push us forward towards the transformation of our Congregations and the wider communities in which they gather.

For me, the vibrance is present in small moments like when we hand out percussion to everyone at Hope Uniting in Sunday worship and see the joy of being God’s people together. There are also the not-so-small moments, like the stories from Yurora or the passion for justice on display at the Palm Sunday Peace March.

My hope for myself and for this Uniting Church is that we would continue to hear and take on board some of the often repeated words of scripture — ‘Do not be afraid’ and ‘Follow me.’

I VOTED FOR THE Uniting Church as a 16 year old. We had discussed the matter of Union in my family. Even though our minister of the day preached about why Christian unity was desirable but this union not, I held the view that we should vote ‘Yes.’

small affair and fewer than anticipated attended. In many ways the church struggles and fights of the ’80s and ’90s consumed our attention, perhaps even joy. I have been saddened that many I knew from those heady early days left the Uniting Church.

It seemed to me then and now that bringing people together was important. I had friends who were Presbyterians, as well as Methodists and Congregationalists. It made sense to me that we should be together. Indeed, it seemed a pity that we were not also joining up with my Anglican, Catholic, Baptist and Church of Christ friends in one church. Only much later did I discover the prayer of Jesus for Christian unity in John 17.

Sometimes I wonder, perhaps channelling the theologian Karl Barth, if we have focussed on religion and religious practice, on brilliant collective wordsmithing proposals and resolutions at meetings, on restructures and gurus and church growth... and not enough on loving God and neighbour and giving attention to the grace of God revealed in Jesus Christ.

Many of the people in the Wentworthville Methodist Circuit, which became the Wentworthville Parish — Wenty Uniting — attended the inaugural celebrations at the Horden Pavilion. The place was packed. Some from Wenty sang in the choir.

All of us there looked forward with great anticipation and enthusiasm to this new Church.

Many of us gathered again on the 10th anniversary at the Horden, still joyful though perhaps a little more realistic.

The 20th anniversary was held at Newington; it was a

I don’t recall a Synod celebration for the 30th, when I was a minister at Rooty Hill and St Marys, but the five ‘multicultural’ Congregations and groups that made up those two centres did. It meant a lot to them to be part of a national Church that was cross-culturally inclusive and valued the leadership and ministry of lay people.

For the 40th anniversary, Parramatta Mission will hold special studies on the UCA and special celebratory services. Forty years after those opening celebrations, I am glad I voted for church union, and pleased to be making a contribution to it today.

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DEEP LISTENING AND WALKING ON

Bundjalung Country

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An invitation to learn first-hand about the home and heritage of First Peoples was accepted by many UCA members. As Lisa Sampson shares, this special guided tour was a time for deep inner listening, spiritual enrichment and nourishment.

IN A FIRST FOR our Synod, the “Walking on Bundjalung Country” gathering this year opened the way for Uniting Church members to walk alongside their Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress brothers and sisters. The aim was bold and simple: build greater understanding and respect between First and Second Peoples, to hopefully contribute to the broader reconciliation process.

In the 40th Anniversary year of the Uniting Church of Australia, the special visit was also a timely reminder of the origins of the UAICC, notably the meeting at Crystal Creek in 1982 which set in motion plans for a nationwide Aboriginal and Islander Christian organisation.

A group of about 40 nonAboriginal people visited Bundjalung country, located in the Northern NSW’s coastal region. They also visited Taree (Biripi Country), Kempsey and Wauchope where they joined traditional prayer and worship. They met many of the local Aboriginal community leaders to discuss social issues and hear plans for future Aboriginal ministry.

One of several culturally significant Aboriginal places visited was “Cubawee Aboriginal Reserve” (place of full and plenty), a remote, peaceful bush block located seven kilometres from Lismore in Northern NSW. “Cubawee” is the country of Aunty Diane Torrens, Widjabal woman and Githabul woman of the Bundjalung nation from the Northern Rivers, and Regional Chairperson of NSW/ACT Congress. She

and her husband Tim Torrens initiated the “Walking on Bundjalung Country”, inviting non-Aboriginal people to join them for a time of learning, connection and sharing on Country.

Formerly known as Tuncester Reserve, “Cubawee” was a self-managed Aboriginal reserve from 1932 until 1965. At a time when segregation was widely practised in Australia, it was also a place of Aboriginal resistance. Aunty Diane’s grandfather Pastor Frank Roberts Snr. first established the “Cubawee” settlement and church as a place where Aboriginal people could live freely and practise their spirituality. Roberts was important in the Aboriginalled Bundjalung Christian movement and land rights movement in the 1940s.

The late Rev. Charles Harris was instrumental in the founding of Congress. He met his wife Rev. Aunty Dorothy Harris Gordon in the 1960s at “Cubawee”. They were committed to ministry in the Uniting Church and with Aboriginal people.

WISDOM OF ELDERS

Aunty Diane gave a heartfelt Welcome to Country at “Cubawee” to the group gathered to share stories, listen deeply to wisdom of elders and experience Aboriginal culture.

Aunty Diane shared her story about growing up in the late 1950s. Even though it was a time of widespread racial discrimination, her family rose up from those dark times.

For the most part, Aunty Diane says “Cubawee” was a happy place to grow up, despite the lack of comforts such as electricity, sewerage and running water. Housing was basic with dirt floors. Her grandfather, Pastor Frank, set up the settlement because the white people in Lismore had not wanted Aboriginal people living in town.

GROWING UP I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT RACISM WAS I THOUGHT IT WAS BECAUSE IT WAS THE COLOUR OF OUR SKIN THAT WAS HOW IT WAS TO BE

The group heard that as a girl, Aunty Diane narrowly escaped being shipped off permanently to Cootamundra girl’s home. A government social worker arrived in a black car and took Diane and her two sisters from “Cubawee”. If it were not for the family’s quick actions to negotiate their return into the care of other family members, Diane and her sisters would almost certainly have become one of the thousands of Aboriginal children in the “Stolen Generations”.

Access to education was near impossible at “Cubawee”.

When Aunty Diane finally went to high school, she understood prejudice for the first time. “The teacher only taught us what we had [already] learned in fourth class,” remembered Aunty Diane. “The other children wouldn’t talk to us.

