Crosslight July 2015

Crosslight No. 256 July 2015

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Ecumenism is alive and well in Tasmania’s Georgetown.

We meet Jaana Quaintance James, ethical sourcing manager with David Jones.

A brief look at some of the issues to be considered by the 14th National Assembly when it meets this month in Perth.

Emmet O’Cuana reviews the latest offering from Pixar studios, Inside Out, and finds a message for young and old alike.

Christ is risen. Christians all around the world proclaim these words, and have done so for centuries, in acknowledgement of the hope and grace of the risen Christ. Happy Easter.

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Image by SweeAnn Koh

On the eve of his departure from the role, UCA president Rev Prof Andrew Dutney reflects on the past three years.

Regulars

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Synod Snaps brings you images from throughout the Church and beyond.

Reviews - 16 to 17 Letters - 19 to 20

Placements - 20 to 21 Opinion - 22 President’s Column - 23

Editorial Timeless beauty PENNY MULVEY

TRAVELLING has the capacity to take you out of yourself. You see the world and your place in it with fresh eyes. Always a good thing, as most of us have the capacity to over-inflate our individual role within it.

I am currently experiencing nearly five weeks of travel throughout Europe with

Communications & Media Services

UCA Synod Office, 130 Little Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 Phone: (03) 9251 5200 Email: crosslight@victas.uca.org.au ISSN 1037 826X

my husband. We have never travelled so extensively in one trip before. Everything is so old, and has so much visible history.

In the midst of every single town or city is a place of worship. In the case of our destinations – cathedrals, basilicas and churches – all magnificent, all capturing an era when Christianity (either Roman or Protestant) was central to village life.

For us, one stood apart. It left us reflecting on its architect, and asking ‘what was his understanding of God in designing such an extraordinary place of worship?’.

I speak of Antoni Gaudi, the architect of La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona’s unfinished basilica, a building whose cranes and scaffolds have dominated the skyline for many years.

Its interior, designed by Gaudi nearly a century ago but only recently completed by a new generation of architects, builders and

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artisans, is breathtakingly beautiful. It takes you to a place of worship and awe, drawing you into contemplation and prayer despite the distraction of hundreds of other visitors also gazing upward. The light, the soaring ceiling, the magnificent hues of stained glass, the aura of the space, fill the senses.

Worship of the Almighty seems the logical and necessary response.

How is this possible? It is a place of unerring beauty. Gaudi, who died as a result of an accident in 1926, saw this building as his life’s work.

He also knew it would not be completed in his lifetime. But as God was a God of infinity, it did not matter. Gaudi knew this significant task would be taken up by subsequent generations and he was willing to surrender his creative control. Gaudi left comprehensive models, drawings and instructions, he mentored and

collaborated.

He was a man of deep faith. He knew that he was just a part of a bigger picture.

Christians no longer dominate the centre.

The Church does not carry the power it held in the past – for both good and evil – thankfully. However, like Gaudi, we too know that we worship a God of eternity.

As we struggle with a changing world: a spotlight on the Church; debates about same-gender marriage; a declining membership; and so much other uncertainty; we do not need to be discouraged or confused.

God calls each of us into his world and his mission. He has a deep understanding of the much bigger picture. Be encouraged and keep your eyes on Jesus Christ (Hebrews 12:2).We do our part. We also pave the way for others to follow.

Every person is precious.

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Executive Editor - Penny Mulvey Managing Editor - Deb Bennett Design and Digital Illustration - Garth Jones Journalist - Ben Grundy Senior Advertising & Print Services Officer - Andrew Juma Communications Manager - Nigel Tapp Online Content Coordinator - Emmet O’Cuana Communications Officer - Tim Lam P.A to Executive Editor - Heather Thomson Senior Media Officer - Ros Marsden

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News Celebrations at Grovedale

Action on pokies THE Victorian InterChurch Gambling Taskforce has launched a postcard campaign calling on the Victorian government to tackle pokies reform.

The taskforce is asking Church members to take part in the campaign to combat the harmful effects of gambling.

“We are disappointed the new minister in charge of regulating gambling, Jane Garrett, has shown very little interest in any new and meaningful reforms to rein in the harm pokies continue to cause in our communities,” taskforce chair Dr Mark Zirnsak said.

“This campaign is a chance for Church members to remind the minister that the community is deeply concerned.

“Some people with gambling problems suffer relationship breakdown, depression, turn to crime, can lose their jobs and even commit suicide.”

Join us at Crosslight Online WANT to stay up to date with the latest news from around the Church? Join the conversation at Crosslight Online.

With regular updates throughout the week, Crosslight Online features articles about Uniting Church events, social justice news and reflections from guest writers. Readers can comment on each story and share them with their social networks.

Recent stories on Crosslight Online include:

The Victorian government’s own research has estimated around 30,000 Victorians suffer from gambling problems.

“The pokies industry continues to be the main cause of these problems,” Dr Zirnsak said.

“They design their machines to take the maximum amount of money from people who gamble on them.”

The postcard asks the minister to take significant steps to reduce the suffering caused by the pokies industry.

The campaign proposes setting $1 as the maximum a person can lose, per button push, and suggests requiring venue staff to offer help to people displaying signs of problem gambling.

The campaign also calls for limiting opening hours of pokie areas in venues and allowing local governments to have the final say on the number of pokies in their community.

To order cards please call 9251 5271 or email jim@victas.uca.org.au.

STRINGED instruments, food and guided tours were all part of the festivities at the Grovedale Uniting Church recently, with the official opening of UnitingCare Geelong’s new operations centre on the grounds of the Grovedale church.

UnitingCare Geelong was required to relocate from South Geelong following the sale of South Geelong Uniting Church buildings under the Uniting our future property divestment.

A new administration centre, including client interview rooms, was constructed on the Grovedale Uniting Church site and other church buildings were converted into a food and clothing distribution centre.

A major upgrade to the church’s toilets and kitchen facilities was also included in the refurbishment.

More than 150 people attended the celebrations, coming from as far as Warrnambool and Melbourne.

The celebrations commenced with a dedication service for volunteers, led by Rev Iain Nixon of Grovedale Uniting Church, with moderator Dan Wootton giving the address and presbytery ministers Robert

Renton and Ann Key leading prayers.

The moderator officially opened and named the building ‘The Albert Renshaw Building’ in memory of an active Uniting Church member and generous supporter of UnitingCare Geelong.

The church’s ukulele group also performed before many took the opportunity for guided tours of the new complex.

There was also an official opening of the ‘Bill Smith Shed’ named in honour of a current board member who has served for more than 20 years with UnitingCare Geelong and the agency’s predecessor Concern as both chairman and property chairman.

The celebrations concluded with a community lunch.

UnitingCare Geelong CEO Des Younghusband said the new premises and church support would guarantee the ongoing presence of UnitingCare in the region.

“Our new offices will ensure UnitingCare continues to provide a range of community support services to struggling families and vulnerable individuals in the Geelong community,” he said.

“We are the leading emergency relief agency in the Geelong district and it is vital we are able to continue supporting the significant needs in our area.”

The Grovedale ukelele group

Visit ‘The Good News’ if you are looking to include an extra moment of happiness in your life and send us your stories from throughout the Church.

The Uniting Church has a vibrant art and poetry community. Crosslight Online recently launched an arts section showcasing poetry, writing and artwork created by Uniting Church members. If you would like to submit entries for the arts section, please send them to tim.lam@victas.uca.org.au.

• How Australian children feel about asylum seekers • Uniting Church President Rev Prof Andrew Dutney speaks about Pope Francis’ encyclical on the environment • Queen’s Birthday Honours for Uniting Church members Another feature of Crosslight Online is ‘The Good News’ section. We are regularly faced with sad and confronting stories on our news. While it is important to know what is happening in the world, there is also a space for uplifting stories of joy and inspiration.

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This is just a snapshot of the stories we have on Crosslight Online. You can read more at www.crosslight.org.au.

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News A guilt free shop DEB BENNETT THE collapse of the Rana Plaza factory in Bangladesh on 24 April, 2013 (pictured below), focussed the eyes of the world on conditions endured by workers in developing countries. The scenes of devastation revealed the true cost of the retail bargains to the world.

While many people might have been vaguely aware that goods are manufactured overseas in less than ideal conditions, the death of 1134 people and injury of hundreds more is surely too high a price to pay.

For many years NGOs and humanitarian groups – including the Uniting Church – have been campaigning to improve conditions for workers in developing countries. The synod’s Justice and Internal Mission (JIM) unit, through its supporters, has raised awareness of slave-like conditions endured in the cotton, fishing and chocolate industries.

Dr Mark Zirnsak, director of the JIM unit, said it is heartening to see real change occurring throughout the retail industry, as more consumers question where their goods are coming from.

One company committed to implementing that change is retailer David Jones. They recently excluded Uzbekistan cotton from their products, a step towards ensuring the goods they sell are ethically sourced.

“The commitment is very welcome and continues to place pressure on the Uzbekistan regime to end the use of forced labour,” Dr Zirnsak said.

“The JIM unit and its supporters have been asking David Jones to take this step since

2010. It is another sign that persistence in campaigning by members of the public often pays off.”

Jaana Quaintance James is the recently appointed head of the newly-formed ethical sourcing team at David Jones. She agrees with Dr Zirnsak that consumer pressure and corporate responsibility can effect real change in the way goods are manufactured.

“Investors and consumers in Australia are asking a lot more questions of brands and retailers around how we are managing these issues,” Ms Quaintance James said.

“They’re increasingly more savvy about whether our response is good enough. The media are becoming more aware and more nuanced regarding what ‘good’ looks like; certainly they are reflecting the awareness of consumers.

“Also, the non-government organisations and campaigners in Australia have been reignited. There are a lot more organisations asking questions and reporting and measuring company performance in this space.”

Ms Quaintance James has worked as an ethical consultant to global businesses and brands for more than 10 years. She said that recent moves in the Australian market are encouraging – and overdue.

“Many businesses in Australia have a lot of work to do in this area. If you look at the UK and Europe, brands and retailers are ahead in managing these issues and applying the strategies and resources needed to do this,” she said.

“We’re very excited about the potential for David Jones to influence the suppliers and the broader market in Australia around these issues. We think there’s an opportunity for us to take the lead, and we hope we can bring our peers and competitors on that

journey also.”

Ms Quaintance James knows that she and her team have a lot of hard work ahead of them as they develop a five-year strategy for ethical sourcing. With more than 1600 suppliers, David Jones will endeavour to ensure consumers can feel confident items they purchase are free of forced labour.

“Building a program of this nature is extremely complex,” she said.

“We have to understand our supply chains, not just our first-tier suppliers but where things are being manufactured. We’re going to undertake traceability work through the cotton supply chain as well – where does the raw material actually come from?

“At the moment we are doing a huge amount of work to fully understand the ‘who and what and why’ of the supply chain; what are the standards that exist at present, and then finding a program and a strategy to influence those conditions.”

One of the first steps is the investigation process to determine the full picture. This means visiting the factories where goods are produced and meeting with people.

Ms Quaintance James stressed her first priority is always to protect the workers and an important part of her role is to develop good working relationships.

While the reaction of many consumers might be to boycott a product they discover is produced by forced labour, this may in fact have an adverse effect on workers, as the labour source dries up. Similarly, Ms Quaintance James feels it is better for retailers to try to influence suppliers to comply with regulations.

“Many companies freak out when they discover things that clearly don’t align with their values,” she said.

“I am quite strongly of the view that we need

to be working with those suppliers to effect change. Cutting and running, just breaking off the relationship with your supplier actually reduces the impact you can have – it means you have no voice.

“We would retain the commercial relationship initially and enter into a mediation process – work with that supplier over a period of time to try and implement change. If the managers of the company don’t seem to be trying to implement change that is when we would be looking at whether this is a company we really want to work with. But certainly in the initial period we would be sticking around to try to have a positive impact for workers.”

The complexity of the work involved in establishing ethical supply chains is daunting, but Ms Quaintance James is both practical and passionate about her work.

She believes the work already undertaken by groups such as the Uniting Church will be critical to David Jones as the values such organisations endorse are very similar to her own.

“The reason I work in this area is because I care about social justice and decent conditions for workers. Social justice issues have always sat well in the Church, so it isn’t a surprise to me that our values align.

“Mark Zirnsak and I participate together on the Attorney General’s working group on human trafficking and supply chains.

“We’ve invited Mark along with NGOs such as WWF, World Vision, Baptist World Aid and others to participate in an engagement session as we develop our first five-year ethical building strategy.

“That will be great in terms of us talking about what we might be doing and testing it with the NGOs.”

Jaana Quaintance James

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News Maria at St Martin’s ST MARTIN’S Beaumaris’ monthly discussion group recently looked into the life of Maria Von Trapp.

Born Maria Kutschera, Vonn Trapp is known as the basis for the character Maria made famous by Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music.

The discussion group used the exciting and varied life of Vonn Trapp as a starting point for discussions around the topic of ‘changes in lifestyle’.

Organiser Wendy Hinde said attendees (pictured) came dressed in a selection of The Sound of Music inspired costumes and discussed the challenges of change and those facing the church in 2015.

“We discussed changes in our lives – early upbringing, depression years, current lifestyles, changes in careers, living overseas, bringing up children in another country and new churches,” she said.

“We then discussed ‘do we really welcome a newcomer to our church?’ We continued chatting over morning tea with The Sound of Music in the background.”

The group meets the first Friday of each month with alternating members arranging the discussion and morning tea.

Chaplains chatting VICTORIAN Uniting Church Chaplains have come together for education and peer development in two separate gatherings in recent months. One gathering shared regional and metropolitan experiences, the other was for chaplains working in the prison system.

Deborah Kottek leads chaplaincy management and development for the synod. She has direct line management of chaplains that work in prisons across the state as well as a coordinating support role for Uniting Church chaplains in other settings.

In April, chaplains from throughout Victoria gathered together to share experiences and further develop peer networks.

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“The 22 chaplains who attended came from metro and regional areas. They work in aged care, prisons, healthcare, industry, defence, police and emergency services ministry,” Ms Kottek said.

“A common theme to emerge was that chaplaincy is challenging, diverse and a privilege. Chaplains work with people who are at their most vulnerable and experiencing transitions in their lives – people who are are sick, fearful, grieving, feeling isolated, at risk of harm, in prison, moving through life changes or facing other significant challenges in their lives.

