New Times - September 2014

Issue 33, No 8, 2014

The voice of Uniting Church SA

September 2014

Next generation BEING MADE NEW

FIVE THINGS

Community connections are Young leaders discuss the future central to the new Playford

of the Uniting Church

Uniting Church p.9

pp. 10-11

Third Robert Iles Memorial Lecture Marriage in Today’s Society

Contents

Hon. Kevin Andrews MP

FEATURES Peaceful communities

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Being made new

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Five things

10-11

Contributing to the growing church

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REGULAR PAGES Moderator’s comment

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CEO/General Secretary’s comment

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Getting to know...

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Letters 20 Diary 21 Reviews 23 Editor: Catherine Hoffman Editor-in-Chief: Bindy Taylor Advertising: Loan Leane Design: Bindy Taylor Print: Graphic Print Group For editorial inquiries: p. (08) 8236 4230 e. newtimes@sa.uca.org.au m. The Editor,

New Times GPO Box 2145

Adelaide SA 5001 For advertising bookings: p. (08) 7007 9020 e. advertising.newtimes@sa.uca.org.au

w: newtimes.sa.uca.org.au facebook.com/NewTimesUCA ISSN 0726-2612 New Times is the voice of Uniting Church SA. Published monthly, February through December, New Times represents the breadth, diversity and vision of Uniting Church members in SA. News policies, guides and deadlines appear online at newtimes.sa.uca.org.au. Articles and advertising do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editor.

Print circulation: 9,750 Uniting Church SA Level 2, 212 Pirie St, Adelaide p. (08) 8236 4200 f. 8236 4201 country callers. 1300 766 956

Minister for Social Services Commonwealth Government

7.30 pm · Thursday 9th October · 2014 Burnside City Uniting Church Cnr Portrush Road and Fisher Street, Tusmore Supper ___________________ The Robert Iles Memorial Trust exists to celebrate and promote the Christian faith within Australian society and engage with the culture of the day and to bring a biblical perspective to contemporary public issues in society and the world.

Sermons and other writings of Robert can be found at www.ilesblog.com

You are invited to a reunion of the Congregational Youth Fellowship

CYF Reunion

Join former CYFers and friends for afternoon tea in the hall at Clayton-Wesley Uniting Church Sunday September 21st 2.30 - 5pm Pass the word around!

RSVP and enquiries to Joelie Hancock (Leaver) 82713694 or joelieh@ozemail.com.au Bring a plate and memorabilia.

Parking at rear off Union St or from the north, off Portrush Rd.

Thinking about entering the City-Bay? Uniting Communities will make it easy for you.

For more information visit www.unitingcommunities.org or contact Uniting Communities on 08 8202 5658

Next edition: Home For many people the word ‘home’ signifies comfort, belonging, welcome, rest. But for those who face hostility at home or are without a home – those seeking asylum in Australia, or the many sleeping on the streets across our country every night – the word may have negative connotations. In this edition, we explore how individuals and communities in the Uniting Church across South Australia make meaning of the word ‘home.’

DEADLINE FOR OCTOBER 2014

Wednesday 10 September

Cover details Rev Peter Riggs sits in front of an empty block of land, which will soon be transformed with the new Playford Uniting Church building. Read more about the exciting new Playford development on page 9.

Photo courtesy of Stories Well Told.

editorial

Active Listening In many ways, New Times is a publication produced for the over 50s audience. It delivers content predominately targeted towards those who are retired or heading in that direction – an age group that most of our readers fall into, according to the last two New Times readership surveys.

In recent months, the Uniting Church Youth and Young Adults and New Times editorial teams have joined forces to brainstorm ideas for a new publication, which would be geared towards a younger audience. The exciting new project would offer news and information about faith and church life in a way that engages readers aged in their late teens right through to their early 30s.

For me to gain an accurate insight into the type of publication required, I needed to understand the minds and actions of the target age group. With this in mind, I extended a planning invitation to a group of young people to determine the vision for the new publication. The first area of discussion was the format – should the new venture be made available online or in print?

This was a challenging question for me. I prefer the ‘old school’ way of sourcing news and information – reading printed material, rather than viewing an online video or reading text on a screen. I found it hard to understand why young readers might prefer watching short videos or reading articles online. With this in mind, I began closely observing the way my younger friends consumed information. I quickly noticed them sourcing the bulk of their news and information online.

During our next planning meeting, I spent a lot of time listening and learning, and came to the realisation that the publication would need to be totally different to what I had envisioned. It would involve me stepping outside my comfort zone in print, and immersing myself headfirst in all things digital, learning new social media technologies, and discovering more about how young people interact and source information from the online world.

This process also made me contemplate the way congregations and church communities listen and act towards the younger generation.

Do we plan church worship and services according to what we know and what feels comfortable to us? Or do we listen, contemplate and take action according to the needs of the next generation of churchgoers? How often do we step outside our comfort zones? One thing I have learnt from my planning experience is to not assume what people want. We need to ask questions, listen to responses, learn from others, and take action if we want to reach our chosen audience and connect meaningfully with the wider community.

Bindy Taylor

Introducing...

Rev Nigel Rogers, the newly elected Uniting Church SA Chief Executive Officer/General Secretary, is making himself at home in the Synod office – and in the pages of New Times! Nige has a strong interest in reaching out to New Times readers, and will be offering a regular monthly article to communicate with the Uniting Church SA community. In this edition, Nige delves into the vision of the Uniting Church in South Australia in an article titled “Re-visioning” on page 5.

If you would like to respond to this article, or to any others featured in New Times, please consider writing a letter. Letters should be sent to newtimes@sa.uca.org.au or New Times Editor, PO Box 2145, Adelaide 5001. For more information, please see page 20.

moderator

Sharing narratives of hope

Christine Secombe, Neryl Strobel, Deidre Palmer, Karinna Hall and Georgia Symonds at Brougham Place Uniting Church.

“We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord.”

(Psalm 78:4) As Christian communities, as parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, what are the stories, narratives and texts you want to pass on to your children and your children’s children?

What stories in Scripture do you share to invite people of all ages into the hope-filled and transforming narrative of God’s good news for us?

One of my favourite renditions of a Biblical story is Bob Hartman’s take on Exodus 2:1-10, which begins with: “What was it like, at the edge of the river?”

“It was wet. Squishy toe wet. Soggy bottom wet. Hot-and-muggy sweat wet. The girl peered through the reeds. They sprouted thick and tall from the riverbank mud. The girl peered out onto the river, at a bobbing bulrush boat, and hoped that her baby brother at least, was dry.”

I have read this story countless times in ministry seminars with a focus on families and children. I have read it to my youngest daughter over and over again - it’s one of her favourites! Bob’s interpretation of this passage invites children and adults to enter into the story with imagination, curious about what will happen next. It invites participants to imagine themselves at the edge of the river with Miriam, waiting with her as she stands on guard, ready to protect her brother. It encourages readers to reflect on the ways God is at work in their own lives.

When leading workshops recently, I have invited people to reflect on Biblical stories that are life-giving and sustaining for them - stories that shape their thinking and being in the world, and biblical narratives

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that open them to an encounter with God. Some of these narratives may not be stories, as such, but letters to churches, theological treatises and poetry that emerges from the pain and joys of life. For example, the narrative of hope that is found in Paul’s letter to the Romans: “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39) This is a narrative to pass on to the next generation!

Joseph Crockett, an African American Christian educator, describes how, in his cultural context, there are key Biblical motifs that have inspired and sustained his people over centuries. He names Exodus, Exile and Sanctuary as these motifs. Exodus - God is the one who liberates an enslaved people. Exile - a God who walks beside them, when they have no home country. Sanctuary - a God who provides them with comfort, immeasurable love and sacred space in the midst of the most difficult circumstances they face.

Transformation of people’s lives and social contexts can take place as people encounter God’s life-changing presence through the biblical text. Theologian Johann Metz notes that there are many “dangerous memories” in Scripture - dangerous in the sense that they question the status quo, and challenge us to live our lives differently.

Our worship team for the October/November Presbytery and Synod meeting are excited about working with the narrative and teachings of the Beatitudes in Matthew, exploring what the Spirit may be saying to us as a church through the powerful and provocative words of Jesus.

I would love to see people having conversations right across the Presbytery and Synod, in our congregations, schools and agencies, about those Biblical narratives of hope that shape our lives – personally, and as communities. I would love to see people identifying those “dangerous memories” that cause us to challenge how we are living as the people of God. I know we could say the whole Bible is that narrative, but I invite you to share three or four biblical narratives of hope that connect strongly with you and your community at present.

