Tag Archives: 31st Synod

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, one in five Australians aged 16 to 85 live with some form of mental health issue. Journey looks at five ways you can raise awareness and dialogue around mental health issues in October to coincide with Queensland Mental Health Week (9–15 October). Organise an art exhibition Scott Guyatt recently wrote in The Scoop ...

The problems facing the Uniting Church are common to many denominations around the world, and there is much we can learn from how they are responding, writes Rev Orrell Battersby. At the 31st Synod we received some sobering statistics—attendance in the Uniting Church across Australia is in sharp decline. The prediction: continued decline. The problem: failure to attract young families. ...

There were plenty of passionate discussions around how the Uniting Church forms people in their faith at the 31st Synod in October last year. Mardi Lumsden explores how theological study deepens and even shakes your faith, and why that could be essential to your faith journey. The Uniting Church’s foundational document the Basis of Union outlines the importance of the ...

This is the first Journey of the New Year, so I want to outline for you again the discernment of the 31st Synod regarding the broad priorities for the church’s life going forward. Synod discerned the following: making our worship accessible and attractive growing our members in their passion and ability to share their faith planting new communities of faith ...

“Well, that’s the question, folks, what’s your response?” This was how Brendan McKeague kicked off a day and a half of discernment for the Synod as it met at Alexandra Park Conference Centre in October. The question was, “Our church is on life support; what’s our call now?” About 70 members of Synod stood up and named an issue they ...

The November edition of Journey magazine is now available in PDF. You can download this edition and all previous editions back to 2005 on the download page. Strength in diversity It’s sometimes said that the diversity within the Uniting Church is both its biggest strength and biggest weakness. Wikipedia describes the theological perspectives in the Uniting Church as “broad”, going on to list them ...

The 31st Queensland Synod meeting (10–15 October) could be characterised by an energy signifying that the church is on the cusp of something different. Members from across the Queensland Synod gathered together for the 31st Synod in Session as they discussed issues important to the Uniting Church in Queensland, ranging from statistics of church decline and hardship to inspiring stories ...

The 31st Synod in Session closed five days of work and fellowship on 15 October with a worship service reminding members to “keep the charge”. Moderator David Baker reflected on the church as a flotilla; a group of ships traveling together, supporting each other. He reflected on past moderator, Kaye Ronalds’ question: “Are we there yet?” “I hope you have ...

Community services provider UnitingCare Queensland is on track to meet the challenges thrown up in an era of unprecedented change. CEO Anne Cross told the 31st Synod meeting at Alexandra Park that the organisation must continue to adapt in order to respond to the pace and extent of reforms to health, aged and community care, disability, child protection and community ...

The Uniting Church in Australia, Queensland Synod has a new moderator after Rev David Baker was inducted at the opening service of the 31st Synod held at Unity College in Caloundra, beginning his term with the theme A charge to keep. In front of hundreds of people from across the life of the Uniting Church, the scarf of responsibility was ...