Opinion

As the conversation about mission, membership and the future of the Uniting Church continues, Rev Peter Lockhart encourages us to discover the possibility that we are being invited by Jesus to share in his work in the world. In his analysis of possible future scenarios for the Uniting Church Dr Keith Suter suggests that the paradox of Uniting Church membership ...

This is the first Journey of the New Year, so I want to outline for you again the discernment of the 31st Synod regarding the broad priorities for the church’s life going forward. Synod discerned the following: making our worship accessible and attractive growing our members in their passion and ability to share their faith planting new communities of faith ...

Here we go again, Christmas is coming. Families looking at their budgets, kids looking at catalogues, grandparents looking at new opportunities for indulgence. Some people are looking at options to help them just survive it. Retail stores are looking for the boost that they’ve already accounted for to get to the year’s projected sales. One of the issues for ministers ...

Every year in the lead-up to Christmas there is an increased focus on giving, but Jane Frazer Cosgrove says generosity is more than that. When we think of “generosity” our thoughts usually go first to gifts of money, goods, and charitable acts. These kinds of giving are important to us all. However at this time of the year, when such ...

“Mum, I just want to tell you I’m gay.” These are the heart-stopping words that greet countless parents both inside and outside the church. As a Christian with pretty black-and-white views on homosexuality, I never thought this would happen to me because my son was a Christian! But it did happen. Late one night 12 years ago my son drove ...

Christmas is a time both joy and grief are felt very deeply. Danielle Stott explores how refuge can be found at Christmas, even during the difficult times. It was a sight to behold. My friend had converted her house into a Christmas wonderland. Mini elfs and singing reindeer and tinsel adorned every inch of her property. A sea of presents almost engulfed ...

Faithfulness and trust rely on one another. Wendi Sargeant explores God’s faithfulness to us and our faithfulness to God. In his book, The Faith of the Church, theologian Karl Barth explains that trust is the “essence of faith”. Trust or confidence, as in placing all our trust in God, comes from the Latin fiducia. Fiducia, he says, “is a term ...

“Well, that’s the question, folks, what’s your response?” This was how Brendan McKeague kicked off a day and a half of discernment for the Synod as it met at Alexandra Park Conference Centre in October. The question was, “Our church is on life support; what’s our call now?” About 70 members of Synod stood up and named an issue they ...

The Basis of Union is a major part of our history and identity as a church, but Robyn Goodwin asks, does the next generation understand it or even know what it is? The Basis of Union is something Uniting Church members can be really proud of. The fact that it even exists seems pretty miraculous to me. It’s our identity document ...

Janet Staines explains how an oft-repeated line from a Disney song reminds her to forgive. I recently saw a sign outside a school classroom that read, “This classroom has gone 28 days without singing the song from Frozen: ‘Let it go’.” If you have children or grandchildren you will know well the award-winning song from Disney’s animated film Frozen and ...