New Times - October 2009

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12 month term investments

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Issue 28, No 9 October 2009 www.sa.uca.org.au/newtimes

24 month term investments

Real people, real issues, real action

Loving God and the planet

The Uniting Church’s concern with Aged Care p. 4

Green & the Gospel liftout p. 5-10

Open a 12 or 24 month term investment with UC Invest and, for a limited time, you’ll have these two very tempting rates to choose from. With these rates we understand it could be a difficult decision.

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This advertised offer is available from 1 October 2009 and is subject to change or withdrawal without notice. The minimum investment is $500. Interest is calculated daily and paid six monthly from the date of lodgement. UC Invest is an activity of The Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (S.A.) ABN 25 068 897 781. Neither UC Invest nor the Uniting Church SA are supervised by the Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority (APRA). Investments lodged with UC Invest are not protected by the provisions of the Banking Act 1959. UC Invest is designed for investors who wish to promote the charitable purposes of the Uniting Church SA.

PP 565 001/00190 ISSN 0726-2612

When you invest with UC Invest, you’re also supporting the Uniting Church SA, just by simply investing.

This little light of mine

Shining the green light of the Gospel

News

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New Times

Yes I’m a tree-hugger My name’s Caryn Rogers and I’m a tree-hugger.

Yes, I confess to actually hugging trees on occasion. And if it was ok for Anne of Green Gables to do it, I hope you’ll afford the same exception for my eccentricity.

I was brought up with an appreciation for the environment. I remember being grilled on the scientific names of trees as we’d jaunt through the botanic gardens for a ‘fun’ family outing. We’d also often spend time as children planting trees around our suburb, following carefully in Dad’s green thumbprints.

There are a great many trees around my old neighbourhood that testify to my childhood plantings, but there are a great many more that have been uprooted to make room for more houses, or because new home owners haven’t appreciated the aesthetics of the trees planted in their proximities.

The quiet whispers of the green movement that were circulating when I was a youngster, have grown louder – with passion and anti-passion from both greenies, antigreenies, and the environment itself.

Creation has a voice, and that voice is groaning, with plants that can’t grow back, land that won’t yield crops,

water levels that can’t regulate and temperatures that are unable to stabilise. While we legitimise our compulsively energy-hungry behaviours, creation continues to groan.

And we too groan with it – in sympathy and in longing for our own rebirth.

Yes, I’m a greenie. A save the whale, club soda not seals, tree-hugging greenie. But I’m a tired greenie because I don’t know how we can ever fix the earth - and I really, really want to.

The mixed messages about how to make an impact are everywhere. Save water, turn off the lights, don’t eat meat, use biofuel et cetera, et cetera, et al. But when I save water in a front-loading washing machine it’s likely to use more electricity. Though I don’t eat meat I wear leather shoes to minimise the pairs needed for longevity. And the confusion over biofuels still has my own brain’s jury out in a long, heated discussion.

As much as I love the planet, I’m confused. Thank goodness for scientists and other learned people who are processing the complexities and attempting to push us forward.

So what do I do in the mean time?

I do what I can – to the best of my knowledge and passions.

I groan with Creation

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 sa.uca.org.au/newtimes. Articles and advertising do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editor.

Editor

Caryn Rogers 8236 4230 crogers@sa.uca.org.au

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while I cut back on all of my consumptions. We need to be cautious, conservative consumers and we need to be active in combatting the issues. We have a lot of power to do good or evil, greenwise, here in Australia. And we have a responsibility to do so, for ourselves, and for the impoverished majority world’s, sake.

As one of my favourite bands, The Flaming Lips, asks: With all your power what would you do?

My hope is that in this Green & the Gospel edition of New Times, you’d find yourself wanting to make a difference too – thanks to some stirring and practical ideas from a host of Christians attempting to make changes within their own spheres.

Attempting to downsize my carbon footprint, Caryn Rogers

Bronze for New Times!

At the recent Australasian Religious Press Awards for 2008, New Times was awarded the Bronze Award for ‘Most Improved’ Publication.

Congratulations to the editor at the time, Jill Freear, PR & Communications Manager Shannon Short and Communications Project Officer Sarah Urmston.

Russell Baker 8361 6822 advertise.newtimes@sa.uca.org.au

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Alex McGrath 8236 4242 amcgrath@sa.uca.org.au

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Balance & complexity Rod Dyson Recently I attended a training day that focused on systems in ministry. To introduce their idea the presenter asked everyone to prepare a flow chart of all the things that we do between waking up and arriving at work. Just that short time frame was amazingly complex.

The Apostle Paul says, “We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labour pains until now; and not only the creation but we ourselves...”

(Romans 8.22f) We do not have to look very far to see that the renewal of Creation is still far from complete.

One of the steps in my flow chart is a visit to the back garden.

To my way of thinking, Creation itself is an insight into the love of God. All of it matters to God and being made in the image of God, and being God’s children, means it will matter to us too. we are called to tend and care for it As God so lovingly put it together.

Each morning I wonder at the sheer beauty of my simple garden. I’m growing asparagus for the first time and that is a bit of a mystery. The snow peas and the sweet peas change even overnight. And the Iceland poppies always astound me.

There are also chillies, broccoli, silver beet, spinach and various herbs. I am one of those funny people who grow flowers and vegies all mixed up.

I make this little pilgrimage each day because it is good for my soul. It fills me with joy and helps me to put things in context for the day. As human beings we are certainly top of the pile but we are also part of it. I am nourished by the complexity of God’s world and nourished much more when there is some balance in it.

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Courtesy of iStockphoto.com: Cover gilleslougassi; ozgurdonmaz Page five caracterdesign

OCTOBER 2009

Some people read Genesis as a licence to plunder but, for me, the words ‘tend’ and ‘care’ seem more in keeping with the character of God. This approach might also be a lot more fruitful in the long run.

Next issue: Uniting Church. Uniting People.

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Editorial and Advertising Deadlines for November

I am not engaging in the climate change debate. I am saying that some of the beautiful ‘systems’ in our world are reaching the point of death.

Indeed some of the gifts of God in creation have been lost forever. The effect of this on some of our communities, such as the Riverland and the lower lakes, is heart breaking.

To advertise in New Times: contact Russell Baker

p. 8361 6822 f. 8361 6833 e. advertise.newtimes@sa.uca.org.au

News

New Times

3

This is our story National Chairperson of Congress, Ken Sumner (kneeling front and centre), leading a prayer to close the 12th Assembly. Significant reconciling steps were made at this Assembly through accepting proposed changes to the Preamble of the Uniting Church’s Constitution, now moving it to the next stage of process – the Presbyteries and Synods. The new Preamble is one of the core business items on the agenda for the next Presbytery and Synod meeting on 29-31 October with a final decision made at our first meeting in 2010.

Caryn Rogers Not all of us get excited about the words ‘preamble’ or ‘constitution’ – but these words are having a necessary renaissance this Presbytery and Synod meeting, 29-31 October at Adelaide West Uniting Church.

One of the major items of business resolved by the 12th Assembly, passed on Monday 20 July 2009, after much debate, was the controversial proposed changes to the Preamble of the Constitution. Now it’s up to Synods and Presbyteries to decide whether they support these proposed changes, as is their constitutional right.

If you weren’t aware, our Church has a constitution and that constitution has a preamble. While preambles aren’t legally binding, they do speak of identity, how a group reached the point of forming a constitution and, importantly, their core values.

In short, this means that the Preamble is very important. It explains who we are, why we exist and how we came into being.

The changes to the Preamble, proposed by the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC), takes the Uniting Church covenant between Indigenous and non- Indigenous members to another level. Effectively re-writing our history as a Church, it tells the truth, acknowledging our complicity in the subjugation of Indigenous peoples, understanding that there are a First and Second People of Australia.

It also places the Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islander people at the centre of our

denomination’s life and witness.

The joining of the Methodist, Presbyterian and Congregational Churches in 1977 is a vital part of our identity, but it is only part of our identity. With Congress, we begin to journey forwards as a whole Church.

“This is a covenant; it’s about two groups seeking the way forward together,” commented Moderator, Rev Rod Dyson, shortly after Assembly had accepted the changes.

This proposal is part of our openness to the Holy Spirit to help the church become who God wants us to be.

“The Preamble is very much Congress’ story – the great tragedy and sadness of what’s happened to them,” Rod continues. We need to deal with the past before we can move into the future with wholeness.

As these Preamble changes affect our core framework significantly, it’s critical that we’re aware of why the changes were called for, and some of the challenges that we face as the Church trying to genuinely covenant together.