“We were not allowed a seat on the (school) bus; we had to stand up all the way.”

Aunty Diane deliberately has not told these stories to her children so they didn’t grow up with “a hardness against someone towards to who we have to face”.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 34

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“Growing up like that I didn’t know what racism was. I thought it was because it was the colour of our skin that was how it was to be. My children didn’t have to live with that and my grandchildren don’t.”

The families were eventually forced to move from “Cubawee” in 1964 due to flooding. Battles to retain the land have since ensued.

“When we did move from here they fought hard to keep this [country].” Aunty Diane said it is land “worth fighting for.

It has not been easy but [our] people are strong enough to sit and argue their cause.”

RESILIENCE RUNS DEEP

Most notably, it is the everpresent leadership, resilience and family bonds that run deep in the extended Torrens and Roberts families.

Their families have been involved in major land title claims on Bundjalung Country, with some success.

The Ngulingah Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC) in Lismore is led by Aunty Queenie Roberts (Aunty Diane’s sister). Passionate

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about local Aboriginal issues, Ngulingah LALC is committed to ensuring a better future for Aboriginal people by pursuing cultural, social and economic independence for them, and working for the return of culturally significant and economically viable land.

One local project achieving success is the Nimbin Rocks Project near Lismore.

Visited by the “Walking on Bundjalung Country” group, The Rocks are of great significance to the traditional land owners. Gilbert Laurie (Diane’s nephew) explained how skills are learned which are important to Aboriginal culture, linking elders and nature with restoration caring for Country. The project involves plant propagation of local species and a nursery.

VITAL INITIATIVES

Shared with the Bundjalung Country group are challenges such as the impact of Government policy on Aboriginal communities, at a grass roots level. Recent restrictions on fishing and collecting affect the sharing of food at family gatherings.

1. DIANE TORRENS AND HUSBAND TIM TORRENS AT TABULAM 2. DEB, MARY AND ANGIE AT TABULAM’S BUNAWLBU CAFE 3.GILBERT LAURIE WELCOMED THE GROUP TO COUNTRY AT NIMBIN ROCKS. HE GAVE A BLESSING AND SMOKING CEREMONY WITH THE PERMISSION OF THE ELDERS. 4.GROUP AT TABULAM 5. TIM (POINTING) TELLS HIS STORY OF GROWING UP ON COUNTRY, HUNTING ALONG THE ROCKY RIVER FOR TURTLES GOANNA, WITCHETTY GRUBS AND KANGAROOS. TIM STILL TEACHES YOUNG PEOPLE TRADITIONAL WAYS OF HOW TO SURVIVE ON COUNTRY.

Another ongoing issue is the lack of housing in Lismore.

While the LACL has land, there are no resources to utilise it effectively.

community including land rights, drugs, alcohol, and domestic violence. They also seek to keep youth education at the top of the agenda.

It is hard to imagine just how much resilience will be needed to keep vital initiatives up and running, as Lismore tries to recover from extreme flooding caused by ex-Cyclone Debbie.

Nearby at Jubal, an annual convention is held in the ancient tradition of large gatherings. More than 500 Aboriginal people gather from NSW and southern Queensland. Despite a lifetime of being treated as anything but First Nation People, Tim’s sisters at Jubal graciously affirmed that there is “no colour when we are serving the Lord…We are still battling on… Our dream is to one day see a retreat conference centre.”

‘DEADLY TUCKER’

Not far from “Cubawee” is Tabulam. This is Tim Torrens’ Country of the Wahlubal people, where Uncle Harry Walker, ordained Uniting Church minister and an UAICC founder also lives with his wife Annabelle. Out of town is Jubullum reserve where Tim grew up.

Tim’s relatives Deb, Mary and Angie (Harry Walker’s cousin) shared their involvement in their local community and culture. They run the Bunawlbu Café and cultural museum where “deadly tucker” is happily shared with the group.

The women are tackling the big issues in the broader

It is in the spirit of traditions shared by our Aboriginal brothers and sisters that the group received an unconditional heartfelt welcome to Bundjalung Country. Running deep was an experience of total acceptance, despite injustices of the past, thanks to the generosity and hospitality of our hosts. i

REFLECTIONS FROM THE GROUP AS THEY TOOK PART IN A SPECIAL

Welcome to Country Trish Rooney

Quakers Hill Uniting

Diane Torrens

Ivan, Paul, Dorothy, Myung Hwa, my heartfelt thanks to you sincerely from my heart.

There is something sacred and almost spiritual about this land [Cubawee] that we stand on tonight and it is only appropriate that we gather and share on this land. Thank you for allowing us to be here and to be welcomed with such open arms onto your country.

Moderator Rev. Myung Hwa Park

Dorothy Creek Lockhart Uniting Church, Riverina Presbytery

Rev. John Brown Canberra City Uniting

It is twenty years since I was closely involved with the UAICC in developing this program. I really want to meet this generation of people and to see where they have come in those 20 years. It is great to be part of this new generation, to hear their stories this week.

Melany Rooney Quakers Hill Uniting and Parramatta Nepean presbytery

One thing I find really incredible is how much you do as a community out here…I have really enjoyed learning about the ways (Bundjalung People) connect and we could all learn about sharing and caring and forgiveness because you have forgiven us a lot.

It doesn’t matter who the other people are or how different they might appear to be…our biggest thing that we can do as people is to build relationship. As a Christian, what it means to be a Christian [to me] is to be in relationship with God and be in relationship with God’s people. Relationship is built by trust and listening.

I hope our Church walking alongside our brothers and sisters in UAICC will bring further reconciliation in this country. The tour organised by UAICC, Rev. Ivan Roberts and Paul Creek has been very successful in providing first-hand experiences to learn about our First People’s Country, culture and worship. Tim and Diane Torren’s people (Bundjalung people) have shown generosity, hospitality and an incredible amount of their experiences, sharing their pain and hope together.

Diane gave us the warmest embrace and ‘Welcome to her Country’ that we have ever encountered.

