Opinion

AS A MINISTER in the Uniting Church, who promised to adhere to the Basis of Union at ordination, I believe that one aspect of my role that is non-negotiable is my involvement in ecumenism. The Basis of Union describes how the three Churches that came into union recognised their separation as denominations as unfaithful to the gift and will of ...

Over the weekend I was tripping about in my car and I heard an advertisement that went something like “Thank you Jesus for cricket” and then in a range of voices thanking Jesus for sunny days, for healing aunty, for the snooze button. It went on for a while with mostly trivial and self-serving thank you points. A voice over ...

HOW DO children learn about the world of property and finance? They play games that simulate adult experiences. And one of the world’s most famous games is Monopoly. The history of Monopoly dates back to 1904 when a Quaker named Elizabeth Magie invented The Landlord’s Game in an attempt to teach people about Henry George’s single tax theory and the ...

I HAVE just listened to an early morning talkback program on Radio National. I came into the conversation during a discussion with a City Councillor from Alice Springs who was defending the Council’s decision to introduce a by-law to prohibit begging on the streets of Alice Springs. It opened up a fascinating conversation about the apparent increase of begging in ...

EXCELLENCE IN health care and promoting the health of our patients and the good of the community is part of the work of God in the world. I believe that is what we do at UnitingCare Health (UCH). Having worked in the healthcare system for almost ten years, I am grateful for our standards and access to medical care. Through ...

I WOULD really love to see the Uniting Church and Congress look at covenanting, for people to understand that under God we are in this together. We are the family of God, we’re going to walk together. I’d love to see covenanting, where we really understand where each one of us is coming from ­— that in God’s country, we ...

INITIALLY I dreamed of churches filled with worshipping families, that all generations may know the joy and the reality of Jesus as Saviour and Lord. Times change, structures and strategies change, we change and communities change, but God is our constant. I hope that the Uniting Church in Australia embraces these changes, seeing them as opportunities to listen and discern ...

MY HOPE is that the Uniting Church will creatively build on the strengths and gifts it brings to the whole Church and to our community. We have a unique but complex relationship with the First Peoples of this land through the Congress. This relationship needs careful attention, honesty, patience and forgiveness if the Church is to model to the wider ...

IF YOU ARE ever attending an event at which Ms Penelope Wensley AO, Governor of Queensland, will be speaking take a note book. I am sure you will find about six fascinating pieces of information you can use in your next trivia night. Recently I attended the Dr David Williams Lecture at King’s College (a Uniting Church affiliated college at ...

AS I WRITE this I am preparing to travel to Sydney to attend the 12th Assembly of the Uniting Church in Australia. At the forefront of my mind are the questions, “How will this Assembly impact upon our life in Queensland?” and “How is it relevant to our current financial situation?” I was heartened to read the article about our ...