Issue 36, No 6, 2017
The voice of Uniting Church SA
December 2017 / January 2018
To listen and discern PRESBYTERY & SYNOD MEETING
ENCOUNTER CHURCH
Discussions, deliberations &
A church plant launches in
discipleship pp. 5-7
Prospect pp. 16-17
Christmas at Pilgrim
Contents FEATURES Presbytery and Synod meeting
5-7
Cultural encounters at Christmas
10-11
Taking off: a church plant launches in Prospect
16-17
God, goats and gifts
Join to celebrate the joy of Christmas with a range of contemporary and traditional services
Christmas Eve 8am
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9:30am Community Worship 11am
REGULAR PAGES
3pm
Moderator ’ s comment Getting to know
18-20 21
Diary
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Choral Worship Carols for all ages Trilingual service in collaboration with the Chinese Christian Church C(SA)CC
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Letters
Morning Eucharist
6pm
lessons and carols The Choir of Pilgrim Chuch.
Christmas Day 9:30am Christmas Day Celebration
Editor: Catherine Hoffman Editor-in-Chief: Bindy Taylor Advertising: Communications Design: Winaya Kamaputri Print: Graphic Print Group For editorial inquiries: p. (08) 8236 4260 e. newtimes@sa.uca.org.au m. The Editor, New Times GPO Box 2145 Adelaide SA 5001 For advertising bookings: p. (08) 8236 4230 e. newtimesad@sa.uca.org.au
w: newtimes.sa.uca.org.au facebook.com/UnitingChurch.UnitingPeople ISSN 0726-2612
New Times is the voice of Uniting Church SA. Published bi-monthly, February through December, New Times represents the breadth, diversity and vision of Uniting Church members in SA. Articles and advertising do not necessarily reflect the views of the New Times Editorial team. Print circulation: 9,000 Uniting Church SA Level 2, 212 Pirie St, Adelaide p. (08) 8236 4200 f. 8236 4201 country callers. 1300 766 956
DEADLINE FOR FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018 EDITION:
Friday 19 January Cover details: Members of the Encounter Church planting team join together for worship in Prospect. The church will hold its first public worship service in mid-February 2018. Read more about this exciting new faith community on pages 16-17.
The Choir of Pilgrim Church with brass ensemble and organ
Ministers Rev Dr Greg Elsdon & Rev Sandy Boyce Pilgrim Uniting Church 12 Flinders St, Adelaide | www.pilgrim.org.au
editorial
Best laid plans I had intended to write my editorial this month on the value of listening. This plan was already in place before I decided on the title for this edition. However, due to a few last minute changes that resulted in a shuffling of content, there ’ s not actually room here for the editorial I ’ d been working on! I hope to share it with you some time in the future. But although I am not able to share exactly what I had originally planned, I would encourage all of you to approach the items in this edition of New Times with an open and listening heart. Read these stories, reflect on the news and information they share, pray about those items that give you pause or touch your heart, and seek to discern God ’ s will in what you have heard and read. As theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer said: “ Just as love to God begins with listening to his Word, so the beginning of love for the brethren is learning to listen to them. ” These are wise words for us to consider as we reflect on recent developments and stories, and move towards our Christmas celebrations. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
An introduction to our intern Tasha Crumpler is the New Times Intern and will be spending a couple of months in the Uniting Church SA Communications team. As Tasha will be writing for New Times, the editorial team asked her to prepare a short piece introducing herself to readers.
Hi, my name is Tasha Crumpler and I ’ m the new intern at New Times. I applied for this internship to learn more about the role of communications and media within the Uniting Church, and to further my professional and writing skills. I recently graduated from The University of Adelaide with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in creative writing and psychology. During my time in university I began volunteering at The Grove Op Shop in Woodville Gardens, an outreach of The Grove Uniting Church, where I fell in love with the community and their values. I am also involved with the children ’ s leadership team at my church, The Port Church, located in Largs Bay. I am very excited to be working so closely with the team behind New Times and hope to learn and develop new skills that can allow both myself, and others, to flourish.
Catherine Hoffman
CEO/General Secretary announcement On Thursday 30 November, Rev Nigel Rogers announced that he will be stepping down as CEO/General Secretary of the Uniting Church SA. He and his family feel called to return to their family in Queensland. Nigel will conclude his placement at the end of February 2018. Standing Committee met on Friday 8 December to begin the work of transition with Nigel and to consider the appointment of a new CEO/General Secretary. More information about this will be shared through New Times and online through UC e-News (sa.uca.org.au/ uc-e-news) as it becomes available. The Uniting Church SA thanks Nigel for the time and energy he has given to progress the life of the Presbytery and Synod in South Australia, and offers prayers for Nigel and his family as they prepare to return to Queensland in the New Year.
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Rev Nigel Rogers (left) with Assembly General Secretary Colleen Geyer at the November Presbytery and Synod meeting.
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m o d e ra t o r
From love to life... There is a wonderful anticipation awaiting the birth of a new baby. At the heart of our Christmas story is the much anticipated arrival of the Saviour of the world, the baby Jesus, born in a stable. We are in that place of expectant waiting, forming our hopes and dreams for this Christmas. But what if our hopes and dreams are not realised? One of my favourite TV shows is Call the Midwife, a period drama series set in the early 1960s that shares stories about a group of nuns and midwives who operated a birthing clinic in the East End of London. I recall one particular episode where an expectant mother was prescribed thalidomide for morning sickness, and the couple ’ s much anticipated son was born with severe disabilities. As they wrestled with their shock and disappointment, in a poignant moment of gazing upon the swaddled infant, the mother said, “ If we didn ’ t know what was under the blanket, he would look like any other baby. ” It was at this point that we watched as love broke into their situation, and they decided to raise their little boy at home and become a family. This was to be their life and they welcomed it. From love to life. We can face many disappointments in life. Even at Christmas, there can be times of disappointment that could rob us of the fullness of life that Jesus offers us. John 3:16 tells us that God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. Later, in John 10:10, Jesus says that he has come that we might have life abundantly. This life is a gift from God ’ s love. Keep hoping and anticipating as this Christmas season draws near, and know that God loves you deeply. Know, too, that even when you face disappointments, there is still the promise of life for you. This life will bless you and grow you, because it is from God ’ s love. Love brings life. Mary was willing to embrace the life that grew within her from the Holy Spirit. It was knowing God ’ s love for her that lifted her above what she expected, and gave her joy in her circumstances in her time. May you know peace and joy in every circumstance this Christmas.
Rev Sue Ellis
Placements News Placements finalised as of 16 November 2017 Brenton Smith (MOP) to County Jervois Parish from 1 November 2017. Rev Lyn Leane (0.8) to Modbury Uniting Church from 1 January 2018. Vacant placements The following is the list of vacant (or soon to be vacant) approved placements: Profiles available – All Saints Plympton (0.4) (from 1 February 2018); City Soul (0.4); Dulwich Rose Park United (from 1 March 2018); Moonta & Districts (0.8) (Cross Roads, Cunliffe, Moonta, Moonta Mines); Spicer (from 1 February 2018); Strathalbyn & Districts (0.6) (Ashbourne, Finniss, Milang, Strathalbyn [St Andrew ’ s]); Uniting Churches of Tatiara (Bordertown, Mundulla, Buckingham); Waikerie; Western Eyre (Cummins New Beginnings, Lock, Yeelanna). Profiles not yet available – Barossa Congregations; Burnside City (second placement); Mannum (0.3); The Grove (0.3). For more information about any of these placements, to view national placements or to find out more about upcoming services, please visit sa.uca.org.au/pastoral-relations-mission-planning/ placements-vacant-and-finalised
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n ew s
Discussions, deliberations and discipleship Members gathered at the Presbytery and Synod meeting to stand in solidarity with refugees and asylum seekers on Manus Island. The November 2017 meeting of the Uniting Church SA Presbytery and Synod was held at Adelaide West Uniting Church from Thursday 23 to Saturday 25 November. The meeting was full of presentations, proposals and papers, and featured a strong focus on nurturing intentional discipleship. Key topics of discussion have been summarised on pages 5-7 of this edition of New Times.
