Queensland Synod News

UnitingCare Health has denied reports that the St Stephen’s, the only private hospital in Maryborough, may close due to a reduction in in-patient numbers. Chief Executive Officer of Uniting Care Health Richard Royle said the problem is that all the practising medical specialists except one reside in Hervey Bay and want their patients treated there. “There is a concern by ...

Malaysian Christians have expressed fresh worries that the government may be infringing their religious freedom, after the country’s deputy prime minister described Malaysia as "an Islamic state". The Christian Federation of Malaysia issued a statement on 19 July urging Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak to retract comments he made two days earlier when speaking to reporters.  Then, the deputy prime ...

Despite having a faith tradition different to the predominant Christian traditions in the United States, Muslim Americans share much in common with other US religious groups, including white evangelical Protestants, a new study has found. "Although Muslims constitute a small minority in the United States, and their holy book and many of their religious rituals are distinctly their own, Muslim ...

UnitingJustice says that by revoking the visa of Dr Mohammed Haneef the Howard Government is using the Migration Act to undermine the legal system. Director of UnitingJustice, the justice agency of the Uniting Church in Australia’s National Assembly, Rev. Elenie Poulos, said, “We are outraged at the abuse of Ministerial power shown by this decision. It is hard to believe ...

The archdiocese of Los Angeles’ agreement to a US$660 million clergy abuse settlement will amount to $1.3 million for each plaintiff, and it prevents Cardinal Roger Mahoney, the archbishop of the diocese, from having to testify on the issue.  News reports said Mahoney would not have to disclose whether diocesan leaders might have covered up the incidents of abuse as ...

The Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of Victoria and Tasmania, has called on Woodside Energy to investigate allegations of employees of subcontractors being sacked after reporting safety incidents at its Otway Gas Plant in Port Campbell, Victoria. The call for a response comes after seven months of failed attempts at dialogue with the company. The Uniting Church in Victoria and ...

A US Episcopal (Anglican) priest, who announced that she has embraced Islam, has been suspended for one year by her supervising bishop, who said the woman’s dual religious loyalties were in "inherent" conflict. The decision by Episcopal Bishop Geralyn Wolf of the US state of Rhode Island means that the Rev. Ann Holmes Redding, who is based in Seattle, in ...

The head of the World Council of Churches has called for a responsible dialogue on the issue of homosexuality, and said that churches have a pastoral duty to their members who are gay. "Churches must address homosexuality responsibly," said the Rev. Samuel Kobia, WCC general secretary, in an interview with Ecumenical News International in Nairobi, where he was attending a ...

Pipe organs, for centuries considered a fixture in Christian places of worship, have been gaining a place in some Japanese Buddhist temples over recent decades. Rissho Kosei-kai, a Buddhist lay movement, has used a pipe organ every day since 1965 for rituals and events at its headquarters in Tokyo. The organ is also used for concerts. "The organ was installed ...

Congregations are being encouraged to celebrate the life of the Queensland Uniting Church at mission with Blue Care Sunday on 19 August. “This particular Sunday is an opportunity for congregations to incorporate thanksgiving and prayer support for Blue Care into their worship services,” Acting Director of Mission Rev Jan Chalmers said. To help congregations celebrate, Blue Care has prepared a ...