Queensland Synod News

A state of emergency was declared in the Cook Islands after Tropical Cyclone Pat struck on 10 February causing heavy damage to the island of Aitutaki. The day after winds of up to 200 kilometres (120 miles) an hour tore through the South Pacific nation, the leader of the Cook Islands Christian Church said his denomination would be at the ...

Mr Peter Bicknell, Chair of UnitingCare Australia, announced today that Lin Hatfield Dodds, National Director of UnitingCare Australia has stepped aside as National Director of UnitingCare Australia. “Ms Hatfield Dodds has been preselected as a candidate for the Australian Greens for an ACT Senate seat in the upcoming Federal election.” Mr Bicknell said. “She will be working as Director, Network ...

Last Thursday a state of disaster was declared on the island of Aitutaki in the Cook Islands after it was struck by Tropical Cyclone Pat. The cyclone cut power and phone lines on the small resort island and ripped off roofs. Reports indicate in some villages 90 per cent of homes were damaged but there was no loss of life. ...

FOR THE first time in the history of the National Christian Youth Convention (NCYC) the event will begin in December, meaning ncyc11 attendees will welcome 2011 with a special New Year’s Eve celebration. Confirmed speakers for the conference include Gillian Best, speaker and Youth Ministry coordinator for the Irish Methodist Church and Australian Christian comedian and magician, Christopher Wayne. NCYC ...

OVER 250 high school students and youth leaders from more than 50 Uniting Churches around Queensland celebrated a long weekend of discipleship training and fun at Summer Madness in January. Coordinator Tom Kerr said the biennial event had attendees from St George to Far North Queensland, Toowoomba to Gladstone and was a great success where young people had their faith ...

For Rev Tofiga Falani, president of the Christian Church of Tuvalu, the worry of his Pacific nation has been the risk of rising sea levels. Climate change in the tiny island nation, most of which lies only a few metres above sea level, has been a severe worry. However, now he has to explain how Tuvalu is facing a drought. ...

Faith groups in southern Africa have condemned irresponsible mining practices by corporations they say have claimed lives, damaged the environment and impoverished communities.  "Africa is poor because of its rich resources … This blessing must not became a curse to its people," said Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane, the former Cape Town Anglican diocese head. He was speaking at the opening of ...

Once again many church members have been announced on the Australia Day Honours List. Three Uniting Church members received the Order of Australia (AM) including Professor David Black from Western Australia, Philip Bruem from New South Wales and former New South Wales and ACT Synod moderator James Mein. 10 Uniting Church members received the Medal (OAM) of the Order of ...

Christians around the world are remembering the 1910 World Missionary Conference in the Scottish capital of Edinburgh as a key initiative that led to the ecumenical movement seeking the unity of the Church. "The unexpected intuition to flash forth from the conference was the awareness that Christian disunity is destructive to the very mission of the Church, and the corresponding ...

Britain might soon have its first female Anglican bishop, serving the 38 000-member Scottish Episcopal Church, part of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The Rev. Alison Peden, aged 57, is one of three candidates for the post of bishop of Glasgow and Galloway. The election is scheduled for 16 January. Observers say that if Peden is elected it is likely to ...