“The Preamble is our story as First Peoples,” says Rev Ken Sumner, National Chairperson of the UAICC. “It’s our experience that has come down through the generations and continues to haunt, inflict grief and bring disempowerment to the First People and, at the same time, bring prosperity to the Second People.

“We as the Church have now begun a journey of truth that will indeed set us free in Christ and give the First People a place in our church.

“The 12th Assembly was humbling and caused me to give all praise, glory and honour to

our risen Lord Jesus Christ.”

While many, hopefully all, would appreciate the spirit of reconciliation in which these changes were proposed, some members of the Assembly registered their concern with some of the wording associated with these changes, centring mostly on paragraph 3.3, which currently reads: “The First Peoples had already encountered the Creator God before the arrival of the colonisers; the Spirit was already in the land revealing God to the people through law, custom and ceremony.

The same love and grace that was finally and fully revealed in Jesus Christ sustained the First Peoples and gave them particular insights into God’s ways.”

Some have raised their concern that the language used above is unclear, and leaves room for misinterpretation; one such misinterpretation being that the truth we have apart from that which is revealed in Christ is the same as that we have in Christ.

The ultimate concern is that our distinct Uniting Church understanding of the character of the Triune God will be compromised through indistinct wording. With a clearer language, it is far more palatable to those dissenting than its current form.

The UAICC notes that the proposed changes, specifically paragraph 3.3, are not a claim that Indigenous peoples knew the persons of the Trinity and their consequential roles as we articulate and view them; it is a cultural reflection of understanding the interaction of the Trinitarian God without

knowing, explicitly, the three ‘separate persons’ in particular.

Another concern was that the process undertaken at Assembly did not allow for adequate discussion, particularly as members of Congress withdrew from the floor, commenting they felt ‘unsafe’.

The retirement was understood

by Congress to allow free, unfettered debate between those remaining; others viewed this as a deliberate shutting down of the conversation, and felt unable to continue discussion.

“Some people say that the 12th Assembly didn’t allow for robust debate, I ask, robust debate with who?” questions Ken. “With the Second People? Or with the First People? For the last two centuries the First People have been and continue to be the most scrutinised people in this country, if not the world.

“My people have been inspected, examined, studied, analysed, researched and dissected in every part of their existence, physically and spiritually.”

The changes to the Preamble engage in a significant attempt to offer practical reconciliation and acknowledgement that not only places the foundation of our relationship in truth, it also, perhaps for the first time, makes Aboriginal and Islander people feel included in this church, as an important part of who and what we are.

“The decision to accept the Preamble has the opportunity to be a prophetic voice to the rest of the nation, beginning a healing process that will enable the nation to move forward without obscurity.”

As Ken said at Assembly, this is our story; the whole story of

Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples, the negative and the positive.

If you’ve never read the Preamble before, rest assured, you won’t be the only one.

Information on the changes to the Preamble and the Constitution, as well as copies of the proposed new Preamble are available from the Synod website sa.uca.org.au/newtimes.

This will be discussed at the Synod meeting 29-31 October and discussion amongst congregations will remain open until February 2010.

In the September edition of New Times we asked you whether the Church, its agencies and the Gambling Task Force should lobby to keep Good Friday and Christmas day free of sport, retail, gambling and public drinking.

Here are the results of the online poll:

YES 93.8% NO 6.3% Thanks to those who noted their concerns, in particular I. Thomson of Bellevue Heights for this comment: “Bar trading and gambling cause great hardship for the families of participants, especially for the wives and children on Christmas Day... Let us retain some sense of priority in this even more reckless and contemptuous society.”

OCTOBER 2009

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News

Moderator-Elect Nominees 1. Rev Eric Kirkham Eric brings a sense of optimism for the future of the Church seeing the Strategic Plan as a means of focusing on the core business of the church – to declare the Gospel of Jesus Christ and his reconciliation for the whole of Creation.

Experience: Rural Mission Planner within the MRN, Chairperson of a country and a city Presbytery, member of Pastoral Relations Committee and service on other committees including the former PACT, JPSAC, Placements Committee and Chairperson of the Candidates Committee.

2. Rev Deane Meatheringham Deane brings his strong commitment to the love of Christ; to continue in his passion to preach, teach and to live by Christ crucified and his vicarious life.

Experience: Minister of the Word - rural, urban and Synod placements, involvement in the New Creation Teaching Ministry (including being its Executive Director), involvement in lecturing at Parkin-Wesley College, the Bible College of SA and Tabor College, various committee service including Chairperson of a Pastoral Relations Committee and member of two Assemblies.

3. Rev Sybil Peacock

4. Rev Rob Williams

Sybil brings her care and respect for each person and her desire for every member of the church to be able to actively share their faith with others.

Rob brings a strong sense of call and believes in an affirming, encouraging Church where its people become an empowering community whose lives are centred in Jesus Christ.

Experience: Minister of the Word including congregational and chaplaincy placements (ITIM Chaplain for over ten years), Chairperson of a Presbytery, membership on Pastoral Relations Committees, Standing Committee and Assembly, service as a Moderator’s Chaplain and chaplain to the Assembly, service on Stipends Committee and Uniting Foundation Board and worked with the Treaty Working Group.

Experience: Minister of the Word in rural and urban placements, Pastoral Relations Committee, Presbytery Chairperson, Field Supervisor, member of Assembly, service on an Assembly Commission and Ecumenical dialogues, Chaplain, involvement in Conflict Resolution situations, Assistant Spiritual Director for the Emmaus Walk and attended conferences led by Arch Hart, Tom Bandy, David Augsburger and Diana Butler Bass.

Rural Ministries Co-ordinator The Uniting Church in Australia, Presbytery of WA, is seeking to appoint a Rural Ministries Co-ordinator who will contribute to positive relationships within rural communities and congregations throughout Western Australia.

Reporting to the General Secretary and Associate General Secretary (Justice and Mission), this person will form part of the Congregational Mission Support Unit (CMSU) and the Leadership Team of the Uniting Church Centre. In doing so, they will perform an integral networking and information sharing role.

The responsibilities of the role include the co-ordination of the Rural Ministry Team, which offers support to those rural congregations that are without ordained leadership. The Rural Ministries Co-ordinator will work with the other members of the team, based in Albany and Narrogin in the southern part of WA, and provide a contact point within the Uniting Church Centre in Perth.

Suitable people will possess a strong desire to connect the church community at all levels by supporting and working alongside those in witness and service for and with the people of God. It is preferred that those interested in this role possess previous experience in rural areas and are prepared to travel on a regular basis.

For a detailed position description contact Jane Cook, Human Resources & Ministry Liaison Co-ordinator: email jane.cook@wa.uca.org.au, phone (08) 9260 9800 or 1300 736 692 for country callers.

Alternatively, you can go to the website, www.wa.uca.org.au/jobs/ and download the profile and position description. Applications, addressing the position description, close Friday 9 October 2009.

Applications to: Private and Confidential Ministry Liaison & Human Resources Co-ordinator GPO Box M952, Perth WA 6843

Uniting Church in Australia Western Australia OCTOBER 2009

An issue growing with age Our ageing demographic is growing. By 2050, around one in four Australians will be over the age of 65.

The problem is, the aged care sector is already struggling to meet the current demand for its services. Without reform, there is no chance of it adequately supporting the rising need.

The ageing demographic isn’t just old people – they’re our parents, friends, family, spouses – they’re us.

Many older people wait months just to be assessed before they can even begin to look for care. It can take many more months to access care, and the situation is getting worse especially for people with limited assets or living in rural areas.

“We’re concerned when vulnerable members of our community start slipping through the cracks,” said Rev Rod Dyson, the Uniting Church SA Moderator. “We believe aged care is a right, not a privilege. Everyone deserves access to appropriate care as they age, regardless of their financial circumstances or where they live.”

The Uniting Church’s aged care providers believe that caring for the most vulnerable members of the community is part of their mission, but this is becoming increasingly difficult because the actual cost of providing appropriate care significantly exceeds the funding available for each resident.

“They simply cannot afford to cover the increasing gap between the government’s subsidies and what it costs to provide a bed, care and support to a resident,” explains Rod “We believe that everyone deserves access to appropriate aged care when and where they need it.

“We’re calling on you and your congregation to get involved as we ‘go for justice’ on this issue, at the ‘Gopher Justice’ rally on Sunday 8 November.

Meeting at the Festival Centre Plaza at 1pm, we’ll then move though the streets letting the city and community know that we care. Come along on your gopher or on foot and show that the Uniting Church values older people.”