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P O S I T I O N VAC A N T M I N I ST E R I A L P L AC E M E N T - M O R I N GT O N I S L A N D Calvary Presbytery and the Mornington Island Uniting Church congregation are seeking expressions of interest for a suitably qualified person to fill the ministerial placement of the Mornington Island Uniting Church congregation.

Both lay and ordained applicants will be considered.

Mornington Island is a Queensland indigenous community in the Gulf of Carpentaria. Originally a Presbyterian Mission established in 1914, the community has been under local government administration since 1978. The Uniting Church is the main church for the community.

We are looking for someone who can minister to the whole community, has good inter-cultural communication skills, is willing to be engaged around community issues and who can actively support youth and children’s ministry.

FURTHER INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM • Rev. Dennis Corowa, Chairperson Calvary Presbytery, dennis@calvarypresbytery.com.au, 0408 871 354 • Rev. John Adams, Presbytery Minister, Calvary Presbytery, john@calvarypresbytery.com.au 0457 707 103 Applicants are to address their applications to: Mornington Island Uniting Church JNC C/- Secretary of Synod Placements Committee Uniting Church in Australia (Qld Synod) GPO Box 674 BRISBANE QLD 4001 email: placements@ucaqld.com.au

POSITION VACANT MINISTER OF THE WORD Yamba/Iluka Uniting Church, Far North Coast Presbytery, NSW/ACT Synod Yamba is a town at the mouth of the Clarence River renowned for its beaches and welcoming community.

Expressions of interest are invited for a Minister of the Word (0.8) to: • Lead us into the next stage of an exciting future with our vision statement:“To be a beacon of hope in today’s world, committed to living and growing as followers of Jesus.”

• Lead worship in a contemporary style with some traditional elements at Yamba and in a traditional style at Iluka each week.

• Facilitate pastoral care and faith development of the congregation.

For more information and supporting documentation, please contact Rev James Annesley, Convenor of the JNC, via email at graftonuniting@bigpond.com

EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

By July 3 should be directed to the Acting Associate Secretary of the NSW ACT Synod Rev. John Thornton PO Box A 2178 SYDNEY SOUTH NSW 1235 Ph: (02) 8267 4323 Any applicant must hold or apply for a valid NSW Working with Children Check number.

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You can be kept informed on biblical apologetics by going to Gary’s website adefenceofthebible. com and subscribing to his fortnightly blog.

Yes, poor people have mobiles ...

MOST PEOPLE IN West Timor live on less than $2 a day. Yet in spite of their very significant poverty, many of them have mobiles, and this is true of people in most developing (and developed) countries. More than half of India’s sprawling population own phones – more, in fact, than own toilets. In the US, poverty is a massive problem and it’s increasing, but people will go without food before they give up their phones.

Okay, then, these people can’t need our help too badly; that’s what our logic would tend to start shouting at us. Because if they have mobile phones, how bad can their situation be?

Here’s where our understanding of poverty shows up in all its frailty. It takes relatively little to own and maintain a resource like a mobile phone – you outlay the cost, pay a bill. But the impact is immediate and ongoing – from life-giving relationships to staying safe, having access to vital information and being able to bank or trade easily.

IN On the other hand, changing major infrastructure like access to electricity, education and employment takes time and major investment.

of lives and millions of dollars. Shouldn’t this sheer numbers return on investment make us feel better about our giving than simply how tragic the situation is at the time?

In fact, one dollar invested before disaster can save fifteen after tragedy strikes. That’s because it’s far cheaper to help protect people from the crushing poverty that makes them vulnerable to disaster, war and disease than it is to help them recover afterwards.

Proper investment in the lives of people in South Sudan, Nigeria, Ethiopia and throughout the Horn of Africa three years ago could have prevented what’s now being described as the greatest food threat since 1945.

But no. Some thoughtless person probably took photos of people carrying mobile phones.

FA C T, ONE DOLLAR INVESTED BEFORE DISASTER CAN SAVE FIF TEEN AF TER TRAGEDY STRIKES

In West Timor, I watched a man with virtually no sight, who works as a masseur, use his mobile to line up clients in Kupang. The mobile was voice activated – he couldn’t even see the screen. Thanks to a loan that helped build up his business, he earns around $5 a day. This has improved his life, but he still draws his water from a well next to the house. It’s often pretty dirty.

There’s no doubt that the poorer, more desperate we think people are, the better we feel about giving to them. But does this make sense?

It’s a source of never-ending pain to me that many of us only give once the pictures of Africa’s starving children or the Pacific’s floating bodies are all over our television screens.

It’s as though people are not really ‘poor’ or ‘desperate’ enough in this world to warrant our attention or generosity until they’re actually dead, or near enough. And yet, if we invested just a layer above – at those who own the mobile phones and are starting to make their way in the world, no matter how difficult it might be – we could save hundreds of thousands

Through a partnership with UnitingWorld and the local church in West Timor, 135,000 families have already been assisted through small loans to build lives for themselves that are meaningful and dignified. Don’t get me wrong. By anyone’s standards, they’re still poor. But investing in these communities is about looking ahead and creating a whole society of people more likely to resist disease, conflict, radicalisation and the impact of changing climate, including devastation from natural disaster.

That’s an impressive return by anyone’s standards.

Right now, UnitingWorld is eligible for special funding that recognises our development expertise and the generosity of our donors. For every $5 we can access, we must raise at least $1 in supporter donations. In effect, this means gifts from Uniting Church people are six times more useful to us in the field, combined with Australian Aid funding. i Cath Taylor

www.

Please consider supporting strong, capable and creative people who can use your donation right now.

And when it is combined with Australian Aid Funding, it can create six times the impact for beating poverty in West Timor, Bali and Zimbabwe. You can even donate from your phone! www.unitingworld.org.au/freedom

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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

Growing Healthy Churches, 26-29 August Rural Ministry Field Days, Dubbo The Rural Field Days are a chance to get together, network, share resources and stories, as well as engage with the bigger picture across the Uniting Church. Growing Healthy Churches is designed to assist rural churches, small or large, with a broad range of information, tools and resources to maintain and improve their health.

Hosted by the Rural ministry Unit in partnership with Uniting Mission and Education, the Field Days seek to support the active ministry of rural faith communities and congregations.

