JourneyOnline
THE Uniting Church's current Ministerial Education Committee is to be replaced by an Education for Ministry Working Group, with the new body to provide advice on the standards of formation, education and training for the Ministry of the Word, Ministry of Deacon, Ministry of Pastor and Ministry of Lay Preacher.
The statement presented to the 13th Assembly, One Body, Many Members – Living Faith and Life Cross-culturally, prepared by Multicultural and Cross-Cultural Ministry of the Uniting Church in Australia, promises a renewed approach to multicultural and cross-cultural ministry.
Members of the 13th Assembly accepted a proposal for the Uniting Church to "commit itself anew to the people of remote Australia" in this centenary year of the establishment of the Australian Inland Mission.
Regulations relating to the conduct of appeals will be reviewed by a task group to be appointed by the Assembly Standing Committee.
13th Assembly members expressed appreciation for the contributions of Queenslanders Rev Dr Paul Walton and Rev Dr Elizabeth Nolan.
Dr Walton served as Convener of the Assembly Working Group on Worship for 15 years.
Dr Nolan served as Chairperson of the Assembly Christian Education Reference Committee from 2006 to 2012.
The National Christian Youth Convention will be held in Sydney from 7–10 January 2014, with the theme Yuróra.
The website will be live in mid-August.
Two books were launched.
A new "little green book" edition of Holy Communion revamps the "little blue book" that has been widely used by congregations, and includes worship services for communion.
Building on the Basis is a collection of papers from the UCA Assembly Working Groups on Doctrine and Worship published between 2000 and 2011.
Both are available from www.mediacom.org.au.
Perth will host the next meeting of the triennial Assembly of the Uniting Church in Australia in 2015. For more Assembly news visit www.assembly2012.uca.org.au