“Many chaplains work alone in their ministry and it is really valuable to come together to share our stories and reflect on our ministry as peers from a diversity of contexts.”

Workshops explored issues such as the pastoral theology of suffering, the importance of self-care, leadership, and reflective practice. Members of the Major

Strategic Review were also in attendance, to engage with and seek input from chaplains.

Ms Kottek said those attending appreciated the opportunity to network with others and share the challenges and achievements of their work. Another Chaplains’ Connecting day will be held later in the year.

In May, more than 80 people gathered at the first Victorian Prison Chaplaincy Conference. Prison chaplains from all faith groups and denominations working across the 14 Victorian prisons attended the one-day event funded by Corrections Victoria and organised by the Chaplains’ Advisory Committee, representing eight faith traditions.

“Because this was a first conference, and because there have been a lot of changes within the justice system recently, it was a good opportunity to bring people, up to date with what’s happening in the sector,” Ms Kottek said.

The conference heard from representatives

of the Victorian government including the minister for police and corrections the Hon Wade Noonan, who spoke of the important role of chaplains in prisons.

Other speakers included commissioner for corrections Victoria Jan Shuard, the manager of offending behaviour programs, representatives from the agencies providing pre-release and post-release programs and a counselling psychologist.

“We also had a session where three people who had been in prison came and talked about their different experiences and the challenges faced on re-entering the community; it gave us an insight into how prison can impact on a person’s life, even after release,” Ms Kottek said.

“Their session was the absolute highlight of the conference - these three people who came in and spoke courageously, sharing their stories.”

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Profile Sowing seeds of hope DEB BENNETT LAST year, Crosslight brought you the story of an orphanage in Zimbabwe that holds a special place in the hearts of the Uniting Church community.

Tasmanian couple Grant and Anthea Maynard spoke of the 10 months they spent with their three young daughters as UnitingWorld volunteers at Matthew Rusike Children’s Home in the Zimbabwean capital Harare.

Wandin Seville UC member Mark Edmonds shared his story of volunteering at the same orphanage and the work he and other church members have done to attempt to make the struggling orphanage self-sufficient.

Mark has recently returned from twoand-a-half weeks in Zimbabwe. He said that since the article about the orphanage appeared in Crosslight, he had been approached by many church members asking how they could help.

Donations from throughout the church and various community groups have enabled the home to expand their irrigation system and install a hothouse. Mark said the results at Harare show how much lives can be changed with just a little support.

“The water and irrigation program has made a considerable difference to the lives of the children at the home,” he said.

“Not only do they have water into the dormitories, alleviating the long walk for drinking and bathing water, but their diets have also improved. We have put steps in place to provide more green and vitamin A vegetables into their diets. It was pleasing to hear the resident nurse at the home say that the general health of the children is ‘good’ and there is evidence the finances of the home have made a material difference.”

As well as growing enough to feed the more than 150 residents at the home, Mark explained that the irrigation system enables the orphanage to earn an income while providing many of its residents with invaluable agricultural skills.

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“Since last year, the first stage of the program has been a tremendous success, with sales of vegetables, chicken and pork in excess of US$51,000. This has included 11.3 tons of tomatoes, 1.6 tons of pumpkins, 3,500 cobs of maize, 108 pigs and 4,100 chickens.

“The construction of the hothouse will allow further planting of 1400 tomato plants at least twice yearly which will result in an increase of the annual harvest of tomatoes by approximately 14 tons.”

Mark said that with the recent funding cuts to foreign aid, it was more important than ever that people continue to support programs that can make a huge difference to the lives of the world’s poorest people.

While offering thanks to generous supporters on behalf of the community of Harare, he hopes the stories of success will inspire others to consider ways they can help. Mark will return to the orphanage in April next year to expand the poultry project and increase the irrigation capacity.

Recently employed gardener Ed

If you are interested in contributing to the work at the Matthew Rusike Children’s Home, contact Mark Edmonds at: karmarkorea@hotmail.com

Harvesting in Harare: gardener Lovemore Marumbwa and Mark Edwards

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News Hampton’s pilgrim people CATHERINE MCNICOL WHEN the Moorabbin-Highett churches closed at the end of 2013 and the properties were sold as part of Uniting our future, many of the congregation chose to join neighbouring Hampton. Coincidentally, Rev Tim Angus had been recently inducted, so a conscious effort was made by him and the church council for the newly consolidated congregation to make a fresh start together.

Small touches like using MoorabbinHighett’s seasonal banners added a sense

Trust support helps families UNITINGCARE’S Biala has welcomed a $22,000 funding grant from a philanthropic trust to enable them to continue providing vital respite services for children.

A not-for-profit centre, Biala doesn’t receive any government funding so relies on trusts and donations.

Established in 1981, Biala provides respite to local families with children who have additional needs. It operates from the Ringwood Uniting Church site in conjunction with the church’s kindergarten.

UnitingCare’s Early childhood services consultant Joy Williams said the selffunded centre in Ringwood has received $66,000 since 2013 from a generous trust, which gives children aged 0-6 years a chance to play with others in a safe environment.

“The trust is committed to helping parents in the local community, and never seeks recognition for the valuable funding it provides,” Ms Williams said.

“Parents can leave their child with confidence, they will be well cared for by volunteers, under the direction of a coordinator.”

of familiarity for the newcomers while simultaneously providing a new focus for the existing congregation. Different songs were learned, welcoming lunches and dinners held, but most of the time simple hospitality and individual conversations grew into connections that quickly linked the two groups.

This year one luncheon was themed ‘Timeline’ by the current congregation.

Collated by council chair Ian Menzies, the shared histories of the area and all earlier founding congregations – some dating back as far as 1905 – were laid out chronologically (pictured below).

“Congregation members were then invited to add personal contributions via ‘Post It’ notes,” he explained.

“Dates such as baptisms, weddings and birthdays were all interwoven

into the timeline history of the various congregations that have formed our current fellowship.

“Congregational, Methodist, Presbyterian, as well as other denominations, were all represented. Many sanctuaries have been built, some were physically relocated and others became halls as newer replacements were erected alongside. Some burnt down; others were sold and redeveloped, with the most recent being the two MoorabbinHighett church-and-hall complexes.

“In all, about nine church sites and many manses were featured on the timeline.

Drop In Centres, tennis clubs, Sunday schools and many past and present missional outreach endeavours were also remembered and celebrated, with the ‘Post It’ notes adding personal touches throughout.

Members from Brighton, Bentleigh, Beaumaris, Black Rock, Sandringham, Hampton, Highett, Moorabbin, and even further afield, all form part of the current Hampton congregation.

Rev Tim Angus was delighted with the interest generated by the timeline.

“It was good to be able to see in the timeline something of the faithfulness of the people of God in this area – the footprints they have left in the sand,” Tim said.

“It enabled us to compare the stories told against our current mission statement and the story it encapsulates about who we are being called to be in our time. As people who have come from many congregations, we rejoice in the shared journey that now stretches forward together.”

Biala President Ian Ware said that, as well as the trust, the generosity of community donors continues to have a significant impact on the centre.

“We need just below $30,000 to operate every year,” Mr Ware said.

“A gentleman came in from the street and offered us money because he wanted to do his bit. We are always very thankful.”

Around 45 volunteers support their families and children.

“I know what parents are going through and there is no doubt it’s tough,” Mr Ware said.

“Without our volunteers, we wouldn’t be able to provide any of our services.”

The volunteers are fully trained and supported to provide appropriate activities suitable for each child’s abilities.

“They enjoy spending time with the children and you can see how much it brings joy to the children’s lives,” Mr Ware said.

“From painting to outdoor activities, the children have so much fun and are happy,” he said.

For more information on the Biala respite program go to www.bialaringwood.com

Chrissie Wiggett with volunteer Rhonda King

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Profile George Town Uniting Church at forefront of local ecumenism NIGEL TAPP KARINA ZANCHETTA cannot hide a laugh when she explains that, while a member of the George Town Uniting Church she represents the Catholics on the local ecumenical body because her husband, Renato, is on the local Catholic parish council but cannot make it to the meetings.

Churches working together in union – under the banner of the George Town Combined Christian Church Leadership (GTCCCL) – is very much part of life in the small northeastern Tasmanian town.

The local Uniting, Anglican, Catholic, Baptist, Salvation Army and Pentecostal churches have worked alongside one another in a display of Christian unity for decades.

Mrs Zanchetta said working together had always been in the DNA of local churches.

“Our ‘Know Your Bible’ events attract a broad cross section of people. It is never a case of ‘it is ours and you can’t come to it,” she said.

Mrs Zanchetta said the spirit of working together epitomised a town that was populated by a large contingent of European migrants in the 1950s seeking opportunities in a flourishing heavy industry sector which made its home in the valley.

“It was a migrant town then and they rallied around each other because they were different.”

While each is relatively small in numbers – the Uniting Church has about 12 adult members – as a group they are strong and provide many willing workers eager to spread the word through a range of activities in their local community.

The Uniting Church has been at the forefront of the combined activities, beginning with the Seafarers’ Mission which began in the late 1980s.

The mission – which Mrs Zanchetta chairs and is supported by fellow Uniting Church members Garry Jones (co-ordinator) and

treasurer Beryl Osborne – started as a combined venture in 1989 between the UCA, the Anglican Mission to Seafarers and the Catholic Apostleship of the Sea and opens its arms to all seafarers who arrive at the Bell Bay port. It owes its continued operation to about 10 loyal volunteers, many of whom are from the Uniting Church.

As well as the churches, the mission is supported, both financially and in-kind, by the International Transport Federation, the Australian Maritime Welfare Society and Tasports, which supplies the building at a peppercorn rental and provides much needed maintenance.

Each year the GTCCCL combines for a Stations of the Cross procession pilgrimage which finishes at one of the local churches with a service, which was hosted by the Uniting Church this year.

ABU – standing for Anglican, Baptist and Uniting – combined services are held on the third Sunday of each month rotating between the churches of the three.

Last year the churches donated $1200 to support the provision of a chaplain at the South George Town and Port Dalrymple

Primary Schools.

Sports days, barbecues and celebrations on Anzac Day and Australia Day are all celebrated in the spirit of ecumenism in George Town.

The churches have always combined for World Day of Prayer events and on Christmas Day the Uniting Church and Baptist Church combine, holding services on alternate years in their respective churches.

Uniting Church member Mary Gillard said the churches had come to operate in a very similar fashion.

GTCCCL chairwoman and Anglican minister Rev Trish Anderson said there is a strong belief in the spirit of ecumenism from all church leaders in the area.

“We find it easy because we know there is diversity but we are accepting of each other and get on well together even though the leadership has changed over the years,’’ Ms Anderson said.

Captain Dean Hill, from the Salvation Army, said he had been impressed by the expressions of Christian unity he had seen in George Town.

“People are happy to be involved with each other and that is encouraging,” he said.

Children lined up ready for a sack race Australia Day games GT 2015

Some of the participants in the Good Friday walk at George Town 2015

The Mission on the hill - Bell Bay

Beryl Osborne

News Ice task force visits UnitingCare ReGen NATIONAL Ice Taskforce members Ken Lay and Dr Sally McCarthy recently met with UnitingCare ReGen staff and participants in the agency’s residential withdrawal and nonresidential rehabilitation programs.

Mr Lay, a former Victorian Police Commissioner, and Dr McCarthy, emergency physician and former president of the Australasian College of Emergency Medicine said they were impressed by the effectiveness of ReGen’s services and praised the efforts of program participants. Many have made significant improvements in alcohol and other drug use, rebuilt family relationships and developed new skills to sustain their long term recovery from drug dependence.

Participants were able to tell Mr Lay and Dr McCarthy about the impact of treatment service shortages, stigmatisation and social isolation. These issues particularly impact on people who use ice (methamphetamine) as well as their families. They stressed the need

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for practical, evidence based supports.

Mr Lay said there were no simple solutions to what is a complex and multi-layered problem.

He highlighted the need for a range of complementary responses, including a focus on building resilience amongst school children to prevent future drug dependence.

Dr McCarthy recognised the need for the improved availability of clear, authoritative and practical information for community members to help earlier identification of when someone may be at risk and easy-tounderstand advice on where to get help.

ReGen CEO Laurence Alvis said the visit was a terrific opportunity to challenge the usual perceptions of people who are affected by methamphetamine use.

“The belief that nothing can be done for people who are dependent on methamphetamine is understandable, but misguided,” Mr Alvis said.

“There are effective treatment options and there is much that family, friends and service providers can do to reduce the immediate impacts of someone’s methamphetamine use and support longer-term recovery.”

Ken Lay, ReGen Chief Executive Laurence Alvis, Donna Ribton-Turner, Director Clinical Services, Dr Sally McCarthy and Mark Johnston Acting Catalyst Programs Manager during the visit.

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Feature Marriage proposal THE 14th Uniting Church Assembly will be talking about marriage when it meets in Perth this month. BRUCE MULLAN explores some of the issues.

Marriage has been a constant theme in the political conversation in Australia for several years as part of broader discussion about the legal recognition of same-gender relationships. The increasing public debate was acknowledged by the 13th Assembly of the UCA meeting in Adelaide in 2012 which expressed a desire for the Church to have a “respectful conversation” about the issue.

An initial consultation process coordinated by the Assembly Working Group on Doctrine in 2013 came to the conclusion there is no agreed theology of marriage among people in the Uniting Church and that there was a wide range of views among Church members.

Coordinator of the consultation process, Rev Dr Robert Bos, said the intent was to collect a representative range of views across the Church rather than a poll. This was intended to provide accurate sampling of Uniting Church members.

“The aim of the consultation process was to elicit views on marriage (not just samegender marriage) from across the Uniting Church,” Dr Bos said.

Following the consultation process, a discussion paper on the theology of marriage in the Uniting Church was prepared and widely circulated throughout the councils of the Church. A total of 438 groups and individuals responded to the discussion paper. While there were differing views, the working group reported that generally the conversations were respectful and helpful.

Diverse opinions Intentional conversations were also held with the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC) and culturally and linguistically diverse groups within the Uniting Church, recognising the cultural challenges of discussing such issues within these groups.

“Indigenous people want the opportunity to look at matters slowly, with careful biblical and theological discussion, and not be pressured,” Dr Bos said.

While the view that marriage is an exclusive term for the covenant between a man and a woman was held by the largest number of respondents, a significant minority supported a change

to a more inclusive definition of marriage which includes same-gender relationships.

“More and more people have experienced gay people in their own extended family networks and this has been a catalyst for rethinking,” Dr Bos said.