The Field Days meet continuing education requirements for people serving as Minister, Deacon, Ministry of Pastor, Lay Pastor, Lay Preacher and other Ministry Agents.

Keynote speakers

Workshops

Lisa Wells, is the Press Go Catalyst with the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand. Lisa will present four sessions on the nurture of healthy congregations.

Workshop topics include healthy church governance for church councils, Presbyteries and committees, health checks for congregations, working with sales proceeds, comunication, finance and property management, taking the pulse on our work with children, youth and families, growing a healthy church in a healthy world, music in worship, multicultural worship, and healthy investments.

Mark Faulkner begins as the Director of Rural and Remote Ministries for the Synod of NSW and ACT in August.

Mark will be speaking on a vision for resourcing scattered communities.

Christine Sorensen is the Dean of Formation for the NSW/ACT Synod, based at the Centre for Ministry. Christine will speak on ways we continually respond to the challenges we face as disciples of Christ.

Registration Costs Whole event (includes Pizza/Trivia night and Dinner/Keynote) Cost Per Day Pizza & Trivia Night Saturday Dinner & Keynote Speaker Monday night at Commercial Hotel

$180 $45 $15 $30

Venue Dubbo Uniting Church, 46 Church St, Dubbo.

Register online ume.nswact.uca.org.au/course-registrations Join the Rural Field Days Facebook group for the latest info: facebook.com/groups/ruralfielddays

Contact Bronwyn Murphy 02 8838 8920/0428411830 or Rohan England rohane@nswact.uca.org.au for more information

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D I G I TA L M I N I ST RY

A 21st century operating system for faith I CAN STILL remember walking into my college computer lab (do they have those anymore?) when the Windows 95 operating system first came out. Instead of the blue screen and function key commands I was accustomed to while using WordPerfect, Windows 95 was a visual, drag and drop GUI (graphical user interface), first pioneered by Apple, and it represented an enormous shift in personal computing. It made everything easier, more intuitive, more productive, and friendly.

These days operating systems (like Windows and MacOS) are far more advanced and powerful, and they have been joined by mobile operating systems. But rather than marvelling at them, we largely take them for granted. Operating systems are like the sea in which we swim on our computers and phones. They are vitally important, and no app, no matter how wonderful, happens without them. They are the platform on which everything else is built and the glue that holds everything together.

In Networked: The New Social Operating System, Barry Wellman and Lee Rainie write about how digital technologies have created a new social operating system.

The way we connect, meet, organize, and work have all been rewired because of the triple revolution of the internet, social media, and mobile digital devices.

They write, “societies—like computer systems—have networked structures that provide opportunities and constraints, rules and procedures.”

What can we learn from today’s 21st century operating systems?

NO INSTRUCTIONS REQUIRED

The operating systems are designed to be intuitive enough to start right out of the box. Plug and play. We need to make the church experience much easier, less clunky, more intuitive. If you need the equivalent of an instruction manual, you’ve made the experience too difficult.

CONNECTIVITY

One of the biggest trends in operating systems is the ability to sync across platforms from your computer, tablet, and smartphone. Texts, emails, pictures, calendars, music and more are synced across all your devices. A 21st century operating system for faith needs to sync across all parts of people’s lives, from worship on Sunday, face-to-face groups and activities, as well as digital on-the-go connections and resources.

WE NEED A NEW OPERATING SYSTEM OF FAITH TO HELP MEET THE SPIRITUAL NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE IN OUR PEWS AND THOSE THAT MAY NEVER WALK THROUGH OUR CHURCH DOORS.

The Church itself is an operating system for faith. It is designed to enable people to grow in their faith and live it out in their daily lives. However, the Church’s operating system is really a 20th century invention, created at a different time to address a different set of challenges than we face today. Sometimes it can feel like we are using Windows 95 in an iOS world.

Like my computer, the church needs a 21st century operating system to make things work—not only in the way we do church, but in a way that supports the members, friends, and beyond the church in their faith journeys.

For example, our inherited 20th century operating system was built at a time when it could be safely assumed people that went to church and frequently know what churches were about. Churches focused on programing for members that were in the building. Today, our notions and practices of membership, attendance, and giving are all in flux. People’s lives are much more fluid, mobile, and busy. We have a growing group of people beyond our churches that we want to reach with the love of God.

MOBILE

Our operating system of faith needs to be mobile and portable, just like our smartphones so people can encounter God wherever they may be. People live their lives through their mobile devices.

They can do the same with their faith and Christian community.

CUSTOMIZED

Operating systems are becoming more tailored to each individual person. They come with personal assistants like Siri and Cortana that respond to your voice. The days of churches being “one size fits all” is waning. People are hungry for personalized faith resources and experiences according to their age, time of life, questions, and curiosities.

Digital operating systems can inspire us to design more operating systems for inspiring faith that are more effective, accessible, and meets people where they are.

Finally, my five-year-old laptop recently died. It’s a terrible feeling when a computer dies. I really loved that computer. I wrote two books on it and learned to create slides, edit videos, and podcast on it. The customer service representative on the phone at Apple was like a grief counselor, helping me to let go of something that I had loved and worked great for a long time, but just could not meet all the new demands.

May God give us the grace to honour what has served many people so well for many decades, but to let go of what no longer works and create an operating system of faith that can meet the demands of this new time. i Pastor Keith Anderson

We need a new operating system of faith to help meet the spiritual needs of the people in our pews and those that may never walk through our church doors.

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M A K I N G M O N E Y M AT T E R

Money and the body of Christ WHEN SAUL OF TARSUS fell from his horse on that famous road trip to Damascus in the 1st Century, he lost his sight in the glare of some profound revelations. He also heard a voice. What the voice said changed not only Saul but, eventually, the whole world.

WARREN BIRD EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, UNITING FINANCIAL SERVICES

Most of us would be familiar with the story. The most common understanding of its significance is that this is Saul’s encounter with the risen Christ. In this encounter, this Jewish man with Roman citizenship, whose credentials as a rabbi were impeccable, was given the task of taking God’s message to the nonJewish world. He did this under the Roman version of his name, Paul. The rest is history, with his message even reaching the far-flung shores of our wide, brown land.