To register your attendance call 1800 060 543 or sign up online at sa.uca.org.au/goforjustice.

Pilgrim hosts annual ‘think-spot’ What are the values for living in the 21st Century? The Pilgrim Uniting Church Symposium 2009 aims to offer dynamic and educated voices on this broad subject from Monday 12 to Wednesday 14 October.

Keynote speaker Assoc Prof Marion Maddox will address the focus topic: ‘Politics & the

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Public Good’ with a different panel of speakers each night including Dr Andrew Dutney, Hon Jay Weatherill, Prof Peter Buckskin and Dr Lynn Arnold.

Each night will engage differently with the overarching topic. Monday looks at ‘Religious Values in our society and political decisions’; Tuesday

asks ‘how can Australia be a society for everyone’ and Wednesday ‘Can the Public Good include the whole of Creation?’

The Symposium is hosted by and held at Pilgrim Uniting Church, 12-14 October, 7.309.30pm. Cost is $5 per night.

For further information go to pilgrim.org.au

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Contact Peter and Albina De Palma Trading Hours: 9.30am - 5.00pm Weekdays 9.00am - 1.00pm Saturday Email: chrisupp@adam.com.au

Green & the Gospel

New Times

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Renewing wisdom

Alida Jansen van Vuuren

Since the first electric streetlights in South Australia lit up King William Street in 1902 we have, ever increasingly, become an energy intensive society. In fact much of what we do depends on the availability of cheap fuel sources. Your favourite shirt took energy to produce (and so did your least favourite shirt to be fair). This newspaper, the chair you’re sitting on, the building you’re in, the chicken sandwich you ate for lunch – all of these consumed energy during their production.

The face of our society keeps evolving as humankind continues to learn new ways to extract, manipulate and use natural resources.

As we keep developing, and maintaining, our society with technology birthed from

the Industrial Revolution (particularly in the field of energy generation) we are breaking two of the fundamental and innate laws of environmental sustainability – we are polluting the air and over-exploiting natural resources.

According to the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism, Australian energy consumption currently consists chiefly of petroleum and coal.

Black and brown coal account for around 40%, petroleum products around 34%, natural gas around 20% and renewable energy sources around 5%.

There are problems with these figures, regardless of whether or not they come under the climate change banner. Using the earth in these ways will have a detrimental effect on us in the long run - we are slowly

crippling our world. We have, however, become so dependent on energy that we are almost incapable of going backwards to a time of less energyintensiveness. So where do we go from here?

Unfortunately the answer to the energy debate is not as simple as implementing 100% renewable energy solutions tomorrow - these are currently incapable of providing the base load coverage needed to operate a centralised electricity grid like ours.

It is predicted that at most a 30% wind penetration into the electricity grid is possible – but only at times when wind conditions are ideal, with back up generation running to cover any dips. The percentage is even worse for solar due to the affect passing clouds have on their energy output.

Renewable energy in its core does not pollute or overexploit. But without further development of energy storage systems and a change in our approach to electricity distribution and use, renewable energy has no chance of becoming a major player.

that renewables really are the only logical long term option particularly when considering recent advances in hot rocks technology. We need to invest in them now rather than deferring them to invest in another waste based energy solution such as nuclear.

Considering this, perhaps it is time that we stop investing in technologies such as carbon capture and sequestration (CC&S) and nuclear. In CC&S the carbon produced by coal power plants is pumped into natural underground cavities and then sealed off with cement - left for future generations to deal with once the cement starts being corroded by the carbon.

It is in doing this that we start moving forward again with environmental sustainability being a core part of our society. As Jurgen Moltmann says in his book Science and Wisdom, “The future belongs not to science, but to wisdom – if humanity wants to have a future at all.”

Perhaps it’s time we stop fighting over exactly what impact we are having on the environment and start realising

Alida is a final year Electrical and Mechatronic Engineering student at UniSA and works as an Undergraduate Engineer.

Her and her husband, eDuard, attend CitySoul.

The Order of St Luke the Physician Memorial Lecture – Thursday evening 22 October, 7.30pm.

Uniting Theological and Leadership College Lipsett Street, Brooklyn Park

SPEAKER: Rev Dr Gillies Ambler Minister of the Campbelltown Uniting Church He will speak from his own experiences of grief and of the spiritual journey that accompanied that time.

He will reflect on the help his experience can be to others Admission is free, but there will be a love offering.

For further information contact Pastor Reg Casling on 8271 4028 or dicas59@optusnet.com.au

OCTOBER 2009

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Green & the Gospel

Church Buildings and manses – how to improve energy and water efficiency

Jeff Telfer

Joslyn van der Moolen, Secretary of the Mylor Parklands Bushcare Group and Rev Brian Polkinghorne engaging in discussion at the Mylor community forum on ‘Sustainable Lifestyles – Near and Far’.

Sustainability - near and far Mylor’s community has a keen interest in environmental issues.

At a community forum in early September, retired South Australian Uniting Church minister, Rev Brian Polkinghorne, passionately depicted the environmental situation confronting Tanzanian farmers, and what could be done with appropriate technology and farming methods.

The Mylor Uniting Church congregation, already committed to support the project, which aims to reduce soil degradation and improve yields for Tanzanian farmers in the dry Central Zone through alternative cultivation methods,

Sustainable Communities, offered many practical ideas of what we can do to build resilient communities that tackle climate change and build The forum explored the a low carbon economy. Beth theme ‘Sustainable Lifestyles encouraged the celebration of – Near and Far’ and brought the many small steps that we together more than 50 people. can take to make a difference to Sharing the speaking with Brian on the evening was David the broad environmental picture, in the areas of transport, waste, Inverarity and Beth Mylius. water, food and energy.

David, of Stirling, presented For church members the concept of ‘Slow Food, and people from the local which aims to be good, community, this was a lively clean and fair’, which has engagement around our shared implications for our use of the concern for the environment. environment, our support for locally grown produce and our The forum also offered response to the needs of the information about contributing world’s poor. to the Tanzanian project to presented Brian with $1800 towards this project, the amount raised so far by the congregation.

Beth, of the Norwood, Payneham and St Peters

reach the target figure of $2800 by the end of 2009.

Many of us on Property Committees and other bodies responsible for the care and maintenance of our Uniting Church buildings are concerned about how to reduce energy and water consumption in these buildings - and wondering where to start.

The Uniting Church SA Environment Group now provides a kit specifically developed to help in this task.

The Matrix Tool is a kit which has been developed by the Uniting Church SA to: • assist congregations to identify energy efficiency and water efficiency issues in church buildings, and • guide decision making toward an increase in energy and water efficiency.

It works in conjunction with the ‘Resources for increasing the energy & water efficiency of properties’ workbook which is also available from the Synod Office.

The matrix enables congregations to understand the way buildings respond to weather conditions and how the orientation of the building, affects the comfort of building users.

General principles of energy efficiency and water efficiency are set into the matrix tool, forming the basis for determining what steps can be taken for improvement of individual buildings.

Guidance is provided on many aspects of buildings including glazing, lighting, ventilation, shade, heating and cooling, lighting, and water collection.

Get your copy The Matrix Tool and Resource Book are available to Uniting Church SA congregations on request at no cost.

To obtain a copy of the Matrix Tool and the resources workbook, contact the Property Services Officer by phone (8227 0822) or email (property@ sa.uca.org.au).

Yes to green A WILL TO CARE changes The generosity and forethought of people who have made a Bequest (a gift in their Will) can help us enormously.

These legacies - a lasting, caring memorial gift, extending beyond your lifetime, allow UnitingCare Wesley Port Adelaide to continue to develop new and changing programs in response to community needs.

For a FREE, NO OBLIGATION booklet on the steps you need to take before making a Will and how you can include a gift to UnitingCare Wesley Port Adelaide in your Will, please phone our Community Liaison Officer, Jaylee Cooper, on 8440 2254 or log on to our website www.ucwpa.org.au

OCTOBER 2009 TABO 140 x 100 news ad.indd 1

15/9/09 4:11:02 PM

Earlier this year the Adelaide West Uniting Church Council resolved to ‘go green’, acting in faith that the proposed revised Government Rebate system would come into force – which it has.

“Raising the required funds within eight weeks, we placed an order for the Church Manse to have a solar power scheme installed this month,” says Lynton Willcocks, Adelaide West’s Property Team Leader.

“Next year (God willing) we will turn our attention to solar power on the Church building!”

The church is also are working through concepts related to grey water re-use and rainwater harvesting - aiming for possible development in 2010 or 2011.

“I am also deeply humbled at the generosity and goodwill shown by the community of believers at Adelaide West.”

