EVERYONE KNOWS the old adage, “You can choose your friends but you can’t choose your family”. The New Testament describes us as being like family. So where is the love when people choose to leave? Faith family break-up isn’t easy to talk about. Yet a significant proportion of members leave our congregations each year, slipping out the back door, often ...

CREATING A work-life balance is difficult, perhaps even more so when your employer is God. According to the study: Burnout in Church Leaders (Kaldor and Bullpitt 2001), based on National Church Life Survey research, nearly 23% of church leaders experienced some burnout symptoms and 55% were borderline to burnout. The report said that burnout affected leaders in paid and voluntary ...

A WOMAN once confided that she wished her husband would come to church with her. He was a farmer and there was always something to do when you are on the land. She died unexpectedly. After that her husband attended worship every Sunday. The style of worship hadn’t changed. The farm still needed attention. Central Queensland Presbytery Minister Rev Kaye ...

You’re the character in a video game, aliens from another planet are attacking you, enemies from another country are killing slaves, and an evil corrupt ruling power just keeps on sending their troops after you. Your character Striker needs to fight through the hoards of aliens, bullets, dead bodies, landmines, tanks, smoke and fighter planes in order to save the ...

Surprising research from the National Church Life Survey (NCSL) shows that people joining Queensland Uniting Church congregations are different from the people already attending. Newcomers in 2006 were twice as likely to be remarried, separated or divorced and four times more likely to be living in a defacto relationship than long term Uniting Church members. They are also likely to ...

That those attending Uniting Church worship services in Queensland are not bored is the good news story from the National Church Life Survey (NCLS) results from 2006. Questions on the impact of worship on the lives of people show that fewer than 2% of Uniting Church worshippers always experience boredom. None of those over 65-years of age report being consistently ...

Queensland born Rev Dr Andrew Dutney is Principal of Parkin-Wesley Theological College in Adelaide and Lecturer in Historical and Systematic Theology. Dr Dutney is one of Australia’s most respected commentators on the Basis of Union and he reflects for Journey on its importance for the church after 30 years. As the data from the 2006 National Church Life Survey begins ...

Here’s a brief summary of the Synod Standing Committee (SSC) meeting—held on Thursday 6 May 2021—to inform the wider Queensland Synod community of the discussions, deliberations and decisions arising from that meeting. This meeting was a hybrid meeting with some members attending in person and others attending virtually. Rev John Cox—Director of the Uniting Church in Australia’s National Safe Church ...

Whats coming up Human Rights month There’s still time to learn more about the importance of protecting and promoting human rights this Human Rights Month—finishing on 10 December. The Queensland Human Rights Commission has resources available to help. As of 1 January 2020, Queensland will have the strongest legislated human rights protections in Australia when the second stage of the ...

What’s coming up Fairtrade Fortnight: 2-15 August Use this fortnight to learn about economic injustice and the disempowerment of farmers and workers in developing countries. Take a stand and switch to Fairtrade products – it is easy to find coffee, tea and chocolate at your local supermarket – just look for the Fairtrade mark. These products are delicious and inexpensive. ...