The Russian Orthodox Church and an émigré church that broke ties in 1927 over a Russian church leader’s declaration of loyalty to the then Soviet state have officially reunited at a ceremony in Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. "Church divisions are being overcome, and the confrontation in society inherited from the times of the revolution is being beaten back," ...

In his opening address to the 26th Synod meeting of the Queensland Synod the Moderator Rev Dr David Pitman highlighted missional leadership, the future of congregations and the Australian political climate as key issues for the church. Dr Pitman spoke about the Synod’s theme of daring to discover, dream, design and deliver. He said the church needed to continue to ...

Members of the US religious community are reviving the "sanctuary movement" of the 1980s by launching a national drive to protect undocumented workers who face possible deportation from the United States. The sanctuary movement two decades ago offered protection in the United States to refugees fleeing wars in Central America . The new effort will be based on local congregations, ...

WHAT DO you say when your three year old son cries on the phone and says, “Daddy come home”? There was not much Captain (Rev) Alamoti Lavaki could say. His son was in Brisbane and he was serving with the ANZAC Battle Group in Timor Leste. It was one of those moments only soldiers understand. The Uniting Church chaplain had ...

There’s something tribal about worshipping with a few thousand other Christians on the pivot-point of the Church calendar. If ever you have wondered how hymns of praise sound when around 10 000 people belt them out, the Resurrection Sunday evening service in Toowoomba is not to be missed! The congregation sang, “How great is our God,”, as the Bible Society ...

The number of people in Britain going to church is falling rapidly and only one in 10 adults attends church weekly even though 53 percent of adults or 26.2 million people in the United Kingdom identify themselves as Christian. A survey, "Churchgoing in the UK Today", by Christian relief and development agency Tearfund, said this reflects a drop of 20 ...

A Code of Ethics, that will guide Lay Preachers in the exercise of their ministry, was adopted at the March meeting of the Uniting Church’s National Assembly Standing Committee. The Code of Ethics for Ministers of the Word, Deacons, Youth Workers, Community Ministers and Lay Pastors, established at the 9th Assembly in 2000, did not address the specific responsibilities of Lay ...

OVER THE Easter period there are numerous words and symbols that we hear and see, but what does it all mean? Where are the origins of the Easter Egg, what does tenebrae mean and what happens on Ash Wednesday? Here is a simple explanation of a few of these things. Easter The name Easter comes from the pagan figure called Eastre ...

WORSHIPPERS AT Albert Street Uniting Church in Brisbane city have been treated to an even more beautiful church than usual with the addition of one member’s Lent inspired paintings. Around three years ago artist Cees Sliedrecht was asked by the then minister at Albert St, Rev Dr David Pitman, to paint some works for the church in the lead up ...

The newly extended conference facilities at Alexandra Headland on the Sunshine Coast will be the venue for the 26th meeting of the Queensland Synod in May. “Dare to discover, dream, design and deliver” is the theme chosen by Moderator Rev Dr David Pitman for a gathering which will make some key decisions about the future of Synod leadership and theological ...