Recognition of ministers, lay leaders and others Many ministers, pastors, lay preachers and other leaders were recognised by the Presbytery and Synod over the course of the meeting, particularly at the recognition of ministry service on the Friday evening. Pastor Paul Glazbrook was thanked for his ministry with Frontier Services Parkin-Sturt
Remote Area Ministry Patrol over the past four years. He will finish up in this role at the end of 2017. Elizabeth Finnegan was also recognised. She served as the sixth Moderator of the SA Synod from 1987-89, and passed away on Sunday 24 September, 2017. She was the first
lay person and the first woman to hold the office of Moderator. Others recognised included lay preachers reaching significant milestones, retiring Pastor Graham Ingram and Rev Jim Peacock, who is celebrating 50 years since his ordination as a Minister of the Word.
Recommendations and decisions for ordination During 2017, the Mission & Leadership Development Board monitored a discussion across the Presbytery and Synod on recruitment to ordained ministry. After a period of consultation, it became apparent that the Uniting Church SA has a shortage of ordained ministers, particularly young ministers. The consultation also made clear that many candidates for ministry, young members in particular, were not engaging with the Uniting Church SA processes of discernment, selection and formation. These processes were also perceived and experienced
as unnecessarily protracted. New candidates for ordained ministry may be accepted at any of the four Selection Panel weekends during the year, and candidates may transition from the Core Phase of their formation at any time of the year. However, the Presbytery is only able to respond to a Pastoral Relations Committee recommendation on ordination on two occasions during the year – when it meets in June or in November. In other Synods, the Presbyteries meet more frequently than this and can generally deal with recommendations
to ordain as they are made. Noting this background, Rev Prof Andrew Dutney presented a proposal suggesting that the Presbytery authorise the Standing Committee to receive and determine a recommendation from the Pastoral Relations Committee that a candidate be ordained when that recommendation is made more than two months before the next scheduled meeting of the Presbytery and Synod. This proposal was passed by agreement.
Detention of refugees on Manus Island A proposal on the detention of refugees on Manus Island received added impetus as members received news that the Papua New Guinea police had just entered the detention facility to remove the men remaining there. Rev Sandy Boyce presented Proposal 22 addressing the safety, health and welfare of the refugees who remained in the Manus Island Return to Contents
detention centre. In light of this turn in events, Sandy and others made amendments to the proposal; Presbytery and Synod members also made other suggestions. All parts of the proposal passed by consensus with the exception of part 2, which was passed by formal majority.
As part of this proposal, information and resources about the situation on Manus Island will be provided as available and published on the Uniting Church SA website at sa.uca.org.au
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n ew s
Conversation on marriage Marriage was a topic addressed at the Presbytery and Synod meeting through a presentation from Assembly General Secretary Colleen Geyer, in working groups, in the report created by the feedback from working groups, and in discussion of Proposal 11. Colleen began the marriage conversation by commending the pastoral statement released by President Stuart McMillan and the Moderators of each Synod in the week prior to the announcement of the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey results. This statement said, in part: We are the Uniting Church, a wonderfully diverse community of faith, which is founded in the grace of God ’ s act in Jesus Christ. We are responsible to, and for, each other. We need to pray for wisdom, courage and discernment. In this difficult season, we will look towards Christ and encourage others to do the same. Colleen also outlined the public debate surrounding this topic and the work the Uniting Church has already undertaken regarding conversations around same-gender* marriage. She detailed the processes and conversations that have been occuring, and how these will inform a report being prepared by the Doctrine Working Group for the 2018 Assembly meeting. Randomly allocated working groups met during the Thursday session of the meeting to engage in conversations about marriage. The groups were asked to provide feedback related to their hopes and concerns about the marriage conversation, mutually respectful ways to move together as a Church, and matters that should be considered by the Assembly Standing Committee as it prepares for a discussion on marriage at the 15th Assembly meeting that will be held from 8-14 July, 2018. The Feedback Group Report was presented by Rev Rob Brown and Dianne Holden during the Saturday session of the meeting,
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and included common themes from the feedback supplied by the working groups. The report noted that the responses reflected the theological diversity of the Synod and had a common theme of upholding scripture. In most of the feedback, there was a clear, deep desire and overarching hope for unity. There was a strong call for the Assembly Standing Committee to ensure transparent and clear processes, and to clarify how feedback can be sent by congregations and members in the lead up to the 2018 meeting. There was a strong feeling that the Assembly needs a clear resolution on this issue, and a clear process to communicate this resolution. Proposals on marriage Two proposals related to marriage were sent to the Business Committee for the Presbytery and Synod meeting. The first of these, Proposal 6, which was accompanied by a number of letters, was withdrawn from the agenda by the Business Committee in the days leading up to the meeting. The Assembly of the Uniting Church is the body which determines policy and doctrine of all matters regarding the Uniting Church. Those who submitted the proposal and accompanying letters were advised to direct them to the Assembly Standing Committee in preparation for the 2018 Assembly meeting. Members were advised of this decision via pastoral statements emailed by the Uniting Church SA Moderator and CEO/General Secretary in the lead up to the Presbytery and Synod meeting. The second proposal related to marriage, Proposal 11, requested Assembly to identify any decisions to alter the doctrine or practice of marriage as a matter of “ vital importance to the life of the Church ” , thus requiring a concurrence of all Synods, Presbyteries and congregations. A number of people responding during this session questioned whether the Presbytery and Synod meeting was the correct place for this discussion to occur. Members decided to conclude debate on this proposal.
Top to bottom: Uniting Church General Secretary Colleen Geyer addresses members; working groups discussing marriage.
*Same-gender marriage is the term used by the Uniting Church in Australia Assembly, a decision made in response to the difficulties of translating the more common term of same-sex marriage for some Indigenous and CALD communities. The full pastoral statement from the Uniting Church President and Moderators is available online at sa.uca.org.au/new-times/pastoralstatement-amlps
n ew s
Congress presentation and proposals
Candace Champion and Sean Weetra address members at the recent Presbytery and Synod meeting.
There were a number of presentations and proposals from or related to the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (Congress) at the November 2017 Presbytery and Synod meeting.
The presentation was opened by Rev Denise Champion, who provided a summary of Congress ’ activities throughout 2017, including the announcement of Sean Weetra as the new Chair of Congress Regional Council SA. Several Congress-related proposals were presented over the course of the meeting. All passed by consensus, with the exception of the proposal on nuclear waste storage (Proposal 18), which passed by agreement. Most of the proposals were revised before they passed. Briefly, they focussed on: Aboriginal imprisonment and deaths in custody: This proposal looked the higher incarceration rates for Indigenous Australians and the issue of deaths in custody. It particularly detailed issues surrounding the death in custody of Wayne Morrison. The Tjilbruke Spring site at Kingston Park: This proposal outlined concerns about a proposed development in Kingston Park around the site of Tjilbruke Spring, a culturally significant place for Kaurna people. Nuclear waste storage: This proposal chiefly asked the Presbytery and Synod to call on the SA Government to enforce the Nuclear Waste Storage Facility (Prohibition) Act 2000 to prevent a nuclear waste dump being established in South Australia. The General Manager of the APY Lands: This proposal detailed concerns about the recently appointed General Manager of the
Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands, particularly the processes used to appoint this person, and his behaviour in this role. The Uluru Statement from the Heart: Released earlier in 2017, the Statement from the Heart includes a call for the establishment of a First Nations Voice enshrined in the Constitution. The Australian Government recently decided that there will not be an elected consultative Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander national advisory body to the government on issues that affect those peoples. This proposal was written in response to this Government decision. The minutes of the meeting will note the revisions to the proposals, and will be provided online in the coming weeks. The original proposals are available to read online at sa.uca. org.au/pres-synod-meetings/ps1117 Uniting Church President Stuart McMillan and Congress National Chair Rev Dennis Corowa released a statement about the Government ’ s response to the Uluru Statement from the Heart. It is available to read online at sa.uca.org.au/new-times/a-dead-hand-onthe-heart
Other stories and further information The summaries on pages 5-7 contain information about just some of the proposals and reports presented at the Presbytery and Synod meeting. To view all proposals and reports, please visit sa.uca.org.au/pres-synod-meetings/ps1117 Other stories in this edition that relate to the November Presbytery and Synod meeting are: “ The day I found my voice ” (page 9): Nicole Mugford reflects on attending the November Presbytery and Synod meeting as a young, female leader in the Uniting Church. “ Getting to know ” (pages 18-20): Articles from the two candidates the Presbytery and Synod resolved to ordain, Jesse Size and Mark Schultz, and Katalina Tahaafe-Williams, who was ordained during the recognition of ministry service during the Friday evening session of the meeting. Return to Contents
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Give families a helping hand this Christmas
Pick up a gift tag or place a gift under the tree at your local Target.