To share these stories, please contact the Communications team on 8236 4249 or communications@sa.uca.org.au

Dr Deidre Palmer

ce o / ge n e ral se cre ta r y

Re-visioning

I love the Uniting Church because of my unshakeable love for Jesus Christ. As God’s people we collectively find our identity, security and confidence in Christ. I believe that in the changing landscape of the Uniting Church, we are set to rediscover what it means to be built upon the one Lord Jesus Christ through the way he rules and renews his church. Pivotal in this is the generational integration that is writ large within the vision that sits before the Presbytery and Synod.

As one Presbytery and Synod our vision is that we seek to be an innovative, growing church proclaiming Jesus Christ, empowered by the Spirit to transform God’s world. This vision puts before us who we need to be and what we need to do. We must press on with it because it

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is a new season in which this vision can galvanise us across generations so that we encounter afresh what it means to be a people uniting around the centrality of Christ.

What I see this vision pointing toward is an innovative church that gives permission to ‘Generation Now’ to visually, verbally and vibrantly live out the splendour of Christ. There are many people of various ages that live in the liminal space that is our digital and physical world.

However, it is time for us to grant Generation Now (our youth and young adults) the fluid opportunities to contextualise the gospel and our life as a church in ways that were unimaginable even a decade ago.

Our innovation will contribute to our growth.

The conversation about being a growing church is all too often dominated by the talk of numerical decline. Diminishing quantitative growth is a magnificent space for the Spirit of God to shape the qualitative vitality of the church. For instance, we have numerically declined, but we have matured as a church in our capacity to discuss and discern God’s leading. Given that we are an aging church, there are many within our older generations who embody this maturity, especially in various councils of the church. Whilst this maturity is not the exclusive domain of the older generations it is nonetheless a tremendous gift that can be sown into the generations that follow them.

Our maturity as a church is one obvious aspect of growth, yet there are many other instances. What is paramount is the biblical witness that it is God who makes the church grow (1 Corinthians 3:6).

Therefore, building upon our growth and embracing our innovative capacity provides fertile ground for us to be a church that proclaims Jesus Christ as the Holy Spirit empowers us. This is the activity of our vision, it is what we are called to do, and it is time for us to be renewed and recommitted to this purpose. Essentially the reason to do so is simple in that it is not fundamentally about us keeping our churches open or maintaining a Minister in a Placement. Rather it is about transforming God’s world. This vision offers us the opportunity to recapture our reason for being, to move our gaze from the critical needs of our life as a church onto the larger call to use our worship, witness and service to God’s eternal glory.

Rev Nigel Rogers

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news

Important preparations It’s that time of the year again! As the end of 2014 draws closer, the Uniting Church SA Communications team have been busy preparing this year’s Christmas postcard campaign and the 2015 calendar. Please read the following information carefully, and ensure a representative from your congregation or faith community is delegated to place an order by the deadlines outlined below.

2015 Calendar Preparation The Uniting Church SA calendar serves the local church as both the annual report from the Synod office and as a helpful resource, containing event dates, school holiday term dates, and lectionary readings.

In 2015, each month of the calendar will focus on a line from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, and will highlight the different functions of the Uniting Church SA and its affiliated agencies.

Ordering A calendar order form will be enclosed with the first mailings for the October/November Presbytery and Synod meeting, which will be distributed to congregations in mid-September. In the coming weeks, the order form will also be made available through UC e-news and on the Uniting Church SA website at sa.uca.org.au All congregations that would like to receive calendars must place an order – whether you want to receive a total of 5 calendars or 100, an

order must be placed.

Orders of 25 or less are free for congregations; any ordered above this amount will attract a cost of 50c per calendar.

Orders need to be placed by Wednesday 8 October 2014.

Calendars will be available for pickup from Adelaide West Uniting Church during the Presbytery and Synod meeting, 30 October – 1 November, 2014, and from the Synod Office (212 Pirie Street, Adelaide) after this date. Posting items will attract an additional cost, although some exceptions may apply.

For further information, please contact the Communications team by emailing communications@sa.uca.org.au or calling 8236 4249.

2014 Christmas postcard The 2014 Christmas postcard artwork will be published in the October edition of New Times, featured in UC e-news, and placed on the Uniting Church website – so watch this space!

Orders will need to be placed by Wednesday 22 October 2014.

Communities united through the City-Bay

When thinking about what events unite people in South Australia, the Sunday Mail City-Bay Fun Run might come to mind.

Last September, Uniting Communities’ ‘Team UC’ were amongst the tens of thousands of people that took part in City-Bay and who found it a great chance to be active, come together with their friends and meet new people.

With this year’s City-Bay fast approaching on Sunday 21 September, Team UC is enthusiastically getting ready to take part again.

“The sight of the finish line was a real personal achievement,” says Uniting Communities’ Rev Peter McDonald, reflecting on his

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experience participating in last year’s event. “I ran with a friend and we encouraged each other along.”

As well as experiencing the sweat, sprinting and community spirit on the day, Team UC will also be helping save lives through raising awareness in, and money for, the vital work of Lifeline Adelaide.

“The way that City-Bay brings the whole community together is special, and I feel that supporting Lifeline Adelaide is important for all of us,” Peter says.

During the course of their lives, many people will experience an event or situation they find hard to cope with. Lifeline Adelaide’s trained volunteers answer over 30,000 calls each year from people across South Australia as they deal with family and relationship issues, mental health, abuse or violence, loneliness, and risk of suicide.

Every $25 raised in support of Lifeline Adelaide means a phone call can be answered from someone experiencing a personal crisis, which can help to save a life.

Walking, running and wheelchair events are all open for participation in the Sunday Mail City-Bay Fun Run. Uniting Communities will provide members of Team UC with a race kit and breakfast.

If you are interested in being a part of Team UC, please email CommunityEngagement@unitingcommunities.org or call 8202 5658, or register at unitingcommunities.org

news

60 years of Christian camping On Sunday 12 October, the Uniting Venues Adare campsite will celebrate 60 years of Christian camps and conferences. All are welcome to gather in the grounds at Adare for a re-dedication service commencing at 2.30pm, followed by afternoon tea and an ‘open house’ of Adare’s facilities.

The land on which Adare is built is part of the Raminjeri Aboriginal tribal lands and was originally known as Mootaparinga Farm.

‘Mootaparinga’ is the Aboriginal term meaning ‘murky water,’ and describes the nearby Hindmarsh River. The property was first bought in 1837, and a small cottage was built. In 1891, the property was sold again and renamed ‘Adare.’ Extensive renovations were made to the cottage, and the resulting building features 19 rooms, a cellar, tower, balcony and three turrets.

Adare was purchased by the Methodist Church Youth Department for use as a campsite in 1954. Camps were held frequently at Adare and were most popular in summer, due to Adare’s seaside location. A small caravan park was also established on the grounds in the 1960s.

A day of remembrance and sharing In past years, the Uniting Church in South Australia has run a campaign titled ‘Suicide: it’s no secret’ on World Suicide Prevention Day. Aimed at spreading awareness of depression, anxiety and suicide, and encouraging people to talk about these issues, this campaign is being run again in 2014.

Scots Church Adelaide will present an event on World Suicide Day, Wednesday 10 September, from 11am-4pm on their North Terrace forecourt. During the day, people walking by the site will have an opportunity to explore resources, and write messages of love, hope and remembrance. Refreshments, tying ribbons to a ‘remembrance fence,’ listening to music, and sharing stories will also form part of the event.

As twilight descends, people will be invited to attend a reflective service of remembrance for those lost to suicide. This will be held within Scots Church at 5.45pm, and refreshments will follow.

All are invited to reflect, share and remember at Scots Church over the course of the day.

For more information, or to offer assistance with running the event, please contact Scots Church Adelaide on 8223 1505.

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For more information about the Adare anniversary event, or to RSVP, please see the invitation on page 17 or contact Adare on 8552 1657 or adare@unitingvenuessa.org.au

Placements News Placements finalised since the August edition of New Times: Rev Mark Butler (Churches of Christ) to Coordinating Chaplain at Eldercare from Monday 1 September 2014 Rev Trevor Faggotter to Clare Uniting Church from Sunday 1 February 2015 Upcoming induction services: Rev Coralie Evans, Aldinga-McLaren Vale Linked Congregations on Sunday 14 September, 2pm Rev Christa Megaw (Deacon), Bridgewater Uniting Church (0.5) on Sunday 28 September, 7pm Vacant Placements as of Friday 8 August, 2014 The following is the current list of vacant (or soon to be vacant) approved placements: Profiles available – County Jervois (Arno, Cleve, Coolanie, Cowell & Driver River); Grange; Hallett Cove (from January 2015); Lighthouse Port Pire; Lower Murray Linked Congregations (from January, 2015); Newland (0.6); Port Augusta Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress; Seaton (0.3); Seeds (from January 2015); Waikerie; Whyalla; Yilki (0.3).