Green & the Gospel

New Times

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Be careful with that, it doesn’t belong to you Matt Sarre My children often ask to borrow toys, games and books from the houses of friends they visit. While it’s the responsibility of the friend’s parent to decide if this is OK, it’s my responsibility to make sure my children treat whatever they borrow with special care.

However you understand the Biblical account of creation in the first two chapters of Genesis, one thing I think we all agree on is the core understanding that God created the earth and all we find in it. Through the Old and New Testaments, the Bible consistently asserts three fundamental truths about this planet: • God made it (Gen 1-2; Col 1:16) • God owns it (Lev 25:23; Ps 24:1) • God is coming back to reclaim it (Ephesians 1: 9-10, Acts 3:21, Rev 11:15) God has given us this planet to use and to enjoy… but it still belongs to him and he’s asked us to look after it for him. This is the essence of what we call ‘stewardship’. While we often talk about stewardship in relation to the material possessions God has entrusted to us (like our money!), we all too rarely talk about our responsibility as stewards over the created environment entrusted to our care - from the very beginning of human existence.

It saddens me that the global church seems to be dragging its heels into the environmental awakening sweeping the world.

If we understand and accept our God-given role as stewards, then surely we, the Christian church, should be leading the charge to appreciate and care for the created world around us. After all, we are the only ones who can stand up for the environment because we claim to know the guy who made it, who owns it and who’s coming back for it someday.

Broadview Uniting Church had 32 photovolcaic cells installed on its roof earlier this year – a very public declaration of their commitment to the environment.

Protecting inheritances Rev Rebecca Purling

Broadview Uniting are now the proud owners of 32 photovoltaic cells installed on our north facing roof. We are very excited about reducing our eco-footprint by generating electricity from the sun to power our church and our hall, as well as putting electricity back into the grid.

The process leading up to the installation began at a congregational meeting with a passionate speech from a member about spending the next generation’s financial inheritance - but protecting their inheritance in another way.

The proposal received unanimous support and the process began. Our Resources for Ministry Committee (RMC) made contact with two suppliers for quotes.

We discovered that this is not a cheap undertaking. Churches who are considering this idea need to be passionate about reducing their eco-footprint and take the long view that in seven to eight years they will have broken even financially due to reduced electricity bills.

We also discovered that the Federal Government has a rebate scheme for community groups wanting to place photovoltaic cells on their buildings.

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An exciting new collection that sketches out contours of an Australia liturgical theology.

Organised around the themes of time and place, word and sacrament and the arts in Christian assembly it explores the interaction of Australian landscape, culture, history and tradition of worship.

About 18 months after the initial suggestion from our congregation we are now generating electricity from the sun. We are proud to be reducing our eco-footprint and we enjoy watching our meter go backwards.

The initial idea of placing photovoltaic cells on our roof also made the RMC think about other ways that we could reduce the eco-footprint of our church and its activities. To this end we have also received quotes for the installation of rainwater tanks and plumbing those tanks into the building.

We now also have a place to deposit old fluorescent tubes and long-life light bulbs to be fully recycled, rather than going into landfill.

During the last minutes of a congregational meeting an idea was floated and a vision was born for Broadview Uniting Church to become a ‘green’ church, for us to protect the ‘inheritance’ of the next generation, so that they will be able to enjoy this planet as much as we have.

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www.adarecentre.com.au OCTOBER 2009

8

Green & the Gospel

New Times

Strategy for sustainability Peter Cooper, Director Engineering & Support Services St Andrew’s Hospital

George Bartels, Maintenance Controller, checks on the cogeneration plant which efficiently provides St Andrew’s Hospital with 80% of their energy.

Are you interested in serving as a Board member?

Volunteer your time, support your local Uniting Church agency or school and enrich your life through serving as a Board member.

To register, visit http://unitingdirector.sa.uca.org.au Uniting Director links people wishing to serve as a Board member with Uniting Church agencies and schools seeking to fill Board vacancies.

Register yourself: tell your colleagues, friends and social networks and help spread the word.

OCTOBER 2009

St Andrew’s Hospital is committed to environmental sustainability as a key strategic objective. In this endeavour we have taken steps to encourage the adoption of energy resource conservation, pollution prevention principles and effective environmental management systems, without compromising patient care and safety.

“The take up from staff to support our environmental commitment has been fantastic,” said Stephen Walker, St Andrew’s Hospital CEO. “We’ve embarked on a waste management program that actively pursues a number of recycling waste streams for paper, cardboard, glass, printer cartridges, plastic (including kimguard) and metal.

“There has been a significant recycling culture discovered within the organisation since the program commenced.

We have indeed recognised the need to nurture this resource by converting it into environmental and financial gain.”

Apart from the hospital’s active program in the area of waste reduction, St Andrew’s is also making notable strides in the area of energy consumption management.

As improving energy efficiency is the best way to

meet energy demands, without adding to air and water pollution, St Andrew’s invested in a co-generation system that works in conjunction with a gas generator set.

Co-generation has obvious environmental and economic benefits, delivering higher resource efficiency and fewer air pollutants per unit of fuel than separate power generation and heating systems.

The co-generation plant in St Andrew’s Hospital is utilised 95% of the time, operating 24 hours a day, 365 days per year - the optimal operating condition for a cost-effective co-generation plan.

The hospital’s system, a Caterpillar 3500 Gas Generator Set, is rated at 505 kW and supplies 80% of the hospital’s electrical power - the other 20% comes from the utility grid. This co-generation plant supplies 95% of the hospital’s hot water and steam for heating and sterilisation. Through cogeneration, the facility’s energy needs are effectively met with an overall thermal efficiency of about 80%.

At the end of 2008 a night time energy expenditure survey was conducted in the Hospital, uncovering a number of key areas energy saving could be addressed. An action plan was developed and, with support from after hours security personnel at nights and on weekends, unnecessary lights and appliances are being turned off when not in use.

So Watt?

Bruce Ind

Just as a journey of a thousand kilometres starts with one step, the impact that we as individuals and congregations have on environmental change will commence with simple actions.

The ‘Green Church’ Workshop, held by the Uniting Church SA Environment group in June this year, considered a range of reachable responses.

One congregation has installed an array of photovoltaic panels on the roof; other individuals have done the same.

While it is expected that research and development of solar panel technology will significantly improve over the next few years should we wait until then to enter the market?

There are still subsidies available through the Federal Government after the meanstested grant for solar panels became defunct. While less subsidies are available, the grant is not limited to one kilowatt, as it was previously.

In other words if you install a system of around two kilowatts the subsidy is around the same as before.

Of course, the workshop informed us on much more.

John Maitland, Architect for Energy Architecture, told the gathering about design imperatives that could decrease the impact our houses have on the environment.

Sophie Piron, ACF Climate Change Ambassador and a member of the Uniting Church Environment Group, encouraged more discerning energy use around the home.

Jeff Telfer, another Uniting Church Environment Group member, spoke about the measures he and his wife had taken to decrease their carbon footprint, which led onto a panel discussion with questions taken from the floor.

Wanting to find out more about the Uniting Church’s stance on environmental issues? Head online to environment. sa.uca.org.au for information, resources and policy.

G REE N & THE G OSPEL

New Times

9

Recycling as a community Annesley College is contributing to the environment at a grassroots level, thanks to the foresight of current Environmental Prefect Paige Le Cornu.

The Year 12 student, charged with the responsibility of encouraging other students to become environmentally aware and savvy, has involved the entire College to help make the campus a greener place through the provision of a new recycling program.

With the support of the Year 12 Leadership Team, Paige has successfully implemented the program which sees the monthly delivery of recyclable items to the depot in return for funds to contribute to other environmental activities on campus.

Paige said she was thrilled at the response from students across the year levels – with all classes able to contribute to the recycling effort thanks to the placement of new recycling bins.

“Every year level collects their recycling and deposits it in the newly positioned bins – it’s a simple process so everyone can contribute,” Paige said.

“At the end of each month I sort through all the materials and take them to the local recycling depot.

“The funds we get in return will be saved and allocated towards other ‘green’ projects within the College.”

In conjunction with her recycling efforts, Paige has worked with the year four students to encourage birds and other wildlife to stay within the College surrounds by making birdseed feeders. These will be placed on various trees around the campus.

The conscientious student has also worked with year three students to make recycled puppets for a show raising awareness about the environment and environmentally friendly practices.

“The commitment of the College community and in particular, Paige, to the recycling project has been second to none – now parents, teachers and students collectively are coming on board and some are even bringing their recycled goods from home,” Annesley College Principal Linda Douglas said.