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leadership
Finding my voice Nicole Mugford ’ s face will be familiar to anyone who has attended KCO or SAYCO events in recent years. She is a strong young leader in the Uniting Church, and has supported congregations and schools with her passion for youth ministry. In this article, Nicole reflects on her experiences at the recent Presbytery and Synod meeting – the challenges she faced and the encouragement she received.
Photos: Nicole Mugford regularly attends state and national Uniting Church events. In the below right photo, she is pictured at the November Presbytery and Synod meeting with other young members.
I found my voice at the Presbytery and Synod meeting. Some of you who know me really well might be saying, “ Nicole has always had a voice ” . Maybe my voice wasn ’ t really lost, but it wasn ’ t confident. It was hidden behind the fear of being judged or boxed a certain way. I have been a member and attended this meeting for a number of years, but I haven ’ t really spoken on matters at the microphone. This time, I went to the mic – not just once, but four or five times. You might just say, “ well, yeah, that ’ s the process, you were just doing due diligence to the role and reason you were at the meeting ” . You ’ re right, but let me explain why it was important for me to find my voice in this way. During the first day of the meeting, in smaller working groups, I cautiously and nervously shared my thoughts. Under the breath of people in the room, comments were made about women in leadership and how it disempowers real authority in men. I was horrified. My contribution to the conversation was based in my experience as a young person who wasn ’ t around when some of the decisions of the church were being made. I felt it would be really helpful to have these decisions documented in an up-to-date fact sheet or something similar so people could get a history if they were unfamiliar. When I was leaving the group at the end of the session, someone came up to me and told me that I was really too young to understand the whole story. They suggested it would be better if I didn ’ t speak into matters until I was older and more informed of the whole story. Again, I was outraged. My gender and my age are not barriers in my ability to connect with the experience, tradition, reason and scripture that informs my faith. I ’ m sick of being sidelined – or sidelining myself – because of my gender or age. I ’ m sick of worrying that I will be judged or perceived in a certain way if I speak into certain issues. I ’ m sick of feeling the need to test my comments with others before I engage.
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I found my voice because I was fed up with being told I wasn ’ t good enough, ready enough or right enough. I found my voice with the support and encouragement of other women in leadership. I was thankful that when I approached the mic, I could see deacons, ministers and lecturers smiling and giving me encouragement. Later, they gave me pats on the back and thanked me for my contributions at the meeting. As a society, we need young woman to be able to engage equally without fear of judgement. As a Church, we haven ’ t come close to fully dealing with this issue yet, but some have taken steps to acknowledging the problem exists. I found my voice to remind and encourage others to use their voice as well. My voice matters. So I choose to speak out. I choose to make my voice heard, to stand up and be counted. This article was originally published on Nicole Mugford ’ s blog (nicole7992.blogspot.com.au). It has been edited slightly for length and clarity.
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c u l t u re
Cultural encounters at Christmas Australia is a multicultural and diverse nation – the Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates that 28.2% of our population were born overseas. This diversity is also reflected in the congregations and faith communities of the Uniting Church. But despite the wide variety of cultures and backgrounds of the people in our society and churches, the image of Christmas that is most often presented is of a white suburban family giving gifts and sharing a roast lunch. Hoping to provide a broader perspective on Christmas experiences, New Times Intern Tasha Crumpler sat down with a few church members whose upbringing allows them to experience life and Christmas in unique ways.
Coming together at Christmas “ Second Gen ” is a term many in the Uniting Church will be familiar with and is used to describe someone who spends their formational years between two cultures – sometimes this may be someone born or raised in Australia with two migrant parents, at other times it may be someone whose parents are from two different cultures. Born to a Fijian father and Australian mother, Alisi Tavui strongly identifies herself as a Second Gen. “ [Being Second Gen] has allowed me to respect and appreciate my culture, roots and heritage while living in a contemporary culture and lifestyle, ” Alisi explains. She appreciates learning about the different cultures in which she lives in, and celebrating her family and heritage. Sometimes Alisi finds her cultural and geographical distance from her Fijian relatives makes it difficult to understand their dialect. Because of this, she tends to feel left out of conversations when she visits Fiji. But Alisi sees many advantages to being a Second Gen, many of which she gets to experience over Christmas. On Christmas day, she is able to experience both of her cultures. Alisi and her Australian mother open presents, enjoy roast ham with salad with their family and play that Aussie favourite – backyard cricket.
Alisi Tavui celebrates Christmas with Australian and Fijian traditions.
With her dad ’ s family, Christmas is a different story. They celebrate together with an array of curries, fish, coconut milk dishes and coconut infused lollies. At night time, they all head to the beach to pray and worship together with hymns under the stars. For Alisi and her family, this is a time to “ reflect and acknowledge the story of Jesus and celebrate with people we love. ” Although living within two cultures may have its drawbacks at times, Alisi says that because of this she is able to gain a new perspective, understanding and appreciation of both cultures.
Being a “ Third Culture Kid ” at Christmas Chris and Emily Bowman both identify as “ Third Culture Kids ” , a term used to describe children who spend a significant part of their formational years living in a culture that is different to that of their parents. Chris defines this as, “ [growing] up in a culture that ’ s different to my passport culture. ” Now married, the pair are able to relate to and share in each other ’ s experiences, despite growing up in vastly different cultural and economic circumstances. At the age of 10, Chris and his family moved to Cambodia, where they left behind small luxuries such as McDonalds and “ the toy section at Kmart ” . He didn ’ t become aware of the term “ Third Culture Kid ” until he was in his later teens. “ As a teenager and as a young adult I felt different because of my experiences when I came back to Australia… I think as a kid and as a teenager, anything that makes you feel different is something you resent. But looking back, I loved my experience. ”
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Third Culture Kids Emily and Chris Brown celebrating Christmas together.
Emily, who moved to Thailand when she was 11, describes herself as “ not really Thai, because I ’ m too Australian. And I ’ m not really Australian because I ’ m very Thai as well. ” She learnt about Third Culture Kids while she was in high school, saying: “ I think it really helped in accepting yourself and helping to understand your circumstances better. ” To Emily, being a Third
l eual tduere c rship
Culture Kid doesn ’ t mean that she ’ s part Thai and part Australian, more that she ’ s “ neither and it ’ s like this bridging of all these different cultures. ” Christmas was a time of year when the differences in culture and religion became really apparent. As Cambodia and Thailand are predominantly Buddhist, Christmas in those countries is often commercialised, with many people not understanding or celebrating its origins. “ Christmas never felt like Christmas to me [in Thailand], ” Emily recalls. She says that Christmas decorations and music tend to be hidden away “ in pockets ” in Thailand; a contrast to the massive Christmas decorations everywhere in Australia. Emily ’ s family often spent a quiet Christmas together, acknowledging the story of Jesus ’ birth.
