Tag Archives: faith

A multi-faith coalition of communities will come together on 25 November for the “Peace Begins at Home” walk to stop violence against women. The event coincides with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and White Ribbon Day. Journey talks with three women helping organise the event. Now in its second year, the walk through ...

If you’re dismissive about Hillsong: Let Hope Rise (2016) “preaching to the converted”, you’re missing the point—because that’s actually their purpose. They are fundamentally a C2C (church-to-church) resource that is serving the global church—and this documentary, and their music, is for us. “We’re the biggest band you’ve never heard of.” Hillsong United Jad Gillies’ statement couldn’t be truer of the ...

Abortion can be a notoriously difficult topic to discuss in the faith community, but proposals to reform abortion laws introduced to the Queensland Parliament this year have once again put it under the spotlight. Ashley Thompson meets four women who share their personal encounters with pregnancy, abortion and faith, and examines where the Uniting Church in Queensland stands on the ...

There was an old bumper sticker that said, “Think global, act local”. Our faith speaks about the great universal themes of creation, of reconciliation, of salvation. The Uniting Church, particularly, is energised by the large and broad issues that humanity and the nation are facing—anthropogenic climate change, the global refugee crisis, the world economic order. Yet for many of us, ...

That’s us in the corner? The title of the secular band R.E.M.’s 1991 hit single “Losing my religion” was supposedly taken from a southern United States expression meaning “At my wit’s end”, as if things were going so bad you could lose your faith in God. So what has this to do with Rev David Baker’s statement that Australia has ...

It might be quickly catching on as an Australian calendar fixture synonymous with horror-themed costumes and teeth-rotting lollies but what should Christians make of Halloween? Rev David MacGregor examines the history behind the commercialism and the practice of “trick or treat”. What do you make of Halloween each year? I’ve long wondered that. Halloween is of course huge business in ...

In this exclusive column for The Scoop, Scott Guyatt explores faith on the home front and how families can practice and express their faith outside a church setting. So the evidence seems pretty strong, and multiple studies suggest the same thing: children and young people learn faith best at home. What happens in the family context is the biggest factor ...

Journey talks with Iven about his faith, his lifelong journey with maintaining fitness and what advice he has for others keen to stay active and healthy. While some people entering retirement may be keen to embark on a leisurely cruise or simply put their feet up, Iven Hewett is still going strong. Literally. The 70-year-old retired Chinchilla Uniting Church pastor ...

Disability is everyone’s business. Following her feature on disability and faith, Sue Hutchinson shares five of the most insensitive comments someone could make to a person with disability. Never say “It’s God’s will” or “It’s all part of God’s plan”.     Never imply that disability is punishment for sin.     Never relate the disability to faith, such as “a test of ...

Most Australians will either experience disability themselves or have direct contact with someone who has, but are churches equipped to be an inclusive environment for everyone? Sue Hutchinson examines disability, faith and what churches can do to be welcoming to all. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, around one in five people in Australia have a disability ...