Students are responding well to Annesley College’s new recycling program, instigated by Environmental Prefect and year 12 student, Paige. Paige is pictured here, helping reception student, Ella, dispose of her ‘rubbish’ in one of the school’s new recycling bins.

“We look forward to working together as a community to raise awareness and create a greener future for the generations to come.”

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10

Green & the Gospel

Greening...

New Times

... the Port Val and Norm Bennett

Young people from Port Adelaide Uniting Church, pictured here at play, have helped to re-shape a greener future for the church.

… our lifestyles Sophie Piron My interest in environmental issues goes back a long way – long before I ever heard the term ‘Climate Change’.

For much of my adult life I have taken steps to reduce my own impact on the environment and for over 12 years, as Coordinator of the Normanville Natural Resource Centre, myself and a team of volunteers, have helped others to adopt more sustainable living practices.

More recently, I have been trained as a Home Sustainability Assessor, enabling me to undertake home energy audits as part of the Australian Government’s ‘Green Loans’ programme.

In July of this year, I was given the opportunity to be trained as a climate change presenter by former US Vice President Al Gore as part of The Climate Project - Asia Pacific Summit.

Taking part in this training has required me to make a commitment to sharing the climate change message to groups within the community.

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Since its inception, Port Uniting (originally Port Congregational) has been vitally involved with the local community in its changing circumstances and history. Now is no different as we seek to ‘green’ the Port.

The ‘All Stars’ (junior high schoolers) of Port Adelaide Uniting Church recently completed a ‘green’ audit of the church premises. As a result, significant reductions have been achieved in our water and electricity usage, thereby lowering our carbon footprint.

We will continue to examine other ‘renewable’ ways of making further improvements.

Considerable commercial and residential building development has taken place in our precinct without a corresponding increase in green-space. We are holding preliminary discussions with local authorities who are

encouraging us in our green thinking and planning. The mutual idea is to establish a community ‘green-space’ park in our big backyard.

We currently have a big fence blocking our yard from the public; we want to open that space up and create easier links with the people who pass by. With Centrelink, Aviation and Railway Museums as well as a new block of apartments on our ‘doorstep’, now is a great time to further open our doors to the community.

This year Port Uniting is celebrating 160 years of faithfulness and creativity of Christians in the Port.

Despite all our mistakes and shortcomings, we have many reasons to celebrate and thank God for our rich history.

You are welcome to join us for the anniversary service, displays and morning tea on Sunday 1 November at 10am.

which individuals and communities can take to help reduce the impact.

In October of this year I will be discussing climate change with some of the young people attending SAYCO. I hope that through my involvement in The Climate Project I can work to inspire and create change in order to avoid the worst effects of climate change here in Australia, and at a global level. To date, one in 75 Australians have now seen a presentation delivered by the 250 Al Gore trained Climate Project presenters working throughout communities in Australia.

Since early this year I have been a member of the Uniting Church SA’s Environment Working Group which aims to improve environmental outcomes for our churches in South Australia.

I feel privileged to be part of a church which has a stated commitment, ‘to move towards sustainable non-exploitative living, believing that God’s creation — the earth itself and all the life that it supports — is precious and the earth’s resources exist for the good of all creatures and future generations’ (Uniting Church statement in Common Belief, Australia’s Faith Communities on Climate Change, December 2006).

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Presbytery and Synod

New Times

11

It’s been two and half years since the Uniting Church SA’s Strategic Plan was launched – a plan that has strived to serve as a blueprint for the mission and ministry of the church.

Six key directions shape the plan, helping map out ways the church can expand on successful ministries as well as place importance on new ideas, endeavouring to help the church move forward.

October’s Presbytery and Synod meeting focuses on the strategic plan, so it’s fitting that we take stock of where this plan has taken us so far and what is still to come.

How far have we really come?

Sarah Urmston, Communications Project Officer

1 Fostering conversion growth This goal sets its sights on empowering Christians to share their faith and the gospel message in the hope that this will help lead people to their own faith in Jesus Christ.

The team have set about developing this key direction by defining “what is conversion growth?” as well as supporting pilot congregations in developing a conversion growth culture.

“According to a survey we did at the 2008 Presbytery Synod meeting, conversion growth is an area which many people commented they’d like to receive more assistance with,” said Strategic Plan Project Manager, Rev Russell Knight.

“Inviting people to come to church is a great first step – but the question remains; what happens next?

This key direction aims to help congregations identify and address their conversion growth questions.”

Rev Beth Seaman stepped down as team convenor earlier in 2009, due to other commitments; a new convenor will be announced early in 2010.

Anyone interested in being part of the team should contact Russell Knight (08) 8236 4206.

4 Developing new models Developing New Models is about encouraging and helping to resource ‘fresh expressions’ of church.

But what is a fresh expression?

Team convenor, Rob Stoner explains that, “By ‘fresh expressions’ we mean new gatherings of people, established primarily for the benefit of those who are not yet members of any church, which engage with people amidst their experience of life and spirituality in today’s culture.”

Last month, the team was excited to grant funding for a ‘dramatic’ new model of church to Uniting College student, Sarah Agnew.

Sarah is starting a theatre group and it is her hope that over time, a Christian community will emerge from this group and become a new model of church.

The fresh expressions team are benefitting from Rob’s research about new models of church after a recent trip to the UK to study the fresh expressions movement.

Stories gathered about local fresh expressions will be published, with other articles and resources on the MRN website - mrn.sa.uca.org.au/mission-planning/freshexpressions.html.

2 Raising leaders The Raising Leaders team have worked hard to make achieving the four objectives set before them possible.

A major component of this key direction is the Uniting College for Leadership & Theology, which was officially launched during the March 2009 Presbytery and Synod meeting. A Leadership Development Council, which oversees the College was also established.

Faculty for the College has also been appointed, the the most recent addition to staff being the Director of Missiology, Rev Dr Steve Taylor.

Team convenor, Rev Ian Price, comments, “As a result of this key direction, the way we equip and train Uniting Church leaders, ministers and lay people has changed for the better.

“The renewed focus on mentoring and continuing learning will be of great benefit to congregations as we continue the work of the Uniting Church in South Australia.”

The Australian Leadership magazine (incorporating the best of material from NetResults publication) is another project of this key direction. It provides cutting-edge articles in leadership and congregational development to Uniting Church SA ministers.

5 Expanding our profile It takes time to create a relevant and engaging profile-raising campaign – but the time has been well spent, as the key direction five team prepare to launch the campaign this Christmas.

“The time we invested in researching people’s understanding of the Uniting Church SA and looking at other church advertising campaigns has helped us in our efforts to create a quality profile-raising campaign with a difference,” said Shannon Short, team convenor.

The campaign will focus on different themes at different times. The first two themes are loneliness (launching at Christmas) and parenting (March – May).

“Our aim is to raise the profile of the Church by sharing the wisdom we’ve learned through our congregations, schools and agencies on issues such as loneliness,” explains Shannon.

The campaign will point people towards a website containing information, resources and useful links connected to the theme.

More information about the campaign is on the strategic plan website: www.strategicplan.sa.uca.org.au.

3 Growing disciples The Growing Disciples team has focussed on creating conversations and sharing experiences about the discipleship journey, seeking to build connections among leaders who are passionate about growing disciples.

Craig Mitchell, team convenor, believes that growth in discipleship involves spiritual practices such as Bible reading, service, prayer, hospitality, generosity, and faith sharing.

A new place to share resources, stories and insights about growing in faith is the discipleship website – www.growing-disciples.org. The website will explore practices of faith, helping congregations to deepen discipleship practices through teaching, storytelling, modelling and community life. Print resources will be available later in the year.

Pathways – a training session for church leaders to explore processes for growing disciples was hosted early in 2009, and more recently, included as part of the ‘Welcoming Church’ series.

The next Pathways session will be on Monday 12 October at Cornerstone Uniting Church, Davoren Park.

6 Championing justice Championing Justice started its journey with a challenge: to help the church engage and respond to justice issues, which have not been addressed before.

In 2008 and 2009, expressions of interest were sought for new justice projects that the team could engage with.

“Whilst many proposals were received, one of these expressions of interest is certainly looking very promising. We hope to be able to move forward with it and share more information in the near future,” said Peter McDonald, team convenor.

The team are also encouraging congregations to learn from the case studies of other community projects.

They are available on the strategic plan website – www.strategicplan.sa.uca.org.au.

“The studies are designed to inspire congregations with ideas for new projects in their local community,” said Peter.