A theological question The key questions for the Church are theological. How do we discern what God wants with regard to marriage in the 21st Century?

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The Basis of Union clearly suggests that in the process of determining doctrine, the scriptures are not a stand-alone authority – doctrine is shaped by other factors. The “Wesleyan Quadrilateral” (named after the leader of the Methodist movement in the late 18th century, John Wesley) is a process for discerning a Church’s theological understanding. It brings scripture, tradition, reason and experience to these conversations.

Wesley himself did not see all four sources for authority and decision making as having equal weight. He understood the scripture as the pre-eminent norm which interfaced with tradition, reason and experience in a dynamic and interactive way.

Graceville Uniting Church minister Rev Dr Robert Brennan agrees the diversity of opinion about how marriage is understood within the Uniting Church is as much about the relative weight given to each of the four sources as it is about how the scriptures are understood.

“From a conservative point of view I’d have to say quite firmly that the base is scripture so that none of the other three can override it,” Dr Brennan said.

Those who are open to the possibility of samegender marriage don’t ignore scripture and the

wisdom of the Christian past, but place more significant emphasis on experience and a vital, inward faith upheld by the assurance of grace.

Ethicist and progressive Christian Rev Dr Noel Preston has publically advocated for the recognition of same-gender relationships since 1974.

“The Jesus I follow operated that way in his time and got straight to the point; it was about empowering people where they

were,” Dr Preston said.

The second key question seems to be about how we read the scriptures and about which passages or verses are used to support preconceived positions. The danger is that taking the text in isolation may possibly ignore the original intent.

“A mature Christian ethical response takes account of the whole witness of scripture,” Dr Preston said. “But at the end of the day it must be contextual and deal with the realities of the human condition.”

Living in the tension Rev Alistair Macrae is the convener of the Assembly Working Group on Doctrine.

He said the group was somewhat dismayed that some respondents to the discussion paper on marriage seemed to think that quoting isolated Bible verses addressed the question comprehensively, while others indicated contemporary cultural norms should be determinative.

“We argue that the Basis of Union reminds us that biblical interpretation is always an open and dynamic process.

Our reading of scripture is nourished but not imprisoned by received interpretations,” Mr Macrae said.

Uniting Church scholar Rev Dr Bill Loader said, “Given that the biblical witness is clear in disapproving of samegender sexual relations, the key question which should determine current discussion of same-gender relationships and their legitimacy must be whether any new knowledge causes us to

believe that the first century believers did not have a sufficiently adequate understanding of same-gender relationships.

Do new insights lead us to more differentiated conclusions than theirs?” he asked.

“Doctrinal change is only doctrinal change when it is actually owned by the whole church,” Dr Brennan said.

“Until it is owned by the hearts of the people it isn’t actually the faith of Church.

“There has got to be an answer which maintains the integrity of the gospel and still offers grace and hope to all people.”

While the Assembly will probably encourage the Church to continue the conversation, dozens of other churches worldwide already approve the marriage of same-gender couples. After 30 years of debate, members of the Presbyterian Church (USA) voted this year to change the definition of marriage in the Church’s constitution to include same-gender marriage.

The Presbyterian vote amends the Church’s constitution to broaden its definition of marriage from being between “a man and a woman” to “two people, traditionally a man and a woman.”

There are various reasons why people oppose same-gender marriage. For some their opposition is a concern with homosexual relationships per se, and therefore any acceptance by Church or State of such relationships is problematic.

Others, while supporting same gender relationships in Church and society, argue that the institution of marriage historically and by definition has always and everywhere applied only to a covenantal relationship between a man and a woman. They argue that marriage should maintain its historic meaning and that State (and perhaps Church) recognition may be accorded to same-gender lifelong monogamous relationships but by a different name.

Within the Uniting Church, proponents of both these positions may refer to the various biblical references to marriage, to the complementarity in difference of male and female, to the link between marriage and the possibility of procreation; and to a belief that ‘traditional’ marriage contributes a key element to a stable society.

An ongoing discussion

Mr Macrae believes the Uniting Church should work carefully, according to its theological convictions and processes.

“Changes to the Marriage Act will not determine the Church’s response,” he said.

The Uniting Church in Australia is still guided by the Eighth Assembly’s 1997 Statement on Marriage which defines marriage for Christians as the freely given consent and commitment in public and before God of a man and a woman to live together for life.

While Uniting Church ministers are not prohibited from conducting blessings of same-gender relationships, they are not permitted to offer a marriage service to same-gender couples.

Ministers are free to accept or refuse requests to celebrate marriages under the Marriage Act. They are required by Commonwealth law and Assembly requirements to use the marriage order of service approved by the Assembly.

Even if the Australian parliament changes the Marriage Act, unless the Church agrees to change its definition of marriage, Uniting Church ministers remain bound to the 1997 statement on marriage and therefore will be expected to refuse requests for same-gender marriage.

Will the status quo change?

assembly.uca.org.au/marriage

Dr Brennan believes the conversation has to continue.

This article was originally published in the May edition of Journey, the publication of the QLD Synod.

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News

Topics of interest at Assembly THIS month, members of the Uniting Church will meet in Perth for the 14th national triennial Assembly meeting. More than 60 reports and proposals will be considered by Assembly throughout the six days. ROHAN SALMOND, editor with the Queensland synod, has put together eight highlights of the meeting.

1. Anglican–Uniting Church dialogue Assembly Standing Committee commends the adoption of the Weaving a New Cloth document, which advocates local cooperation between Anglican and Uniting churches throughout Australia.

2. The Royal Commission The chair of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse Justice Peter McClellan AM will address the Assembly on 15 July. Later, Assembly Standing Committee will ask for authority to make any changes to Uniting Church regulations required to respond to the Royal Commission without having to wait for the next full Assembly meeting.

3. Marriage In response to the Discussion Paper on Marriage submissions, Assembly Standing Committee proposes further exploration on how multicultural groups can engage in further discussions on same-sex sexuality in culturally appropriate ways and establish a task group investigating the implications of changing the Church’s current relationship with the government regarding marriage. Another proposal by two Queensland ministers is asking the Assembly to reject public covenants for same-gender unions.

4. Annual week of prayer and fasting The Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC) would like the week of prayer and fasting observed during the Destiny Together demonstration to become an annual event.

6. Necessity of synods The Presbytery of the Illawarra suggests the Uniting Church is over governed and wishes to authorise Standing Committee to commence a review into Uniting Church governance, specifically with an eye to whether synods are really necessary to the life of the church.

7. Asylum seekers and refugees UnitingJustice has an extensive proposal calling Uniting Church members to advocate for asylum seekers and refugees and to demand the Australian Government end offshore processing.

about the plight of Christians in the Holy Land, and to determine the Uniting Church response to requests for action from the World Council of Churches and Palestinian Christians.

A full list of proposals and reports can be found at http://www.assembly2015.uca.org. au/proposals-and-reports A 14th Assembly e-newsletter will be distributed towards the end of every day around 8pm WST (10pm AEST). Keep informed by signing up to the Assembly’s mailing list at uca.org.au.

Crosslight will bring you a full report on Assembly in the August edition.

8. Palestine Andrew Dutney and Felicity Amery propose an awareness-raising campaign

You can follow Assembly on Twitter throughout the meeting using the hashtags #heartsonfire and #14thAssembly.

5. Living out the Covenant The UAICC also proposes a higher degree of scrutiny for issues affecting First Peoples, continued work on how councils of the church can give authority to Congress and support for Congress’ opposition to fracking on Aboriginal land.

CHILDREN AND FAMILIES MINISTRY COORDINATOR Koonung Heights Uniting Church, Balwyn East, Victoria

We seek an experienced, enthusiastic and committed person to work with our children and families. This is a half time position, initially for 2 years, commencing in September.

Please contact Rev David Carter, Ph: 9816 3218 or E: drcarter@adelaide.on.net, for a position description.

Applications, in writing, are to be sent to Rev Carter by 5.00 pm on Friday 31 July.

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Feature

Celebrating diversity

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Feature From multi to intercultural THE Uniting Church in Australia has been committed to being a multicultural Church for the past 30 years.

At the 4th National Assembly in 1985, the Church stated: “The Uniting Church in Australia is a multicultural Church.”

As one of the first churches in this country to make this commitment, great strides have been made to achieve the stated aim.

Rev SweeAnn Koh is the director of the synod’s newly named Intercultural unit. He felt that a name change was important as it reflects the aspirations of truly valuing all of the cultures that make up the Church.

“At the last synod meeting, I raised the issue of moving our conversations from being a multicultural church to becoming an intercultural church,” Mr Koh said.

“We are a multicultural church that is reflected by the ethnic diversities in the membership of the Church. However, we are yet to become an intercultural church – a church where each person would feel a deep sense of belonging, each could fully be oneself and not have to defer to what is considered ‘normal’.”

Singing from the same hymn book DEB BENNETT ONE of the perks of working for Crosslight is that we can venture out of our office to visit churches throughout the synod.

Along with great stories of programs and initiatives undertaken by church members, most of us return with tales of slices, cakes and scones that typify the hospitality of church communities.

So it was a little surprising to share lunch with the congregation at Melbourne’s suburban Deepdene and enjoy an amazing seaweed soup with optional chilli infused cabbage.

For the past decade, Deepdene Uniting Church has worked hard to build a truly intercultural congregation.

Joan Cooper is co-chair of the church council. She explained that about 10 years ago Deepdene was facing a concern common to many Anglo-churches throughout Australia. While a beautiful old building might be lovely to look at, with a small congregation of aging members, the church faced an uncertain future.

“We decided that we couldn’t continue to go on our own but we didn’t just want to join with anybody and do what we had always done,” Joan said.

“We wanted to be church in a new kind of way. And leave something for the future.

“That was the feeling of the 80 year olds; it was too late for them but they wanted something to leave for the young people.”

Many options were considered. Talks began about merging with other churches, but negotiations fell through.

As Joan explained, it was important to the congregation to explore ‘different’ ways of being church, rather than merge and continue as before.

Barbara Herbert is sitting next to Joan and explains that, at the time, her church, with a large Korean congregation, was in the enviable position of being too full.

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Historically, for many within the Church ‘normal’ means Anglo and anything else is considered ‘other’. While many different cultures and language groups make up the Uniting Church, these groups have often been expected to fit in with long-held traditions, in the process losing their ethnic identities.

“In an intercultural church people still retain their ethnic and cultural backgrounds, they are not assimilated by the dominant culture,” Mr Koh said.

“In an intercultural church, congregations from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds come together and create a Third Space. In the Third Space, diverse members of the Body of Christ, together intentionally engage in mutual recognition, respect, and understanding of difference.

Through intentional self-examination, they build deeper relationships and form equitable access to power.”

Mr Koh uses the example of Jesus’ encounter with the Syrophoenician woman to illustrate what a truly intercultural relationship would look like in the Third Space.

“The encounter between the Syrophoenician woman and Jesus, a Jewish man is a powerful intercultural story.

“Jesus and the Syrophoenician woman

engage one another in conversation despite their profound differences and the presence of political, cultural and religious boundaries.

“Two people from two different faiths, two different ethnicities (a Jew and a Gentile) entered the Third Space and encountered each other. To engage in a Third Space encounter involves a certain degree of intentionality.”

Mr Koh believes this story highlights the benefits of engaging with others on a deeper level. Rather than trying to assimilate or dominate, both meet as equals and respect the other’s values.

“Ideological conflicts between these two individuals and the communities they represent have not disappeared, nor are they swept under the rug,” Mr Koh explains.

“Jesus does not object to the Syrophoenician woman’s right to represent herself on her own terms. This text demonstrates what may happen when space is made for conversation with one who is truly other.”

Dominant cultures within the Church attempting to assimilate other cultures is one area that needs to be addressed if the Church is to become truly intercultural.

Another is what Mr Koh calls the ‘Silo’ mentality. This occurs where two cultures

exist side-by-side in one Church, but each retain their separate identities, rarely mixing socially, emotionally or theologically.

“Silo-mentality congregations often remain within their own walls and operate as if they are the only, or most important, part of the Body of Christ,” Mr Koh said.

“One of the dominant features of many country towns in Australia is a group of wooden, steel or concrete towers called silos. They stand out in the distance. Silos are commonly used for bulk storage of produce such as grain, coal and sawdust. In short they are big containers.

“These silos often remind me of the many silos within our multicultural church, congregations existing side by side (Indonesian, Tongans, Anglos etc.) and have nothing much to do with each other.

“The Body of Christ is greater than each individual congregation or faith community. We need each other, for we are the threads, fibres, cords, yarn, filaments, twine, and cables that the Master Weaver (God) wants to interlace together, not remain separate strands.

“What can we do to break down the silos within our Church? The answer is deceptively simple; become an intercultural church.”

“At Hawthorn South we were sitting on a very valuable piece of land and didn’t have the money to do up the facilities and maintain the church,” Barbara said.

“When Hawthorn South was closed in 2003, we said we wanted to continue to worship with the Korean community and worship in English. So it seemed a sensible thing to come here and pool our resources.”

Joan explained the congregation already had a strong connection with the Korean community, as many of the church’s overseas missions were based in Korea.

“We thought that working in a multicultural congregation might be the new thing that God was calling us to do,” Joan said.

“We decided that we could all work together and become one church, which is what we have done.”

Mijung Konakov (MJ) is a church cosecretary. The young mother said the sense of family the church offers is just one of the reasons Deepdene UC is important to her. MJ explained that she had tried a few different churches, some exclusively Anglo, others Korean, but never really felt she belonged.

Then a friend invited her to attend the women’s prayer group at Deepdene.

“After finishing the prayer she asked me how I felt. I told her ‘it’s so wonderful I feel like I have sisters back’,” MJ said.

“I was missing my family, my brothers and sisters because I am one of five children.

“The following week I attended the church and felt I had found a new family.

“The wonderful thing was that in other churches the service was either only in English or only in Korean, but this church displayed English and Korean at the same time.

“And we sing the hymns to the same tune at the same time in both Korean and English.

So we sing together. This really made me so happy and I thought ‘I’m one of them – I belong in this church’.”

One of the most important aspects of church life for MJ is the Halmonie group – Halmonie is Korean for grandmother.

“We are just a young family and we don’t

have grandma and grandpa here,” MJ said.

“But the Halmonie group said ‘I can be your grandma, you are my grandson, my different-face grandson’.

