Queensland Synod News

IN LOOKING to the future of the Uniting Church, it is important to look at the lessons of the past. Written 15 years ago, the 1996 Curtis Report (entitled On the Way) was the report of Synod Review Task Group initiated by the 18th Synod. It raised many issues similar to those facing the Queensland Synod today. The Report spoke ...

THE MAKE Poverty History (MPH) campaign launched a free newspaper in August, distributed to 50,000 commuters, coinciding with the commencement of the United Nations Department of Public Information conference on global health issues in Melbourne. Every Minute Counts (EMC) is a tabloid style free newspaper aimed at making the issues surrounding poverty and development accessible to everyone. MPH co-chair Andrew Hewett ...

In its best ever performance, Journey took home two gold awards and a bronze award from the 2010 Australasian Religious Press Association (ARPA) awards in Tasmania in September. Journey was presented the gold award for best feature (multiple authors) for the July 2009 edition which looked at the 20th anniversary of the Fitzgerald inquiry and the Church’s role as a ...

THE UNITING CHURCH in Australia has called on the Australian Government to urgently review the policy of the mandatory detention of asylum seekers. The Director of UnitingJustice Australia, the Uniting Church’s national justice agency, Rev. Elenie Poulos said, “The tragic events at Villawood Detention Centre this week are a stark reminder of what the Government knows to be true: the ...

THE UNITING Church in Queensland is embarking on a process to gain a fresh understanding of how it can use property resources for mission, beginning with an online Property Assessment Tool. All congregations and faith communities with beneficial use of property have been requested to provide information in the online survey about their current property usage and how well each property ...

THE THEME of the 2010 NAIDOC (National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee) Week in July was Unsung Heroes – Closing the Gap by Leading Their Way. Journey asked two people who their unsung hero was and why. Uniting Church President Rev Alistair Macrae said his unsung hero is a representative of a whole group of unsung heroes. “His name is ...

EVERY 30 SECONDS a child dies of malaria. Each year one million people will die of malaria. Two Victorian pilots, Ken Evers and Tim Pryse, pictured left with Jonathan from Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) (centre), have completed a circumnavigation of the world to raise money for malaria programs. On the Millions against Malaria journey they visited places like New Orleans, Uganda, ...

Voters in the seat of Ryan will have the chance to hear if their candidates for Federal Parliament want to help Make Poverty History at a forum being held at University of Queensland St Lucia Campus on Thursday 29th July 2010. Make Poverty History Spokesperson Steph Carter said the forum was a chance for voters to learn about their prospective ...

THE COUNTDOWN to this year’s federal election prompted candidates to address voters in a series of forums in June. Make Poverty History along with Micah Challenge is arranging around 60 electoral forums in marginal Federal Electorates across Australia. In Queensland, Make Poverty History forums have been held in the electorates of Moreton, Bonner, Brisbane and Dickson. More than 70 constituents ...

ON WORLD Environment Day (5 June) Caloundra Uniting Church was announced a joint winner of The Australian Religious Response to Climate Change (ARRCC) Climate Change Award for communities. ARRCC is a multi-faith network committed to taking action on this most pressing issue of our time. Caloundra Uniting Church shares the award with the Anglican Church Diocese, Canberra/Goulburn. The ARRCC award ...