Watching the news or political commentary on television often leaves me shaking my head.   There’s a lot of tension and conflict in our public dialogue; people set up—and quite happy to be so—in opposing corners to fight it out over an issue on the pretext that we are being informed. It reminds me more of Jimmy Sharman’s boxing tent than ...

Welcome to the Winter 2019 edition where you’ll find extensive coverage of all the news from the 34th Synod including the outcomes from the Moderator-Elect discernment process and various reports that were put to the Synod. One of the great opportunities attending Synod in Session affords is to meet various people from around the life of the church and I ...

I hope all our readers had a blessed Easter. Thanks to the generosity of our donors we were able to sponsor 23 candidates across Queensland—from Toowoomba to Bowen, from Bundaberg to North MacKay—from the 2019 Easter Madness Appeal. This enabled free registration and accommodation for campers outside of the south east corner during the four day Easter Madness Camp held ...

James O’Callaghan looks at the newly released Covenant Action Plan and what it means for First Peoples across the Queensland Synod. At the 34th Synod in Session in May 2019, the Queensland Synod launched its inaugural Covenant Action Plan (CAP), a momentous milestone in the life of the church and another step towards genuine reconciliation. This was the culmination of ...

National Reconciliation Week is a time to reflect on how we are doing as a church, to follow Jesus’ call to love God and love others, writes Erin Mawhinney.   In our modern Australian context, it sits between the anniversary of the 1967 referendum (27 May), and Mabo Day (3 June). This year’s theme is “Grounded in Truth – Walk together ...

The 34th Synod in Session was held at the Alexandra Park Conference Centre earlier this month, and from my perspective, there were some real positive takeaways.  The bible studies and the Norman and Mary Millar lecture, delivered by Professor Anne Tiernan lifted my frame of reference, and provided me with renewed imagination and a vison of creativity. Anne’s message about ...

The Synod Standing Committee has approved the roll-out of a new whole-of-Synod strategic planning exercise that will shape the Synod for the years to come. James O’Callaghan reports. Queensland Synod General Secretary Rev Heather den Houting has said that as we near the conclusion of the Together on the Way: Enriching Community journey, we are starting to develop the next ...

The Inspired Disciples festival brings together speakers, forums and training events to inspire Uniting Church members across Queensland to answer the call to discipleship. Journey reports. The image of Jesus calling to the fishermen Simon and Andrew by the Sea of Galilee is imprinted on the heart of every generation of Christians. As Uniting Church members, it’s in our DNA—embedded ...

Rev Graham Slaughter ministers in the Leichhardt Patrol across the central/western Darling Downs and he has been a tireless advocate for people whose lives have been disrupted and their health affected by the development of the coal seam gas industry. At his instigation, the Synod in Session has communicated to the state government our concerns about their management of this ...

Some of you may be familiar with Sergeant Alvin York but a quick recap for those unaware. York was a highly decorated American soldier during WWI and received the Medal of Honour for one particular attack he led which resulted in 25 enemy deaths and 132 captured enemy soldiers. What makes York particularly fascinating and relevant in a faith context ...