Profiles not yet available – Tumby Bay & Districts (0.5 from October 2014); South West Fleurieu (from October 2014); Windsor Gardens (0.5).

For more information on any of these placements, or to view national placements, please visit sa.uca.org.au/pastoral-relations/placements-vacant

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news

Peaceful communities By demonstrating a passion for justice, advocacy and peaceful protest, the Uniting Church in South Australia was identified as a fitting organisation to host a peace networking event on the International Day of Peace, which is observed annually on 21 September.

Titled ‘Communities for Peace,’ the event has evolved through the collaboration of three key peace organisations – Act for Peace, the Independent and Peaceful Australia Network, and the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF).

Dr Deidre Palmer, Moderator of the Uniting Church in SA, will officially welcome people to the event at Scots Church Adelaide on Sunday 21 September, 2-4pm. The event’s keynote speakers include Rosemary Crowley and Prof Lis Porter.

Communities for Peace will primarily be a networking event for peace organisations and community groups, but is open to the wider community.

Peace community groups and organisations will set up stalls in the Scots Church hall for the event, sharing the ways they promote peace throughout the wider community. Organisations and groups include:

Discussing detention On Wednesday 30 July, Brougham Place Uniting Church hosted a community forum titled ‘Kids Don’t Belong in Detention.’ The focus of this forum was a discussion of the situation facing many asylum seekers, including children, who are currently in immigration detention.

Guest speaker Mark Riessen shared his experiences and theological insights, and expressed the simple longing of his four year old son to have his friend (a three year old boy detained at Inverbrackie) come to his house to play. The forum also gave an opportunity for church agencies and community groups to provide information offering direct support to those in detention, how to engage policy makers, and how to be part of peaceful protests.

Prayers for comfort and peace A candlelight evening service was held at Brougham Place Uniting Church at 5.30pm on Wednesday 30 July to remember those who lost their lives on flight MH17. Praying for comfort and peace, Dr Deidre Palmer led the service, which also involved music, Bible readings and a candle-lighting ceremony. All present were given an opportunity to pay their respect to those who lost their lives, and offer prayer for their loved ones.

Attendees were encouraged to donate to Medecins Sans Frontieres Australia, where Paul Guard has established a memorial donations page dedicated to the memory of Jill and Roger Guard.

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local faith communities, the Medical Association for Prevention of War, the Graham F. Smith Peace Foundation, Spirit for Peace, Psychologists of Peace, Safe Ground, Amnesty International, East Timor Friendship Group, West Papuan Association, United Nations Global Peace Kindergarten, Soroptimist International SA, and many more.

WILPF will also use the event to launch their White Poppies for Peace campaign, which has been successfully operating in New Zealand for the past four years. White poppies will be available for purchase on the day for a cost of $2, and can be worn to remember causalities of war, acting as a symbol of hope, independence and peace for the future.

Other features of the event include a pooled afternoon tea, live music, and a dance performed by children from the United Nations Global Peace Kindergarten.

To find out more, or to get your peace organisation or group involved, please contact Bindy Taylor on 8236 4249 or communications@sa.uca.org.au

n ex t g e n e ra t i o n Who is the next generation of the Uniting Church? Who was the previous generation? Over the past twenty years, ageing congregations and declining numbers have been at the centre of discourse regarding the Church’s future. This edition of New Times will explore the knowledge, wisdom and faith in God that people can share across generations.

Being made new Bindy Taylor

Rev Pete Riggs sits on the fence surrounding the large block of land which is soon to be Playford Uniting Church. In just 42 weeks, the block behind him will be developed into a community space which will be responsible for transforming the lives of many individuals.

The Uniting Church in South Australia hasn’t undertaken a project like this for quite a few years. Generous contributions from congregations across the state have been made to forward this project, and Uniting Foundation has also provided support. It is hoped that this investment will play an important role in the lives of those residing within An artist’s impression of the new Playford Uniting Church. the region. At the October/November 2014 meeting of the Presbytery and Synod, Playford Uniting Church will invite which sees 12,000 families pass through its doors every year, a popular other South Australian congregations to support the project financially park, a childcare centre and two schools. This strategic positioning and through prayer. means the church is well-placed to interact closely with the community Pete, the pastor of Playford Uniting Church, has a strong vision for - one of the church’s main objectives. the new development.

Playford Uniting Church will concentrate on engaging children “The dream is for the new Playford Uniting Church to be a vibrant, and families through strong links with the community, partnering seven-day-a-week community space, full of life, hope and faith,” he with the council and local community groups – particularly those explains. “It will be a place where those in the community create the who share their vision of forming a vibrant new community. Seeking a Playford Uniting Church story.

Community Development Officer, who will be responsible for building “Our community doesn’t simply need another place to go - they and nurturing important community relationships, will be one of the need a place to become part of and engage with, where they can first tasks undertaken by the church. contribute the things that God has placed in them,” emphasises Pete. “A To ensure community connections are made from the very place where people can dream, and discover dreams they have yet to beginning of the church’s life, locals have been invited to participate realise.” in a blessing and celebration to mark the first day of the church’s new Creating community is something the larger City of Playford is build on Sunday 14 September. Invitees include the local Mayor, particularly interested in at present – their Playford Alive development councillors, politicians and builders, in addition to members of other will see new housing, businesses and community established in the denominations in the area, many of whom have been particularly area. supportive of the Playford Uniting Church project.

The Playford Alive demographic is young, with 28% of the “The church communities of the North share a strong sense of population under the age of 17 and only 16% over 60. Both Pete unity,” Pete says. “We are all excited to be part of the story of Playford and his wife, Rachel, have a wealth of experience in children’s and Alive, and we meet every month to share news and celebrate the good youth ministry. Together with their four children, they hope to assist that is happening throughout the area.” in developing the church community in Playford, welcoming and “The way the Playford development has come together gives reason engaging families and young people. for great hope,” Pete adds. “We are not suddenly becoming a new One of the main challenges facing the local community includes a church - we are constantly being made new. We look forward to being lack of mobility – one in four families in the Playford area do not own a part of the kingdom coming, and continuing the story of Playford a car. Fortunately, the new Playford Uniting Church building is situated Uniting Church.” in the centre of the Playford Alive development, making it easier for For more information about Playford Uniting Church, please contact those without access to a vehicle to connect with the church.

Rev Pete Riggs on office@playforduc.org.au or 0421 243 889, or visit The church site is also in close proximity to a busy health centre, playforduc.org.au Return to Contents

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n ex t g e n e ra t i o n

Five things A lay leader, a ministry candidate and a Minister of the Word walk into a dining room… it may sound like the opening line of a joke, but it was actually the beginning of a lively and engaging conversation between Jenny Wardrop, Josh Scherer and Rev Stephanie Tai. This group of young leaders recently met to discuss their hopes and dreams for ministry, the potential challenges, and the future they envision for the Uniting Church in Australia.

As part of the next generation of leaders, hoping to remain in ministry for the next 40 years or more, these young people find themselves constantly returning to the same question – what has God got in store? After exploring this question together, these young leaders assembled five points they’d like to communicate to the wider Uniting Church.

There will be future generations of the Uniting Church in Australia If you read too many statistics or listen to the wrong advice, you could start to become cripplingly concerned about the decline of the Uniting Church. Indeed, in almost every way you might measure the health of an organisation, we are experiencing decline – in attendance, ministers, funds, baptisms, and more. One could easily question whether there will even be a church for the next generation to lead.

But, as we discussed this, we felt called back to the truth of the Gospel and the Basis of Union – that this is Christ’s church not mine, yours or ours. He has called it into being, and He is the one that feeds and renews it. We exist not because of tradition, hard work, funds or good ideas, but because the Holy Spirit ministers in and through us.

We do not need to panic about the future of the church, but instead pray – pray that Christ will transform and renew His church into a new season, and that we will be open to whatever that looks like.

It will look different but that’s okay As we reflected on what it means to be leaders in the next generation of the church, we found that our hopes and dreams are similar to those of the generations of faithful leaders that have gone before us. We long to see the church strong and healthy, to see people coming to salvation in Christ, to see people experiencing the joy of serving with each other, to see the church speak justice for those without a voice and care for the broken-hearted. Every generation of ministers and lay leaders has given itself to this, and we desire to do the same.

The difference for us, as the next generation, is the context. During our discussion, Jenny said: “I want to see a church that is relevant – not playing catch-up to culture, but leading the way and setting the example, all the while being true to the gospel.”

