28th Synod

THE 28TH SYNOD affirmed a five line Call for the Uniting Church in Queensland in discerning the future of the Church. This is the first of a series of discussion starters that will explore what each of the five phrases in the Call mean to different people. This edition we look at the first phrase: Uniting in Christ. Rev Allan ...

OVER FOUR days members of the 28th Synod meeting grappled with the financial situation of the Church in Queensland. On the final day of the meeting members recognised, by consensus, the significance and complexity of the financial posit-ion of the Synod and supported the process which has commenced with presbyteries and agencies to identify underutilised assets and reallocate those resources. ...

AFTER THREE days of discussions and deliberations members of the 28th Synod could not pass the proposal regarding changes to the preamble to the Constitution of the Uniting Church in Australia by consensus or agreement and moved to formal procedures. Consequently 220 people voted to support the changes to the preamble, 68 people did not support the changes and two ...

Fourteen awards were given in recognition to extensive service in the Moderator’s Community Service Medals. The 15 recipients (one award went to a husband and wife team) were recognised for their service to the Church, Church agencies and the community in categories aligned with UnitingCare’s Shared Values of compassion, respect, justice, working together and leading through learning. Eight of the ...

On day four of the 28th Synod meeting Burdekin Uniting Church (North Queensland) minister and children’s’ author Rev Paul Clark launched two new books that teach the gospels using toy cars. Six years after starting his journey of finding a way to teach his son about Christ, Mr Clark has published two children’s books The Prodigal Ute and The Strange ...

On Sunday 23 May a Synod tradition – the Charles Farnsworthy III touch football game – continued once again. The rot set in early. Even before the game kicked off City were up to their usual tricks of buying a number of Country players just to be able to get on the field. These payments were made on a separate ...

UNITING CHURCH President Rev Alistair Macrae presented three Bible studies at the Queensland Synod. From looking at the renewal of baptism to the Beatitudes and the risks God’s people have taken to follow their call Mr Macrae encouraged those present to listen and explore their calling in life. He said in the Beatitudes Jesus describes where blessing can be found. ...

In a standing ovation members of the 28th Synod received a minute of appreciation for General Secretary Rev Douglas Jones as he attended his final Synod meeting before his retirement. After being voted in as General Secretary at a Special Synod in 2008 he stepped deep into a Synod in the midst of a significant financial crisis. “This was unexpected ...

THE NORMAN and Mary Millar Lecture at the 28th Synod was presented by Rev Dr Steve Taylor, a New Zealand Baptist minister who is now Director of Missiology at Uniting College for Leadership and Theology in the South Australian Synod of the Uniting Church. He spoke on the word of mission as read in Acts 2 and asked the questions: ...

MEMBERS OF the 28th Synod overwhelmingly supported the nomination of Dr Shirley Coulson as the next General Secretary of the Queensland Synod. She will be the first Lay person to hold the position. Dr Coulson is a deeply committed member of the Uniting Church who has sought to live out her faith over many years through her involvement within her ...