Sitting in the church hall on a sunny winter day, it is easy to see the benefits of an intercultural church. Table groups chat over lunch, soup for most while some prefer sandwiches. Squealing children play chasey around the tables, pots and pans clatter in the kitchen as meals are prepared and dishes washed, a birthday cake is presented for three members – ‘Happy Birthday’ is sung for a child, a teen and a woman in her 80s.

While there is an undeniable sense of community in the church hall, becoming truly intercultural has not been without its challenges. The congregation is predominantly Korean and Anglo, but also includes members from Samoan, Columbian, Taiwanese and Chinese backgrounds.

Speaking with church members, it is obvious that a lot of hard work has gone into breaking down the ‘silo’ mentality that can exist in some intercultural congregations. Deepdene is determined that all members belong to one congregation and not be broken into ‘Anglo’ and ‘Korean’, with ‘others’ somewhere in between.

As Barbara explained, as well as the obvious language barrier, cultural expectations have proved challenging.

“One difference is the hierarchical system in the Korean church,” Barbara said.

“We have to be aware of that. It can be quite shocking for a lot of our Korean members to hear us calling Jacob, our minister, Jacob. They feel we should address him with a title.

“Also, we suggested having names tags, but the Korean people said that’s not what they do. Their anglicised names would be more descriptive – ‘Sue is Sarah’s mother’ or something like that.”

One way the church has overcome the language barrier is to sing all hymns in both Korean and English, with translations projected on a screen. Barbara explained

that while this works well with the older hymns, it limits the songs they can share as a community. Most of the hymns the Koreans use stem from the days of church missionaries. Barbara would like to see synod funding made available to translate Together in Song for non-English speaking groups.

Deepdene church council recently voted to hold alternate meetings this year in Korean, with all meetings translated. To support this change, church council elected office bearers who speak the two languages: co-chairpersons Joan Cooper and Sue Yang, and co-secretaries Mijung Konakov and Anthony Cooper.

Not only will this give Korean-speaking council members more confidence in meetings, it will ensure council will be able to better use the talents of all its members.

While language and cultural differences might present difficulties, MJ suggests that perhaps the most pressing challenge facing Deepdene is one most churches wish they had – a growing congregation.

“There is a generation span which is actually a bigger problem than cultural differences,” MJ said.

“We have a lot of the Anglos who are 80 or 90, and ages range from the grandmas down to a one-year-old baby, so we have all generations. This can be difficult or it can be a strength.”

The generational diversity means that decisions must be made when upgrading facilities such as the toilets – do they spend money on disability access or baby changerooms?

While issues concerning church facilities and buildings are discussed, it is clear that having younger church members brings unexpected benefits. Tasks that are often difficult for an older congregation to undertake no longer present a problem.

Entering the kitchen, Joan’s husband John stands with a young Korean man and literally slaps him on the back.

“The sink was blocked and he was able to fix it,” John said. “He’s just saved us a fortune in plumber’s fees.”

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Feature A church of many cultures DEVANANDAN ANANDARAJAN ON 23 May the Glen Waverley Uniting Church was in full colour. More than 300 people from diverse cultures gathered to join in a time of fellowship and worship to mark 30 years since the Uniting Church declared itself to be a multicultural Church.

It was an event that, in a symbolic way, reflected the diversity within the Uniting Church, Synod of Victoria and Tasmania.

The reality is that the synod is much more diverse than the service reflected.

The altar of the church was decorated with doves by the congregation for the next day’s Pentecost Sunday service. Rev Eseta Meneilly had decorated the right side of the altar with cultural symbols signifying the migrant journey travelling different paths and coming together in our diversity to express our common faith.

The worship was held in 14 languages with songs sung in six different languages, including English, and prayers led in seven languages.

The procession was led by the playing of the Didgeridoo followed by a traditional Indigenous welcome dance. Ken Sumner, the State Director for Congress Victoria, expounded on the acknowledgement.

The moderator Dan Wootton led the call to worship as well as the closing blessing.

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All the prayers were translated into 10 languages. The congregation members joined in their language of choice.

Songs were sung in Korean, Cook Island/ Maori, Samoan, Indonesian, Tagalog (a language spoken in the Philippines) and English. The scripture readings were also done in different languages with the English translation projected on the screen.

The scripture was read in Hindi and Chollo (a language spoken in Sudan). The Old Testament reading was also read in the traditional Chollo way. In their culture the proclamation of the gospel and the reading of the scripture are accompanied by a song.

Members of the Chollo community sang a song before the reading from the Old Testament.

Rev Dr Monica Melanchthon, associate professor and coordinator of Old Testament Studies at the Pilgrim Theological College, delivered the message. She spoke on Mark’s version of Jesus’ encounter with the Syrophoenician woman.

Rev Fie Marino, the NextGen resource and development officer for the Intercultural unit, introduced some of the young people going on a trip to China and invited the congregation to give generously to the event during the offertory. Prior to the service a fundraising multicultural tea was held to raise funds for the China trip.

For moderator-elect Rev Sharon Hollis it was a showcase of the cultural diversity in music, language and different ways of doing things.

“It was a great service,” Ms Hollis said.

“There was a celebration in our coming together with the people of diverse cultures who are proud to belong to the Uniting Church.

“We also need to make such gatherings relational so that people get to know those from different cultures.”

While the service was reflective of the cultural diversity and faith expressions within the Uniting Church, which needs to be celebrated, the journey goes on and much needs to be done to make our Church vibrantly intercultural. We have much to learn from each other’s hidden cultures and the ongoing work to create a faith culture with meaningful engagement, learning, sharing and celebration.

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People Connections program unique in providing care NIGEL TAPP LEADING community services organisations Connections UnitingCare and MacKillop Family Services have launched a unique Australia-first program in out-of-home care for children under the age of three.

With the support of the Phyllis Connor Memorial Trust, ‘Concurrent Care Breaking down the Silos’ will accredit

Beanie bonanza THE High Street Uniting Church in Frankston recently held its annual fete with a new addition to the festivities.

This year’s fete included the inaugural ‘Great Frankston Beanie Challenge’ exhibition (pictured below).

Participants donated more than 120 handmade beanies for judging, selling and giving away in the inaugural year of the competition.

Beanies of all sizes, shapes and shades, formed an eye-catching display at the High Street Uniting Church.

Two international entries were received from 80-year-old Dr Douglas Dick who lives not far from Windsor Castle in the UK. And the youngest entrant, 12-year-old Alex Smith, from country Victoria, turned his hand to knitting a red baby’s beanie and crocheting an aqua adult’s beanie.

Organisers hope the number of young crafters will increase in future years.

However the most prolific beanie knitter was Mrs Bronwen Mathews who made 10 beanies.

families as both foster and permanent carers at the same time so they are able to care for the child for as much of their journey from temporary care to permanent care.

The program will enable families to care for a child as foster carers for the first six months of their placement while efforts are made to reunite the child with their parents or parent.

At the end of six months, a decision is made as to the permanent placement of the child, whether that be reunification with the birth family or permanent placement with their foster carers.

Connections chief executive officer, Angela Forbes, said the model had proven effective overseas because all parties were working

In addition to having the beanies judged by Mrs Edna Runciman and Mrs Betty Jeffery throughout the fete, visitors were invited to vote for their favourite woollen hat.

“As judges, we were looking at the finer details,” Mrs Jeffery said.

“Beanies need to have even tension, no loose ends or knots showing and have flat seams, especially for babies; always functional.”

Amongst stiff competition, and knitting with an injury, Mrs Bev Fowler took out the coveted ‘Best Beanie on Show’ with her lilac rabbit-themed baby’s beanie.

“I never thought I would win any prizes.

I was recovering from hand surgery and knitted as therapy to improve the movement in my hand,” Mrs Fowler said.

Mrs Fowler also won the ‘Best Adult’s Beanie’ and her sister, Sadie Thurstans, placed third in the ‘Child’s Beanie’ class.

Organisers have expressed thanks to supporters of the event including Replenish Mind and Body Therapy at Pearcedale, Spotlight, Foot Street Newsagency, The Good Guys Frankston, Marilyn Downing, Frankston Pharmacy and all those who made and donated beanies.

Beanies not sold at the fete were donated to Community Support Frankston and will be distributed to people needing some extra warmth in the winter months.

Reproduced courtesy Leader Newspaper

Warm hearts in Tasmania UNITINGCARE TASMANIA and the Bendigo Bank have praised the generosity of hundreds of Tasmanians who donated winter goods to help those doing it tough stay a little warmer this winter.

UnitingCare Tasmania chief executive Lindy O’Neill said she was amazed at the number

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of jackets, coats, hats, scarves and blankets dropped in to Bendigo Bank branches in southern Tasmania to support the eight week appeal, which concluded in the middle of last month.

“The number of donated items ran into the thousands,’’ she said.

“Tasmanians have shown once again just how generous they can be when it comes to helping out those in need within their local communities.”

“And it has not only been second-hand

towards achieving the best outcomes for the child.

“Concurrent Care provides an alternative where a child is placed in a potentially permanent placement as early as possible and (it) seeks to reduce the number of placement moves young children may endure,” she said.

MacKillop Family Services, CEO, Micaela Cronin said what the children needed most was a safe, secure and nurturing place to call home.

“A considerable number of our foster carers would be keen to move from fostering to permanent care. Where children have been unable to be re-united with their birth parents, this program will help carers to do this,” Ms. Cronin said.

Connections chief executive officer Angela Forbes and MacKillop Family Services CEO Micaela Cronin

National UCAF committee Barrie French, Dulcie French, Pam Grant, Margaret Pedler, Mary Dunnachie, Dot Teague, Rhonda Heather and Lenice Harding.

UCAF committee commissioned THE synod of Victoria and Tasmania’s Uniting Church Adult Fellowship (UCAF) committee was recently commissioned in Perth to serve as the national UCAF committee for the next three years.

Each triennium a synod committee is nominated to take up the mantle at the national level. Margaret Pedler, committee chairwoman, said the group is hoping to broaden engagement with the UCAF throughout Australia.

“Historically there has been a perception that the UCAF is solely a women’s social group,” Mrs Pedler said.

“But the UCAF is and always has been a fellowship group for all adult Uniting Church members.

“It’s a cornerstone in the life of Church and has a long history stretching back through respective Union Churches.”

As well as social aspects, UCAF groups are engaged in fundraising, community action projects and educational scholarships.

Central to the UCAF is the ability to bring diverse groups of people together to support a range of worthy causes in local communities and further afield.

This triennium the national committee is focusing its fundraising efforts in line with their theme ‘Living water – come drink’. items people have found in their cupboards.

Some of the donations were actually new coats, parkas, hats, gloves and beanies.

Bendigo Bank State Manager Russ Carrick said the bank was delighted to partner with UnitingCare as a collection point for the appeal.

“I would like to thank our customers and the wider Tasmanian community for generously supporting the drive,’’ he said “I would also like to thank the wonderful UnitingCare volunteers who have already

The committee has selected UnitingWorld projects involving the provision of clean water in Papua New Guinea and a development project in Vanuatu run by North Ringwood Uniting Church.

The committee will also support the work of Frontier Services.

“Since Union the UCAF has been instrumental in bringing Church members together and supporting projects close to the hearts of many Uniting Church members,” Mrs Pedler said.

The incoming committee hopes to renew the UCAF’s focus on encouraging Church members to be involved with the various activities of the fellowship group.

At the commissioning service in Perth, moderator of the Western Australia synod, Rev Steve Francis, highlighted the importance of fellowship within the life of the Church.

“From the New Testament we learn fellowship is more than what happens when Christians meet after worship for morning tea,” he said.

“Fellowship is more than simply enjoying each other’s company.

“Fellowship of New Testament calibre is about partnership, a common hope and vision, a mutual supportiveness, a mutual service of each other and of Christ.”

For more information on UnitingWorld projects please visit www.unitingworld.org.au given out the collected items to those in need.’’

Ms O’Neill thanked Bendigo Bank for its support of the appeal and said she was confident the two groups would join forces again next winter with a possibility that the campaign would be extended to Victoria.

“Without Bendigo Bank’s support this just would not have been possible and we are delighted to have been able to partner with such a community-oriented organisation.’’

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Review A film about two men and a Church REVIEW BY EMMET O’CUANA FILM | GOING CLEAR: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE PRISON OF BELIEF | M

Image from ‘Death: A Series About Life’, Firsthand Films

Life and Death REVIEW BY TIM LAM TV | DEATH: A SERIES ABOUT LIFE | PG WHEN I was a child, death seemed simple and straightforward. I was taught that once you die you go to heaven. Over the years, some of that childhood innocence has been replaced by a realisation that death is complicated and, at times, incomprehensible.

Death: A Series About Life is a five-part television documentary that examines death in all its mysterious complexity.

It charts the journey of a father and his eight-year-old daughter as they seek to understand death following the passing of the girl’s mother.

Norwegian director Eivind Tolås travelled with the family to 25 countries to explore the diverse, and at times contrasting, ways death is understood. Each episode explores death from a different dimension – physical, spiritual, creative, commercial and political. Scientists, philosophers, religious leaders, artists and everyday people share their thoughts on what they think happens when we die.

Rituals relating to death are a part of every culture in the world. In a multicultural, multifaith society like Australia, there is no universal way to deal with death.

Death examines how different religious and cultural traditions honour the dead through rituals and customs. What becomes apparent from these narratives is that while religions may commemorate death differently, they are united in the belief that there is life after death.

For a documentary that tackles a morbid subject matter, Death is surprisingly

light-hearted in tone. The use of humour provides an entry-point into a topic many people find confronting and uncomfortable. The series aims to encourage audiences to think about death, rather than avoiding it.

Popular culture is one such avenue for us to make sense of death. One of the episodes examines how death is portrayed in art, from the iconic 1957 film The Seventh Seal to Neil Gaiman’s Sandman to Japanese horror movies. Just as watching horror movies can be a cathartic experience for audiences, so too talking about death can be therapeutic.

Death does not always adopt a whimsical tone. There are stories of pain, resilience and inspiration, of individuals confronting the prospect of their imminent death and survivors finding the courage to live after a horrific tragedy. These poignant stories are a reminder that something as tragic as death can become an opportunity to celebrate life.

Throughout the series, a central theme emerges: life and death are intertwined.

This is highlighted in the story of Inger Helen, a heart transplant patient who anxiously checks her phone every hour to see if she would receive an organ donation that will save her life. Her survival rested on another person dying.