“We really encourage people to take some time to read them and consider what they can do for their community.”

OCTOBER 2009

12

MAGAZINE

New Times

My Past, Their Future Graham Nicholls, Uniting Church minister, former Norwood and State footballer, and Opera singer is celebrating his 80th birthday in an unusual manner.

He has invited some of Adelaide’s leading musicians to join him in presenting a concert at Woodville Uniting Church on Sunday 8 November at 2pm to raise funds for two projects in India.

The birthday boy known as ‘Old Nick’ by team mates and supporters hung up his boots in 1960 in order to concentrate on his career as a professional singer, after a total of 110 SANFL games in six seasons for the Norwood Demons (as they were known for most of Graham’s career) and Graham Nicholl’s was a dual best representing South Australia four times. and fairest winner while playing 110 SANFL games for Norwood. He Turning 80 hasn’t quenched is now turning 80, and wants you Graham’s passion for life, for sports or for people, to celebrate with him – for two and his ‘un-birthday party’ good causes.

demonstrates his keenness to pursue the three – for valuable causes.

One of the projects is ‘Helping Hands’, an organisation that provides funds to enable very poor children to receive treatment for cancer and leukaemia, pro bono, at the Christian Medical College and Hospital in Vellore.

The fund was established in 2007 when a seven year old girl Sinchina, suffering with leukaemia, was discharged from the hospital by her parents.

Already deeply in debt, they could no longer afford the $A20,000 necessary for the bone marrow transplant. A month later the mother, unable to face the consequences of their action, suicided and, later, Sinchina also died.

The second project is the ‘Pragathi Sports Complex’, establishing sports facilities where there are none at all, for the more than 15,000 poor

children and young people in the fishing village of Bengre, Mangalore – a place Graham has spent significant time.

Graham remembers, with gratitude, the facilities that he enjoyed as a kid at Lochiel as one of only 26 children in the local primary school, and the opportunities he had as a footballer at Norwood.

“The Pragathi Sports Complex is going to provide all the things that I had when I grew up and much more,” recalls Graham.

“The musts are a swimming pool to teach kids to swim and a large computer centre, as so few families can afford their own PC’s. There’s also the usual - cricket and soccer fields, volleyball, netball and throw ball courts.”

He hopes that his support for the poor folk in Bengre will express some of the love he feels for those in India who have given him so much of their lives.

“If this un-birthday concert and afternoon tea can help these projects in some small way I believe I’ll be able to return some of God’s love that has been given so freely to me in India.”

Come and enjoy an unbirthday party with a difference, and support these very needy kids. What better way to celebrate a ‘retired’ Uniting Church minister’s birthday?

Following the concert on Sunday 8 November at Woodville Uniting Church, a delicious afternoon tea of Indian food will be provided

by Indian friends from CMC Vellore.

Entrance is by a suggested donation of $10 per person; proceeds will be divided between the two charities.

Litchfield family off to Cambodia Claire Bell, Cross-cultural Mission Co-ordinator at CVUC Rev Scott and Rachael Litchfield and their sons, Tennyson and Elliot, are heading overseas again for their third season of mission in Asia - this time to Cambodia.

John and Jenny Hughes are the ministers at Brougham Place currently. The husband and wife team began their ministry in the midst of the church’s 150th anniversary celebrations.

Brougham Place UC turns 150 Trevor Schaefer In 1859, the residents of North Adelaide could attend Anglican, Baptist and Methodist Churches or Quaker meetings. However, to attend the Congregational Church, they had to travel to Adelaide by foot or by horse and cart if they possessed them.

A Public Meeting was held in the Temperance Hall on Tynte Street, on 20 October, 1859.

The people had gathered for the purpose of establishing a Congregational Church in North Adelaide, and when they were asked to indicate who would join a new congregation, 52 people stood up, including the Rev James Jefferis and his wife, Mary Louisa, newly arrived from England.

He became the first minister of the new North Adelaide Congregational Church. The number also included Thomas Frost, who built the church and was the first Sunday School superintendent.

OCTOBER 2009

Jeanette Chapman, who has attended the church for all of her 77 years, says “Brougham Place has always been to me a place to come and worship God, to know his presence, to learn more of him and to serve and be part of a loving, caring community.”

Brougham Place Uniting Church has been celebrating its 150th Anniversary since the end of last year. The actual anniversary of the congregation is 20 October, 2009.

This will be celebrated with a number of events: an Anniversary Dinner to be held on Saturday 17 October at the Glenelg Function Centre from 6.30pm. The following day, the Anniversary service will be held at Brougham Place Church at 10am. The special guests will include Rev Dr Alistair McCrae, President of the Uniting Church in Australia and Rev Rod Dyson, Moderator of the Uniting Church SA. The present ministers of Brougham Place, John and Jenni Hughes, a husband and wife team, began their ministry in February this year.

At the end of December 2009 the Litchfields will move to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, to take up a team leadership role with Interserve, an international agency with whom Scott has worked for in SA and NT the last two and a half years. They go as Associates in Mission with the Uniting Church in Australia.

The Litchfield family previously lived in Thailand for five years working with the Church of Christ in Thailand (CCT), a partner church with the UCA. At that time they developed strong links with the CCT AIDS Ministry (CAM) and a rural HIV/AIDS support group called Saiyarak.

Coromandel Valley Uniting Church continues to grow in relationship with these groups.

Some years before that, the Litchfields spent three years in Thailand with the Leprosy Mission at McKean, a CCT hospital, doing physiotherapy

and teaching English. Scott has also worked within the South Australian Synod, facilitating local and world cross-cultural mission.

Scott and Rachael have used their experience and connections to support and encourage the ongoing development of cross-cultural mission in the UCA by facilitating short term teams and partnerships with Uniting Church congregations - it’s an expression of partnership at the grassroots level. A team from Coromandel Valley went with the Litchfields to visit with CAM in Chiang Mai and Saiyarak in Nan in July 2008, with assistance from the Uniting Foundation. Scott and Rachael will lead another visit in October this year.

Although Cambodia and Thailand are neighbouring nations, the Litchfields will have to learn a new language and culture. Rachael will be seeking opportunities to use her physiotherapy skills among the many people living with disabilities in Cambodia.

The boys will have to adjust to a new school and new friendships. Nevertheless, as Rachael says, “Wherever we are, we just want to do what God has called us to.”

MAGAZINE

New Times

13

A real asset to the team Sarah Duffield When Fishers Supa IGA in Mount Gambier were looking for a new trolley collector, they headed straight for Uniting Care Wesley (UCW) Port Adelaide’s Employment Access who recommended local man, Phillip Marshall, for the job.

Now a year later, Phillip has proven himself such a great employee that he has been promoted to also work in the areas of customer service and the grocery and fruit and vegetable department. For Phillip, the job is a perfect fit.

“I absolutely love a challenge, so it’s great to have a range of things to do in my job,” Phillip said.

Phillip has lived with health challenges his whole life and the support of Employment Access was invaluable in securing this job.

“I found it difficult to get work before I was with Employment Access. I’ve always been really nervous having to do interviews by myself,” he said. “When I applied for this job they helped me through the interview process; they also helped to provide my uniform and good footwear.

“I think Employment Access is one of the best employment agencies around – I know if I ever have any issues I can ring them and they’ll help me out.”

Phillip Marshall has been working at Fishers Supa IGA in Mount Gambier for just over a year, thanks to the support of UnitingCare Wesley Port Adelaide.

Fishers Supa IGA store manager Chris O’Shanassy said employing Phillip had been made easier with the support of Employment Access.

“They helped us out a lot during the whole recruitment process and made the whole process a lot more streamlined,” Chris said. “They cut out us having to select the applicants which always takes a lot of time and effort.”

Chris said Employment Access had provided just the right person in Phillip, who was a, “real asset to the team.”

He said that Employment Access, as a specialist disability employment provider, were experts at fitting the right person in each job.

“They’ve got a lot of different people on their books, and they know what they can and can’t do. They don’t put people up for jobs they can’t do,” he said.

“We let them know what job we’ve got and they go through their staff and find the ones who are suitable.

The expectations of the staff they provide are the same as they would be for any other employee. We’d certainly recommend their service.”

UCW Port Adelaide’s Employment Access staff are dedicated to working with employers to ensure that people who have disabilities are able to reach their goals of obtaining mainstream employment.

Employment Access has sites in Mount Gambier, Bordertown, Kingston, Morphett Vale, Port Adelaide, Elizabeth, Port Pirie and Port Augusta/Whyalla. www.ucwpa. org.au/community-services/ employment-access

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14

RE V I EWS

New Times

Religion and Culture

The heart has its reasons

Forever and ever?