However, there is another important layer of what Saul/Paul was confronted THE FINANCIAL with that day. He heard RESOURCES OF Jesus say, “you are E ACH PART OF THE persecuting me.” The CHURCH ARE NOT voice didn’t say, “you MEANT TO BE USED are persecuting Jesus’ O N LY B Y T H AT PA R T followers”. It said, “I O F T H E B O DY, B U T am Jesus and you are TO BE AVAIL ABLE persecuting ME.”

FOR THE GOOD OF ALL

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What this means is that Christ is present in the world through His followers, who believe in Him and have God’s Spirit. God speaks as we speak, sharing the Word with others, and God helps others in practical ways when we serve them. Or, as The Basis of Union puts it, “Through human witness in word and action, and in the power of the Holy Spirit, Christ reaches out to command people’s attention and awaken faith.”

As a result of this understanding, Paul often wrote of the importance of the different members of Christ’s body working together, supporting one another. The prime example of this was during the famine in Jerusalem where he organised churches in other locations to provide financial assistance to those who were suffering. Paul was effusive in his praise for the Macedonian church, which “gave as much as they were able and even beyond their ability” and which had pleaded for the privilege of sharing in this service of the Lord’s people. (2 Corinthians 8:1-5) This, I believe, was a real world example of what Paul had said about how the eye can’t say to the hand that “I don’t need you.”

(1 Corinthians 12:21)

As Paul reflected on this over the next few years he developed his understanding into the concept of the Church There are other examples of as the body of Christ. As with a Paul teaching in this manner. human body, the body of Christ He instructs Timothy that has many parts. the church should take care of widows (among the most It has different ethnic parts, vulnerable in society at that different socio-economic time) and to appropriately parts, different geographic remunerate pastors (1 Timothy locations and different skill 5). He reminds the church sets (or gifts), but all are of in Rome that, because we the one body, united by the are ‘’one body in Christ and one Spirit. (See 1 Corinthians individually members one of 12:12-27) another’’, so we should employ

our gifts for the common good – gifts that include hospitality and contributing to the needs of others (Romans 12:3-8).

A young man named Titus was entrusted with collecting the generous contributions from the Macedonians and delivering them safely to those who needed them. Is it pushing the body metaphor too far to suggest that he was like the blood veins, transporting sustenance from one part of the body to another?

Perhaps, but in any case Titus was chosen because of his faithfulness to the gospel, his trustworthy character and his practical, administrative abilities. He was the first Treasurer of the church and someone whose virtues I seek to emulate in my role as Executive Director of Treasury and Investment Services within the Uniting Church here in NSW & ACT. My role exists because, when the Uniting Church was formed 40 years ago, it intended to give effect to the notion of the body of Christ in the way money is managed.

The financial resources of each part of the Church are not meant to be used only by that part of the body, but to be available for the good of all. It’s never been done perfectly, but it’s encouraging to see that intention built into the Church’s foundational thinking, with management of financial resources seen as an important ministry activity.

My goal, and that of all involved with the Synod’s Treasury and Investment Services arm, is to help the Church to provide real world examples of Paul’s teaching about the body of Christ. i

L E C T I O NA RY R E F L E C T I O N S

June: The Holy Spirit among us encounter with the power of the gospel.

4 JUNE

PENTECOST, ACTS 2:1-21

This story of a group of peasants inexplicably enabled to tell forth the great works of God in all manner of languages is both remarkable and unprecedented. But not unexpected! Any who read the prophet Joel knew this was precisely where history was heading. A day of renewed capacity to overcome communication barriers, where differences would not mean misunderstanding or fear. A day of telling forth the great works of God to all.

This event was about much more than simply overcoming a language barrier. This is the overturning of Babel (Genesis 11)! No longer shall communities be separated into family/ethnic/religious/ linguistic divides. When the spirit comes among us — when we live in a manner consistent with the self-giving Spirit of Christ — we can work together across all barriers to do the good work of the kingdom of God. In what ways has your experience of the Holy Spirit enabled you to overcome social barriers, as you have shared the love of Christ?

11 JUNE

MATTHEW 28:16-20

I love that those who were doubtful were numbered among the worshippers in this passage. When Jesus addressed them he did not rebuke any for their doubt but simply assured them all of his authority, his call and his ongoing presence.

Jesus’ authority is acknowledged in our observance of all he commanded (following

What is your experience of sharing Christ from a position of vulnerability?

25 JUNE

MATTHEW 10:24-39

There are some very challenging ideas in this passage. Jesus starts by letting us know that if we do well following him, we should expect to be rejected just as he was! But this is not to be feared. It is to be embraced in the confidence that all will come out in the open in due course. God — and the truth — will hold us secure in eternity. There is a sense that our capacity to live this out in adverse circumstances is a penetrating diagnostic of our spiritual wellbeing. him in what he taught and modelled). It is not primarily in reciting facts, attending worship, formulating theology or telling others how they should live. It is most essentially about the way we live and relate to others. How we relate to others is key in the way we make disciples.

It is also where we discover Christ’s ongoing presence in our midst as we live, work, play and gather together.

When you consider the authority, call and presence of Christ, what does it look like for you?

18 JUNE

MATTHEW 9:35-10:8

Jesus here puts forth one of the most startling and disturbing evangelism strategies ever uttered. Do not go out in strength, go out in vulnerability! Do not prepare all that you need

before you go. Go out needing to be cared for by those to whom you go.

Really?! The genius of this strategy is precisely that as a person responds in welcome and generosity to the disciple (who is a stranger), the person enjoys an experience of the kingdom. In the act of selfgiving generosity, those who respond to the sent disciples gain a deeper understanding of what salvation and the kingdom are about than many sermons could provide.

It is extraordinarily risky both for those being sent and for those receiving them… and it takes considerable faith on the part of those going out and just as much faith on the part of those receiving the strangers. It is not surprising we prefer less risky strategies. But it seems less vulnerability means a reduced

Did the Prince of Peace not come to bring peace on earth?! (Matthew 10:34) Jesus here unmasked the sacrificial mechanism. His death will reveals that this age-old mechanism uses violence against an innocent victim to contain violence and maintain order. This means humanity’s only known, surefire way to stop people killing each other has been rendered increasingly impotent. The very structures of culture and society are challenged by this disabling of violent control.

