Sometimes it takes an outsider to notice something everyone else doesn’t want to see. It’s one of the curiosities of human behaviour; different people, given the same information, in the same context, will interpret that information completely differently. Setting aside one’s preconceptions and reporting a story with fairness and accuracy is the core challenge of journalism. Done right, it’s a ...
Read More »Tag Archives: Rohan Salmond
Whose face is on your prayer wall?
As part of the Queensland Synod’s commitment to being a prayerful listening church, a new program has been launched to encourage intercessory prayer among Christians. Rohan Salmond reports. One of the first things you notice upon visiting the Queensland Synod moderator’s office are the dozens of photographs scattered on the wall. Religious and political leaders are depicted as reminders to ...
Read More »Let them stay with us
Churches across the country grabbed headlines around the world last month by offering sanctuary to 267 asylum seekers threatened with deportation to Nauru. What does it mean, and why did they do it? Rohan Salmond reports. Baby Asha had no idea the problem she was causing the Australian government. Asha was a healthy one-year-old baby—fully recovered from burns accidentally sustained ...
Read More »The Force awakens secular spirituality
The Star Wars juggernaut is back, crushing all other box office contenders in its path, and much to the relief of fans, this one is pretty good. From the very beginning The Force Awakens echoes the original trilogy in tone, theme, and even plot. That’s not a bad thing; as one generation of devotees overdoses on nostalgia, another discovers the ...
Read More »Hey! Good news!
Telling others about the good news of Christ’s death and resurrection is a vital part of mission and discipleship, but it can be difficult—even intimidating. Rohan Salmond looks at how to overcome some of the challenges to evangelism. When Jesus was betrayed and crucified, the movement which had built up around him was shattered and immediately went underground. The eleven ...
Read More »Our 30-year journey
This edition marks 30 years of Journey magazine. Mardi Lumsden explores the past, present and future of church communications. Leafing through newsprint is a fast-disappearing luxury. The dusty 30-year-old pages of the Journey archives are filled with stories of the church at work in the world, calling out injustice and celebrating global, national and local milestones. This is a record ...
Read More »New church for Mapoon
An appeal to replace the church at Mapoon which was burned in 1963 has been launched. Rohan Salmond writes. A new appeal to rebuild the church at Mapoon has been authorised by the 14th Assembly. Mapoon, on Cape York in far north Queensland was originally a Presbyterian mission. Bauxite was discovered in Mapoon during the 1950s, making the area of ...
Read More »On the wings of a song
Choirs are becoming less common in Uniting Church congregations, but some communities are continuing this proud tradition. Rohan Salmond writes. While church music is trending toward more band-focused music style, some congregations are maintaining their choirs because of the opportunities for community building, outreach and enriching worship on a Sunday morning. Adele Nisbet is choral director of Saint Andrew’s Uniting ...
Read More »Multiculturalism: Are we there yet?
The upcoming Assembly in Perth marks 30 years since the Uniting Church committed to being a multicultural church. Rohan Salmond explores how far we’ve come and where we are going. Thirty years ago Calvin and Hobbes first appeared in newspapers, the Nintendo Entertainment System was launched in the United States, the wreck of the RMS Titanic was discovered and Live ...
Read More »“A lot of love” between Aussie and Kiwi churches
Church leaders from across Australia and New Zealand gathered in Brisbane last month. Rohan Salmond reports. The annual trans-Tasman gathering of church leaders took place in Brisbane in April, bringing together the six moderators from Uniting Church synods, the president of the Uniting Church Assembly, the president of the Methodist Church of New Zealand and the moderator of the Presbyterian ...
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