Queensland Synod News

More than 430 children taken by authorities from a ranch run by a polygamist religious group in Texas are being returned to their parents after nearly two months in foster care. The process is expected to take several days. The children were removed on 3 April after state officials received a phone call from a girl at the ranch claiming ...

During this week of International Church Action for Peace in Palestine and Israel, Australian church leaders have called on the Federal Government to prioritise peacemaking in Palestine and Israel. An historic event, it is the first time that a group of Australia’s Christian leaders has come together to highlight the suffering in the region and to issue a joint statement ...

Uniting Church National Assembly Associate General Secretary Rev Glenda Blakefield, was invited by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to join a delegation to The Fourth Asia-Pacific Regional Interfaith Dialogue in Cambodia, held 2-4 April. Fifteen nations representing 620 million people met in Phnom Penh for the fourth dialogue with the theme of “Phnom Penh Dialogue 2008 on Interfaith ...

The Moderator of the Evangelical Christian Church in the Land of Papua Rev Coriunus Berotabui died in Cikini Hospital (Jakarta) on Sunday morning 1st June. Rev Berotabui had been ill for a few months with lung cancer and his body was flown to Jayapura in West Papua for burial today. Uniting International Mission Pacific Secretary Rev John Barr said attempts ...

The Uniting Church has called for the abolition of the citizenship test introduced by the Howard government – a decision passed at the March Assembly Standing Committee National Director of UnitingJustice Rev Elenie Poulos and National Director of Multicultural and Cross-cultural Ministry Rev Dr Tony Floyd expressed the view to the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Chris Evans that the ...

Thirty-two warrior tribes in the Southern Highlands of Papua New Guinea are set to sign an historic peace treaty thanks to the mediation skills and passion of Australian Joy Balazo and a team of local volunteers. For generations, these 32 tribes have lived as warriors and enemies; fighting, killing and plundering as a way of life. A simple mistake like ...

US Democratic Party presidential hopeful Barack Obama has resigned his long-standing membership in Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, a move that came just months after Obama distanced himself from the retiring pastor of the church, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. "I have no idea how it will impact my presidential campaign but I know it was the right thing ...

The Uniting Church in Australia has today called on the Australian Government to address the humanitarian crisis affecting Iraq, even though Australian troops are on the way home. The President of the Uniting Church, the Rev. Gregor Henderson, said that, while the Church commended the decision to withdraw 500 Australian troops, the Federal Government should commit more funding to rebuild ...

The Victoria/Tasmania Uniting Church Synod’s inverstment fund has taken on the might of one of the world’s most iconic soft drink companies – Coca-Cola – banning investments in the fizzy drink maker on ethical criteria. Coca-Cola, which in Australia trades under the name of Coca-Cola Amatil Limited, has been barred as an investment prospect by the Uniting Church in Australia’s UCA Funds ...

Former British prime minister Tony Blair has launched a new Faith Foundation to promote interfaith initiatives to tackle global poverty and conflict, and promote understanding between the world’s major religions. "Globalisation is pushing people together. Interdependence is reality. Peaceful co-existence is essential," Blair said at the 30 May launch of the Tony Blair Faith Foundation at the Time Warner Media ...