After a career in media Phil Smith has found himself lay pastor to a kind of faith community not often found in the Uniting Church. Rohan Salmond talks to him about faith, ecumenism and the future of church. “I have just turned 53 and really would not have expected to be in this activity in this season of my life,” ...

“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 ...

The November edition of Journey magazine is now available in PDF. You can download this edition and all previous editions back to 2005 on the download page. Strength in diversity It’s sometimes said that the diversity within the Uniting Church is both its biggest strength and biggest weakness. Wikipedia describes the theological perspectives in the Uniting Church as “broad”, going on to list them ...

Members of the 31st Queensland Synod celebrated the men and women in specified ministries and have retired, graduated or passed away since the last Synod meeting in May 2014. Synod General Secretary Rev John Cox read Isaiah 40:3-11 and Trinity College Queensland Principal Dr Aaron Ghiloni read Matthew 25:1-13 to begin the celebration of people committing their lives to the ...

Rev Kaye Ronalds will finish her three-year term as Moderator at this month’s 31st Queensland Synod meeting. Mardi Lumsden explores what others appreciated about Kaye’s time in the role. Kaye’s term as Moderator can be characterised by a comment she made at her induction service: “We need to become better at working together and remembering that there are many kinds ...

The search is on for nominations for the 2014 Moderator’s Community Service Medal. Successful nominees will have the opportunity to be presented with their medal during the Uniting Church in Queensland’s 31st Synod meeting at Alexandra Park Conference Centre 10-15 October. Colleen Geyer, Director of Mission, UnitingCare Queensland and member of the judging panel, said the Moderator’s Medal is a ...

Queensland Churches Together (QCT) deplores the violence that left at least nine activists dead and many injured by Israeli elite forces that intercepted a ship carrying humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza on 31st May. The violence took place in international waters. QCT supports the United Nations Security Council’s call for an impartial investigation into the violence. In a ...