Those who follow Jesus in self-giving love inadvertently speed the demise of the former order of control — and many passionately dislike this.

Where have you encountered opposition or rejection on account of acting from selfgiving love? i

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L E C T I O NA RY R E F L E C T I O N S

July: Ministering on the margins 2 JULY

9 JULY

16 JULY

When we receive someone, we identify ourselves with them. This is a critical move -- especially when we are identifying with a fringedweller or outsider. They are the most likely to be unseen and excluded, or worse.

Standing with them (receiving them) makes them less easy to overlook and exclude.

Some people are never happy. It is as though their identity is formed around this fact. They define themselves by how everyone else is wrong, or not good enough, or not like them. Such people are not looking to make a contribution or find ways forward. They are secretly comfortable with the status quo and want to protect themselves from facing any further change/development.

Jesus’ explanation of the parable of the sower casts light on the variety of responses people make when they hear the good news.

Good seed does not always produce fruit.

MATTHEW 10:40-42

MATTHEW 11:16-19, 25-30

Jesus hung with fringedwellers. He became the very symbol of an outsider — death on a cross outside the city. To Traditional intelligence and stand with (receive) Jesus insight are built on is to identify with a the established fringe-dweller and patterns of the outsider. way the world TO S TA N D works. Jesus Prophets, WITH (RECEIVE) ushered in likewise, were JESUS IS TO something on the social IDENTIFY WITH radically margins. They A FRINGEnew in behaved in DWELLER AND which challenging OUTSIDER customary ways and wisdom and transgressed the intelligence established no-go has little or no zones of conversation. The traction. Even so, our intrinsic reward for being a prophet humanity understands was (frequently) social it. Children, who are isolation and (possibly) death unsophisticated and not by stoning. Who wants a caught up in their own clever prophet’s reward?! ideas, can respond to Jesus’ The reward for giving a humble ways. But adults too can let go of the burden of the person a cup of water is the constructed reality we carry privilege of participation in around, and rediscover their sustaining life for another essential humanity in caring human being. There is no for one another. We can know greater reward. No one can how to do this if we allow take that reward from you — it is contained in the act of giving ourselves to follow Jesus. itself. It is one of the moments How can you live your we are most like God. following of Jesus in a way that makes a constructive Who do you receive and who difference in your do you identify with? How community today? have you been rewarded in your efforts today?

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MATTHEW 13:1-9,18-23

The parable encourages those sharing the gospel to be attentive regarding where they do their work. It is a waste of time, energy and resources to throw seed in unfruitful places.

The story is more confronting when we consider ourselves as the soil. How have we received the word and what kind of fruit is evident? The worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth appear to have the upper hand in many places.

How do you identify the various ‘soils’ when you are seeking to share good news with others? To what extent do you identify with the various soils in your own response to good news?

23 JULY

MATTHEW 13:24-30, 36-43

Jesus does not avoid the idea of judgment in his teaching.

However, he consistently leaves it to God. Just as the workers in this parable seems keen to go uproot the weeds, we, like them, are often keen to be instruments of judgment and uprooting.

Judgment is a delicate and dangerous business. We are foolish to think we might be able to do it adequately. Good people invariably get hurt

when we take on this task that is not ours.

When the time comes, all will be revealed. We shall see clearly as we shall be clearly seen. That’s enough to be concerning ourselves with.

How might your energy for uprooting weeds be more helpfully directed?

30 JULY

MATTHEW 13:31-33, 44-52

This series of short sayings about the kingdom of God indicates the disproportionate impact its reality has on the established order of things.

The gospel seems small, insignificant even. Yet it will give rise to something very large that will impact everything and that has more value (though it be hidden) than anything you can see.

The impact of the coming kingdom is so great that even some who are not responsive to the central character and story will get caught up in its movement. Caught up with the movement or not… no one will be forced into the kingdom. No one who does not choose to be there will be coerced. Sadly, they will be free to miss out.

In what way does the radical change God’s kingdom represents, shape how you value the present order of things? i These Lectionary Reflections were prepared

by Rev. Dave Gore, Minister at Ultimo Mustard Seed Uniting Church.

N E W S F RO M U N I T I N G C H U R C H A D U LT F E L LOW S H I P ( U CA F )

REFORMATION SERVICES

2017 marks the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation. Services were held during the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” from 28 May–4 June.

Services celebrated Christ and his act of Reconciliation to move the hearts of divided Christians in becoming ambassadors for Christ.

STAMP COMMITTEE REPORT

The Stamp Committee thanks those collecting and sending stamps, with $5500 raised this year so far. The aim is to meet the target of $750,000 for sales from 22 June 1977–22 June 2017 (the 40th Anniversary of the Uniting Church.) We will keep you posted!

Fellowship news BIGGEST MORNING TEA

Margaret Pedler the UCAF National Chairperson visited NSW in May as part of her trips to all states during her time in office.

A busy program in the Hunter included morning tea at Belmont Uniting Church, Singleton for their “Biggest Morning Tea”, Women’s Shed at East Maitland and UCAF Hunter Presbytery Rally at Charlestown.

Later Margaret enjoyed hospitality with Illawarra Presbytery at their UCAF rally at Shellharbour, visits to Kiama and Normanhurst Fellowships. Sightseeing was also included. More detail next Newsletter.

MACQUARIE DARLING PRESBYTERY

Macquarie Darling Presbytery UCAF Rally was held recently at Grenfell led by Rev. David Wrightson from Bathurst.

After lunch those present enjoyed a tour of Wallengreen Sculpture Garden much of it made from scrap metal.

CANBERRA REGION RALLY

The 40th Canberra Region UCAF Rally was held at City UC. Rev. Elizabeth Raine spoke on the theme “Caring for Creation”. Afternoon stories were shared of Prison and Student Ministry.

ODD JOBS TEAM

Brian Cowan reports the Perthville UC “Odd Jobs Team” used the welcome service for new minister Rev. Clair

Wright to present cheques for $10,000 to two local groups, “Can Assist” and Christian educator at the high schools.

