JourneyOnline
THE Uniting Church’s Statement to the Nation in 1977 is a remarkable declaration. Read an extract below.
If we look at it in today’s context, it is still current and the public commitment to Church made 35 years ago still needs to be upheld and strived for.
The Easter is love theme is an attempt to capture the diversity of the Uniting Church in Queensland as well as look back on the public commitments the Church has made in terms of speaking out against injustices, embracing diversity and our
covenant with our Indigenous brothers and sisters.
It represents the diverse nature of the Uniting Church and the formal commitment to being a Multicultural Church made at the Fourth Assembly in 1985.
Easter is a time of community and of people all over the world, from diff erent cultures and who speak different languages, coming together as the body of Christ to celebrate the resurrection.
Uniting Communications, with the help of Paradigm Studios’ Phil Johnson, has made an Easter Sunday Call to Worship video.
The video features the Moderator, Rev Kaye Ronalds, as well as the people featured in this edition of Journey, and others.
It is a celebration of Easter being the culmination of God’s love to the world.
Easter is community; Easter is forgiveness; Easter is love. Share it.
Download the Easter Call to Worship video by clicking here
Statement to the Nation: Inaugural Assembly, June 1977 (extract)
… We, who are members of the fi rst Assembly of the Uniting Church in Australia address the people of Australia in this historic moment.
The path to unity has been long and at times difficult, but we believe this unity is a sign of the reconciliation we seek for the whole human race.
… We affirm our eagerness to uphold basic Christian values and principles, such as the importance of every human being, the need for integrity in public life, the proclamation of truth and justice, the rights for each citizen to participate in decision-making in the community, religious liberty and personal dignity, and a concern for the welfare of the whole human race.
We pledge ourselves to seek the correction of injustices wherever they occur.
We will work for the eradication of poverty and racism within our society and beyond.
… We pledge ourselves to hope and work for a nation whose goals are not guided by self-interest alone, but by concern for the welfare of all persons everywhere — the family of the One God — the God made known in Jesus of Nazareth the One who gave His life for others.
In the spirit of His self-giving love we seek to go forward.
Click here to read the Statement to the Nation.