5 Facets of Peace

Book: Doing God: Religion and Public Policy in Brown’s Britain Author: Mark D. Chapman Recommended for: those considering God’s place in the parliamentary system In short: An argument in favour of the continuing role of the Church in an increasingly secular society.

RRP: $24.95

Book: Feel Author: Matthew Elliott Recommended for: thinkers with a traditional Christian worldview who would like to better understand the importance of feelings In short: An insight into how withholding emotions greatly affects the outcome of one’s life.

RRP: $22.95

Book: Not Under Bondage Author: Barbara Roberts Recommended for: reflection of marriage and divorce with contemporary society In short: Can divorce be justified for Christians experiencing an abusive marriage?

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Book: Peace like a Diamond Author: Christopher C. Walker Recommended for: the pursuit of peace in all its dimensions In short: A guide to the formation of peaceful relationships.

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Doing God is a defence of the place of the Church as one of a number of minority faith communities in an increasingly centralised, secularist Europe.

According to Chapman all religion is counter-cultural, so in a nation where a woman choosing to wear a cross to work became a political act rather than one of private devotion, he redefines the conflict as one between differing perspectives of public and private space rather than a clash of belief structures.

His defence of Rowan Williams’ ‘interactive pluralism’ argues that religion, especially amongst immigrant peoples, is crucial to community identity.

Since religion is primarily expressed through neighbourhood congregations, secularism’s drive to define it as personal and private restricts grass-roots involvement in democracy and becomes a barrier to multiculturalism.

Concluding that a secular society with privatised religions will ultimately prove inadequate, Chapman also supports the idea that a workable future for our ethnically diverse Australia depends more upon local churches witnessing to the Kingdom within the democratic process, rather than on the wider Church formulating alternative social policies.

This book champions the cause of local believers in shaping national identity and, as such, is worth taking the time to read.

- Damien Tann

Can the gospel promise of life in abundance be realised if we repress our emotions?

Not according to Matthew Elliott, author of Feel, who notes, “separating thinking and judgments from emotion is like trying to ride a tandem bike with one rider. It is awkward, your balance is off, you tire easily, and you will not reach where you want to go.”

Elliott weaves together Bible passages, anecdotes, popular culture, philosophy and psychology in order to explain the value of emotions.

He shares many stories from his own personal journey in a conversational and accessible style.

This book has the most to offer to people who are ‘thinkers’ rather than ‘feelers.’

For those who already value their emotions as much as their intellects, the book will provide more of a sense of selfjustification than any profound new insights into the human condition.

Progressively minded readers may struggle with Elliott’s conservative, male, evangelical world view that permeates almost every page. The author appears to assume that all of his readers share his traditional worldview.

This assumption is an unfortunate distraction, as the actual conclusions of this book are accessible to a broad cross section of the Christian community.

Feel provides practical encouragement to live in a way that values both the head and the heart.

- Michelle Coram

OCTOBER 2009

In this book, Barbara Roberts, a victim of an abusive marriage, seeks to provide biblical answers to the questions, can a Christian caught in an abusive marriage divorce and, having divorced, remarry? Her answer - ‘YES.’ In Not Under Bondage, Roberts has produced something of a tour de force as she moves through the biblical and interpretive mine field that this topic entails. She focuses on three main views of the subject: Mosaic Law and, most significantly, what Jesus and Paul had to say.

Admitting that each of these aspects arose out of particular cultural backgrounds, it made me wonder why contemporary society would want to be guided by 2000 year old views on marriage and divorce that arose in a culture markedly different from their own.

Her book is best put alongside other books on this subject, many of them arriving at conclusions different from those of Roberts.

I suspect that those most likely to profit from reading this book will be those Christians who take a similar biblical stance to Roberts. Those of secular persuasion are only likely to be amazed at the tortuous route that some Christians have to follow to relieve the guilt they may experience as they escape an abusive marriage.

- Ray Creevy

Rev Christopher Walker, the son of the late prominent Methodist minister Rev Alan Walker, presents a great body of work on something which we all long for - peace.

The good news the early Christians proclaimed was a gospel of peace. They took the way Jesus himself used it as their example; both a greeting and a blessing to accompany healing miracles. Their use of the word ‘peace’ broke down the barriers between Jews and Gentiles.

Walker writes that, “peace is not just an ideal to be worked for; it is something to be lived.”

Like a diamond, peace has many facets and the author presents five for contemplation and application. These are peace with God, with oneself, with others, with society and with the environment.

Walker reminds the reader of the Hebrew term for peace ‘shalom.’ It describes in a word, a much broader and positive concept of peace. Shalom presents peace as a wholeness, a sense of completeness, fullness, and unity.

The five facets of peace, as presented in the book, positively provide a useful guide on how we might set out to live with inner peace, and extend it to all other relationships.

This is a book to be read at leisure, with pauses for contemplation.

- Linda Sutton

The Heart of Worship Thanksgiving Book: Uniting in Thanksgiving Author: Robert Gribben Recommended for: worship leaders and worshippers who wish to deepen their understanding of the liturgy In short: A contemporary explanation of the prayers of thanksgiving we pray at communion.

RRP: $34.95 A key to understanding this heart is the Great Prayers of Thanksgiving.

In his book Uniting in Thanksgiving, Robert Gribben has given us a way to understand why these prayers in the Uniting Church’s worship book were framed in their present form. He also provides some history and experience behind each phrase and the great depth of biblical and personal faith expressed in the prayers.

This is a book not only for celebrants (though for all who are celebrants of the sacrament it should be a recommended study) but also for the regular worshippers and those inquiring about the heart of Christian life. Each reader can experience some of the renewal of thanksgiving which comes with experiencing God’s free gift offered in the Holy Communion.

In and around this ‘do this in remembrance of me’ prayer the whole of the Gospel is remembered and proclaimed.

This thanksgiving also evokes a response of gratitude in those who share the holy meal: ‘we love, because God first loved us (1John 4:19).’

This is not just a book to be read but one to study and contemplate and so to enrich our worship experience and life.

- Lindsay Faulkner

Correction to job ad The mobile number shown for Maughan Uniting Church’s Part-Time Assistant (Sept, New Times) employment advertisement should read – 0437 794 410. Maughan is still taking applications for this position and apologises for any inconvenience.

New Times

notebook

Dernancourt Uniting Church Fete & Auction will be held on Saturday 17 October from 9am to 1pm. Auction from 9.30am. Donations of goods are welcome. Enquiries to church office: 8369 0802, office@ dernancourt.unitingchurch.com.au.

All welcome.

The annual luncheon for all spouses/partners of ministers is on Friday 23 October at Church of the Trinity (318 Goodwood Road, Clarence Park) from 12 noon for 12.30pm.

Bring a plate of food to share.

Theme ‘Remember when...’ Your husband/wife/friend is most welcome to join us. Further information: Lesley Catford 8332 9796 or Mavis Thomas 8377 1921.

A new ecumenical program for people feeling called to offer spiritual direction/companioning will begin in Adelaide next May. This is a three year program (three days x four times p.a.) comprising theoretical input, skills training and supervised spiritual direction. Entry is by application and there are 12 places. Information evening in late November. Brochure available from Ann Siddall, Stillpoint Spirituality Centre, 8178 0048 ann.stillpoint@internode.on.net.

Payneham Road congregation’s 11th Annual Craft Fair is on Saturday 17 October from 9am - 1pm. Cnr Payneham Rd. & Portrush Rd. Marden. Our craft group’s handiwork will be on display – be inspired!

A mission awareness visit to the Church of Christ in Thailand is offered for February, 2010.

Cost: approx $2500. Duration: two weeks. Contact John Minchin (International Mission) on 8236 4203 or jminchin@sa.uca.org.au

by October 31.

To have your upcoming event or message published here, email notebook@sa.uca.org.au with ‘Notebook’ in the subject line.

The Presbyterian Fellowship of Australia is holding a reunion weekend, 7 – 8 November. Sat 7 Nov – Cabaret Dance at Fullarton Community Centre, 8.00pm – 12 midnight. Bookings essential – phone 8274 1454. Cost $20.

Sun 8 Nov – church service at Tusmore Park Uniting Church from 12 noon – 12.30pm, followed by Reunion Picnic at Tusmore Park. BYO lunch, chairs, photos and stories. Gold coin donation. Enquiries: Val Griffin, 8239 2545 or email ktgriffin@bigpond.com.

Multicultural Fair Butterfly Festival- Community Market, Saturday 24 October 10am-2pm. Woodville Gardens Uniting Church- Community Garden. Free admission.

