Queensland Synod News

Twenty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, officials have returned to a church in what was East Berlin, where protests of candlelit prayers helped bring down communism in East Germany. Germany’s political and church leaders marked the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Berlin Wall on 9 November with an ecumenical service at the Protestant church in ...

The Uniting Church in Australia, it has recently been noted, is the only major church to officially support a Human Rights Act. This is true but there is more diversity among the Christian community than is often recognised. While the voices of religious leaders and organisations opposed to a Human Rights Act are often heard loud and clear, a quick ...

The Uniting Church in Australia has written to Prime Minister Rudd and Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Sharman Stone to express concern and disappointment at the Government’s responses to asylum seekers arriving by boat. President of the Uniting Church, Rev Alistair Macrae, expressed dismay that issues surrounding the movement of asylum seekers were once again being confused with issues ...

In the aftermath of the World Day Against the Death Penalty on 10 October 2009, Amnesty International has highlighted several cases of people facing execution – including one in the USA which is being distorted by religious fundamentalism. A Texas man who faces execution after jurors at his trial consulted the Bible when deliberating his fate, should have his death ...

An historic report has found that human rights need greater protection in Australia, says the Uniting Church in Australia. The National Human Rights Consultation has received an unprecedented 35 000 submissions on the everyday human rights experiences of Australians, and has identified a number of areas where basichuman rights are not protected. President of the Church, Rev Alistair Macrae, said ...

A MAN contacted our Church the other day; he was struggling to find secure accommodation for himself and the two young people he cared for, both of whom had complex needs. Unable to access social housing and finding it impossible to survive in the rental market he came to the Church looking for assistance and a supportive community. How could I ...

DID YOU know suicide among Indigenous Australians is up to 40 percent* higher than in the general Australian population? It is also believed this figure is under reported. In less than a minute and with four clicks of your mouse, you can help Lifeline save Indigenous Australians. The Make Your Mark campaign encourages you to create your own unique hand ...

With the launch of UnitingWorld’s Sumatran Earthquake Appeal today, Uniting Church in Australia President, Rev Alistair Macrae, has urged people to support the victims of natural disasters in Asia and the Pacific. The latest UnitingWorld appeal was launched in response to the Sumatran quake which is expected to have claimed the lives of more than 1000 and destroyed health and ...

This week has seen natural disasters devastate communities in Philippines, Samoa, Tonga and Indonesia. In response UnitingWorld has developed a simple prayer resource for use in congregations this Sunday. A liturgy and powerpoint presentation are downloadable from www.unitingworld.org.au. UnitingWorld community relationships manager Rob Lutton said the images used in the powerpoint have been sent in from Uniting Church partner churches rather ...

In response to reports of the devastating impact of the Samoa tsunami and the enormous relief effort our partner churches face, UnitingWorld has launched an emergency relief appeal. UnitingWorld’s Associate Director Church Solidarity (Pacific) Bruce Mullan has been in contact overnight with the leadership of the Samoan Methodist Church and the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa to offer support to ...