Opinion

One of the appealing characteristics of the Uniting Church is the passion many members have for social justice. We acknowledge that from the Old Testament prophets through Jesus’ commands that we love God and our neighbour there is concern for the poor and the disadvantaged. There are 2000 verses in the Bible which speak about the poor. Many congregations have ...

Later this month some 350 people of the Uniting Church in this state will gather at Alexandra Park Conference Centre for the 32nd Synod in Session. The word “synod” comes from the Greek language: “syn”, meaning together, and “hodos”, meaning a way, a road. So a synod really is about “together on the way”. Archbishop Mark Coleridge, in talking about ...

Ministry is a hard gig, and it’s becoming more and more complex. Human resource consultants Meryem and Greg Brown suggest five ways that congregations can ease the daily burden. Behave Many ministers spend a lot more time than they should sorting out personality issues and resolving petty conflicts. We call our ministers to train and teach and equip us. Let ...

Longreach minister Rev Jenny Coombes provides insight into how we can care for people in times of disaster. One of the greatest stressors in my life at present is having to smile and say “thank you very much” to people who bring goods into the area—toys, pamper packs, food hampers, hay and so on—then deal with businesses who stock these ...

“Looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.” Hebrews 12 “Pioneer” is a bit of an ambivalent descriptor these days. As a nation, we still have not come to terms with the British Empire’s arrival, even though the intent at first was probably just to find a place to dump cast-offs from society and develop a base to ...

While our primary focus should be to take the gospel message outside of these four walls, Easter presents an opportunity to welcome newcomers to church. We asked a Uniting Church teenager for some suggestions about how to invite someone to be part of the church. Show them hospitality What’s the adult equivalent of a sleepover? Do that! Invite your friend or ...

The Uniting Church in Queensland has ten schools under its banner. These schools represent a vast variety of histories, offerings, specialisations, geographic locations and cost structures. Here are five questions to ask yourself when deciding which school is right for your child or grandchild. Do I support the ethos? Though schools may come under the Uniting Church banner, each school ...

Conveying the meaning of Easter to people unfamiliar with the story is a job for all Christians, but it can be a challenge. Rev Matt O’Donoghue explores. Easter is my favourite part of the church calendar. It’s just so rich in ways to express ourselves in worship. Everything from a sombre Tenebrae service on Maundy Thursday through to joyous messy ...

“But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died.” 1 Corinthians 15:20 If there’s one word that encapsulates the revelation of God in Jesus Christ, it is, for me, the word “solidarity”. The seasons of this time in the Christian year emphasise solidarity: Christmas, the season of “Emmanuel”—God with us; Epiphany, ...

Christian leadership isn’t about becoming a household name. Rev Ralph Mayhew looks at the need to develop new leaders in the Uniting Church. Christian leadership is always about minimising ourselves while seeking to maximise Christ. It stands in contrast to other models of leadership, where leadership is about becoming known in order to change the world. A Christian leader can ...