As the nature of church and society changes, we will have to grapple with a wide variety of questions and challenges. This will include things like: how we understand genuine community, how we measure the health of the Church beyond Sunday attendance, what it means for church activities to ‘be church’ for people, how we embrace technology to work smarter, how we understand the culture, and how we reach a

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generation who think that they are too time poor when the reality is that church is simply not something they are willing to make time for.

But there will also be blessings in disguise. Although the number of people in Uniting Church congregations may be fewer for a season, we believe that those who are part of our congregations will be there because of a deep and growing relationship with Christ, without traditional or cultural expectations. We hope that they will be inspired by the vision of the Church of Jesus Christ and the Uniting Church.

We hope that they will have vitality, engage in genuine discipleship, be creative, and take risks to see the kingdom of God grow.

We are seeing a trend towards bi-vocation and part-time ministry, which some may see as a negative. But, while it certainly can make life complicated, we actually see it as a positive, ensuring that ministers and leaders are amongst the wider community and are regularly engaged with those who need Jesus.

It will also mean a greater dependency on team ministry. No longer will evangelism, pastoral care, growth in attendance, discipleship and reading the Bible, be delegated to the minister, but will, we hope, be embraced by every believer. This will be a wonderful blessing to the church as people share their gifts and skills, leading to a ministry of all believers.

Please pass on more than an institution “Change takes time, and the reality of the changing landscape of the church cannot be turned around in one generation,” Josh stated during our discussion. “The fact is that we will be at a point where we have more assets than people to use them.”

As the next generation of leaders, we desire more than just buildings and bank accounts. If your congregation recognisess that your season of ministry is drawing to a close, please don’t think you have failed; see it as an opportunity for God to do something new. We want to inherit more than just a building – we want to inherit the call of God for the wider community and areas surrounding our current buildings.

Instead of simply closing, congregations can actually assist the next generation of Christ’s witnesses into a new season by making room, sharing in prayer, and passing on the mission.

n ex t g e n e ra t i o n

Rev Stephanie Tai (Uniting Church minister), Josh Scherer (Candidate for Minister of the Word) and Jenny Wardrop (lay leader) gathered for a discussion about the future of ministry in the Uniting Church.

Thank you As we tackle leading the next generation of the church, we find ourselves incredibly blessed. Numerous ministers and leaders have taught and guided each of us out of their own experiences. They have shared their knowledge of ministry challenges - burning out, being a generalist but never excelling, having commitment, longevity alongside seasonal ministry, and other common speed bumps we are bound to encounter. We hope, and believe, that this blessing will make us healthier for the long haul of ministry.

So, we want to say thank you. If you have shared your experiences to help us, thank you. If you have given opportunities to a young person and encouraged them, thank you. If you are passing on the call of God for your community, thank you.

You can trust us, and we plan to pass it on What we find ourselves wanting to say is this: “It will be okay, you can trust us.” We may not always be perfect or have raving success.

We will stumble and fall, and you may not always understand the way we do things, but just like the generations before us, we are deeply

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committed to seeing Christ’s Church be the vibrant expression of God’s love that she is called to be. You can trust us to trust God for His help.

You can trust us because we have been raised up by leaders and faithful believers like you.

As we closed our discussion, we remembered one important thing – we may be the next generation, but we will not be the last. We have a desire to leave a strong church to the coming generations, one that is built upon firm foundations, but has the flexibility and capacity to be Christ in the world, in whatever context future generations are living out. We want to see these generations passionately pursuing Jesus Christ and confidently expressing His salvation. We want to see them stepping into leadership with support and encouragement where they can confidently ‘have a go.’ We want to leave them with a church that knows who she is – in Christ and within the fabric of the community.

And we want to leave them with a healthy church where the Holy Spirit is moving in transforming ways.

We pray that we may give them the opportunities, love and support that you have given us.

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Members of the growing Chinese Church, including theological student Deng Xiao (bottom right).

Contributing to the growing church Cath Taylor

The view from the pew in an Australian Uniting Church isn’t always inspiring. Many long-term congregation members are all too aware of empty seats, voices that waver on beloved hymns, and the lurking spectre of a budget committee meeting when the service ends. They worry about the next generation of believers, and where they’ll find a spiritual home.

It’s true that church attendance in Australia is in decline, as it is throughout much of the Western world. But that’s not the full story.

Globally, and particularly among our Asian neighbours, Christianity is still the world’s largest and fastest-growing religion. In China, three new churches have been either re-opened or newly built every single day for the past thirty years.

What does this mean for the next generation of Christians, worldwide and here in Australia? The Uniting Church has always regarded itself as a global church. When one part of the Christian body suffers, we all feel pain. And when one part is lifted up, as Paul writes to the Corinthians, we’re all renewed. That’s why, through UnitingWorld and International Mission work, the Uniting Church enters into partnerships that allow us to serve, as well as become invigorated by the vitality of our brothers and sisters internationally.

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“The China Christian Council has looked worldwide for a ministry partner to support its development and share what it’s learning about this massive revival among God’s people,” says Ji Zhang, UnitingWorld’s Church Connections Asia Manager.

“Closed for 12 years during the Cultural Revolution, the Chinese Church now conservatively numbers anywhere between 23-70 million worshippers every Sunday and is set to be the largest on earth within a decade.”

It’s an exciting time to be part of the Christian Church, particularly to be developing links with communities that will have a major influence upon the next generation of global believers.

“A hundred years ago, 80% of all Christians lived in Europe and the Americas,” Ji explains. “These days that number has dropped to 36% and the fast-growing churches of Asia and Africa are becoming the face of the global Church. In supporting the future leadership of the Chinese Church, and learning from them, our relationship with China is incredibly significant.”

Deng Xiao, a 27 year old theological student from Nanjing Theological Seminary, is likely to become the sole ordained minister of a congregation of up to 10,000 people within the next few years. Like

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many young people in China, he heard the gospel at a time in his life when he was seeking peace, purpose and a sense of community.

“I aim to use my training to tell others the good news about Christ,” he says. “I hope to influence others so we can make a difference to society – I have learnt at the theological college here that we seek understanding of people’s needs, not just focusing on faith, but on the wellbeing of the people.”

Deng is likely to serve members of a remote community who have waited many years for his appointment. In many parts of China only one ordained minister is available for every 18,000 Christians.

By contrast, one Uniting Church minister is available to every 39 parishioners in Australia.

China’s severe lack of trained leaders presents a critical challenge to the nurturing of God’s people right now, and the shape of the Church to come.

“The harvest is large, but the workers are few,” says Reverend Kan, General Secretary of the China Christian Council.

“Our most critical need is for more trained leaders for our church.

We are reaching in partnership toward the Uniting Church of Australia because we see a unique global Church with a theology, commitment to social service, and love for God’s people that we share.”

Through UnitingWorld, the Uniting Church partnership aims to help train a new generation of global church leaders like Deng and learn from thriving, engaged congregations of God’s people. Theological scholarships will be offered within China, particularly to women

and students from remote ethnic communities, while exchanges will be fostered between Australian and Chinese students, lecturers and congregations to share knowledge and resources that will invigorate the local church.

“With almost 2.5 million Christians baptised in the last five years, the Chinese Church is experiencing phenomenal growth,” Uniting Church President Rev Prof Andrew Dutney notes. “We welcome the opportunity to explore ways to support and learn from each other in our service and witness.”

The partnership is a significant opportunity, not only to support our Christian brothers and sisters right now, but to help shape the Church of the future.

“The students who participate in the scholarships will become the leaders of the Chinese Church, while the Uniting Church will have valuable opportunities to learn together with one of the largest growing communities of faith in the world,” Ji explains.

“The next generation of Christian believers, globally, are likely to be more connected than ever before. This relationship is not only a valuable investment in the future of our faith but an expression of our identity as brothers and sisters in Christ.”

To find out more about how to take part in this exciting new partnership, or to have Rev Ji Zhang speak with your congregation about the opportunity to support this ministry, please contact UnitingWorld on 8267 4267 or visit unitingworld.org.au

Intentionally intercultural Rev Jill Lienert

‘Where are you from?’

This question is a common one for many people in our society, and is voiced in numerous places – from schoolyards to public transportation, church buildings to the workplace. However, it is a question that many in our community get tired of answering. For the amazing generation of young people who are born in Australia, but have one or both parents who were born overseas, replying to this question can become wearing. What’s worse is when people act like, just because of their appearance or parents’ background, they are not truly ‘Australian.’

Payneham Road Uniting Church is home to a large number of ‘second generation’ or ‘second gen’ Australian members from a wide variety of cultural backgrounds, many of whom have been baptised at the church (including those pictured).

Payneham Road has become a place of belonging for many of these individuals – a place where they are valued and where no one asks ‘Where are you from?’ The church has become a home where their stories and hopes are valued and can be openly shared. These stories often include times of identity crisis, as young people grapple with how to reconcile their parents’ cultural identity and their own as Australians.

