THE 13th Assembly was presented with three proposals discussing marriage on Thursday 19 July. A respectful and articulate discussion followed as Assembly members engaged with the proposers: Rev Avril Hannah- Jones and Jenny Hayes, Port- Phillip West Presbytery (proposal 31/amended to 64); Rev Lu Senituli and Rev Gwen Fisher, South Moreton Presbytery (proposal 43); and Rev Carol Bennett and Rev ...

Agencies drive energy efficiency THE Queensland Synod is looking for better and smarter ways of reducing its carbon emissions. With the recent introduction of the carbon tax and two pieces of federal legislation, the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act and the Energy Efficiency Opportunities Act, UnitingCare Queensland and Wesley Mission Brisbane have been obliged to seek ways to reduce ...

IT’S that time of the year again when charities remind their supporters to donate and get the benefit of a tax deduction. Government policy rewards generosity. Last year the Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies, based at QUT Business School, released a study of tax-deductible gifts claimed for the 2008-2009 financial year. Based on that data, mixed crop and livestock farmers claim the highest percentage of their income, about 3.4per cent. ...

AS we head towards Easter, there is an air of anticipation around the Synod Office. The Easter postcards have been distributed and we are excited about the Easter Sunday call to worship video, featuring the Moderator, Rev Kaye Ronalds and many of our church family, that has been produced in a joyful expression in diverse and multilingual interpretations of our ...

As part of the Together on the way, enriching community journey the Queensland Synod has been experiencing many new and exciting changes. Currently, there is a pressing need to move a significant number of websites owned or maintained by the Synod office, congregations, presbyteries and agencies across the Uniting Church in Queensland to a new server. Part-time Web Migration Project ...

YOU know that you belong when you turn up and they have a name tag for you. At the very least they will feed you. But is that the same as belonging? It might just mean that the efficient electronic registration system has you on the list. It doesn’t mean that you will feel welcome and included. I recently attended ...

ON SATURDAY 27 August Indooroopilly Uniting Church hosted the second Bremer Brisbane Presbytery Ministry Expo, a capability-building initiative. With a common theme of developing community connections, there were around 27 displays and stalls from congregations in the Presbytery as well as the Synod and the Assembly alongside those from ecumenical and para-church organisations and agencies, such as World Vision. Speakers ...

WHERE WILL the hope come from? We are currently faced with the greatest natural disaster that Queensland has ever faced. The loss of life, destruction of property, farming and grazing land, the inundation of homes and businesses has destroyed many dreams, livelihoods and shattered families. How we respond to this event is a major challenge to all of us. It ...

The Christmas season has only just ended with the celebration of the baptism of Jesus last Sunday. During that season we joyfully celebrated the incarnation of Jesus Christ and were reminded that Emmanuel meant, “God with us”. Now the importance of holding onto this doctrine becomes significant. About 70% of our state has been inundated; some have lost loved ones; ...

ANDREW LEE, a farmer in Fernlees, near Emerald, is one of the stars of Mission Stories, the Queensland Synod’s new DVD discussion resource. Mr Lee takes us behind the scenes of a three week trip to Papua New Guinea with teenagers and their parents. On returning to Queensland after a two year stint in Papua New Guinea, working alongside local ...