In Cambodia, Chris ’ family often celebrated Christmas with the classic meal of mashed potatoes, gravy and roast meat. They were one of few families in the area who celebrated Christmas, and they kept their celebrations similar to those they had shared in Australia. Despite the lack of celebration of Christmas and other Christian traditions in their surrounding cultures, both Chris and Emily say that their time overseas has had a positive impact on their faith. “ By comparing my faith to a different culture around me, it ’ s really made me deeper in my faith than it would have been otherwise, ” Emily reflects. Chris says his strong spiritual connection was a result of his transient lifestyle. “ I think that for me faith has been a really important part of my journey because it ’ s been one of the only things that is a constant throughout my life. ”
Finding a place to fit Growing up as a Second Gen, Sam Chan says that he was, at first, unaware of how significant some of the cultural differences are – he felt “ normal ” . He explains, “ I thought I was like everyone else –I just ate different food. ” As a child of Chinese-Malaysian parents, Sam knew terms such as ABC (Australian Born Chinese) and Banana (white on the inside and yellow on the outside) that helped describe some of the differences that he noticed. He didn ’ t fully recognise the significance of the marginalisation until years later. Sam grew up in a migrant Singapore/Malaysian church where he was surrounded by people of the same heritage. This was a great place to grow up, providing a strong sense of community, belonging and identity. However, the older Sam grew the more difficult this place became. “ One of the main issues of being Second Gen is that we are misunderstood or totally missed altogether, ” he says. “ Growing up as Second Gen in a migrant church, we are often treated as first gen migrants [but] we find we don ’ t really fit there either. ” Through his role as the CALD (culturally and linguistically diverse) Project Officer with Mission Resourcing, Sam talks to many Second Gen churchgoers – within the Uniting Church and in other
Sam Chan celebrates Christmas with family, friends and church members.
denominations – about the challenges they face in finding their place. Second Gen people frequently feel like they fit somewhere in between their parents ’ culture and the Australian culture they ’ ve grown up in. This negotiation of cultures is often apparent at big family events, such as Christmas. For his own Christmas celebrations, Sam often invites migrants without family close by to spend Christmas with his family. They join together to share in a feast featuring a traditional Chinese steam boat – a dish usually served on Chinese New Year ’ s – with an Asian salad and a roast ham, the latter of which was added to the meal when Sam married an Australian woman.
A shared Christmas story The traditions of Second Gen and Third Culture Kids are diverse – and these stories provide just a few examples of what their lives and Christmas celebrations might look like. Common to them all, however, is a focus on the birth of Jesus and an appreciation of family.
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Thanks to CALD Project Officer Sam Chan for gathering the names of Second Gen and Third Culture Kids from the church to contact for this article – and for offering to share his own reflections. To find out more about CALD, Second Gen or Third Culture Kids, please contact Sam via email at schan@sa.uca.org.au
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leadership
Rev Nigel Rogers, Rev Beth Seaman and Rev Douglas Monaghan at the recent Presbytery and Synod meeting.
A revitalisation for Noarlunga “ To live as Ambassadors of Christ ” is the bold mission statement of Noarlunga Uniting Church as they move forward into a new era. At present, Noarlunga is a combined community of three former Uniting Church congregations – Hackham West, Morphett Vale and Christies Beach – with properties at Morphett Vale and Christies Beach. While both buildings were being used for worship for a time, Sunday services are now held at the William Road building at Christies Beach. The church ’ s many community activities are now also held in this location. The Noarlunga congregation has felt called to renew and refresh themselves by focussing on a new location and mission to better connect with the wider community. After a period of discussion and discernment, the decision was made to sell the Hillier Road Worship Centre at Morphett Vale and later, the William Road building. Selling the existing buildings will make way for a new and refreshed church, offering a significant and vibrant presence in the southern suburbs. Earlier in 2017, the Noarlunga Parish Mission Council was formed to help guide and assist in the future planning for the new church. Exciting conversations are happening around a future property – whether the church will encompass a new build or will acquire a new building in a prominent location. This decision has yet to be made. Whatever the new building looks like, it will serve the mission of the congregation and be a resource for the community.
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“ This is a key project in the life of the Church, ” says Rev Nigel Rogers, the CEO/General Secretary of the Uniting Church SA. “ A revitalised church in a central location of Adelaide ’ s southern suburbs will bring transformation to the lives of many in the community and work to grow the Kingdom of God. ” The Noarlunga church community has built on their mission statement, using it to develop four key mission areas – intentional discipleship, developing community links, identifying needs in the community, and maintaining a vibrant Uniting Church presence in the southern suburbs. The Noarlunga congregation will be the main Uniting Church for one of Adelaide ’ s largest geographic areas, the Onkaparinga Council, which has a population of approximately 57,000. “ I believe this is an area that is ripe for mission and has great opportunities for us to serve God in completely practical ways ” says Rev Douglas Monaghan, the minister of Noarlunga Uniting Church. “ It ’ s a huge area with many people desperately needing to see the difference God can make in their lives so please join us in praying to the Lord of the Harvest. ” The congregation hopes to strengthen their bonds with other Uniting Church congregations in the surrounding area – Hallett Cove Uniting Church to the north, Seeds to the north east, the Vines to
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Noarlunga Uniting Church ’ s William Road worship centre in Christies Beach.
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AUSTRALIAN FUNERAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION
the east, ConneXions to the south, and Old Noarlunga in the south east. The existing church community is already connecting with these congregations, and they hope to build upon these relationships as the project progresses. The Parish Mission Council is also working very closely with the Uniting Church SA Presbytery & Synod. Members of the Synod office have been key in helping to guide the Council through this process, and Douglas is serving in the church in a priority placement. “ It is a massive privilege to serve here in Noarlunga. I am excited by the vision of the congregation and encouraged by the support shown by Presbytery to reimagining how we can express God ’ s love to those in the southern suburbs, ” says Douglas. “ I look forward to working with the congregation, the local community and the wider church to realise God ’ s mission here. ” The Noarlunga Parish Mission Council is currently having conversations with people and congregations who have progressed new building projects or purchased new properties, those who have amalgamated, and those who have started new types and styles of church. The Council is eager to hear from those who can bring wisdom and knowledge to establishing a new church. To get in touch with the Council, please contact Beth Seaman on 8236 4253 or email bseaman@sa.uca.org.au
Geoff Lewis General Manager
(Morgans A.B.N. 49 010 669 726 A.F.S.L.235410) Participant of ASX Group, A Professional Partner of the Financial Planning Association of Australia.
