Queensland Synod News

Discussions during the open space at the 31st Synod have concluded after more than 100 conversations took place among Synod members and staff about the future of the Uniting Church. Facilitator Brendan McKeague, who gave the Norman and Mary Miller Lecture on Monday evening, introduced the discussion theme “Our church is on life support, what’s our call now?” to Synod ...

Synod Research Officer Bruce Mullan launched a free congregational resource at Synod called Stats have Faces. The resource was developed by Uniting Communications in consultation with Scott Guyatt (project officer Mission Engagement), Mark Cornford (project officer Christian Formation) and Trinity College Queensland. It assists churches to conduct a self-directed review of their mission strategy by collecting data and exploring their ...

After three days of structured business, the 31st Synod is moving to a time of open space to discuss the question, “Our church is on life support; what’s our call now?” The open space discussions come after a sobering report from Mission Engagement Project officer Scott Guyatt which indicated that if current trends continue, the Uniting Church in Queensland will ...

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 ...

Uniting Church Assembly General Secretary Rev Terence Corkin presented members of the 31st Synod with the Assembly report on Monday 13 October. Terence reminded the Synod of the date of the next Assembly meeting, 12–18 July 2015, and the theme Hearts on fire. The deadline for submissions for the next Assembly on the discussion on marriage has now passed and ...

Community services provider UnitingCare Queensland is on track to meet the challenges thrown up in an era of unprecedented change. CEO Anne Cross told the 31st Synod meeting at Alexandra Park that the organisation must continue to adapt in order to respond to the pace and extent of reforms to health, aged and community care, disability, child protection and community ...

Ashley Thompson asks newly inducted Moderator Rev David Baker some light and personal questions. Ashley: What is your passion? David: My passion? Well I really love trifle. You know, because you’re eating fruit which is healthy. So yeah one of my passions is trifle. Probably another one is curries. I love making curries. A: Spicy ones? D: Yeah, yeah, yeah ...

Immediate past moderator Rev Kaye Ronalds addressed the 31st Synod on 11 October to reflect on her three-year term. When Kaye began as moderator she asked the question: “Are we there yet?” On reflection she could now ask: will we ever be “there”? Kaye spoke of the privilege of representing the Uniting Church at a huge variety of events, both ...

Members of the 31st Synod have called Gary Doyle as the next General Secretary of the Queensland Synod. Gary is currently principal of The John Flynn College, a residential college associated with the Uniting and Lutheran churches at James Cook University in Townsville. Also a member of Aitkenvale Uniting Church, Gary believes God has prepared him for the role of ...

Queensland Synod General Secretary Rev John Cox has presented his report to the 31st Synod in Session. “It’s a privilege to stand here and share the work of the Synod office in the General Secretary’s report.” John said the report is a snapshot and highlights a few issues the church is facing in the future. A recent review of the ...