Fundamentalism and progressivism Last month’s Journey made me thankful for my Trinity Theological education once again. Lecturers like Rev Dr Geoff Thompson helped us navigate the extremes of Christianity exemplified by Ken Ham (fundamentalism) and Val Webb (progressivism). Both positions are responding to the same perceived problem. Both make the same mistake. Both bow to the idol of the enlightenment—science—mistakenly ...

The Uniting Church in Australia may be a leading light when it comes to gender equality in leadership but we still have some way to go. Ashley Thompson talks to five key church leaders at UnitingWomen 2016 about how we can fully annihilate the glass ceiling. Shift your thinking  Colleen Geyer is the newly appointed general secretary of the Assembly, ...

A book launch for Rev Dr Geoff Thompson’s exploration of the Uniting Church in Australia’s foundational document, the Basis of Union, brought together two former principals of Trinity Theological College. Matt Gees reports. Disturbing Much, Disturbing Many: Theology provoked by the Basis of Union by Rev Dr Geoff Thompson was launched by the former principal and academic dean of Trinity Theological College ...

Later this month some 350 people of the Uniting Church in this state will gather at Alexandra Park Conference Centre for the 32nd Synod in Session. The word “synod” comes from the Greek language: “syn”, meaning together, and “hodos”, meaning a way, a road. So a synod really is about “together on the way”. Archbishop Mark Coleridge, in talking about ...

Ministry is a hard gig, and it’s becoming more and more complex. Human resource consultants Meryem and Greg Brown suggest five ways that congregations can ease the daily burden. Behave Many ministers spend a lot more time than they should sorting out personality issues and resolving petty conflicts. We call our ministers to train and teach and equip us. Let ...

As part of the Queensland Synod’s commitment to being a prayerful listening church, a new program has been launched to encourage intercessory prayer among Christians. Rohan Salmond reports. One of the first things you notice upon visiting the Queensland Synod moderator’s office are the dozens of photographs scattered on the wall. Religious and political leaders are depicted as reminders to ...

The Uniting Church is not widely known for being pentecostal or charismatic, but that doesn’t mean the Holy Spirit isn’t part of our theological DNA, writes Rev Dr Wendi Sargeant. As young theological students, we loved it when a minister retired and donated books to the Trinity students to scour for relevant knowledge for the next assignment and to add ...

The dreaded “F” word: bra burnings and angry women are so last century yet the stigma around feminism remains. Ashley Thompson speaks with four Christian women reclaiming feminist values for ministry and mission. Simply put, feminism is a stand for the political, economic and social equality of the sexes. It is the belief that men and women should have equal ...

The upcoming Assembly in Perth marks 30 years since the Uniting Church committed to being a multicultural church. Rohan Salmond explores how far we’ve come and where we are going. Thirty years ago Calvin and Hobbes first appeared in newspapers, the Nintendo Entertainment System was launched in the United States, the wreck of the RMS Titanic was discovered and Live ...

The last two editions of Journey have elicited comment regarding the May edition cover, and articles and letters about same-gender marriage, homosexual orientation and the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. The Uniting Church, through its Basis of Union, commits itself to be a church open to the world, in the light of God’s revelation in Jesus Christ, as attested ...