Stories of death dominate the news every day, yet coming to terms with our own mortality can be a frightening prospect.

Death: A Series about Life invites the audience to confront death, so that we may begin to see it as something less dangerous, and more a natural part of life.

DOCUMENTARY maker Alex Gibney’s Enron: The Smartest Guys In The Room was an acclaimed piece of film-making that exposed the hubris and contempt for ordinary citizens that lay at the heart of one of the greatest financial scandals of the 21st Century.

What remains remarkable about the film is its sense of intimacy. Gibney is our guide to the double-dealing, con-artistry and sheer arrogance of Enron executives Skilling, Lay and a host of other figures each eager to reap massive profits.

In Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief Gibney takes the same forensic approach, presenting stories and reports of the evolution of Scientology from the early days of L. Ron Hubbard’s self-help book Dianetics to the celebrity-endorsed megachurch of today. Interviews are conducted with former members of the Church, up to and including former lieutenants of the current leader David Miscavige.

It is hard to ignore though, just how similar the stories of Enron and Scientology are.

Both documentaries portray organisations openly hostile to government regulation.

Both films also concentrate on the issue of money. With Enron it was the fake inflating of company stock. Scientology’s major conflict with the US government centred on the taxation status of the religion.

Ultimately these are both stories about powerful men. In that respect Going Clear is a film of two halves. The first traces the life of L. Ron Hubbard from his time as a science fiction writer to public figure claiming to have discovered the secret of good mental health. The other his ambitious successor Miscavige and his rise to power.

Where Going Clear succeeds best is in humanising its interviewees, the former members of the Church who now number among its critics. There is a sense of post-

60s idealism in the likes of Hollywood director and former Scientologist Paul Haggis recalling happily asking the man offering him a personality test to take him to the nearest Scientology centre. Sure, why not, I’ll give it a try.

These were men and women who came from a generation au fait with general theories of psychoanalysis, not to mention the growing popularity of Eastern philosophies and personal enlightenment texts. Hubbard’s apparent process of identifying and extinguishing painful personal memories fits neatly into that trend of individualist reflection.

Hubbard then vanishes from the film – which Gibney notes by presenting footage of Miscavige coming on stage to announce that the Church’s founder has moved on to “an exterior state”. The void left by Hubbard is shown to be filled by his protégé, who concentrates on cultivating further ties with Hollywood and lobbying for a tax-free status.

Particularly fascinating is the use of language by the former members interviewed, as well as footage of Miscavige and Tom Cruise. Terminology and jargon, presumably drawn from Hubbard’s writings, are utilised like modern-day shibboleths. Haggis mentions in passing that he had not read any literature or articles critical of Scientology until he had his own break with the Church regarding the sexuality of his daughters.

Apparently there is little availability of this information to members, or their reading of the many articles online is strongly discouraged. As with the use of jargonistic language, the intent is to exclude and isolate outside elements.

Again where Gibney is clever is in featuring only testimonials from former members and not journalists or commentators external to the life of the Church. It gives Going Clear a sense of authenticity that previous reports have lacked.

Much of the material presented in this documentary may be familiar to those who have followed the growth of the Church of Scientology – but hearing it confirmed by people who lived and breathed the doctrines of Hubbard for most of their adult life has an added punch to the gut.

Death: A Series About Life is now showing on SBS. It is also available on SBS on Demand.

Image from ‘Going Clear’, Madman Entertainment

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CROSSLIGHT - JULY 15

Review It’s okay to be sad REVIEW BY EMMET O’CUANA FILM | INSIDE OUT | PG

Timeless tale REVIEW BY DEB BENNETT BOOK | THE SONGS OF JESSE ADAMS | BY PETER MCKINNON AUTHOR Peter McKinnon follows in the footsteps of a long line of writers in reimagining the life of Jesus in fiction.

From Leo Tolstoy’s The Kingdom of God Is Within You to the man-in-black himself, Johnny Cash’s Man in White; writers, philosophers and artists have attempted to answer the question posed by Bob Siemon with his WWJD (What Would Jesus Do?) bracelets.

Set in 1960s Australia, The Songs of Jesse Adams depicts Jesus (Jesse) as a spiritual leader of the social revolution gripping the Western world.

McKinnon’s passion for both the story of Jesus and the optimism of the ’60s is apparent throughout the book. Familiar Australian icons abound. The FX Holden that takes Jesse to the desert, the chook raffle in the country pub, Chiko rolls and the burgeoning pub music scene will elicit fond memories for those who lived in more naïve times.

Jesse Adams is a charismatic singer/ songwriter who gathers a band of misfits and travels the country, inspiring fans and challenging the social mores of the day.

The story becomes more than a nostalgic trip down memory lane as McKinnon incorporates tales of temptation in the wilderness, miracles at a wedding (turning home-brew into champagne) and a mesmerising performance at the Raspberry Hill music festival.

A concern expressed by one reviewer is that readers know how the story will end.

As the narrative necessarily ‘modernises’ the trials faced by the biblical Jesus, we know this is one story that won’t end well for Jesse.

This feeling of inevitability is compounded as readers also know the outcome of the hope for social change and revolution that epitomises sentimental retelling. More than 40 years later, readers are left to wonder how much has really changed.

To employ a narrative device used by McKinnon – pop songs – we need look no further than ’70s songwriter Greg Macainsh of Skyhooks who asked: ‘Whatever happened to the revolution?’

The answer? ‘We all got stoned and it drifted away.’

CROSSLIGHT - JULY 15

THE dedication that ends this film’s credits says simply ‘This film is dedicated to our kids. Please don’t grow up. Ever.’

Yet few other children’s films have ever explored the pain of growing up so well.

With subtlety and tenderness, this latest Pixar animated movie captures not only what it feels like to leave behind childhood – but the concern of a parent for their child navigating pre-adolescence.

And while there are laughs aplenty in the mix, this is also a story that will have you sobbing like the end of Old Yeller (1957).

Spirited 11-year-old Riley (Kaitlyn Dias) has had an idyllic childhood in the Minnesotan countryside, raised by her loving parents (voiced by Diane Lane and Kyle MacLachlan). To the outside world Riley is a happy and fun-loving kid – while inside her head, her sense of joy runs a tight ship keeping her other key emotions in line.

The central conceit of director Pete Docter’s story is that each of us make decisions in life based on the interactions of five key emotions – Joy, Sadness, Anger, Disgust and Fear. This is visualised by a bright and colourful inner-world, with distinct regions such as Headquarters, Long Term Memory, Dream Productions and Imagination Land. Part Disneyland theme park, part factory floor.

Amy Poehler stars as Joy, her irrepressible bubbliness bordering on

obsessive, particularly when it comes to controlling the mind of her young charge.

This, it turns out, feeds into the moral of the film. The other emotions boast voice actors with a similar comedic background to Poehler. Bill Hader, a Saturday Night Live alum, is Fear; Lewis Black, the famously short-fused stand-up comedian, appears as Anger; Mindy Kaling and Phyllis Smith, who both acted in the US remake of The Office, play Disgust and Sadness respectively.

It is a credit to these performers that their sense of comic timing helps balance the film, as Riley’s confusion and distress over a sudden family move to San Francisco feels painfully real and familiar.

By visualising her inner-emotional life through these cartoonish characters, Inside Out explores the vulnerability of Riley in ways a straight drama cannot.

A conflict between Joy and Sadness, who has spontaneously developed the ability to make Riley’s memories ‘sad’, leads to the two being ejected from Headquarters and lost in the mazelike Long Term Memory.

This results in Riley seeming depressed and quick to anger, as Anger, Fear and Disgust are hopeless at managing the ‘controls’ in Headquarters.

Meanwhile Joy and Sadness are forced to work together, in a suitably apt analogy for letting children know

it’s ok to be sad sometimes.

One scene in particular feels painfully true to life, with Riley’s mother asking her to try and stay upbeat for the sake of her stressed out dad.

Pete Docter’s output for Pixar to date includes Monsters Inc. and Up, two films that have explored the protectiveness of a guardian towards a child in refreshingly imaginative ways. Where Inside Out differs is its inspired decision to make Riley’s emotions a secondary order of parental influence, taking responsibility to guide the girl through maturing into a young woman.

That they are also Riley – her feelings given life as easy to merchandise animated characters – helps establish the doubleperspective of the film. This is an animated movie that will entertain kids, while also possessing a lot of pathos for parents.

Oh, and when we meet Riley’s repressed imaginary friend Bing Bong, voiced by Richard Kind, wandering lost through her mind – prepare your tear ducts.

Inside Out is both sweet and smart in equal measures. As a modern piece of entertainment, it has a finely tuned sense of morality, with Docter crediting his Christian faith in interviews for much of his storytelling concerns. Take the kids and be ready to laugh – Bill Hader’s turn as Fear monitoring Riley’s dreams is a definite highlight – but make sure to bring along plenty of tissues too.

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Obituary Joan Kirner: Mentor, friend and role model 20/6/38 - 1/6/15 LISA CAREY

Theological diversity within the Uniting Church in Australia REV PROF ANDREW DUTNEY PRESIDENT THEOLOGICAL diversity is a sign of health in the Uniting Church. That’s because the UCA was never intended to be anything more or less than ‘Christian’.

There is room in the Uniting Church for an amazing diversity of theology because there is room in the Christian movement – the Church of God – for an amazing diversity of people, languages, cultures and, indeed, theologies. And it has been like that from the very beginning.

The Uniting Church didn’t set out to be a new, distinctive denomination. It was supposed to be a new way of being ‘Church’ after the end of the three denominations that formed it and, in fact, an interim way of being Church on the way to the end of denominationalism as a whole.

Having embarked on this journey “in fellowship with the whole Catholic Church”, the Uniting Church “lives and works within the faith and unity of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church” (Basis of Union pars 1 and 2). So Davis McCaughey once warned: “… the Uniting

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I FIRST met Joan in late 1995 or in 1996 when she was meeting with ALP women to talk about an organisation she was starting – EMILY’s List Australia. We met at a unit in Malvern and I was so excited to be in the same room as someone whom I had greatly admired from afar.

After working at the synod office and then in government, I was elected to the position of assistant state secretary of the ALP Victorian branch. It was here that Joan began her mentoring of me by stealth! I would get a call “Good afternoon Assistant State Secretary Lisa, Joan here...” to which I would always respond “Good afternoon former Premier Joan!”.

She was a woman who supported others authentically. She knew the hard time I was having in what was quite the “boys club” and took it upon herself to regularly check in with me.

In April 2011 I was enjoying a bit of a sabbatical when a position came up to work for EMILY’s List. I jumped at the chance to work here, first as deputy and since October 2011 as national coordinator.

Here my friendship with Joan grew as I took the role of getting more women into our parliaments.

Much has been said about Joan’s contribution to politics and the education

sector and all she gave her time to. But my personal relationship with Joan was much more than that. Bishop Philip Huggins took her funeral service, and in talking to him about how to describe her faith, he summed it up perfectly. She lived her life as though following the Sermon on the Mount... Some selected verses are: Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Joan and I would ramble on, talking about all sorts of things about EMILY’s List and changing the world. Sometimes our conversations would turn to our derision at hypocrisy. How can he (Tony Abbott) claim to be Christian, when he doesn’t “do unto others as you would have them do unto you”... Oh we would talk for ages!

This was a side of Joan that I didn’t know much about. She was a woman of faith –

and although she did not attend church regularly in her later years (and after Bishop Huggins left the local congregation) – her faith was shown in her actions.

Joan loved young people and would always take time to talk with them (not to them).

Reminding me of the way Jesus said let the children come to me. She too had great respect for younger generations.

I will greatly miss her friendship, and humour, her inspiring and true support of people, especially women.

Ron, David, Michael, Kate and their families are in my prayers.

Vale dearest Joan Lisa Carey National Coordinator, EMILY’s List Australia Member, Glen Iris Road Uniting Church UCA member National Council of Churches Executive

This article originally appeared in Crosslight Online

Did you know?

Church must be particularly careful not to develop a terminology which suggests distinctive doctrines. We have no identity to separate us from the Church of God.” On another occasion he said: “… the only identity we need to focus on is that of ‘the church catholic, reformed and evangelical’” – a description that is so inclusive as to be subversive of any impulse to denominationalise Christian fellowship.

Denominationalism says: “We are this, not that. We are these, not those. We are us, not them.” By contrast: “The Uniting Church affirms that she belongs to the people of God on the way to the promised end.” (Basis of Union par 18) Our diversity – including our theological diversity – is a sign of health. It is a foretaste, sign and instrument of that “promised end” to which the whole people of God is drawn.

Are there no limits? Of course there are.

And the Basis of Union sets out those limits – especially in its first 11 paragraphs. But the limits are specifically drawn in such a way as to include the whole Christian movement. They presume that extravagant diversity which is the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The Assembly Working Group on Doctrine has described theological reflection as “the Church’s ongoing conversation about how to speak and live the gospel”. Keeping that conversation open and inclusive is a constant challenge for the Uniting Church.

For it doesn’t only include voices from the obvious polarities such as orthodox v progressive, or liberal v evangelical. It doesn’t only include the difficult dialects of the various “adjectival theologies” such

as ecological, feminist, missional, black, or post-colonial theologies.

The UCA’s conversation about how to speak and live the gospel also needs to consciously include the lived experience and insights from the full breadth of our culturally and linguistically diverse fellowship. This includes refugees from Africa or the Middle East, diaspora communities from the Pacific and Asia, converts from Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism or atheism, and, most fundamentally, the First Peoples from every part of Australia with their particular insights into the gospel formed through their privileged relationship to this place and their distinctive experiences of dispossession, exclusion and disadvantage.

In this UCA conversation about how to speak and live the gospel, increasing diversity is a sign of rude health … as long as we can maintain mutual respect.

So in 2000 the 9th Assembly endorsed a document entitled Called to Community of Difference: A Uniting Church Charter which was intended to guide this theological conversation. It has eight principles of behaviour. Each one has a brief explanation, but I’ll just share the headings here: 1.Respect the personhood of others and their full membership in Christ.

2. Practice strenuous tolerance in the Spirit of Christ.

3. Listen to the person first and foremost then seek to understand his or her doctrinal position.

4. Carefully respect the views and

sensitivities of those with whom we are in disagreement.

