Tag Archives: moderator

As the seasons of the church’s year bring us around again to Easter, we are given a renewed opportunity to again enter into what for the Christian faith is the heart of the whole Judeo–Christian tradition. Pared to what could be described as observable, we have a Jewish rabbi who wants renewal of the faith of his people; a few ...

Generously funded by the estate of the late Clem Jones, the pro-euthanasia groups have begun a campaign to change the law in Queensland. The end of life, and the way life on this earth finishes, is something that challenges our modern notion that as individuals—provided we have sufficient agency, which usually means sufficient money—we have the power to choose, the ...

In the first of a regular column exploring the church, modern Australia and socio-political issues, Queensland Synod Moderator Rev David Baker examines the current controversy surrounding Australia Day’s date. I’ve been thinking about the Australia Day issue. Tragically, predictably, the same old two sides have rapidly formed, each battling to take the moral higher ground from which to beat up ...

A couple of days after the birth of our first child, Joan and I were travelling with him from the hospital back to Toogoolawah. We had to stop at a chemist for something, and the realisation came to me (belatedly, some may say) that life would never be the same. I was particularly immersed in the dawning awareness that I ...

Since 1999, the Queensland Synod, through UnitingCare Queensland, has recognised the outstanding and invaluable commitment of volunteers through the Moderator’s Community Service Medal. UnitingCare Queensland outgoing CEO Anne Cross said 43 notable nominations were received this year. “Today, we come together to commend the efforts of all our volunteers, but in particular, the 14 outstanding recipients of the Moderator’s Community ...

Moderator Rev David Baker began his report to the 33rd Synod with an affirmation of the collaborative relationship between the Synod office and presbyteries, which David called a “powerhouse” which will bear fruit in the years ahead as the teams cross-fertilise ideas and support each other. He also highlighted the multicultural dimension of the life of the church which he ...

I was listening to Sammy Thaiday, the popular Queensland rugby league player describe a State of Origin training camp. “Oh, they’re great times,” said Sammy, “we train a bit, we plan a bit, and we have some fun.” As I listened, I thought, wow, sounds like that’s what a Synod in Session could be like. Now a Synod is a ...

As I write this the village of Tolpuddle in Dorchester is having its annual celebration of the Tolpuddle Martyrs, a group of Methodist lay preachers who were transported in the mid-1800s to Australia for forming a union to protect their interests as agricultural workers (they were later pardoned). On 30 August at the Brisbane City Hall, the Queensland Community Alliance ...

Uniting Church Foundation Indigenous Learning Pathways grants have helped six Indigenous secondary students to pursue their dreams. Journey reports. Year 11 Indigenous students Bailey of Unity College, Caloundra and Maci of Sunshine Coast Grammar School have been awarded Uniting Church Foundation Indigenous Learning Pathways grants in association with the Schools Commission. The grants were awarded in May 2017 in the ...

For most of the members of the Uniting Church, our own personal 40th birthday is a distant memory! Some of us may wish that we were there again, wistfully believing that we’d do the years after 40 differently if we had that time again. If we don’t have some sense that we would have done things differently, maybe we haven’t ...