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#MeToo:
Women from the Uniting Church SA share their stories of sexual harassment and assault Since the Harvey Weinstein scandal broke, people all over the world have been sharing their experiences of sexual harassment and abuse using the hashtag #MeToo. Stories about patterns of harassment, abuse and assault perpetrated by respected figures in entertainment, the media and political spheres have been shared widely overseas and in Australia. But the individual stories of
#MeToo are just as important. Usually offered by women, these stories demonstrate the difficulties many people face in workplaces, churches and the community. Many women in the Uniting Church in South Australia have their own stories of sexual harassment and assault to share – from within the Uniting Church, from different denominational contexts and in the wider
community. This is a serious issue for many women within the Uniting Church, and is, therefore, a serious issue for the Church. Please note: The stories shared here are all told by women currently within or connected to the Uniting Church SA. Any identifying details have been removed and the stories have been shared under pseudonyms.
pursuit. The comment disturbed me deeply. In my early 20s, I was approached by a man at my church to be told how “ sexy ” it was that I wore a long skirt unlike those “ sluts ” that he saw on the streets in their flesh-baring clothing. I challenged the man and reported
the behaviour to mitigate future incidents for myself or other women. Time taught me that not speaking up permitted bad behaviour to persist without consequence. But I realise many women struggle to do this, as it is scary and puts you in a position of vulnerability.
men (and women) who have been deeply respectful of me – and I of them. However, I do have memories of being groped as a child by an older child. Memories of being approached at least twice as a teenager by adult men who exposed themselves to me. Memories of being shown
as a young adult photos of male genitalia by a male hairdresser who also insisted on a kiss as part payment for his services. Each memory is very clear – I can picture exactly where I was and the feelings of shame, embarrassment, and of feeling small and disempowered.
person. We talked quite a lot through the newish era of online forums, but I noticed that in these forums his comments would usually become sleazy – quite different to his church persona. His language would be euphemistic, rather than overt, so I would try to laugh it off, redirect the conversation or just log off and hope for a better conversation another day. Eventually, when I realised that we only talked online rather than in person, I “ unfriended ” him on Facebook. He didn ’ t discover this for months, but when he did he contacted me through Facebook Messenger
to ask why. I explained that I felt that “ any time we talked on Facebook you turned into a sleazy pig ” and told him that I had lost respect and trust in him as a Christian male friend. His response was less than stellar: “ I find this feedback concerning. I ’ m not going to get into any ‘he said-she said ’ however I strongly reject claims of over-sexualized comments. ” He went on to say he was willing to try to reconcile if I wanted to, also implying that if I did not agree to this then I was to blame for “ ruining ” the friendship. I declined to reconcile. He is still working as a pastor.
Rachael ’ s story In my last year of high school I was called “ un-rapeable ” by a boy I had romantic feelings for – someone I also considered a friend. The comment was intended to lead me to believe I was not desirable enough even to be raped and to stop me in my tracks of
Maria ’ s story I have chosen not to share this before now, and will keep this confidential because I have family members who do not know what has happened to me. I want to start by saying that I have no memory or awareness of being sexually harassed or abused within the church. I have been blessed by relationships with
Jennifer ’ s story I was working for a church that had a strong, close-knit team of pastors, most of whom were men. Over the few years of working there, many of the people in my age group started to pair off and marry. I was not pairing off; neither was one of the pastors. We were great friends and had enjoyed many conversations about faith, life and our hopes for future relationships. There was no romantic interest from either of us towards the other. As time went on, I found he was distant in
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Lauren ’ s story My first encounter with sexual harassment came with my first real job. I was working as a casual sales assistant at a local grocery store. It was my much older boss, the store owner, and it came in the form of unwanted jokes, innuendos, discussing inappropriate topics
around me. It made me feel so uncomfortable and upset. At the time, I wouldn ’ t have thought to label it as harassment. I didn ’ t understand what would constitute as harassment or that it could happen to me. I didn ’ t feel like I
could say anything, or stand up for myself, as he would say he was “ just joking ” . When it comes from a person in a position of power, you feel defenceless, trapped. Like they hold something over you.
want him around me and that I thought what was happening was wrong. I was disregarded and told to stop causing a scene. I was told initially that it was important to engage with whole church intergenerationally and that in ministry I would need to talk to people I didn ’ t really want to. Nothing changed – he kept private messaging me on social media, making inappropriate comments, hunting me down in greeting time to hug me, and awkwardly winking at me at church, especially when I was trying to host or lead. This was
really distracting and uncomfortable. His behaviour went on for a few months until some of the pastors at church questioned me on my unwillingness and hesitancy to host or lead on Sunday morning. I told them about what was going on and they validated my concern and spoke to him immediately. It was still awkward after that, but I avoided him completely and the pastors backed me up whenever I mentioned concern. I finally felt supported.
been attending for several months. I confided in a church leader and expressed how uncomfortable and unsafe this made me feel. I asked if he could be in a different small group because I wanted to feel safe to open up and couldn ’ t with him there. I was told no, that I ’ d have to deal with it, and that we didn ’ t want to make him feel unwelcome. A couple of years later, when I was 20, I was date raped. The thoughts going through
my mind? “ It ’ s your fault. You shouldn ’ t have tempted him. ” and “ What you want and how you feel doesn ’ t matter. Keep it to yourself. We don ’ t want to make others uncomfortable. ” When I finally had the courage to speak up to loved ones, one of my “ friends ” supported the perpetrator, saying how terrible it was for him and his family having to face court when he didn ’ t do anything wrong.
Hana ’ s story I was involved in the leadership at my church; I had grown up there. My mum had a male friend who was a part of the group and ministry she ran, so he would be around our house a bit. He kept making inappropriate comments to me about wanting to hang out with me alone, and how “ I was single but only because I was playing hard to get… because the offer was there. ” I told him I didn ’ t want to talk to him because I was 18 and he was in his mid-40s, and it was just inappropriate and I felt uncomfortable. I told my mum I didn ’ t
Noelle ’ s story I remember in youth group, all the girls being told by our leaders “ Don ’ t wear short skirts. You don ’ t want to make it hard to for the boys to avoid temptation. ” When I was 18, I had unwanted interest from a young man online. I started by being polite, but ended up blocking him. The next thing I knew he had found out which church I was attending and came along to a service. He then joined my small group, which I had
We all have the right to feel safe, valued and respected If any of these stories have raised concerns for you regarding past or current incidents within the Uniting Church in South Australia, please consider discussing this with a member of the Safe Church team. If you are seeking to talk to someone about an incident in another synod or denomination, the Safe Church team may be able to assist you with contact details. Contact the Safe Church team on 8236
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4268 or email safechurch@sa.uca.org.au If you have a concern about a situation involving a person under 18, call the Child Abuse Report Line on 13 14 78. If the alleged abuser is a member of the Uniting Church, please notify the Safe Church team (contact details above). The national sexual assault and domestic violence counselling service, 1800RESPECT, offers information, referrals and counselling.
Contact this service on 1800 737 732. For more information about their services, please visit 1800respect.org.au Lifeline offers support for anyone across Australia who is experiencing a personal crisis. Contact this service on 13 11 14. For more information about Lifeline, please visit lifelineadelaide.org
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Taking off:
a church plant launches in Prospect Bindy Taylor
Spend a small amount of time with Jenny and Mike Wardrop and you can ’ t help but be energised by their enthusiasm for Christ and by their vision to reach a younger generation for Jesus through a new church plant. Church planting wasn ’ t something Jenny and Mike had visualised for their future, it was more of a “ God interuption ” . “ This unexpected call on our lives was not what we had anticipated, but it was something that God had very clearly spoken to us about in a few different ways and really placed on our hearts, ” explains Mike. “ So we pursued that call and now here we are, just a few months away from launching our first service. ” Encounter Church was officially recognised as a Uniting Church faith community on Monday 25 September, 2017. Their first public church service will be held in Prospect in mid-February 2018. This inaugural service has been over two years in the planning. “ We have gone down a really long process and path to get to where we are now, ” explains Jenny, who co-pastors Encounter Church with Mike. “ We spent significant amounts of time praying and fasting, training and attending conferences on church planting, and seeking mentoring from those who have planted successfully in the past. We just wanted to be really prepared for what God has for us in this season. ” As the church plant idea progressed, Jenny and Mike sought to gather a team to help them lead and establish the new Uniting Church community. They wanted to be as collaborative as possible, particularly in the early planning stages, so it wasn ’ t just the two of them directing what the church core values were or what the church should be about. They invited young people to share their own vision and heart for the church community.