5. Avoid all inflammatory or demeaning words and never resort to vilification or harassment.

6. Avoid comparisons, especially those that contrast your own ‘best case’ with other’s ‘worst case’.

7. Be open to mutual conversion to the ‘more excellent’ way of Christ.

8. Let uniting be the expression of our process, direction, and Godly hope as a ‘pilgrim people’.

To grasp what this might mean, I invite you to think of those who represent the theological perspective that you find the most offensive, foolish, flawed or dangerous. No really, bring them to mind.

Then read through the eight principles again, imagining what each one means for your relationship to that theological ‘other’.

“Called to a Community of Difference” makes me reflect on a very familiar, ancient charter of behaviour addressed to a similarly multicultural, multilingual, theologically diverse church: “I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 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, who is above all and through all and in all.”

(Ephesians 4:1-4)

CROSSLIGHT - JULY 15

Letters Stand up for foreign aid I COMMEND those responsible for producing the very evocative front page and the words which went with it shown on Page 2 (Crosslight June 2015). Also Penny’s editorial and especially the reference to refugees being called the number of the boat ID on which they came seeking asylum.

I found it hard to believe until I heard on the Q & A program last night (15 June) a former refugee stand up in the audience and say the same thing – for two years he was just a number; his boat’s ID number.

I don’t know how many people watched the program but certainly the audience would have been in the millions that heard this dreadful thing happening to people in our care on Nauru and Manus Island even today and elsewhere. Such as the Rohingyan child pictured on the June’s front page of Crosslight.

All church members must do something to end this awful practice.

‘Doing something’ I hear you say. ‘What can I do?’

Well it’s time to stand up and campaign, write to your local member, join street protests, write to the paper but please do something and perhaps get angry about what’s happening in our society today. And I would implore you to pray.

Perhaps also you could lend your voice and say to our politicians “I, too, support Australian Aid and do more to end extreme poverty around the world. Do not cut our foreign aid budget by close to 50 per cent.” We need to stand up against this.

I quote statistics from aid organisation, TEAR Australia, which many, many, Australians support with donations and prayer.

In developing countries, the impact of cuts to the foreign aid budget mean: 1,426,796 babies could be born without a birth attendant.

2,237,280 children may not get to enrol in school.

3,775,052 children may not be vaccinated.

4,710,642 people may not get access to safe water.

21,994,521 people in emergency situations may go unassisted.

Bruce Rogers Seaford, VIC

Regressive progressive?

IT’S been interesting to read the letters in Crosslight of recent times as an outsider.

Before anyone in Vic/Tas would see ‘Progressive’ Christianity as the great white hope for the church they would do well to investigate some points of history.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer faced a German church that had embraced ‘Positive Christianity’.

Wesley and Whitefield brought renewal to the wider culture that was radical because the established church had ‘progressed’ in their understanding of Christianity. In both instances Jesus was simply an interesting man of history, not the living Lord of heaven.

This left the church anaemic and impotent in their cultures with raising money for charity its only purpose. Add to that the beliefs of the Sadducees and the Heretics of the early church and you come to understand that while ‘progressive’ Christianity has some modern novelties, it’s not new at all, it’s a regression in our revelation of God. I believe in a wide and broad church, but one that reflects the breadth and depth of the God we know through Jesus. Without Jesus, Lord of heaven and earth, we stumble in the darkness.

Rev Paul Clark Redcliffe Uniting Church Qld

CROSSLIGHT - JULY 15

MSR review THE Lay Preachers Association had its annual conference and AGM last March. One of the items in the program was a questionnaire sent out by the MSR seeking input (?) from the lay preachers as to how to improve the UCA in its relationships with the community.

Lay preachers are a resource available to the hierarchy because they visit and can relate to the various communities in which they serve. Is that acknowledged? Certainly not by the questionnaire which was sent round to a limited number of lay preachers and hardly acknowledged by the sparse replies received.

Apart from the fact that the questions were in the wrong order, the fourth question was: 4. What needs to be “let go” or left behind to achieve a new direction?

I have been a lay preacher for five years and never once in all that time, have I had any form of encouragement or assessment or mentoring from any person in my presbytery. Not once. All I have is my faith and my training from CTM. I have had two assessments; both requested by me, from retired ministers, one in another presbytery.

So what chance is there of synod paying any attention to what a lay preacher says?

We were not given the opportunity to seriously engage in the implications of this question but I have taken the liberty of asking around and many of us agree. Some do not and have their own strong opinions. According to the MSR website and the panel, an interim report was available late last year. So why are lay preachers only being asked now?

Stuck-in-the-mud synod staff saying “We don’t do it that way here,” is no longer acceptable and they must be made to see it and take their evangelical, ministerial, pastoral and caring and whatever other skills they may have out into a parish where those skills are needed.

Alexander Drysdale Lay preacher IT is obvious from the findings of the Major Strategic Review (MSR), of most concern to those who participated, was the lack of accountability within the bureaucracy of the Uniting Church.

In Crosslight, Rev Dr John G Flett of Pilgrim Theological College, points to anxiety as a major stumbling block on our journey. As a Church we are anxious, and consequently make poor decisions regarding our future.

Following the findings of the review, perhaps it would be helpful to call an extra special meeting of Synod to specifically address some of the concerns raised.

So much has been said about financial mismanagement within the Vic UC, but I have seen little discussion of other aspects that have arisen within the report: bureaucracy, confusion and hierarchy. In fact, these are the very deficiencies that created our financial problems.

There is little doubt that members of the Church are anxious, and therefore hesitant to commit their energies to a perceived ‘sinking ship’. It would be reassuring if those holding leadership and decision making roles were given the opportunity to explain their progress with the necessary changes the review highlighted.

These are some questions an open meeting could address: Are the moderator, secretary and standing committee willing, or indeed able, to adapt to the changes MSR outlined?

What are the attitudes to the Review findings by clergy and lay preachers?

Has the lengthy and ineffective process of committee decision making been reviewed?

The MSR highlighted discipleship, encouragement of initiative, theological reflection, leadership development and wise stewardship for reassessment. Who should undertake this task?

Little seems to have changed at head office apart from financial management restructure.

Entrenched and failed attitudes have been challenged – a change is vital to revitalisation of the UCA.

MSR outlined ten values, six of which are not held by our synod management team, a very real indictment of their leadership style. Reevaluation is vitally necessary, not driven by anxiety, but reflective of the values identified by the review.

A special Synod meeting, rather than lengthy, unrepresentative committee meetings, would better address our concerns.

representative.

Let us make it happen.

Margaret Gambold, Elder Kennon Memorial Church Sassafras, VIC

THE editorial in the May issue of Crosslight challenged us to respectfully and graciously breathe the love of Christ into the hollowness of contemporary culture.

May I suggest that this magazine publish a regular monthly column of what suburban and country churches are quietly doing, week by week, to carry out that mission. Instead of devoting a page to reviewing films like Testament to Youth or 12 Monkeys, which have very little relevance to Christianity or spirituality, that space be devoted to worship and outreach initiatives in parishes in Tasmania and Victoria.

Crosslight is an ideal clearing house to disseminate innovative and engaging liturgies and outreach programs which are being offered to local communities. These worship practices might include ideas for ‘messy church’, contemplative Christianity, fresh expressions of the faith or a re-invigorating of our heritage. Current outreach activities would be found to be equally diverse and imaginative, designed to meet the needs of local communities.

A call should go out to every church to send photos and a short description of what they have been doing to advance the gospel in their community. A lively and fruitful Spiritinspired conversation might follow. We would thus bear witness to those in the public square who are longing for meaning and purpose in their lives, as well as encouraging our fellow church members who might otherwise be feeling isolated and unsupported.

A glass half full AS one who attended both nights of the ‘Understanding Islam’ seminars held at the North Ringwood Uniting Church in March I was somewhat disappointed to read the two accounts of the events authored by Andrew Juma published in your April and May editions and the related letter submitted by synod’s Larry Marshall and published in June.

I believe their reporting would have been improved by a fairer dose of positivity including a word or two of commendation of the North Ringwood church for mounting and managing such a programme; also a word of appreciation of the scholarship, experience and good work of the presenters would not have gone amiss.

A point made by all speakers from early on was that probably the major block to more harmonious relations between Muslims and Christians was a lack of understanding on both sides of not only the other’s faith but also of their own. Understanding can only be expected to come out of study of origin and history combined with current experience. To their credit, North Ringwood endeavoured to address this problem by mounting the seminars.

Sadly, it was left to the main presenter Dr Bernie Power and the very capable MC Rob Latimer to provide your readers with a more accurate and positive impression of the programme in your June edition.

I wonder how many better qualified speakers Mr Marshall may have in the synod cupboard and why they have not been let loose on the general UCA membership? This might be a step toward the sort of open and (even) contentious discussion Rev Dr Flett alludes to in his article published in your June edition (Pg 16). I would like to think that Messrs Juma and Marshall might be moved to take up Mr Latimer’s offer of reviewing the program on YouTube, and perhaps on second glance seeing the glass at least half full.

Dennis Litchfield Mount Waverley, VIC

Grog Grog Grog NO one has yet convinced me that excessive alcohol consumption is not the root cause of the majority of our social ills.

The underlying cause as I see it is excessive advertising of alcohol which in some cases is less expensive than water.

Our newspapers and most aspects of the media keep encouraging the sale of alcohol for one reason and one reason alone and that being profit What sort of culture are we establishing when advertising of alcohol is so prominently displayed on the apparel of the Australian Test Cricket team as but one example?

Government can legislate in a similar way as they have done for tobacco, one click of a button can amend the word ‘Tobacco’ for ‘Alcohol’.

Primarily treat the cause! Prevention is better than cure. Let’s attack this concern and I am certain alcohol consumption will be reduced.

Let’s apply pressure to governments to legislate to reduce alcohol advertising.

What a great breakthrough this would be.

I encourage all Crosslight readers to write to the newspapers and your government

Ron Roberts Convener Social Justice Committee Cranbourne Uniting Church

Sharing of the faith

Alan Ray Mont Albert Editor’s note: Thanks for your feedback Mr Ray. We hope you’re enjoying the new look back page, featuring photos sent to us from throughout the synod, as well as our monthly page profiling the work of congregations in their local communities. Visit crosslight.org.au for more stories and submission information.

Who or what is God? JOHN BODYCOMB definitely prompted an interesting discussion with his letter asking who or what is God. I believe in the God of orthodoxy and I believe the orthodox faith can be a source of delight for Christians.

I believe in God the Holy Trinity. I understand that the formula ‘Father, Son and Holy Spirit’ can cause difficulty for some who see the language as patriarchal. But the God to whom Trinitarian language points is far from patriarchal.

Through the doctrine of the Trinity, Christians say that we do not worship God as an isolated individual. We worship God as a community of mutuality, equality and love. If we are called to live in imitation of God, and God in Godself is a loving community of equals, our response is clear. Anything that promotes division, inequality and hatred is anathema to Christians who believe in the triune God. I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord. We have seen in the debate about asylum seekers in Australia how easy it is to dehumanise people when their faces are hidden. In the incarnation of Jesus Christ we see the face of God. God taking on human flesh has also shown us how important humanity is. Could we reject and abuse other human beings if we saw God in each and every one of them?

When we are baptised we become full members of the one holy catholic and apostolic church. In the baptismal service the

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Letters Apostles’ Creed is said to affirm the faith into which every Christian is baptised. We all say the Creed together in the language of its day in solidarity with everyone who has ever affirmed that faith. We are also baptised with water in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and so our baptism is recognised by other churches. Faith does not belong to the Uniting Church alone.

The Basis of Union makes it very clear that we are part of the one holy catholic and apostolic church. Our God is the God worshipped by that church. Would we really want it any other way?

Rev Dr Avril Hannah-Jones Williamstown Uniting Church – Electra Street

More Scripture IT is interesting that there are so few articles or reviews on Scripture in Crosslight, which is fundamental to our faith.

I am sick and tired of hearing the Scripture

Placements

for the day read in worship service and then hear the minister (he or she) give three or four points of his own, or mash up the Scripture, or always preach on the one point, eg. the love of God. If we are secure in our history, we err. As L J Hartley has said “The past is another country”.

If we were to be placed in the 4th, 12th or 18th centuries we would be completely in a foreign land. As one writer has said, if we were parachuted into the early 19th century we would find the grammar of the people completely different and voices would be like a screech.

Gerhard Ebeling has said that “Church history is the history of the interpretation of Scripture”.

(The great Jaroslav Pelikan has elevated this to an art form in his magisterial five-volumed The Christian Tradition which begins before Jesus and ends with Vatican II.) We must hack away at history to uncover Biblical interpretation of the past with empathy, imagination and patience.

Let us then rightly interpret Scripture and be on the breaking wave of a Great Tradition.

Then we will see the renewal of the Uniting Church.

Rev Rowan Gill Altona, VIC

Call for photos for 2016

PRESBYTERY OF GIPPSLAND Koo Wee Rup-Lang Lang-Corinella Lakes Entrance** Presbytery Minister – Mission and Education PRESBYTERY OF LODDON MALLEE Cohuna (0.5)** Dunolly (0.5) (P) Eastern Mallee Rural (Lake Boga, Manangatang, Meatian, Nyah West) (0.5) (P) Kerang (0.5) (P) Nardoo Loddon (Boort, Charlton, Powlett Plains, Wedderburn)** North Central Living Waters (Birchip, Donald, St Arnaud, Wycheproof) (P) Presbytery Minister – Mission and Education (P) Robinvale (0.5) (P) PRESBYTERY OF NORTH EAST VICTORIA Mansfield (p-t)** Rutherglen (Rutherglen/Chiltern-Corowa) (0.5) Upper Murray (Corryong, Walwa) (p-t)** Wodonga West, North Albury, Kergunyah Wodonga (St Stephens)** PRESBYTERY OF PORT PHILLIP EAST Beaumaris (0.5)** Berwick (St Andrews)** Brighton (Trinity) Dandenong North (0.3)** Endeavour Hills (0.6) Frankston (High St) Gardiner (St Andrews) (0.5 Korean Church Melbourne-0.5 Gardiner)** Monash Noble Park (St Columbas) (0.7)** Ormond Sandringham** PRESBYTERY OF PORT PHILLIP WEST Macedon Ranges Partnership (2 placements) (P) Melton (P) Pascoe Vale-Glenroy ReGen (P) Pascoe Vale-Glenroy (Pastoral) (0.5)

Calendar

PRESBYTERY OF TASMANIA Hobart Scots Memorial Hobart (Wesley)(0.75)** Kings Meadows-Aldersgate Uniting AgeWell Chaplaincy Presbytery Minister – Leadership Formation (P)

Do you have a photo that showcases a unique aspect of your congregation?