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Payneham Road Uniting Church’s next generation of leaders Daniel, Soona, Yujeong, Sebastian, Hannah, Kate and Raymond.

Payneham Road has provided a place where these struggles can be shared openly. The congregation at Payneham Road not only welcomes any who wish to attend, but the gifts they are able to offer – and the ‘second gen’ members have an abundance to share. They are the congregation’s next generation of Sunday School teachers, ministers, committee members, youth leaders, organists and event coordinators.

Uniting Church congregations across South Australia strive to be places of belonging, valuing each member as a child of God, and listening to their stories. The congregation at Payneham Road Uniting Church intentionally focuses on being a place of intercultural welcome and members are quickly seeing a new generation of leaders grow in the life of their church.

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Carmel and Brendan Reynolds are fourth generation farmers at Willow Springs Station close to the Flinders Ranges.

Finding a new generation of farmers Netta Kovach

Farmers are used to surviving circumstances outside their control – they live with droughts, floods, government changes, and more. But things get complicated when family is thrown into that mix. While all families are complex, this is especially true of those living on farms as they deal with questions about succession planning, something which is a huge issue for rural communities.

What happens to the farm when the children grow up? Do we divvy up the farm and create smaller farms for each of the children? What if some of the children don’t want to pursue a farming life? What about the parents when they get too old for farming? Where will they go?

These are the questions many farming families face. Some, however, seem able to navigate these questions with a little more ease.

Meet the Reynolds family of Willow Springs Station, who are currently in their fifth generation of family succession. Brendan and

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Carmel Reynolds have four children. The two eldest girls, Anne Marie and Naomi, are both married with children and live away from the family property. Their son Christopher, 31, lives and manages a cattle station 60 kilometres from home, while their youngest daughter, Michelle, 23, works on the family farm.

Willow Springs is located near the Flinders Ranges. A sheep station of 28,300 hectares, it carries a capacity of 4,500 sheep and a small mob of cattle. The eldest of eight children, Brendan Reynolds is a fourth generation farmer on Willow Springs who began working the property after leaving school. In 1985, Brendan formed a partnership with his father, Pep Reynolds, to buy out his former partners. But life on a farm is unpredictable – something that Brendan and his wife, Carmel, quickly discovered.

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“In 1985, when we became partners, the seasons were above average and wool prices were on the rise. But within a couple of years, interest rates rose to an all-time high, and wool prices had collapsed. We were in a crisis,” says Carmel.

Brendan and Carmel thought branching into tourism could be a way to tackle this issue, but Brendan’s father, Pep, was initially hesitant.

“He seemed to struggle with the intrusion,” Carmel reflects. “But as the cash-flow improved, we all had a sense of pride in what we had achieved. The hard work and sacrifices we made paid off.”

The Reynolds continue to utilise tourism as a supplement to farming, and they have a strong focus on making succession farming work. In doing so, they value the ideas, input and support provided by experts and friends outside of the family circle, including Rev John Dihm, a Frontier Services Patrol Minister.

Brendan and Carmel are also fortunate to have two children interested in taking over the Willow Springs property. Michelle has taken an interest in the tourism side of the business, while Christopher has been keen to work the property from a young age, hoping to own it himself some day. Both children have undertaken training and study to equip themselves for these roles. But Carmel is prepared for future uncertainties – including the possibility that the children may decide they do not want to manage the farm.

“We must move with the times,” she says practically. “What once was a prime wool-growing, easy to manage, low running cost, grazing property now lends itself to a much more profitable tourism enterprise.

“Years ago you could have handed it to any successor, but with static commodity prices, rising costs and skilled labour shortages, this property is not viable without supplement tourist income.

“We are fortunate to be in a prime tourist location and have a daughter who is passionate and capable of keeping the business growing.”

Frontier Services provides a quiet, consistent support to this family as they continue to explore issues of family succession and farming.

Frontier Services Patrol Minister, Rev John Dihm has been visiting the family for years, and is referred to as an important family friend by Carmel Reynolds.

The Reynolds family is just one of those supported by the work of Frontier Services, with Patrol Ministers across Australia working to become part of the fabric of the remote communities they serve.

Frontier Services is a charity and national organisation of the Uniting Church in Australia, providing care, health, family and community services, and pastoral support to remote communities. To find out more about Frontier Services and Patrol Ministry, please call 1300 787 247 or visit frontierservices.com.au

The needs of the hour Rev Paul Turley

Earlier this year, I urged New Times readers to consider a question John Wesley used to ask his small congregations when he visited them: what is the Spirit of God doing? This question was the first of two he asked in these circumstances. In this article, I’d like to explore the second question he posed: how shall we meet the needs of this hour?

While Christ is “the same yesterday, today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8), the world in which Christ’s body, the Church, operates is constantly changing. We live in a specific moment, a particular hour.

What time is it? That’s hard to assess. It is much easier to look back on an era in history and see what has influenced it, what Christian educator C. Ellis Nelson used to call “the spell an age is under.” It is much harder to understand our own particular moment in time, as we’re living it.

And yet, this is our work, to understand the ‘spell’ our age is under.

How do we do this? We have to talk more. There is nothing else for it.

We are that kind of church. It’s built into our DNA. We are ‘inter-related councils.’

But what should we talk about? Less, I think, about our structures – the relationship between our Presbytery and our Synod, the question of whether mission networks are working or should be abandoned, eldership within the Uniting Church, and similar issues. More, I think, about what we and our sisters and brothers, here and across the world, are experiencing, and more about how our tradition and scriptures Return to Contents

speak into that.

Many in our church, especially in leadership, are making connections between the Church and experiences of current events.

This has been particularly evident around issues relating to the inhumane treatment of asylum seekers and refugees who have arrived in Australia by boat.

However, this element seems to be missing from many Uniting Church services. Attending worship services after Australian elections and changes of government, I have often been disappointed to find no mention of the event, no prayer shared on the topic – not even a prayer of gratitude for the lack of violence accompanied by the election, something that is still rare in many countries. This lack of connection between the Church and life is something I find disconcerting, and I can’t help questioning this way of being.

What if our buildings, scattered as they are across the state, became known as places where the great and lesser issues of our day are enthusiastically engaged, places where revolution is fermented, where our leaders and opinion-makers are regularly called to account, where ordinary people can shape a more humane way of living? What if our worship events were to grow organically out of our responses to our experience of the world in all its horror and glory?

What if?

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You are invited TO JOIN US IN CELEBRATING THE 60th Anniversary of the Adare Camp & Caravan Park WHEN: Sunday 12th October 2014 WHERE: 20 Wattle Drive, McCracken Victor Harbor 2.30pm Worship Service 3.30pm Afternoon Tea RSVP by Monday 6th October to (08) 8552 1657 or adare@unitingvenuessa.org.au

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Salisbury Uniting Church The congregation at Salisbury Uniting Church aim to live and share the good news of Jesus by interacting with the community and transforming lives. Those in leadership positions forward this aim as they seek to cultivate a healthy church environment.

The origins of Salisbury Uniting Church can be traced to the ‘missional’ Wesleyans of Blacktop Road who established the Chapel Street Methodist Church in Salisbury in 1958.

The current church building, on the corner of Park Terrace and Brown Terrace, was built in 1960 in order to meet the needs of the growing church community.

Every Sunday, approximately 110 people gather across the 9am family service and 11am hymn service. Although the congregation does not have a formal Sunday School, a ‘Family Chat’ aimed at children forms part of each service, and craft activities are provided to entertain children during the sermon. This exciting new initiative allows children to observe adults during worship while participating in activities, and has been eagerly welcomed by parents visiting with children. The Salisbury congregation places emphasis on participation in worship, and lay leadership is a key element of every service.

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In addition to regular Sunday services, Salisbury offers ‘Friday Night Church’ once a month. Approximately 30-40 people attend to share stories, worship, and encourage one another in an informal, relaxed setting.

The Salisbury leadership team hopes to better incorporate the work of their ‘Uniting in Care – Salisbury’ ministry into the life and mission of the whole congregation. This ministry provides food parcels, emergency funds, school breakfasts, lunches and a community visitor program, all of which provide much-needed care to the wider community. Other ministry areas include a remote control cars group, ‘Cafe on Park,’ and Adult Fellowship Packing Days. Within the congregation there are a number of growth opportunities available through fellowship, study and care groups.

Salisbury Uniting Church hosts Philippine, Matu Burmese, Romanian and Spanish congregations in their building. The 4th South Australia Salisbury Boys Brigade Company, TAFE (Technical and Further Education) SA, and Alcoholics Anonymous regularly use the property, as do community groups dedicated to crafts, calisthenics and sewing. The congregation also connects with community

through outdoor events such as Carols on the Lawn, Frontier Services BBQ, Pancake Day, Easter dawn services, a fete organised

by Uniting in Care – Salisbury, and sausage sizzles.