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“ We really wanted to capture how young people saw the church because we really believe this church is going to reach younger generations for Jesus, ” says Mike. Earlier in the planning process, the start-up team developed four core values - Jesus, People, Real and Generous. These values are fundamental to the way Encounter Church acts, thinks and shares. “ For us, the word ‘real ’ is crucial to our existence. We want to communicate in the most real and honest way possible, ” says Jenny. “ We have a really strong focus on the younger generation. We want a place where they can come to, where they can be seeking out what ’ s going on in scripture and be asking questions, be hearing the Gospel and finding something that really relates to them where they are at. This is a big focus for Encounter and something we want to hold true to as well. ” Those who are already part of the plant represent a diverse Uniting Church, coming together from different cultures and age groups. The majority of them are currently in transitional phases of life – many of them are high school graduates, university students, newly engaged or married, or have just moved out of home. Having established a strong culture and a base of core values, Encounter Church is now undertaking the ‘launch team ’ phase of the church plant. “ [This is] the phase that occurs three months before the official church launch. Our launch team is being trained to be ready with the first public service in February, ” says Jenny. “ We hold team-builing and culture-building days called ‘Close Encounters ’ . These sessions consist of teaching, training and team building, as we seek to develop more leaders within the team and to encourage people to help out in different areas of the church. ”
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Members of the Encounter Church planting team gathered in worship at Prospect.
The young leaders emerging from this training are clearly demonstrating the core values that are part of Encounter ’ s DNA – dedicated to learning more about the Gospel, spending more time with God, growing spiritually, and sharing generously. It is evident that the people involved in this church plant are practicing what they preach. Church planting is never an easy task. Not only because of the challenging secular culture which exists in Australia, but also the personal toll that the planting process can take on the planters. Jenny and Mike have just relocated their home to Prospect to be better placed to connect with the community that Encounter Church will be part of. They regularly open their home to members of the church plant team for prayer, training and worship, offering hospitality and friendship to everyone who enters the Encounter community. In addition to this, Mike has a full-time role as an Intergenerational Discipleship Developer with the Mission Resourcing ministry centre of the Uniting Church SA, and Jenny is regularly contracted as a film editor. They also have three young children, all under the age of nine. Despite the busyness of their home and family life, Mike and Jenny seem largely unperturbed by the disruptive nature of God ’ s call. “ We feel really blessed in what God has given us and what God has done so far. Our ultimate goal is to see people find real life in Jesus, and for people to discover purpose and hope through Encounter, ” says Jenny. This is not to say that Encounter Church doesn ’ t need support from the wider Uniting Church SA community. The Encounter faith community has already received encouragement from the Generate 2021 church planting initiative, from other Uniting Church communities in Prospect and the surrounding area, and through mentors and educators.
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Encounter Church Pastors Mike and Jenny Wardrop.
Mike and Jenny encourage anyone who feels called to support Encounter to pray for the community, particularly as they approach their official launch date. They have invited people to offer prayers of support and encouragement to lift them up as they move into the next phase of ministry. They have also requested prayers and support for resources - in the form of people, finance and encouragement. Mike shares the ongoing vision for the Encounter Church faith community: “ We want to establish a place that forms amazing community, declares the name of Jesus and helps people find answers to the deepest questions in their life. It ’ s really important to us at Encounter. “ Why not partner with us as we do it? ” For more information about Encounter Church, please visit encounteradelaide.com.au or email hello@encounteradelaide.com.au. For more information about church planting and Generate 2021, please visit ucasa.org.au/growing-uniting-church-sa
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The fire living inside Jesse Size was one of two candidates for ministry who the Presbytery resolved to ordain at the November Presbytery and Synod meeting. Jesse shares his passion for breaking down barriers and his personal journey towards becoming a Deacon in the Uniting Church.
Left to right: Ministry candidates Mark Schultz and Jesse Size bowing their heads in prayer at the November Presbytery and Synod meeting.
Journeying in faith When I was still a reasonably new Christian in my early 20s, I started doing some youth work for a couple of Uniting Church congregations, not knowing a whole lot about the denomination. It was my involvement in the Hungry No More community through Mount Barker Uniting Church that particularly shaped me for ministry. Every week we met at tables and ate together. Here I met Jesus in those struggling with addictions. I met him in people dying from terminal illness. I met him in the desperately hungry and those in constant housing crisis. I met him in those who were doing all they could to shrug off former lives of pain, crime and hardship. I met Christ in the laughter and joy of the small children. The stories I heard people tell me each week chipped away at the way I saw the world and the way I saw people. Somehow, here I was able to experience faith, ministry and community in a new way that meant I wouldn’t be the same on the other side. Experiences like this helped affirm that this was part of my vocation. My wife Chelsea and I spent some of our early marriage living in a missional order focussed on living with people on the margins. This was a really important space for us to wrestle with the challenges and dynamics of working in vulnerable communities. It also gave us an opportunity to learn from those who had been doing this kind of thing for some time, and confirmed for us our call to be in places of vulnerability. Around six years ago we relocated to Port Augusta, where we worked in schools, running youth groups and kids clubs, and having a lot to do with the Port Augusta Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress and Dusty Feet Mob dance group. This has been a
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really powerful part of our family ’ s story, allowing us to connect more deeply with what ’ s gone before us, while at the same time drawing us into a space where we wonder what it might mean to be part of a new story that involves reconciliation, healing and hope. Throughout this time I became a candidate. I remember coming across a description of a deacon as a pathfinder – going where others don ’ t go, lighting the way for the church to respond to people in the community who are hurting, disadvantaged and oppressed, and building unique community in that place. I knew that was the fire already living in me so I followed these impulses into my formation within the Uniting Church. Looking forward in the Uniting Church What I love about the Uniting Church is that no matter what things look like moving forward, we ’ re always guided by the same vision of reconciliation and renewal – a vision that urges us to be brave and to move in step with God and each other. We ’ re being asked, as the Church, to take seriously the call to go where the brokenness is, to go where the hurt is, to enter into the spaces between us that keep us from walking together. We are called to go forth into every sphere of human life that creates and perpetuates the wrongs of injustice, the brutality of oppression, the callous disregard of what is sacred, the distance between ourselves and another. We ’ re here for the restoration of human communities; human lives repaired and rebuilt through forgiveness, grace, inclusion, compassion and love. The hope and the joy of it all is that the crucified and resurrected Christ is already in these spaces before we ever get there. We ’ re here together, led and enabled by the Holy Spirit – a fellowship of reconciliation, an instrument through which Christ may work and
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A focus on the future Mark Schultz is the other candidate whose ordination was discussed at the November Presbytery and Synod meeting. New Times spoke to Mark about his call to become a Minister of the Word.
bear witness to himself. Renewal and reconciliation for the whole creation – that ’ s what we ’ re caught up in as the Uniting Church and that ’ s what I love about it. My calling I resonate strongly with the notion of crossing boundaries and breaking down barriers. There ’ s a natural movement within me towards “ outsiders ” , beyond the walls of the church. Similarly, in a community, I ’ m often particularly conscious of the invisible barriers that make it hard for others to participate. If the barriers are too firmly entrenched I often think: “ How could we go and build community over there where they are? ” In a congregational context, the question I bring as a part of who I am is: “ What does it mean to be a servant community with a special attentiveness to those who are vulnerable? ” I really value faith that is embodied and practical, which really means learning and entering into the ways of God together, taking seriously the implications for our lives in ways that offer to transform us and maybe even the world. I think it ’ s vital we learn to build our lives on a contemplative foundation, learning to breathe with God, allowing the deep things of God to call out the depths within us. In this next season, I ’ ve been really fortunate in Port Augusta to have a church community willing to encourage me, and to journey with me in these questions. One of the most electric realities I know is sensing God ’ s invitation to step into these spaces together. This is the work of the whole church, a risky, enemy-loving, go-the-extra mile way of being in the world.