The synod is seeking photo submissions for the 2016 Giving is Living calendar. Photos should capture activities in your congregation or faith community that celebrate a spirit of generosity.

PRESBYTERY OF WESTERN VIC Corangamite-Otways Region – Middle (Camperdown, Derrinallum, Apollo Bay) Creswick-Clunes (0.5) (P) Yarriambiack Creek (Warracknabeal, Beulah, Brim) (P)

A caption explaining the scene should accompany each photo. Each person included in the photo must complete a permission form, which can be downloaded from this link: bit.ly/GiLForm

PRESBYTERY OF YARRA YARRA Montrose-Lilydale Strathdon Uniting AgeWell

Please send your photos and permission forms to tim.lam@victas.uca.org.au by August 1. Please call Tim Lam on 9251 5203 for enquiries.

Find us at uca.victas.org.au

CURRENT AND PENDING PLACEMENT VACANCIES AS AT 19 JUNE 2015

ucavictas

SYNOD Royal Childrens Hospital Chaplaincy**

ucavictas

** These placements have not yet lodged a profile with the Placements Committee, therefore they are not yet in conversation with any minister. There is no guarantee that the placement will be listed within the next month.

(P) These placements are listed as also being suitable for a Pastor under Regulations 2.3.3 (a)(ii).

A non-ordained minister may offer to serve the church in an approved placement through a written application to the Synod.

Further information on these vacancies may be obtained from the Secretary of the Placements Committee: Ms Isabel Thomas Dobson.

Email: placements.secretary@victas.uca.org.au.

Formal expressions of interest should be put in writing to Isabel.

MINISTRY MOVES CALLS AND APPOINTMENTS FINALISED Ray Gormann called to Sunshine to commence 15 July 2015 Chris Machar (P) called to Geelong Fresh Expressions (0.5) commenced 22 June 2015 CONCLUSION OF PLACEMENT (Retirement) Dianne Watson to retire 31 May 2015 CONCLUSION OF PLACEMENT Karen Wall (Lay Chaplain) to conclude Royal Children’s Hospital Chaplaincy 30 September 2015

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CROSSLIGHT - JULY 15

Notices and Advertisements FRIENDS OF THE UNITED CHURCH OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA AND THE SOLOMON ISLANDS SATURDAY 24 OCTOBER 12.00 – 4.00 PM Gardiner Uniting Church.

These gatherings bring together people who have lived or worked in these countries, allowing sharing of common interests, updating on current developments, and provision of practical support.

Information, Marg White, P: 9889 7345 or Don Cracknell, P: 5623 6058 Reading groups considering Marcus Borg’s Meeting Jesus again for the first time, over 6 weeks in July and August - Tuesday nights in North Melbourne and Friday mornings in Hawthorn. All welcome! For more information, www.marktheevangelist. unitingchurch.org.au JE SUIS REFUGEE THURSDAY 2 TO 16 JULY 10.00 AM – 4.00 PM Scots Uniting Church Hall, 1702 Sydney Road, Campbellfield.

This is a topical art exhibition by John Vander Reest. The official opening will be at 6.00 pm on Friday 3 July, with light refreshments will be served.

50TH ANNIVERSARY OF REV DR. JOHN VANDER REEST’S ORDINATION SUNDAY 12 JULY 10.00 AM Scots Church, 1702 Sydney Road, Campbellfield.

Please join us in celebrating this momentous occasion. There will also be an exhibition of John’s artwork, for sale in aid of Lentara UnitingCare’s refugee program.

RSVP: Neville Thomas, E: nevt1966@live.com PASTORAL CARE TRAINING TUESDAY 14 JULY 1.00 – 4.00 PM Dandenong Uniting Church, corner Scott and Robinson Streets.

Uniting AgeWell is conducting training for anyone interested in offering pastoral care to older people in any context.

Information and RSVP, Rev John Clarke, E: jclarke@unitingagewell.org, P: 9251 5209, M: 0427 994 972 or W: unitingagewell.org/Pages/Events.aspx CELEBRATORY MORNING TEA WEDNESDAY 15 JULY 10.00 AM – 12.00 PM Glen Waverley Uniting Church, corner Bogong Avenue and Kingsway.

Come and join us as we mark 6 successful years of The Hub - a friendly place for people of all ages to enjoy some company, a cuppa and a chat.

Information and group bookings, P: 9560 3580 CONNECTING WITH EARTH’S WISDOM SATURDAYS: 18 AND 25 JULY, 1 AND 8 AUGUST 2.00 – 4.00 PM Sophia’s Spring, Learning Centre, CERES Environment Park, Brunswick East.

The ecofeminist community of the Uniting Church invites you to this series of four ecology workshops: Cosmic Walk; Council of all Beings; Growing your ecological self; Dance of Ecology.

Information, Jan, M: 0402774883, E: sophias-spring@ceres.org.au or W: sophias-spring.unitingchurch.org.au

CROSSLIGHT - JULY 15

FAITH AND FABRIC: SPIRITUALITY THROUGH FABRIC ART THURSDAY 23 TO SUNDAY 26 JULY 10.00 AM – 4.00 PM Heidelberg East Ivanhoe Uniting Church, 187 Burgundy Street, Heidelberg.

Our fabric art is an expression of our spirituality. We use familiar objects and features of the Australian landscape as symbols of the human journey and our awareness of God as a vital presence in that journey. This is where we live! This is where God meets us! We encourage people to pause, look and reflect on their journey through life, its wonder, beauty and the divine mystery. A workshop is held on the 24th, 10.00 am – 2.00 pm. Cost: $30, BYO lunch but all materials provided.

Information and RSVP (essential), P: 9458 1984 75TH ANNIVERSARY THURSDAY 23 (11.00 AM) AND SUNDAY 26 (2.00 PM) JULY Sebastopol Uniting Church, Albert Street.

Join us as we mark this occasion with a special service and light lunch on Thursday, and a pleasant Sunday afternoon of song and tea on Sunday.

Information, Lindell, P: 5341 3200 SILENT MOVIE COMEDIES FRIDAY 24 JULY 7.30 PM Cheltenham-Mentone Uniting Church, 313 Charman Road, Cheltenham.

This event raises funds for the UnitingWorld project in East Timor. The feature is the Buster Keaton film The General, released in 1926. David Johnston OAM, a world renowned silent movie accompanist will be performing his original music on keyboard and organ. Come along and enjoy a trip down memory lane or rediscover the comedies of the 1920-30s. Light refreshments will be served.

Admission: $12 adults, $5 children TRANSFORM – A UCA MINISTRY WITH YOUNG ADULTS SATURDAY 25 JULY 2.00 – 4.00 PM Brunswick Uniting Church.

Join us for this winter picnic featuring a conversation with Old Testament scholar Monica Melanchthon.

Information, W: transformgatherings.com CUTTING OF TIES SERVICE SUNDAY 26 JULY 10.00 AM High Street Uniting Church, 16-18 High Street, Frankston.

Join us for Rev Dr. Robert Johnson’s final service as minister, followed by morning tea.

Anyone who has helped in ministry with Chris and Robert is invited to share in this service.

RSVP by July 17 for catering purposes, P: 9783 3400 WINTER LECTURE BY DR. ANDREW LEMON: “HON. JAMES BALFOUR MLC – PRESBYTERIAN, BUSINESSMAN, POLITICIAN” SUNDAY 26 JULY 2.00 PM Ewing Memorial Church, corner Burke Road and Coppin Street, Malvern East.

This event is presented by the Uniting Church Historical Society. Dr. Lemon’s published book on Balfour highlights the struggle between religious views, business principles and political decision-making.

This is a free event, no bookings are necessary and a questions and afternoon tea will follow.

Information, Rev Peter C Aumann, P: 9532 0393

CITIOPERA PRESENTS PUCCINI’S MESSA DI GLORIA SUNDAY 26 JULY 2.00 PM Highfield Road Uniting Church, corner Highfield and Prospect Hill Roads, Canterbury.

Sponsored by the Australian Communities Foundation and Henkell Family Fund 2, this choral piece is conducted by Trevor Jones, features soloists Michael Lapina (tenor) and Simon Meadows (baritone) and organ.

Tickets at the door: $30 or $20 concession, including afternoon tea. Proceeds to HRUC Music Fund RETIREMENT OF REV LORENE DAY SUNDAY 2 AUGUST 10.00 AM Neill Street Uniting Church, Maryborough.

This is a farewell service with lunch afterwards.

RSVP, Sally, M: 0439 473 690 or Barbara, M: 0427 039 610, by Friday 24 July 150TH ANNIVERSARY SUNDAY 16 AUGUST 10.30 AM – 12.30 PM Romsey Uniting Church.

The day begins with a communion service and concludes with lunch.

Information, P: 5429 5447, 5429 5231 or E: strackhesket@hotmail.com CLOSURE SUNDAY 16 AUGUST 2.00 PM Little Hampton Uniting Church.

This is the closing service of the church, with afternoon tea afterwards.

Information, George Wicker, P: 5424 1825 or E: janetblain@bigpond.com BORN IN THE USA! SATURDAY 29 AUGUST 7.00 PM Balla Balla Community Centre, BerwickCranbourne Road (next to library).

This fundraising event is in aid of the Cranbourne Regional Uniting Church food truck. It features performance of American music by the Cranbourne Lions Concert Band, with guest vocalists and instrumental soloists.

Cost: $15 adult, $12 concession or $50 for a family of 4. BYO dinner (cabaret style) Donations of non-perishable food greatly appreciated Information and tickets, W: trybooking.com/138863 or W: cranbournelionsconcertband.org.au CENTENARY CELEBRATION SUNDAY 13 SEPTEMBER 10.30 AM Deepdene Uniting Church.

Come and re-unite for old times’ sake.

We are also having a local talent concert on 6 September at 2.00 pm. All are warmly invited.

Enquiries and suggestions of forgotten names to invite, Alison Head, P: 9816 9962 or E: kandahead@gmail.com 150TH ANNIVERSARY SUNDAY 25 OCTOBER 11.00 AM St Andrew’s Uniting Church, Gisborne Road, Bacchus Marsh.

This event begins with a special worship service, followed by lunch, a memorabilia display and a historical presentation. Past members and clergy are invited to attend and share their memories. Historical items are welcomed for the memorabilia display.

Information, Barry Wilkins OAM, M: 0408 823 413 or E: barrybegonia@gmail.com

160TH ANNIVERSARY SUNDAY 15 NOVEMBER 10.00 AM Brown Hill Uniting Church, corner Humffray and Thompson Streets, Brown Hill.

Featuring Moderator Dan Wootton as a special guest, this service is followed by a luncheon. Past members and clergy are invited to share their memories and reunite with each other.

Information, M: 0411 121 134 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Uniting AgeWell Strathdon, Forest Hill.

We need volunteers to support the congregation of more than 50 elderly people with reading the bible or being a steward during the 10.30 am Sunday worship service.

Contact, Deborah Hildebrand, M: 0488 033 996, P: 8822 3636 or E: dadelladah@gmail.com

CLASSIFIEDS CAPE WOOLAMAI Summerhays Cottage. Sleeps 3. Tranquil garden. Stroll to beach. Discount for UCA members. Ring Doug or Ina 0403 133 710. www.summerhayscottage.com.au SENIORS’ SPECIAL: Enjoy a break in luxury surroundings. Three days and three nights, dinner, bed and breakfast for $450 per couple (including GST).

Jindivick Gardens. (03) 5628 5319.

CALOUNDRA, Sunshine Coast, Queensland: Beachside units, from $300/ week, for details, M: 0427 990 161 or E: rayandjean@hotmail.com LORNE: Spacious apartment, breathtaking ocean view, open fire, peaceful, secluded, affordable. P. (03) 5289 2698.

GOLDFIELDS HOLIDAY RENTAL: Fully equipped modern architecturally designed house. Situated in the Forest Resort Creswick, double storey house, four bedrooms, sleeps up to 11 people.

Contact Adam on 0414 725 887.

PSYCHOLOGIST Sue Tansey, BA (Hons), MPsych (Counselling) MAPS Individual and relationship counselling.

Bulk billing for clients who have a referral from their GP and have a low income.

St Kilda. P: 0418 537 342.

E: suetansey@yahoo.com GRAMPIANS WORSHIP When visiting The Grampians, join the Pomonal Community Uniting Church congregation for worship each Sunday at 10.00 am LILYDALE: PEWS FOR SALE The Lilydale Uniting Church Property has been sold to Melba Support Services.

Thankfully, worship continues at 10.00 am each Sunday. However, we have a number of pews for sale (some with cushions).

Information, P: 9735 1990.

CHURCH FURNITURE The following items are available at no charge, as is, where is, to a Uniting Church: 7 small pews, two metre long; Baptism Font; Communion table; Wood rostrum; Large whiteboard. Contact, Noel Dennis, P: 9569 5716, Stonnington Community Uniting Church, Malvern East.

FREE 30 small Australian Hymn books (Catholic supplement). Collect from Mount Waverley area. Val, Ph: 9887 7507 or Frances, P: 9802 7412

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Opinion Unscrambling Jesus THIS year marks the 30th anniversary of the formation of the Jesus Seminar.

Readers of Crosslight may have heard of this convocation of scholars who famously, over a period of several years, took a vote on each of the sayings of Jesus to establish whether or not he actually said them.

Using a grading system that ranged from red-letter confidence (‘Yes, that’s Jesus!’) through to black-letter scepticism (‘There’s been some mistake’) the work of the Seminar achieved notoriety and influence.

The notoriety was understandable. Only one of Jesus’ sayings in the Gospel of Mark was judged to be authentic in the sense that ‘Jesus undoubtedly said this or something very like it’ (Mark 12:17 to be exact). Many of the sayings of Jesus, including large chunks of the Sermon on the Mount, were put into the category of ‘Jesus did not say this’.

Populist, conservative outrage at such audacious claims aligned with more sober scholarly challenges to the methods and results of the Seminar’s deliberations.

But its key advocates had a knock down argument up their sleeve: we have found the real Jesus, based on the consensus of critical scholars, so it’s about time that the Church, and Christian faith and practice, caught up and changed.

In this way the seminar’s influence grew and, in the words of its founder and greatest proponent, Robert Funk, people

A response to ‘Why Unite?