In 15 years of operation the team has contributed over $150,000 to local charities.

COMMUNITY GROUP OF THE YEAR

Cowra Uniting Church Food Hall won the Community Group of the Year Australia Day Award for the second year running. Over 220 families benefit from the service. The group also farewelled Program Manager Kim Withers after six years’ service.

RALLY DATES

Paramatta-Nepean: 22 July at St Andrews Glenbrook.

Mid North Coast South :16 August at Gloucester.

If you would like to share your fellowship news or have any questions, please contact Judy Hicks on judyh_rnh@hotmail.com

UnitingRedress

Compassion & care Applying for Redress The Synod of NSW and ACT provides an UnitingRedress interim policy to anyone who has experienced sexual abuse as a child in Uniting Church institutions such as schools.

What is Redress?

There are three areas for redress based on Royal Commission recommendations.

1. Counselling and support.

2. A verbal and/or written response.

3. Financial redress by way of an ex-gratia payment, where eligible, in recognition of the pain and suffering caused as a result of abuse.

Redress offered for survivors of sexual abuse within the Uniting Church

Contact

To find out more about UnitingRedress: • Please Call: 1800 713 993 (Mon to Fri 8:30am - 5:00pm) • Email: unitingredress@nswact.uca.org.au • Go to the website: www.nswact.uca.org.au Enquiries and applications are confidential and are treated in a timely and sensitive way by our experienced social worker.

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B E L I E F M AT T E R S

Good news on the attack

I GET A SENSE that many of the Western churches have a spirit of defeat.

Diminishing numbers, closing churches, and loss of relevance might convince us the gospel is in retreat. The truth is, perspective teaches us the gospel is still moving forward like wildfire.

Perhaps it isn’t the dominant religious position, but it is far from leaving our shores. If we believe we are fighting a losing battle, we might be given to play defense, sound retreat, and formulate a sound exit plan. But if we believe Christ carries the gospel forward, then we might play some offense, see what power Christ holds, and what his good news heralds.

We are the Vanguard — not the Rear Guard.

I’m no military expert but, essentially, the Vanguard is the forward assault team in a battle. They go on ahead of the main body to.scout the terrain and the area. They also look for suitable lodging for the army that follows and they kill off any would-be potential scouts. In some instances, they function like an early assault and are primarily made up of battle-hardened soldiers.

The rearguard, on the other hand, is designed to protect the flank of an attacking force. They are also charged with the duty of protecting the main force when they are in retreat. Essentially, they prepare the way for a speedy exit in case of emergency.

It would seem the way we have been conducting our mission is like the rearguard of a battle. With an evershrinking population of Christians, the

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mission from the church has been one that functions like a rearguard to protect the remaining body of the army, keep our backsides covered, and work on an orderly retreat

OUR EXIT PLAN IS HE AVEN...

FROM NOW ON OUR PLAN IS TO MOVE FORWARD, CARRYING THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS CHRIST

Is the gospel in retreat?

Is the Kingdom of God being removed?

Of course the answer is a resounding, “No!” So why function like the rearguard?

They are there in case of emergency; they point the way to the fastest exit. It is important in a military conflict, certainly, but not for sharing the gospel of Jesus.

Our exit plan is heaven and Christ paved the way. From now on our plan is to move forward, enabled by the Spirit of God, carrying the good news of Jesus Christ until the day Christ issues our summons and we are called onwards.

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.”

(Philippians 1:21-24) The Vanguard are unaware of terrain, territory, or climate. Their mission is to go forward and prepare the way.

They have to be bold and deal with the unknown. There is no option to play the ‘wait-and-see’ card; the Vanguard is on

the move. As they progress, they adapt and innovate, learning and changing with the environment.

We firmly cling to Jesus’ sound, unchanging message.

From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. (Matthew 11:12) Whether or not you view this passage as a positive or negative there is one certainty — the gospel comes against opposition and it moves forward with a resistance against the good news it proclaims. In the words of former Mars Hill pastor Mark Driscoll: “The kingdom of God is about Jesus our King establishing his rule and reign over all creation, defeating the human and angelic evil powers, bringing order to all...”

Influential theologian Martin Luther, on the gospel of God, says, “concerning His Son, incarnate, suffering, risen and glorified, through the Spirit, the Sanctifier.

To preach Christ is to feed the soul, to justify it, to set it free, and to save it, if it believes the preaching.”

Does that sound like a comment from a person looking for an exit strategy? i This is an extract from Vanguard: Gospel Direction by Duncan Robinson. Republished with permission. To buy a copy, visit Amazon or Koorong, or pastorduncan.com

C U LT U R E WAT C H

We need to talk about Hannah Baker Recently, you couldn’t scroll through Facebook without seeing something about the Netflix original series 13 Reasons Why. Some commended the series for opening up dialogue about suicide, while others (including mental health professionals) have condemned what they describe as an irresponsible handling of that issue.

NEED SOME HELP? For 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit www.lifeline.org.au/ gethelp.

Headspace Australia Fact Sheet is available at: bit.ly/ FactSheet13ReasonsWhy

FOR THOSE WHO have managed not to be drawn in to the latest must-watch TV series that EVERTYONE has been talking about, here is a quick breakdown. The story follows 17 year old, Clay Jensen who, after his classmate commits suicide, receives a box of tapes.

When he listens to the first tape, he hears a familiar voice: “Hey it’s Hannah, Hannah Baker. Don’t adjust whatever device you’re hearing this on; it’s me, live and in stereo. No return engagements. No encore and this time absolutely no requests.

Get a snack, settle in, because I’m about to tell you the story of my life; more specifically, why my life ended.”

Recorded before she died, the tapes detail the 13 reasons why she committed suicide. We listen with Clay, one tape at a time and learn just how we all can — unknowingly or (and let’s be honest) knowingly — mistreat people without considering the consequences.

It has been a few weeks since I finished bingewatching the series. I must admit it has taken me a while to comment on it. This is because the storyline tackles extremely heavy content for a high school drama, from drink driving to rape and, of course, suicide.