A Building Revitalisation Team, together with the Salisbury Church Council, is currently planning renovations to the rambling church building, which has been looking rather tired. The congregation hopes that these changes will provide an open and welcoming environment for newcomers.

The aim is to provide a facility that is updated and attractive, inside and out, and which encourages people to pause and sojourn. The congregation realises that this is a challenge, especially given limited finances and the ageing Salisbury community, which has high and rising unemployment levels. There is wide acknowledgement that a renewed church building is only one part of the change required of the Salisbury Uniting Church congregation as they seek to live out their faith in Jesus.

g e t t i n g t o k n o w. . .

Midlands Congregation (Saddleworth Uniting Church) The Midlands Congregation, which was formed in 1963, consists of three worship centres. These rural towns and districts are Auburn, Riverton and Saddleworth, and are situated in the Clare and Gilbert Valleys in the Mid-North of South Australia.

The Methodist Church presence has been in the area since approximately the mid 1850s. While church was once a focal point of daily life for people living in towns and settlements in the area, many of the church buildings have since been closed, sold, demolished or left in ruins. As farms have been sold in recent times, the general population has declined across much of the region. At present, the three Midlands Congregation church buildings are used regularly.

Sunday morning services are rotated between the three centres of Auburn, Riverton and Saddleworth. By spreading worship across these towns, the Midlands Church Council hopes to continue to have a spiritual presence in each location. After worship, a morning tea is held, providing a time of fellowship and strengthening ‘church family’ bonds.

Emphasis is placed on a feeling of care and support for one another.

Approximately 20 people attend Midlands Congregation services each Sunday.

Peter Lane is the pastor for the Midlands Congregation, and further worship leadership is sometimes provided by members of the congregation or by people from the Balaklava and Clare Uniting Church congregations. Brenda Supple and pianist Nell Bellman provide music at each service, while other dedicated members organise communion and the monthly newsletter.

On the fifth Sunday of every month, the Midlands Congregation gathers at Riverton Uniting Church, where they are joined by members of Tarlee Uniting Church and the local Lutheran parish.

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Other denominations also choose to attend on some occasions. The leadership of these ecumenical, shared services alternates between the Uniting and Lutheran denominations.

The Midlands Congregation recently sold the church building at Manoora and the manse at Riverton, enabling them to renovate the remaining church buildings. Renovations have included modern kitchen facilities and creating a smaller worship space at Riverton. The morning tea room at Saddleworth was freshly carpeted and re-roofed.

Small, ad hoc maintenance work is carried out by members of the Midlands Congregation.

The Midlands Congregation has recently endeavoured to open their properties for use by the wider community. Until recently, the Auburn hall was regularly utilised by a mental health support group. The hall at Riverton has been leased and is being used as a gym. At Saddleworth, a group of women meet for a weekly quilting session, and the hall is used for ‘social afternoons’ on the first Sunday of each month.

Members of the Midlands Congregation regularly volunteer their time at their op shop, which is located in Riverton. While running the shop requires a lot of hard work, the affordable goods on offer have proven to be very beneficial to the wider community.

Peter Lane and the Midlands Congregation Secretary, Bev de Vries, represent the Uniting Church at the bi-monthly meetings of the Gilbert Valley Inter-Church Council, joining the local Anglican, Baptist, Catholic and Lutheran representatives. Together they organise a number of services and events for local churches and the wider community. The Council is also involved in supporting two Christian Pastoral Support Workers (CPSWs) in the local community through the Schools Ministry Group. In addition to their roles across four schools in the area, the CPSWs regularly assist in worship leading during the Riverton ecumenical services every fifth Sunday.

Some years ago, local churches joined together to hold ‘Pub Church’ in hotels in the district. In more recent times, this has changed to ‘Club Church,’ which is held at sporting clubrooms throughout the area.

These services are supported by various sporting bodies, and have been very successful. Each event is a time of fellowship and worship, attracting a wide variety of guest speakers ,and allowing time for a freewill offering. Funds raised are donated to various charities and also go towards supporting the two CPSWs. The diminishing number of young people who choose to remain in the district has seen the Midlands Congregation grow older and diminish in size. However, they remain a very active force in the local community.

Together, the members of the Midlands Congregation hope to live out their vision: “We believe that the Good News about Jesus Christ mirrors God’s love, gives answers to the needs of today’s world, and provides a spiritual home through care and love for us all.”

They seek to carry this out by sharing their gifts and talents, and sharing the message of God with the wider community.

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letters to the editor

No viable alternative, no protest

I spoke to Editor Catherine Hoffman recently and we had a very constructive conversation about her editorial in the June New Times.

My contention was that, while peaceful protest was quite justifiable, it was a bit pointless, and indeed selfish, unless some positive alternative could be proposed to the situation one was protesting about.

Subsequent articles in recent editions of New Times and a pastoral note from our Moderator, Dr. Deidre Palmer, have further focussed attention on the issue of peaceful protests, particularly around asylum seeker policy.

The dilemma with the asylum seeker debate is that no one has a constructive alternative to put to the Government (or the Opposition).

Anything that makes Australia more welcoming, sadly, makes the awful people smuggling trade more attractive. No Australian Parliament will tolerate having people (1,200) drown at sea and not take some action to at least discourage the obscene trade that caused the tragedy.

As you would expect, I have discussed this dilemma with the Moderator and the President, and they do not pretend to have a ready alternative either. Both of them understandably insist that they would like to see children out of detention.

So, I discovered, would Minister Morrison. In less than 12 months, his stewardship has seen a reduction in children in detention from more than 1,300 to presently 849. Christmas Island has seen a reduction from 425 to 153 over the same time. If there was a time for peaceful protests, it was in July last year when 1,992 children were in detention.

Our history starkly shows that separating children from a family or culture with which they are familiar is never ideal. We cannot hope to get back to no children in detention, however, unless we actively discourage the criminal practice of people smuggling. There are no comfortable solutions to this quandary – making it ‘better’ only fosters the enthusiasm to come. One step that can be taken, and would be much more productive than peaceful protests, would be to publicly lobby for an increase in the number of UNHCR selected refugees chosen to come here. This advocacy may not be immediately popular but it would be constructive and achievable.

Mercifully, Australia welcomes approximately 3,000 ‘new’ Australians every week, and about 400 of these are UNHCR refugees.

This has always been a largely bipartisan exercise and the Parliament is anxious to ensure that immigration occurs at a rate at which people can be ‘assimilated.’ A healthy immigration programme is essential for our future prosperity and is the least we, as a nation, can do to meet our international responsibilities. Incidentally, thanks to successive Governments, I’m told Australia has one of the best resettlement rates in the world – trailing only America and Canada.

In common with all other Australians, Parliamentarians actually worry about the legacy they will leave their children and grandchildren.

Their choices invariably involve ‘shades of grey.’ When government and opposition share the same approach to a difficult issue you can be sure

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that realistic alternatives are few and far between.

Which begs the question: “What are our protests (preferably peaceful ones) likely to achieve?” If we do not have a viable alternative to offer, wouldn’t we be better advised to protest about something that was more distinctly a choice between good and not-so-good, and where the Government was acting in a way that could be reversed? An example of this would be to criticise the pruning of the International Aid budget, a cut I did not foresee when the possibility was discussed at Synod. If we are to have a balanced National Budget, shouldn’t the Church be calling for an increase in, say, fuel tax, in place of a squeeze on Australian Aid and a consequent reduction in our capacity to meet the Millennium Development Goals? This would be a peaceful protest which might actually result in a policy change that would be in the national interest in the long term.

N. Andrew Gilberton

Climate change comment

G. Elford, New Times April 2014, reminds us of well-documented effects on the earth’s climate of continued burning of fossil fuels. Surely it follows that we should do all we can to reverse these trends. One of UC Invest’s funds (the Share Market Equity Fund, comprising church money to the value of about $50 million) derives thousands of dollars each year from its investments in companies whose business it is to produce and sell fossil fuels. These companies include BHP, Rio, Santos and Woodside. This income is used for various church programmes.

Do the ends justify the means? I don’t think so, especially when there are alternative companies in which we could invest, and which meet more stringent humanitarian and environmental standards.

V. Cook Blackwood Send your letters to: newtimes@sa.uca.org.au or PO Box 2145, Adelaide 5001.

Be topical, be brief, be timely.

Letters over 150 words will be edited; responses to previous letters /articles will be considered within two months of the original item’s publication only.

All letters are published at the editorial team’s discretion.