REV DR LORRAINE PARKINSON REV RANDALL PRIOR’S article in June Crosslight (‘Why Unite?’) prompts me to respond to assertions he has made about the formation and future of the Uniting Church.

The Uniting Church was formed largely through the faith of its leaders in the ecumenical movement, even as ecumenism had begun its downward slide in the 1960s.

Randall’s strong faith in what he terms “the Christian gospel” is not in doubt. He relies on its efficacy to express great concern that the Uniting Church has not lived up to what he terms “the compelling call of the gospel itself ”.

It is to his assumptions about ‘gospel’ and the universal nature of ‘gospel’ that I wish to turn. Like many who argue that the gospel is universal, Randall gives us two particular quotes. The first is “God was in Christ, reconciling the world to God’s own self “(2 Cor. 5:19). The second is from the gospel of John (17:21), where Jesus prays that: “… all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”

Before pressing them into service as a guide to a renewal of the Uniting Church, it is informative to consider the origin of those two biblical quotes.

The first is from Paul, whose greatest

22

began to wonder what it might mean to ‘liberate the gospel of Jesus from the Jesus of the gospels’.

The seminar’s careful and critical scholarly work was designed to prompt a ‘revamp’ of our understanding. Christian faith should become an ethical, not a credal, affair. Christian life should be focussed on imitating Jesus. Jesus himself must be ‘demoted’ from his place within Christian theology.

These are important claims, which, if followed to their logical extreme, would indeed require a new reformation in which the contemporary Church’s relationship to its own history and tradition undergoes a radical renegotiation.

It is only right that, in this 30th anniversary year, I declare my hand in relation to this bold, adventurous and radical move.

I believe that it is basically bunk, but not for the reasons that you might suspect.

My own view is that there is no part of the Jesus tradition for which we can draw the conclusion that ‘Jesus said it’. There are no red-letter sayings of Jesus, within or outside of the New Testament gospels.

This is a conclusion borne not of a radical scepticism about the historical reliability of the gospels. It is rather the result of noticing some fairly basic facts about the gospels.

First, they were written in Greek.

Although Jesus may have possessed some rudimentary knowledge of Greek, the consensus is that he taught in the common language of first century Palestine, Aramaic. With the exception of a word here or there (the most significant being

Jesus’ cry from the cross in Mark 15:34) the gospels preserve translations of the sayings of Jesus. And then, as now, translation always involves a level of interpretation.

Second, recent New Testament scholarship has shown us that it is about as difficult to separate out ‘authentic’ words of Jesus from ‘inauthentic’ words as it is to unscramble an omelette.

Scholars used to think that they had a set of especially sharp tools that would enable them to cut away the dying flesh of the Church’s tradition, thus saving the life of the real Jesus for the benefit of his followers. They called these tools ‘criteria for authenticity’. I used to use them myself.

I now realise that they were about as useful for finding Jesus as a scalpel is for eating eggs and bacon: you can try, but you are really missing the point.

The reason we know this is because we now better understand the way that human memory works. Memory is also the work of interpretation from the outset. If you don’t interpret it, you won’t remember it.

And so it becomes entirely possible that in the gospels, we find words that Jesus didn’t actually say that preserve some kind of accurate historical memory, and vice-versa.

The gospels provide us with translated memories of the sayings of Jesus.

Third, the gospels are not documents that are at all interested in telling us ‘what Jesus actually said’. They cannot lead us to the past because they were never intended to. What the gospels provide for us is an indication of the impact that Jesus made upon the memories of his earliest followers, and of the impact of those memories on

subsequent communities of Christian disciples.

If we take these aspects of the gospels seriously we find ourselves having to say that the only Jesus we have is the remembered Jesus. We can continue to call that Jesus ‘historical’, I suppose, but ‘historical’ here can mean little more than ‘Jesus as he was remembered and understood by those who believed that God had raised him from the dead’.

We get closest to this Jesus not by trying to get behind or beyond the witness of the gospels and not by stripping away the theological convictions the first generations held about his relationship to God and saving work.

In the words of one recent scholar ‘the historical Jesus is not veiled by the interpretations of him. He is most available for analysis when these interpretations are most pronounced.’

All of which is to suggest that we can best celebrate the anniversary of the Jesus Seminar by returning to the gospels and exploring what kind of person, with what kind of message and, crucially, what kind of relationship to God, might generate these memories and these interpretations.

To answer that question might be to see more clearly the ways that the memory of Jesus can be preserved in the church today.

challenge was to find for his fellow Jews a credible reason why the Messiah had died. His solution, adopted by the gospel writers, is that it was the will of God, whose purpose was to resurrect as ‘the Christ’ the tortured-to-death Jesus of Nazareth. Through the atoning death and resurrection of Christ, the whole world would be reconciled to God. Randall takes the traditional view that this reconciliation to God represents the “reconciliation of all peoples and the renewal of the whole of creation”.

One only has to think briefly about the implications of that to realise it is not a recipe for universal unity. Instead, this doctrine is the surest pathway to the alienation of Christians from people of all other faiths and of no faith. That has unfortunately been the experience of the Church for nearly two thousand years.

It is the reason people in multi-cultural and multi-faith societies are increasingly walking away from the church.

The way forward that will truly unite all people is through their shared knowledge of ethics for life.

The Church already knows an ethical foundation for the future that can unify all people. That foundation is in the Sermon on the Mount and associated parables about the kingdom of heaven on earth (the best possible world). Those teachings are recognised as authentically from Jesus of Nazareth. Following his truly universal ethics for the best way of life is the surest way to the deepest possible relationship (or reconciliation) with God who is Love.

The most often-used quote for people wishing to claim Christian dominance and

issue a call for the ‘unity’ of all Christian Churches, comes from the Gospel of John.

This is the so-called ‘prayer for unity’.

The first problem in claiming this prayer as ‘gospel’ is that it is in the Gospel of John. John’s gospel is certainly replete with profound truths about relationships with a God of love, even though Jesus is depicted as the perfect Passover sacrifice for human sin.

However, and most importantly, John’s gospel is recognised by modern scholarship as a theological representation of Jesus.

It depicts how Jesus was understood by some of the earliest followers (early second century CE) of Jesus the Messiah/Christ.

John’s gospel cannot be relied on as a historical record of the words of Jesus.

That leads us to ask: “Who is calling for unity?” If not Jesus, for whom is the unity of followers of Christ so important that the ‘prayer for unity’ is placed in Jesus’ mouth?

If we look at the situation of the network of churches around Ephesus that most likely comprised the ‘Johannine community’, we can soon see that they are in deep conflict with mainstream Jews in the area.

John says they have been thrown out of the local synagogues. For a community including many Jews, that would have been a bitter experience. Their great desire was to convince their fellow Jews that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah/Christ. In the prayer of chapter 17 we can see that longing expressed very clearly. If only (they thought) all of the Jews, as well as Gentiles, would believe what they believed about Jesus, there would be unity between all of them as (John says) there is between the Father and the Son.

This is not a call from Jesus. It is not a call from Jesus to the Church; Jesus never knew the Church existed and at the end of the first century CE it still consisted mainly of scattered house groups. The Church then embraced (as it does now) many and varied interpretations of Jesus.

There have always been theological, cultural, historical, racial and sociological differences between the Churches.

Yet the good news is they can be united.

There is profound scope for unity of purpose at least, through a common upholding of the ethical teaching of Jesus of Nazareth, and through faith in the forgiving God he loved.

This teaching is indeed universal - for “all humankind”. It is found in all of the great religions and, if embraced together by people of all religions or none, it can be the basis for world peace and harmony.

The Uniting Church as it is, based on christological understandings of Jesus in its Basis of Union, is going the way of all religions lacking the capacity to address the human predicament in changing human societies.

Sadly, because it has held to the theology of Christendom even as Christendom disappeared, the Uniting Church is not and never was equipped to be “a dynamic movement whose vision was the unity and reconciliation of all people.”

But we need not despair. Even as the institutional Church dies around us, there is time to plan for the future. There is still time to prepare the people of the Uniting Church for their authentic role in the world.

Sean Winter is coordinator of studies in New Testament at Pilgrim Theological College and will be teaching a full course on the Historical Jesus on Tuesday evenings from July–October. For more information contact: study@pilgrim.edu.au

CROSSLIGHT - JULY 15

President’s reflection This month, the moderator has given his column to Rev Professor Andrew Dutney, who steps down from the role as UCA president at this month’s national Assembly meeting.

Called to our diversity ON this 38th anniversary of the inauguration of the Uniting Church in Australia, I greet you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. I want to take this opportunity to thank you for the extraordinary privilege you’ve given me as President of the Assembly for the last three years. The people and communities I’ve met, the experiences I’ve had, the places I’ve been, the challenges that have been put before me, have all come together as a unique opportunity to know you – the Uniting Church in Australia – in all your depth and diversity.

In this role I’ve regarded it as one of my responsibilities and privileges to seek out the signs of the Holy Spirit at work amongst us. I continually ask myself on your behalf, “What kind of church is God calling us to be?” And now, after three extraordinary years, I’ve something to tell you about that.

God is calling us to be a Church shaped and reshaped in the covenant between the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress and the Uniting Church. The Church is called “to be a fellowship of reconciliation” (The Basis of Union, par 3) and nowhere is reconciliation more needed in this nation than between First and Second Peoples.

Congress, the covenant, sharing property and paying the rent, our new preamble, the week of prayer and fasting and About FACE are a start but we still have much to achieve in reconciliation and fellowship in Christ. It’s hard and it’s taking a long time, but this is the kind of Church God is calling us to be.

God is calling us to be a Church which is culturally and linguistically diverse at its core – not essentially British with add-ons from other cultures. The Church is called to be “a body within which the diverse gifts of its members are used for the building up of the whole” (The Basis of Union, par 3) and that includes the “diverse

gifts” showered upon us through being a multicultural Church.

To release this diversity of gifts we’ll need to grow the UCA “ethos” to reflect the wisdom of our whole fellowship – giving prominence to faith sharing and outreach, to prayer and Bible study, to the dynamic of church planting and church growth. The stuff that our members and congregations from the Pacific, Asia and Africa know is at the heart of Christian identity.

We’ll need to address the Euro-centric assumptions we bring to matters like recognising new congregations, receiving ministers from other denominations, and educating our leaders both lay and ordained. We’ll need to address the accident of history that almost all the material resources the Uniting Church has inherited is in the hands of one culturallinguistic group, the English-speaking community. There’s nothing easy about this, but this is the kind of Church God is calling us to be.

God is calling us to be a Church oriented towards the growing, flourishing, suffering church of the global south. The Church is called to be “an instrument through which Christ may work and bear witness to himself ” (The Basis of Union, par 3) like that vital, inspirational church of the global south where most of the world’s Christians now live.

Our deepest personal relationships are there already – with our partner Churches in the Pacific, Asia and Africa. But our imagination is still captive to the global north – causing us to constantly defer to the insights and agendas that come from Britain and North America.

Personally, I’m going to “fast” from the theological books from the global north to allow my imagination to be nourished by the theology drawn from the life of the Church in the global south. It’ll probably be uncomfortable, but this is the kind of Church God is calling us to be.

God is calling us to be a Church which receives its diversity as the precious gift of the Holy Spirit that it is; a foretaste, sign and instrument of “that reconciliation and renewal which is the end in view for the whole creation” (The Basis of Union, par 3).

Reconciliation doesn’t mean everyone being the same.

It doesn’t mean one version of being human or being Christian replacing all the others.

It means people and groups that are different and divided from each other being brought together in Christ to respect, value, trust and serve one another – in all our annoying, embarrassing, frustrating and sometimes frightening diversity.

That’s profoundly challenging.

It’s sharply counter-cultural. But it is the kind of Church God is calling us to be.

Thank you for the privilege of seeing for myself that the Holy Spirit is already making us into the church God calls us to be.

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Rev Professor Andrew Dutney President-elect Mr Stuart McMillan will be installed at the 14th Assembly.

Giving is living

NextGen youth find their voice PARTICIPANTS from last year’s youth camp (pictured) travelled to the Uniting Church Grantville Lodge in July for a weekend of learning, reflection and worship.

Approximately 50 young people attended the camp and were encouraged to consider the question: ‘Who do you say I am?’

Rev Fie Marino from the Intercultural unit said the camps are a valuable opportunity for young people to learn from each other. The NextGen Youth is a culturally diverse group and the camps provide an environment for the participants to embrace the creative contributions of each individual.

“The purpose of our youth camps is to encourage young people within the synod to find their voice and identity,” Mr Marino said.

“The transition from adolescence to adulthood can be a difficult journey. These annual youth camps help participants discover their identity and find their place in the world.

CROSSLIGHT - JULY 15

“We want to empower young people to feel like they are part of the Church, to find a sense of belonging.”

The NextGen youth are the future leaders of the Church and the camps encourage participants to harness their talents and make a positive impact on the world.

The 2015 youth camp is being held this month at Merricks Lodge on the Mornington Peninsula.

The youth camps have grown in size every year, this year 80 young people will gather to explore the question: “What does the Lord require?”

The participants will engage with social justice issues and reflect on how they can live out God’s call to reach out to the marginalised.

Mr Marino said social justice is central to the Uniting Church’s mission and lies at the heart of what it means to be a Christian.

“Justice involves going beyond the doors of the church,” he said.

Through a series of interactive activities, workshops and talks, the NextGen Youth will explore how they can be responsible and socially-conscious leaders.

The camp promises to be an entertaining and inspiring weekend for all involved.

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Synod Snaps

“Taking pictures is savouring life intensely, every hundredth of a second.”

- Marc Riboud

The Canterbury Church Tongan Men’s Choir perform at Burwood Heights Uniting Church as part of the Concert for Vanuatu.

Lorraine Vincent is one of the participants in the Ocean Grove Uniting Church Fashion Show, which raised $1400 for the Share Winter Appeal.

The Cranbourne Regional Uniting Church’s Food Truck provides free food for those in need every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday night.

Congregation members at Harcourt Uniting Church enjoy a Mother’s Day morning tea prepared by the men.

Rev Jenny Hayes was recently ordained at Daylesford Uniting Church.

The Indonesian congregation at Mulgrave Uniting Church celebrate their 30th anniversary (from left to right: Leonardo Chrysostomos Epafras, Sherley Hadisaputra, Reny Soumokil, Elly Sjahputra, Alex Soumokil).

Each month Crosslight will showcase images from throughout the Church. Send your images to crosslight@victas.uca.org.au