As the Uniting Church we have an enduring commitment to make sure our communities are safe places of trust and care where all people can thrive. This is our call to be a safe Church, and we all have a role to play. As we continue our series on Identity, Director of the National Safe Church Unit Rev John Cox reflects on how the call to ground a culture of safety in our life and witness is key to how we see ourselves, live as the people of God and shape our Church. He writes: “We believe that all people are made in the image of God, that God reaches out to us in love and acceptance and that our relationships with each other should express love, care and respect. Central to living out the Gospel is to love God and to love others. To do this we need to safeguard each other from potential harm ... nurturing and lifting each other up so that everyone can thrive and grow into who God calls them to be." |
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 | From 31 August to 8 September, more than 4000 people from across the global church will gather in Karlsruhe, Germany, for the first World Council of Churches (WCC) Assembly in nine years. Among them will be several people from the Uniting Church, our official delegates, and other participants and observers. We asked them about their hopes and what they're looking forward to! |
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 | The countdown is on to UCA Child Safe Sunday, our annual day to celebrate and reflect on our commitment to be safe communities where all can thrive. The National Safe Church Unit has released a suite of resources for celebrating on 4 September, including this colouring-in activity to help get kids involved.
Access the Child Safe Sunday resources on the Congregations and Presbyteries tab. |
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 | Thursdays in Black Ambassadors have spoken out about gender-based violence and sexual abuse in a new joint message released last week. Signed by 26 Ambassadors, including Uniting Church President Rev Sharon Hollis and General Secretary Colleen Geyer, it calls on churches across the communion "to clearly and definitively commit to overcoming sexual and gender-based violence" beginning with their own structures and communities. |
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 | Rev Dr Rob McFarlane shares this reflection on the Abraham Conference held on Sunday 14 August, an annual interfaith event bringing together the Jewish, Christian and Muslim communities in Sydney. |
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 | With cars responsible for half of all transport emissions in Australia, have you ever wondered about an electric vehicle (EV) as a planet-friendly alternative? The Uniting Climate and Action Network in the Synod of NSW/ACT has organised an online Electric Vehicle Forum for people to learn more about the benefits, cost and availability of making the switch to EVs. It will be joined by Dr Jake Whitehead, Head of Policy at the Electric Vehicle Council. 7pm AEDT on Wednesday 7 September via Zoom. |
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 | Over the next five weeks we'll be sharing a series of reflections leading into the World Council of Churches World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel, which takes place from 15-22 September under the theme, 'Faith, Hope and Love in Action: Towards Justice in Israel Palestine.' Read the introduction to the series from President Rev Sharon Hollis, and stay tuned each week for articles prepared by the Palestine Israel Ecumenical Network (PIEN). |
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 | UnitingCare Australia supports aged care reform to make sure all senior Australians are respected, cared for and have their needs met. In a new submission to a Government Inquiry on what changes are needed in the sector, it advocates for several measures including better resourcing in remote areas, a stronger aged care workforce and higher wages for aged care workers. |
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 | After witnessing the destructive impact of extreme weather in Western Australia, including Cyclone Seroja in 2021, Rev David Jackson came out of retirement to join the disaster-response work of Frontier Services. Formerly a patrol padre in Tasmania in 1989, David is now the new Disaster Recovery Chaplain, Mid-West (WA), and he's doing what he does best – helping communities recover from the deadly impact of natural disasters.
Image thanks to Frontier Services (Rev David Jackson, furthest right) |
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 | Uniting Church congregations and communities are encouraged to celebrate Older Persons Sunday on 2 October 2022, the first Sunday after the United Nations’ International Day of Older Persons. This opportunity to recognise the human rights and dignity of older people in worship was endorsed by the 16th Assembly in May. Keep an eye out for worship resources from Uniting Friends of Ageing, and contact Warren Talbot for more information. |
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 | Right now, 49 million people in 46 countries are on the brink of famine. Conflict, COVID-19, climate shocks and now the war in Ukraine have created a perfect storm for an unprecedented global hunger crisis. By writing to your local MP, you can add your voice to a movement calling for more action to fight famine through urgent intervention, tackling root causes and strengthening resilience. |
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 | The Assembly is recruiting for the position of Assembly Associate General Secretary. Do you know someone who is deeply passionate about the mission and ministry of the Uniting Church nationally, has excellent people skills, change management expertise and loves to multitask? Apply by 9 September. |
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Join us in prayer for - All those working across the Uniting Church to nurture a culture of safety, security and equality so that all may flourish in our communities.
- Churches across Asia and beyond marking Asia Sunday on 21 August, as they unite in prayer and reflection and celebrate how 'Christ's love reconciles and unites'.
- Those from the Uniting Church preparing to take part in the World Council of Churches Assembly.
- Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger as part of the WCC Ecumenical Prayer Cycle.
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| What's your Uniting Church story? |
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