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Can you tell us a bit about your background in the Uniting Church? I am actually a recent returnee to the Uniting Church! I grew up in an Anglican Church along with my parents, grandparents and my sister, nieces and nephews. For 19 years I worked with Scripture Union, both in SA and the ACT, which gave me many opportunities to connect with a range of churches. When I began thinking and praying about candidating for ministry I was drawn to the Uniting Church because of its sense and understanding of mission, the centrality of its focus on justice issues and First Peoples, and its approach to the ministry of every member. The longer I have hung around the more I have had a feeling of coming home to my own church – not bad for five years in! When did you start taking on more leadership roles within the church? I think I was dropped into ministry for the first time when I was 16 years old. I found myself on one of Scripture Union ’ s Family Mission holiday programs. Since then I can ’ t remember a time when I hadn ’ t been in ministry in some form. When I was 23, I went on staff with Scripture Union coordinating those same holiday programs I had found such joy in. I was leading and managing around 250 volunteers across seven locations along the SA coast in a day and a half a week – a certain cure for any remaining perfectionist streak I may have had. From there I spent 14 years as the Executive Director of Scripture Union, first in ACT then SA. It was five years ago that I sensed God ’ s call into congregational ministry. I found myself in a four-month, part-time supply placement at Glenunga Uniting Church, which eventually led to a Ministry of Pastor placement. Since then I have been involved in a number of other wider church areas, most recently, as a member of the Mission Leadership Development Board and managing the KCO team this year. I love inspiring people to know and grow in Jesus, and helping individuals, congregations and the Church more broadly to catch the wind of the Spirit and jump on board with the mission of God. I am passionate about connecting in grounded ways with communities on matters that God is passionate about. What are your hopes for the Uniting Church? When I read the Basis of Union for the first time, I was struck by how future-oriented it was. I hope that the Church will keep meeting the opportunities and challenges it faces with hope, faith and integrity. I hope that God will bring hope in tangible ways to our communities, both within and beyond the Church. I hope the Uniting Church will continue to grow lifelong disciples of Jesus and that we will keep on becoming the Church that God wants us to be.
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A long journey to ordination Tongan-born Australian Katalina Tahaafe-Williams ’ road to ordained ministry has been long and winding. Her joy at achieving this milestone was apparent at her ordination, which took place during the recognition of ministry service held as part of the November Presbytery and Synod meeting. Katalina felt called to leadership in the church from a young age. “ My formation as a Christian began as a child at home with my parents ’ teachings and influence, and in my local village church in Tonga, ” she recalls. “ As a young adult, my growing faith was deeply nurtured in the Uniting Church by wonderful and dedicated ministers and lay leaders who were my mentors, and who nourished and cared for my spiritual growth. ” Katalina attended Sunday School and youth group at her local Uniting Church in Auburn, Sydney, and when she got older she starting joining committees in her congregation and parish. Katalina was a university student when she first heard the call to ordained ministry on Magnetic Island. She was there participating in an orientation session for About FACE, a faith and cultural exchange program where participants spend time living in Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress communities. “ After About FACE, I became more involved in the wider ministry of the Uniting Church and in the global ecumenical movement. I was the first young Pacific Island member of NSW Council of Synod – now the NSW Synod Standing Committee – and Assembly Standing Committee, for example, ” she says. “ For several years, I served in key ministry and church leadership roles as a lay woman in the Uniting Church and abroad. I candidated for ordained ministry shortly upon my family ’ s return to Australia after almost a decade in the United Kingdom. ” Katalina currently serves as Programme Executive, Mission and Evangelism, for the World Council of Churches, and is based in Geneva, Switzerland. In this role, she is able to express her passion for social justice and multicultural ministries. After moving to Geneva, Katalina transferred her candidature from NSW/ACT to SA so that she could continue her ministry formation by distance through Uniting College for Leadership & Theology. She is an associate member of Brougham Place Uniting Church. Despite being based overseas at present, Katalina clearly has a heart for the Uniting Church and its future.
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Top to bottom: Members of the Uniting Church SA praying for Katalina Tahaafe-Williams at her ordination service; Katalina joins in song with Tongan singers.
“ Currently, I am serving in ministry at the global ecumenical level, but I have a deep longing and yearning to be in local church ministry eventually, ” she explains, going on to outline her hopes for the Uniting Church and her own ministry. “ I pray that the UCA will continue to live up to the vision for being church [as] embodied in our Basis of Union and to flourish as a spiritual home for all seeking to find belonging amongst God ’ s people. “ I pray, too, that God ’ s transforming Spirit continues to renew a right spirit within me so that I may always serve in the joy of God ’ s salvation. ”
diary
CHRISTMAS SERVICES. Information about Christmas services has been provided by some congregations, including Blue Christmas services, carols events and more. This information has been published online at sa.uca.org.au/christmas/christmas-events CAROLS IN THE BUSH. Sunday 10 December, 6pm. Rockleigh Uniting Church. This annual event will be hosted by the SA Police Band with local artists also providing items. A sausage sizzle will be held from 4.30pm, prior to the carol singing, and a supper will follow. For more information, please contact Barbara on 8538 7060 or email pympton1@bigpond.com CAROLS BY THE SEA. Saturday 16 December, 1pm. St Andrew ’ s by the Sea Uniting Church, Glenelg. Arts by the Sea will partner with the Monteverdi Singers to host a free outdoor concert outside St Andrew ’ s by the Sea Uniting Church on Jetty Road in Glenelg. Limited marquee seating will be available. For more information, please contact Arts by the Sea on 0405 459 214 or email artsbythesea@standrewsuc.org.au ARDROSSAN COMMUNITY CAROLS. Sunday 17 December, 6pm. Ardrossan Town Square. This event brings together local church congregations and the wider community to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas. Instead of a monetary offering, people will be encouraged to donate a pair of “ sox and jox ” for the Hutt Street Men ’ s Shelter. The evening will begin with a sausage sizzle. For more information, please contact Jane on 0408 393 786 or email revjane@bigpond.com DECOMMISSIONING SERVICE. Sunday 17 December, 2pm. Noarlunga Uniting Church, Hillier Road property, Morphett Vale. Noarlunga Uniting Church is holding a decommissioning service for their property at Hillier Road, Morphett Vale. All are invited to join the congregation as they give thanks for the many years of faithful ministry and witness that has taken place at this location. Afternoon tea will be served following the service. CHRISTMAS MUSICAL. Sunday 17 December, 10am. The Corner Uniting Church, Warradale. The Corner Kids Performing Arts Group proudly presents “ Guinea Pigs in the Manger ” , a Christmas musical for the whole family! This musical is about children playing with the nativity characters and some unexpected visitors. The story focuses on making room for others at Christmas. For more information, please contact The Corner on 8350 5400 or email administration@thecorner.org.au CHERRY GARDENS COMMUNITY CAROLS. Tuesday 19 December, 6.30pm. Cherry Gardens Memorial Hall. This special community carols event will feature a wide variety of children ’ s activities, including a balloon twister and face-painting. There will be costumes available for children to wear and an opportunity for them to participate in a nativity tableau at the beginning of the program. Music will be shared by singer Rebekah Nelson and gospel country group The Sherrahs. The evening will conclude with supper. For more information, please contact Dianne on 0427 863 429 or email dirdyson@yahoo.com.au CHRISTMAS CAROLS FESTIVAL. Wednesday 20 December, 6pm. Lockleys Reserve (Mellor Park). Sing-along with the West Torrens Concert Band, the Monteverdi Singers and other guest artists at this special carols event. There will be an opportunity to purchase food and refreshments from 6pm, with the carols and entertainment beginning at 7.30pm. The evening will also include a visit from Father Christmas and the Samoyed Sled Dogs. For more information, please contact Lorraine on 0407 266 966 or email kidsspace@awuc.org.au ADARE GARAGE SALE. Saturday 6 January, 7.30am-2pm. Adare Uniting Church, Victor Harbor. Adare ’ s mega garage sale will include a wide variety of food and goods, including books, toys, household items, Devonshire tea, breakfast, face painting, cakes and a BBQ. For more information, please visit adarechurch.org.au
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WARRADALE CHURCH BUILDING CLOSURE. Sunday 21 January, 10am. A combined service of the Marion-Warradale Congregation will celebrate the rich contribution that members have made to the whole church for many years. Friends and former members are invited to attend this closing service of the Warradale site to share in worship and morning tea. For more information, please contact Joy on 8296 1646 or email jbar7220@bigpond.net.au Diary events are submitted online and featured on the Uniting Church SA website (sa.uca.org.au), in UC e-News and in New Times (deadline permitting). To submit your event please visit sa.uca.org.au/events/submit-an-event
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letters to the editor
A moment to think
I read the letters in your October/November 2017 issue, and thinking about the letter [featuring the] call to unite the Church, which I call the Body of Christ, which encumbers all denominations. But although we must unite, there are a few grave details that not every Christian can come to terms with. Therefore, we must take what we can agree on and let all other differences aside. It is most difficult as to what we can agree on. But there is one thing that we must all agree on, and that is the Word of God, for if we doubt one particle of God ’ s word, there can be no joint faith! That is our basis of our faith, our grounding. When all else fails, our faith rests in God and on His word. I believe there must be a time for all the Body of Christ to take stock, call a day of prayer and fasting, seek God, and ask what we have done or not done to cause the falling away from worship. There are so many areas where we need to come before God and seek forgiveness that we are unaware of – that ’ s when the Body [of Christ] needs to get together and pause for a moment to think. M. DeGill, Kadina Send your letters to: newtimes@sa.uca.org.au or PO Box 2145, Adelaide 5001.