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diary ECUMENICAL BOOK EVENT. The South Australian Council of Churches will present “Pilgrims of Hope: an ecumenical journey 1980-2010

by Raymond K. Williamson” on Tuesday 9 September, 12.15pm-2pm, at their office at 65 Flinders St, Adelaide. Rev Dr Raymond Williamson served as General Secretary of the NSW Ecumenical Council for 21 years.

This book provides an account of the ecumenical endeavours of churches in Australia over the past three decades. BYO lunch. Tea/coffee available.

Gold coin donation invited. For more information, or to register, please contact Geraldine Hawkes on sacc@picknowl.com.au or 8215 0300.

ANNIVERSARY SERVICE. At 11am on Sunday 14 September, Port Germein Community Church (Uniting Church) will hold a service to celebrate its 133rd anniversary. The service will be led by Rev Lindsay Faulkner and will be followed by a pooled lunch in the church hall. All welcome.

SILENT RETREAT DAY. The Australian Christian Meditation Community SA is holding a Silent Retreat Day on Saturday 20 September, 11am4pm, at St Ignatius Church Hall (Queen St, Norwood). The retreat will be led by Rev Gary Stuckey, Director of Stillpoint Spirituality Centre.

The theme for the day will be “Glimpses of Glory – Transfigured by Christ.” Please bring your own lunch (not for sharing). Donation: $15. Contact Bev on 0407 392 809 for further information.

GREAT OUTBACK BBQ at The Corner Uniting Church (93 Oaklands Rd, Warradale). Join us for a fun lunch to raise funds for Frontier Services. Sunday 21 September, 12noon. $5 for BBQ lunch and ice cream. RSVP to 8350 5400 or visit thecorner.org.au CENTENARY EVENT. Burra Uniting Church will hold an event celebrating 100 years since the establishment of the church building. The event will be held at Burra Uniting Church on Sunday 21 September at 11am. The special service will be followed by a provided luncheon.

The event is open to all in the Burra community and the Uniting Church. If planning to attend, please contact John Arthur by Sunday 7 September on jande.arthur@bigpond.com For further information, please contact Don Lloyd on 8892 2325 or Brian Thamm on 8892 2294.

STATE MISSION FELLOWSHIP. Tuesday 23 September, 10.30 am, at Scots Church, North Tce. Programme: TACL (Training Aboriginal Christian Leaders) with Gowan Armstrong and Nelson Varcoe. Come early for morning tea and stay for lunch, all $5.

JESUS @ A THIN PLACE. A contemplative, experiential worship space built around stations and multimedia. Sunday 28 September, 5.30-6.30pm, at The Corner Uniting Church (93 Oaklands Rd, Warradale). For more information, please visit thecorner.org.au SMALL GRANT OPPORTUNITIES. Jubilee 150 Trust, Australian Church Women SA Inc., offers small grants for women seeking training or to purchase equipment for training. Christian church bodies and leaders may apply by Tuesday 30 September. Cheques will be presented in November.

All enquiries and brochure requests can be directed to the Jubilee 150 Trust Convener Coralie Wright on 8258 3580 or wrightcoralie795@gmail.com MISSION AT THE MARGINS. The Uniting Church SA Historical Society, in association with the Australian Association of Mission Studies conference, will launch the publication “Mission at the Margins” on Thursday 2 October.

The event will be held at Tabor College (Mitchell St, Millswood) at 4pm.

TRIENNIAL CONFERENCE. The Australian Association for Mission Studies Triennial Conference will be held at Tabor Adelaide from Thursday 2 to Sunday 5 October. As part of the conference, Dr Ash Barker will present (via a pre-recorded message) the inaugural Ross Langmead Lecture for Urban Mission on Friday 3 October, 7pm, at Pilgrim Uniting Church (12 Flinders St, Adelaide). A gold coin donation is requested. Dr Ash Barker was

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the founding director of Urban Neighbours of Hope, completed his PhD addressing a Christian response to the rise of slums, has authored six books including “Make Poverty Personal,” is on the staff of Springdale College in Birmingham, and is currently Convener of the International Society for Urban Mission. For more information, please visit taboradelaide.edu.au or contact David Turnbull on 8373 8775 or dturnbull@adelaide.tabor.edu.au ROUNDABOUT CRAFT FAIR AND EXHIBITION. Friday 17 and Saturday 18 October, 10am-4pm. Some features include an art and craft exhibition, local traders’ market, raffle, community café provides refreshments & light lunches. Hosted by Blackwood Uniting Church (266 Main Rd, Blackwood). For information contact Jacqui on comprog@blackwood.unitingchurchsa.org.au or 8278 2699.

ANNUAL CRAFT FAIR. Payneham Road Uniting Church (corner of Portrush and Payneham Rds) on Saturday 18 October, 9am-1pm.

The fair will feature a variety of local and handcrafted gifts, crafts, face painting, morning tea, BBQ, and plants. Parking available off Broad St, Marden. Come and buy your early Christmas gifts!

QUIZ NIGHT. My Sister’s Scarf, a new start up not-for-profit organisation will hold a fundraising quiz night to support girls and women affected by human trafficking. Tickets are $10 per person for tables of ten. The event is hosted by Adelaide West Uniting Church and will be held on Saturday 8 November, 2014 at 7pm for a 7.30pm start. Visit mysistersscarf.org.au for more information.

JUBILEE CELEBRATION. Sixteen people were ordained into ministry in the Congregational, Methodist and Presbyterian Churches of South Australia 50 years ago. To mark this occasion, a jubilee celebration service will be held from 3pm on Sunday 9 November at Kent Town (Wesley) Uniting Church (27 Grenfell St, Kent Town). Several of the ordinands celebrating 50 years will attend the event, while others who have passed on will be recognised. An invitation is extended to the family and friends of all of the ordinands, and to all people in the wider Uniting Church community. For more information about the event, please contact Rev Lindsay Faulkner on 8365 5664 or 0417 537 010, or email nessiefaulkner@bigpond.com To have your upcoming event or message published here, email diary@sa.uca.org.au with ‘Diary’ in the subject line.

classifieds RESTORE your phonographic records or tapes to near original quality & preserve them on CD Restore your faded 35mm slides to bright colour and preserve them on DVD. Ask us about VHS or MiniDV video tape & 8mm film to DVD conversion, SA MEDIAWORKS, Kent Town SA Ph: 8362 2251 samediaworks@soundtrack.net.au HOLIDAY APARTMENT. “By The Sea” self-catered, furnished, 3 br ground floor apartment on the Esplanade at Encounter Bay; Victor Harbor. a/c and nicely appointed. Relax with views to Granite and Wright Islands and watch the waves roll in. $170pn (min 2 nights) or $650 p.w.—see Dodd and Page website for photos and more details Ph Kerry @ Dodd and Page 8554 2029 or email kerry@doddandpage.com.au URANIA UNITING CHURCH CELEBRATES 130 YEARS 26 OCTOBER AT 10.45AM. Inviting all past members and descendants.If you would like to join us for luncheon at the Port Victoria Hotel, please contact Phil on 0412 084 303. Guest speaker Mr Neil Andrew.

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magazine

Danica Patselis, Dr. Deidre Palmer, Chris Headland, Dr. Lynn Arnold and Max Howland at Hope Valley Uniting Church.

Living life to the fullest The Leaving Your Mark on Tomorrow conference was held at Hope Valley Uniting Church on Saturday 26 July. The conference, under the auspice of Seniors Ministry at Hope Valley, provided the opportunity for attendees to hear from a range of speakers, all of whom encouraged them to continue to use their God-given skills, attributes and wisdom to continue contributing to church and community as they grow older.

Forgoing their usual Saturday morning sleep-in gave the indication that the 135 people who attended wanted to be there and were keen to see what this conference had to offer.

Dr Lynn Arnold, a former State Premier and current deacon at St Peter’s Cathedral, gave the keynote address on the topic of “Turning the Journey of Life into a Pilgrimage.” Lynn shared experiences from his life journey, focussing on being open to God speaking into his life and his belief that God will continue to sustain him through life’s uncertainties. Lynn encouraged attendees to recognise their own abilities, and to develop these. He emphasised the importance of being lifelong learners, always open to new opportunities.

Uniting Church SA Moderator Dr Deidre Palmer explored how Jesus’ message about abundant life (John 10:10) applies to all generations, exhorting all present to use their gifts. She also

emphasised that discipleship is a lifelong journey, and encouraged attendees to rediscover things that inspire them.

Rev Dr Dean Brookes shared his passion for mentoring, which he believes provides opportunities to share wisdom and support, empowering others in their own journeys. While he suggests that anyone can intentionally mentor, he states that people need to look out for opportunities to do so.