Proceeds will go to support our Refugee Primary School in Guinea, West Africa for Sierra Leonean and Liberian refugee children.

HENLEY-FULHAM UNITING CHURCH Fete at the Temple site, Military Road, Henley Beach on Saturday 24 October from 9.00am - 2.00pm. Wide variety of stalls with goods for sale plus morning tea, sausage sizzle, face painting and other activities available.

Pilgrim Uniting Church presents the Pilgrim 2009 Symposium, ‘Values for living in the 21st century’, 7.30 – 9.30pm, 12 to 14 October. See p. 4 of New Times for speakers and topics. Suggested donation $5. Pilgrim Uniting Church.

More information pilgrim.org.au or 8212 3295.

PORT ADELAIDE 160th ANNIVERSARY service for the founding of the original congregation in 1849 will be held on Sunday 1 Nov at 10am.

Guest preacher: Rev John Watt, an innovative Port minister.

Friends & former members especially welcome. Displays & morning tea afterwards.

15 MAGAZINE

Letters to

the Editor

Selective concern?

I was disappointed but not overly surprised to read the article ‘Choose future over politics’ in the September New Times in which the Uniting Church criticised the Federal Parliament for not quickly passing a carbon pollution reduction scheme.

I find the UCA’s concern for the environment very selective.

Not a whisper has been heard in objection to BHP Billiton’s proposed desalination plant at Point Lowly, with the discharge going into Spencer Gulf 24/7.

The plant will destroy Spencer Gulf in ten years, according to marine scientists, along with the best managed fishery in the world (best managed according to the United Nations).

There are alternatives for BHP Billiton to get the water it needs for its mine expansion at Olympic Dam. Scientists employed by the state have been gagged.

However other scientists, including expatriates, have readily expressed their opposition to the project and their deep concern about the environmental damage it will have.

D. Freeman Port Lincoln

Which God should we worship?

In the August issue of New Times, Roberta Stanley the Deputy Chairperson of UAICC said, ‘It’s like God is saying, you come back (to me), I’ll give you hope, put me first.’

What God is she asking us to worship and obey?

In Isaiah 45:22b, God says, ‘and there is no other God besides me.’ In Deuteronomy 13:30b he says, ‘take heed (when God dispossess nations) that you do not enquire after their gods.’

In John 14:6 Jesus says, ‘I am the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh unto the Father except through me.’ In John 10:30 Jesus says, ‘I and the Father are one.’

So we worship God as revealed by Jesus, the Anointed Saviour. This means that we must discard other gods, invented by people, such as Confucius, Buddha, Tao, Allah, Zoroaster, the Rainbow Serpent and the 3 million Hindu gods etc.

B. Jefferies Myrtle Bank

No more blasphemy An AAP newspaper report 26 Aug 09 quoted former rugby player, Luke Ricketson, saying, “Kate’s mother Gai (Kate being his girlfriend) got one of these lip glosses, and said, ‘Oh my God, I love these.’ ” A few days earlier, Australian Dani Samuels, threw the discus over 65m to become female world champion. The paper quoted her surprise: “When it landed over 65, I thought, ‘Oh my God…’ ” That’s how many people talk – nothing intelligent to say, so cover up by blaspheming.

The first of God’s Ten Commandments is, “I am the Lord thy God. Thou shalt not have strange gods before Me...”

The second: “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.”

Australia’s civilisation won’t survive if we continue blaspheming God’s name.

A. Jago Mildura

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.

Sorrow and grief As members of the Uniting Church in Australia, Port Vincent UC felt betrayed and violated by ‘Celebration brings hope’ (New Times, August 2009) The sorrow and grief experienced by members is palpable. Celebrating in God’s house the sin of homosexuality must surely be rebellion against God. We are called to be godly people, in the world but not of it, more is required of us than confirming ill-founded constitutional amendments.

The uncensored Word of God has the amazing capacity an authority to give clear direction in relation to this particular practice.

Please church, light the lamp of God’s counsel to guide our feet down a safe path. What makes us crushed and very apprehensive is the fact that now we stand in the ‘unfitting’ position of being part of a church that chooses to embrace the ways of the world despite what God declares about His will and His way.

J. Harris on behalf of 18 members of Port Vincent Uniting Church

EXPERIENCED HANDYMAN Odd jobs and gardening. “Your spare pair of hands” Phone 8346 0933

ORGANIST/PIANIST Maughan Uniting Church Adelaide is seeking a versatile

An opportunity to serve as

musician for a mix of traditional and

ORGANIST/CHOIR LEADER

contemporary music.

with the Clayton-Wesley congregation cnr. The Parade and Portrush Rd. Beulah Park

2-3 Sundays per month.

Applicants need to have training and experience as a pipe organist and ability to encourage a small choir.

Enquiries welcome to:

Allan Shephard 8333 0760

Applications close Friday 30th October.

Further information and job description available from the Music Director 8202 5832 (Church Office) or 0434 611 637

OCTOBER 2009

16

M a g a zin e

New Times

It’s beginning to look a little like Christmas...

The Uniting Church SA’s Communications Unit has launched the theme for the 2009 Christmas postcard and advertising campaign.

“This year we’re focusing on time. We can buy extravagant presents, and throw great parties, but at the end of the day the best gift we can give is quality time with our family and friends,” explains Shannon Short, Communications and Public Relations Manager.

The postcard’s message will complement the theme of the strategic plan’s profile raising campaign.

“During December – February, we will launch a campaign which focuses on the issue of loneliness in our community,” explains Shannon.

“We’ll be encouraging everyone to think of people in their lives who may be lonely and do something about it, maybe by inviting them to a Christmas meal or making time to get to know them better.”

“We’ll be seeking media coverage on this issue and running radio advertisements.”

Congregations can reinforce this message by distributing the postcards in their local community.

“The postcards are a great, low-cost tool for congregations to invite people to celebrate Christmas at their local Uniting Church,” says Shannon.

The postcards (front image pictured, right), are designed to appeal to a broad demographic and available for congregations to order online at www.sa.uca.org.au/christmas09 for $65 per 1000 cards.

The deadline for ordering is Monday 2 November.

For further information contact Sarah Urmston, Communications Project Officer, on 8236 4260.

This year, the Uniting Church Communications Unit are offering a postcard that encourages people to reflect on how they spend their time at Christmas. The postcard’s message aims to complement the theme of the strategic plan’s profile-raising campaign.

Christmas greetings, from Frontier Services Share some festive cheer, outback style with this year’s Frontier Services Christmas cards.

On sale now, these cards are perfect for sending to friends and family both within Australia and overseas.

By purchasing these cards you will support the work of outback charity Frontier Services. The Uniting Church charity works with people across 85% of the continent, providing aged and community services within some of Australia’s most challenging environments including Aboriginal communities, isolated properties and mining sites.

This year’s collection (one design pictured, left) all have a distinctly Australian feel from a traditional nativity scene to images of outback scenes representing peace, hope and joy and include a relevant, Biblical Christmas greeting.

Cards are sold in packs of five. You can choose one of each (five) card designs or five of your favourite. Each pack costs just $4.50 Visit www.frontierservices.org/shop/christmascards.htm to view the Christmas card selection online or www.frontierservices.org for more information on Frontier Services.

To order your Christmas cards, contact Frontier Services on 1300 787 247 or email enquiries@frontierservices.org.

Education with Uniting Church Schools

89 Greenhill Road Wayville South Australia 5034 P: 8422 2288 F: 8272 0142 www.annesley.sa.edu.au

Campus Drive, Aberfoyle Park South Australia 5159 P: 8270 3033 F: 8370 7734 www.pilgrim.sa.edu.au

PO Box 571 Kent Town South Australia P: 83341200 F: 83630702 www.pac.edu.au

Carruth Road Torrens Park South Australia 5062 P: 8274 4333 F: 8274 4247 www.scotch.sa.edu.au

546 Portrush Road Glen Osmond 5064 Telephone: 8303 9000 Facsimile: 8303 9010 www.seymour.sa.edu.au

Alison Ave, Marion South Australia 5043 P: 8 8276 0276 F: 8 8276 0277 www.westminster.sa.edu.au

Our independent schools provide education for around 6,000 students in South Australia from Early Learning to Year 12.

They offer a variety of learning environments, and a world-class standard of excellence in facilities and academic standards.

While these schools respect the faith diversity of all students, the story, values and practices of the Christian faith are expressed with integrity in order to nurture young lives for sound learning, faith, compassion and responsible service.

OCTOBER 2009