The last episode especially is traumatising and comprehending what I had just watched took a few days. It’s this intense impact of the show’s content that has caused mental health professionals to be concerned for vulnerable viewers. Could this series act as a ‘trigger’? I do think if you are instantly worried that 13 Reasons Why will conjure distressing

memories or feelings, then you should choose to not watch it. Please.

Headspace Australia has heard the concerns provoked by 13 Reasons Why. In response, it created a fact sheet for schools and parents about talking to young people about the show.

What is important about Hannah’s story is that it is getting people to talk about mental health, suicide and its prevention. It forces us to address the way we treat others and to be aware of the signs when someone is crying out for help. 13 Reasons Why captures how we don’t realise the immense impact our actions and words can have on each other.

The topics and emotions swirling within Hannah’s harrowing story are something I can’t seem to shake. You can’t seem to either, looking at the commentary online. Perhaps because its always timely to remind others to reach out to those who may feel as Hannah did. To let them know that this final decision is not the only option. I would hope that everyone would reach a point where they know they are loved and, no matter how broken you are inside, God has opened His home to you.

For Christians, 13 Reasons Why is a reminder of how important it is to be a light for those in darkness and to share the love, life and grace that is bestowed on us through Jesus.

While it can be hard and painful, we do need to talk about Hannah Baker. Discussing mental health is important in the home, workplace and Congregations. Let’s take the time to talk to each other and actually, really, listen. i Melissa Stewart

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REVIEWS

Entertain me REA D THIS

THE CHURCH GUIDE FOR MAKING DECISIONS TOGETHER Discernment is a community process of listening to each other and the Holy Spirit, whereas the traditional rules of meetings in the Western World are there to facilitate arguments.

On a planet that is now more divided, and decisions more difficult, our former General Secretary of the Assembly Terence Corkin became convinced we needed to revisit the consensus decision making processes. So convinced that he, with an American Methodist Julia Kuhn Wallace, has written this helpful how-to book, The Church Guide for Making Decisions Together. It is a timely opportunity for leaders to re-visit the importance of the way we make decisions.

The Introduction asks, ‘So what’s wrong with the way we make decisions?’

In the following eight chapters, the book charts the way from ‘Conflict to Consensus: Supporting Transformative Decision-Making’, then moves to ‘A Step-by-Step Process to Successfully Engage Church Groups in Contemporary Discernment’, before sharing ‘Lessons From Around the World’, and finishing with ‘Putting It All Together: Building Your Discernment Process’.

The book is a great way to re-examine and re-appropriate this gift that the Uniting Church was given in 1994. For more information, visit the website: makingchurchdecisions.com Rev. Prof Dean Drayton

PRESS PL AY

BIG SCREEN

LOVING (PG)

THE SHACK (M)

The first year of any marriage can be a time of adjustment, but the challenges faced by Richard Loving and Mildred Jeter (Joel Edgerton and Ruth Negga) exceed most other couple’s experience.

If there is a problem with the film adaptation of William P. Young’s bestselling sensation, it is that it must cover a lot of ground in its two-hour running time. But its value lies in the conversations that could and should ensue after you leave the cinema.

Based on a true story, Loving is set in Virginia, USA, in the 1950s. The Lovings entered into an interracial marriage at a time when it wasn’t legal in some states of America.

Sometimes, love of a woman can make the simplest of men make the boldest decisions in their lives. This is what is portrayed in the life of Richard Loving. He loved Mildred and she loved her husband. If director Jeff Nichols (Midnight Special) is able to convey anything through Loving, it is the longterm conviction that the real-life Lovings must have had for one another.

Edgerton and Negga portray the Lovings as being caught between their love for one another and their wish to live and thrive in a community that would prefer they were not together.

There is place for educating and entertaining the populace about this chapter in modern relationship history. The Lovings’ 10 year saga is a fascinating analysis of America in the 50s and 60s, much of which may seem like a familiar journey for viewers.

Russell Matthews

Mack (Sam Worthington) is a dedicated dad who is grieving in ways that most parents couldn’t possibly imagine.

While on a family camping trip, Mack’s daughter is kidnapped while he is distracted by a canoe accident involving his other children. Police later determine that his daughter was murdered by a serial killer in a hunting shack, but they do not find her body. Years later, still unable to move past his grief, Mack is presented with an opportunity to face his fear head on.

Faith, forgiveness and reconciliation are The Shack’s touchstones. As author Young says, “The movie’s emotional, and inspirational – and challenging too.’ He wants people to come out of the cinema knowing ‘that you’re not alone, that forgiveness matters, that your choices matter. That God will meet you anywhere you are. He climbs into these broken places with us, and then begins to help us create something that is living.’

The Shack has the potential to serve as a conversation starter about Christianity with those unfamiliar with faith, or to get someone asking questions of Christian friends and ministers. And this is its greatest strength.

Adrian Drayton

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Do You Care For People?

TRAINING IN PASTORAL CARE If you’re located in a rural area and are looking for training in pastoral care, stay where you are, The Pastoral Counselling Institute will bring their team of training experts to you.

The Institute offers training in a number of areas for churches and ministry teams. These include programs on: • Learning How I Listen • Listening to People’s Stories • Qualities of Leadership • Grief and Loss Each of these programs is designed to encourage members of your congregation to increase their skills in pastoral care. And to ensure you’re getting the most from your training, each course can be tailored to suit the needs of your congregation.

COUNSELLING SERVICES The Pastoral Counselling Institute offers a wide range of counselling including: • mental health problems • grief and loss • trauma •behavior change • anger management •marriage • relationship and family issues • sexual orientation and gender identity issues • victims and perpetrators of sexual abuse Our staff have training in both Theology and Psychology and are dedicated to a holistic, sensitive approach to personal, marriage and family issues, regardless of race, gender, religion or sexual orientation.

People with a referral from their GP on a Mental Health Care Plan may be able to claim Medicare benefits* (* see Medicare schedule for claimable items – available on request or on the psychology website) http://www.psychology.org.au/medicare/fact_sheet/

If you would like more information on any of the Pastoral Counselling Institute activities please call 9683 3664 or email pciuca@nswact.uca.org.au

www.pastoralcounselling.org

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.

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hamiltonfunerals.com.au

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