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SUPPORTING HAPPY AND HEALTHY FUTURES. “We are thankful for UC Invest for their generous donation towards Hang it up for Poverty.” - Clarisse Semler-Hanlon, UCWPA
Invest with someone who invests in your community. Visit us at ucinvest.com.au or call us on 1300 274 151. UC Invest (“the Fund”) is an activity of The Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (S.A.) ABN 25 068 897 781, the legal entity of the Uniting Church SA. Investment services are provided on behalf of the Uniting Church SA pursuant to ASIC Policy Statement 87 exemptions and APRA Banking Exemption No.1 of 2016 (“The Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (S.A.)”). The Fund is not prudentially supervised by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority, therefore an investor in the Fund will not receive the benefit of the financial claims scheme or the depositor protection provisions in the Banking Act 1959. All products and investments offered by the Fund are designed for investors who wish to support the charitable purposes of the Uniting Church SA.
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reviews
True wonder Film: Wonder (2017) Director: Stephen Chbosky Rating: PG Synopsis: Based on the New York Times bestseller of the same name, Wonder is a family drama that follows the experiences of a young boy and his family as they navigate the daunting emotional journey of his first year at a new school.
August “ Auggie ” Pullman (Jacob Tremblay) is a smart 10-year-old boy born with Treacher Collins Syndrome, a genetic disorder that is characterised by facial deformities. Up until the beginning of the movie, Auggie has been homeschooled by his mother, Isabel (Julie Roberts), who put her life on hold after he was born. Isabel and her husband, Nate (Owen Wilson), decide that Auggie is at a point where he is ready to go to a normal school. Their hope is that he will learn to socialise with his peers and begin to feel comfortable outside in the “ real world ” . While this story is centred on Auggie and his journey in adapting to his new surroundings, Stephen Chbosky, the director of The Perks of Being a Wallflower, has also showcased other characters. Under his direction, this film is realistic and relatable, and there has obviously been significant effort and care taken in the creation of make-up and facial prosthetics for the character of Auggie. While sitting in the theatre, I couldn ’ t help but connect the film ’ s overall message of empathy and compassion to the word of God. There are scenes where bullies harass Auggie because of how he looks, but the beauty of this movie is that it doesn ’ t just pass over these moments lightly. Wonder has a captivating way of developing characters and sends the audience a clear message that there are no excuses for bad behaviour. However, Chobsky also lets the audience understand that nobody exists in a vaccum, and that there are usually reasons for why people act in certain ways.
Love is another huge theme that is carried through the movie from beginning to end: the positive overall love of the Pullman family; the uniquely different types of sacrificial love shown by Isabel (Roberts) and Auggie ’ s sister, Via (Izabela Vidovic), and the hardest love we seem to struggle with, loving our enemies as Christ has asked of us. This is a film that could have very easily exaggerated the plot and become overly dramatic. Instead we are gifted with a story that is beautifully inspiring and understatedly moving. It strongly emphasises the idea that being kind to one another is more important than what people think. While this is a valuable lesson, it is one that begins to feel tired and overused by the end of the movie. Nonetheless, Wonder creates an uplifting and heart-tugging atmosphere that can be enjoyed all members of the family. The trailer does in no way justify the complexity of the characters, nor the array emotions it will bring forth.
Tasha Crumpler
Save the date! The next Disaster & Recovery Ministry two-day training will take place on Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 March. Location: TBA. For more information, please contact Wendy Perkins on 8236 4284 or email wperkins@sa.uca.org.au
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fa i t h
God, goats and gifts Cath Taylor
“ You got me a what?” Uncle Graham is squinting at your card, breath a little yeasty from the Christmas pudding. Frankly, he ’ s disappointed. It was socks he wanted. Socks. Or a fishing magazine. He also had his eye on a new case for his iPhone. You got him a goat from UnitingWorld ’ s “ Everything in Common ” ethical gift catalogue. Worthy, but clearly not his favourite. “ Well, it ’ s for a family in Zimbabwe… ” you tell him, a little flustered. “ They ’ ll breed the goats and with the money they can get for them at the market, they ’ ll send their children to school. It ’ s pretty cool, actually. ” Uncle Graham looks skeptical. He doesn ’ t actually say it, but you can see what he ’ s thinking: “ So you got me nothing. You got them goats, but you got me nothing. ” Let ’ s face it: not everyone loves goats, and not everyone gets the idea that you bought them something for someone else. (And actually, some people genuinely need socks). So here you are, with your anxious thoughts about Christmas consumerism, desire to do something to change the world, and cranky Uncle. What to do, what to do? Maybe you can buy Uncle Graham the socks, buy your seven yearold niece that unicorn cushion she desperately wants (just go easy on the glitter). But don ’ t stop there. If you ’ re really about living out the Christmas message, and not just token goat-gifting, sit down and tell your niece the true story of a gift that transforms lives. Start it with the birth of a child, born in a part of the world where mothers still give birth in fear of their lives, and tell her what that first life means. Tell her it means you ’ re on the side of children everywhere born in the dirt, because they are loved and grow up to do great things. Tell her it means every person matters, even if their beginnings are hidden by hay. Angels sing for people like this. Tell her that ’ s why you wanted someone to gift a goat in your honour
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this Christmas – or a beehive, or school stationary. These gifts give people everywhere the chance to make a life for themselves, using the skills they ’ ve been given, just the way you and I would. These gifts are love in action that extend beyond Christmas time. Christmas isn ’ t just about making sure our nearest and dearest have everything they need. Christmas is about being swept up in a powerful gift of love and sharing that as far and wide as we can – the meaning, as well as the outcome. For more information about UnitingWorld and how to donate, please visit unitingworld.org.au. To purchase a gift from the “ Everything in Common ” catalogue, please visit everythingincommon.com.au
Intergenerational Advent resources Engage Together resources are written and produced in partnership across three Uniting Church Synods, including South Australia ’ s Intergenerational Team. These resources are designed to inspire churches to adapt elements of worship services to be more intergenerational. A new resource based on the lectionary readings has been created to offer ideas for use during Advent (3-24 December). There is also a fifth service included for Sunday 31 December. Intergenerational ideas are provided for each week ’ s call to worship, a song, prayers of confession, prayers of the people and a Bible reading. The resource also includes options for an Advent wreath litany and bunting activity. The Engage Together Advent resource is available to download online at sa.uca.org.au/intergen/church-resources/ all-age-worship
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