Lynne Taylor spoke on the topic of ageing well, and shared her thoughts on coping with loss, both physical and emotional, and how individuals can best deal with these situations.

Other speakers included Dr Robert Penhall, a geriatrician, and Rev Kingsley Congdon, a chaplain at Resthaven. Robert spoke about maintaining a healthy lifestyle, an active mind and body, and the need to eat healthily and pursue active interests that can change as people age. Kingsley reminded attendees to continue being grounded in God’s word as we age and how this sustains us.

An interview with Rev Dr Tony Nancarrow provided insight into preparing for retirement, as he detailed his own experiences of using his gifts during the transitional phase between work and retirement.

Other highlights included musical items, and a performance by Subtle Bricks, a Uniting Church dramatic arts group, who provided a few humorous explorations of ageing.

The goal of this conference was to encourage participants to live life well and to celebrate the gift of years. The organisers hoped that those who attended would leave the conference feeling confident that they have gifts and abilities that can be used by God – not only in the church community, but also in the wider community. Attendees were left with thoughts to ponder and reflect on, in addition to practical steps for considering how to share wisdom, continue life’s journey, and to live life well. No matter what your age, life is to be lived fully – everyone has something they can contribute to community. As Nelson Mandela wisely said: “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others.”

Christian venues award On Wednesday 30 July, Mark Lee, General Manager of Uniting Venues SA, was acknowledged by peers at an award ceremony, which was held as part of the Christian Venues Association’s bi-annual conference in New South Wales. The five-day gathering attracted 377 participants from 230 member campsites.

At the ceremony, Mark was presented with the Spirit of Sharing Award. The judges acknowledged Mark’s transparent leadership and his willingness to roll up his sleeves to get the work done. They also noted the positive improvements Mark has made to the financial performance of the Uniting Venues campsites and conference centres.

The Uniting Church in South Australia congratulates Mark, and give thanks for his effective leadership and vital contribution to Uniting Venues SA.

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reviews

United in a search for freedom Film: Freedom Rating: M Directed by: Peter Cousens Recommended for: people interested in how acceptable ideas of human behaviour have changed In short: Two men living 100 years apart deal with issues of slavery and survival.

Freedom, the first film to be directed by Australian singer-turnedproducer Peter Cousens, was released by Queensland-based Heritage Films on Thursday 21 August. Shot entirely in the United States of America, the film represents a bold venture for independent filmmakers.

The film tells the stories of John Newton (played by Bernhard Forcher) and Samuel Woodward (Cuba Gooding Jr, pictured), two

men living a century apart, but dealing with similar issues concerning slavery and freedom. The 100-year separation of the two men allows Cousens to explore different experiences of acceptable human behaviour across generations.

Newton’s story takes place in 1748, focussing on his experience as the captain of a slave vessel. The film sees Newton sail from Africa with a cargo of slaves (including Woodward’s great-grandfather) as he undertakes a voyage that will change his life forever. The story of this journey will be familiar to some viewers – it was the inspiration for the hymn “Amazing Grace,” which Newton wrote with his wife, Mary (Anna Sims). The words to this song are featured heavily throughout the course of the film, and would serve to inspire many people, including Woodward.

In 1856, after a bold escape from a plantation in Virginia, Woodward and his family begin a dangerous journey to Canada. The family is aided in this endeavour by a secret network of ordinary people known as the “Underground Railroad.” Woodward is relentlessly pursued by the notorious slave hunter Plimpton (William Sadler). Hunted like a dog, and haunted by the unthinkable suffering he and his forbears have endured, Woodward is forced to decide between revenge and freedom.

The careful, necessary depiction of the brutal treatment of slaves makes Freedom confronting to watch at times. However, the director skilfully weaves drama, comedy and a fantastic musical score to make a captivating film.

For more information, please visit themoviefreedom.com Allan Gibson

A river runs through Loxton

A musical visitor

The town of Loxton has celebrated Mardi Gras with a float procession for 57 years. Earlier this year, the Loxton Ministers Association of Christian Churches and Bible Society combined to create a float titled “Tap into the River of Life,” which featured water flowing from a giant tap.

Approximately 80 people, including members of Loxton Uniting Church, gathered to take part in the Christian float, all sporting bright royal blue printed T-Shirts while distributing bottles of Thankyou brand water. The purchase of both the water and the blue t-shirts went towards helping people in need around the world. Brochures inviting others to learn more about Jesus and visit local churches were also handed out to the crowd.

Through their presence in the parade, local Christians witnessed to the crowd, working in unity to communicate the idea that God’s love is like a river of living water (John 4:14).

To find out more about Loxton Uniting Church, please call 8584 6099.

As custodian of South Australia’s largest pipe organ, Pilgrim Uniting Church, in the heart of Adelaide, annually sponsors the visit of an internationally acclaimed organist. These visitors participate in a service at Pilgrim, and perform a Sunday afternoon concert.

This September, Pilgrim has the great privilege to host Prof Daniel Roth, one of France’s most respected interpreters of organ music.

Daniel is an unparalleled improviser, and is organist at the church of Saint-Sulpice, Paris, home to one of the most significant instruments in all of Europe. This is an amazing opportunity to hear one of Europe’s leading organ virtuosos.

Prof Daniel Roth will be participating in a service on Sunday 21 September, 11am, at Pilgrim Uniting Church (12 Flinders St, Adelaide), and will perform a solo concert at 2.30pm on the same day. Concert admission is $20 at the door. For more information, please email office@pilgrim.org.au or call 8212 3295.

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ministry centres

Left: In 2014, KCO evening entertainment included music from a mixture of churches. Right: Much loved tribal games at SAYCO in 2013.

Uniting Church Events – KCO and SAYCO In recent months, New Times has covered the work of the Uniting Church SA ministry centres. Last month, we explored the work of mission centres, which form a part of Mission Resourcing. This month, we continue exploring Mission Resourcing with a focus on Uniting Church Events.

As part of the Uniting Young People team within Mission Resourcing, Jo Lohmeyer coordinates KCO (KUCA [Kids of the Uniting Church in Australia] Camp Out) and SAYCO (South Australian Youth Camp Out).

Catherine Hoffman spoke to Jo about her work, her valued volunteer teams, and what’s in store for the upcoming SAYCO event.

Coordinating huge annual camps for children and youth from the Uniting Church in South Australia, and beyond, is an immense task for KCO and SAYCO Event Officer Jo Lohmeyer. But, when asked, she is able to sum up the central part of her role succinctly: “My job is to coordinate fantastic events for the kingdom of God.” Both events have a long history in the Uniting Church in South Australia – KCO catering to children aged seven to 12, and SAYCO hosting youth between the ages of 12 and 17. Each of these camps provides young people with a chance to engage in community and strengthen their faith.

“These events give kids and youth time in God’s creation outside their normal, busy lives – time outside of their regular routine – to really get to know God,” Jo explains.

“Each year we have a unique theme, and we include different activities,” she continues. “We retain some of the familiar, popular elements each year, but having a different theme helps to keep the events fresh and exciting.”

At present, Jo is busily organising SAYCO 2014, assisted by the many wonderful volunteers who take part in organising the event each year.

Volunteers are a vital part of organising both SAYCO and KCO events, and are involved in a wide variety of organisational elements – from the

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event programme to logistics, worship to catering.

The upcoming SAYCO event will take place at Woodcroft College over the October long weekend (Saturday 4 to Monday 6 October), and will attract a large number of teens from Uniting Church congregations and faith communities across the state.

“Through this year’s theme, ‘More to This Life,’ we hope to encourage young people to explore their faith, grow their leadership and discipleship skills, and strengthen their relationships with other young Christians.

“We’re really excited about what we’ve got to offer this year – the inspiring Dave Shepherd is our guest speaker, and we’ve got some new things lined up for our popular ‘Carnival’ activities,” says Jo. “We offer workshops each year, which allow campers to choose something they would like to learn more about or an activity they’d like to do. This year, we’re changing that up a bit by adding the ‘Big 4’ workshops, which will each be led by a big-name speaker. We think these are going to be a great addition.”

There are a number of ways in which people in the wider Uniting Church community can get involved in KCO and SAYCO – attending as a camper or leader, volunteering to be on one of the camp teams, sponsoring a young person to attend, or praying for the event.

“We’re really encouraged by the level of engagement we get from our congregations and faith communities,” Jo smiles. “I urge anyone with an interest in getting involved to contact me.”

SAYCO will take place at Woodcroft College from Saturday 4 to Monday 6 October 2014. To find out more, please visit sa.uca.org.au/ sayco For more information about KCO, please visit sa.uca.org.au/kco Further questions should be directed to the KCO and SAYCO Event Officer on 8236 4246, or by emailing kco@sa.uca.org.au or sayco@sa.uca.org.au

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