📣 Applications open for NYALC + two takes on National Conferences. Find out more in this week's UC National News 5-11 October

Calling young adults in the UCA... Applications open today for the Uniting Church National Young Adult Leaders Conference (NYALC) taking place from 26-29 January 2023 at Merricks Lodge on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula. A key part of our Uniting Church identity is that we celebrate the leadership, passion, and many gifts of young adults. NYALC is an opportunity for emerging leaders, aged 18-30, to explore what leadership is, build their leadership skills, and reflect on how faith shapes and guides leadership.  NYALC aims to nurture and equip our next generation of UCA leaders. Across three days, participants will share in worship, input sessions, bible study, peer reflection groups and more. See this invitation from the President. Please consider if there is a young person in your community who you could encourage to go, or consider contributing towards the costs for a young adult leader to attend. Places are limited to 70 participants. Applications close 7 November. Click below to find out more. Applications now open! Two takes on our National Conferences This week in our Intercultural Church series, we spotlight our Uniting Church National Conferences. First up, hear from Rev Dr Jason Kioa, former chair of the Tongan National Conference (TNC) for more than 15 years, writing about how this Conference provides a mat of hospitality, belonging and learning for the wider UCA. Then, we throw to Assembly National Consultant Rev Dr Apwee Ting who has seen first-hand the joy and fellowship that emanates from these important communities in the life of the Uniting Church. Picture this: R&R episode 3 If you were to walk into a local Uniting Church, what would be the signs that this community is doing a good job of living interculturally? What might you look for? Listen in as Assembly National Consultants Rev Lindsay Cullen and Rev Dr Apwee Ting paint a picture of intercultural congregations on the latest episode of R&R with the ARU. Marking the fourth anniversary of the National Apology October 22 marks the fourth anniversary of the National Apology to Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse. In a statement from the Assembly, UCA Redress and the National Safe Church Unit, the Uniting Church reiterates its own apology to survivors and recommits to the safety of all people. A Liturgy of Acknowledgement and Lament is available for communities to mark the anniversary. Welcome end to Cashless Debit Card The Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress, the Uniting Church in Australia and UnitingCare Australia have welcomed moves to scrap the Cashless Debit Card. “We have long advocated for the abolition of the Cashless Debit Card and we are pleased that action is finally being taken to end a program that fundamentally undermined self-determination for First Peoples,” said Rev Mark Kickett, Interim Chair of the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress. Doing consensus decision-making at the WCC 11th Assembly Read about the experience of using consensus decision-making at the World Council of Churches (WCC) 11th Assembly, which included 660 delegates from across the world. The Uniting Church's Emily Evans (pictured left) was a consensus facilitator to the Assembly and helped introduce delegates to the procedures. She reflects with her co-facilitators on the process of seeking a common mind and listening to the Spirit. Faiths 4 Climate Justice Day of Action 13 October Next Thursday 13 October, people of faith across Australia and the Pacific will jointly call for actions to protect creation ahead of global climate talks at COP27 in November. Faith leaders are calling on the Australian Government to stop approving new coal and gas projects and to actively support a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. Multi-faith services are taking place on Thursday at prominent places of worship. Check for locations near you and find out how to show your support. Key leadership opportunity with Frontier Services Frontier Services is a national agency of the Uniting Church and Australia’s oldest bush charity, mobilising people and resources to offer pastoral support in remote and rural Australia through an extensive network of Bush Chaplains and volunteers. It is currently searching for a new National Director to provide functional and strategic leadership to the organisation and manage a high-performing team. Sharing the impact of gender equality theology Our church partners in Fiji, Vanuatu, Kiribati and Solomon Islands are reaching out in faith to shift community norms and behaviours that allow or excuse family violence, to prevent it long before it has the chance to happen. They are doing it using the heart language of the Pacific - and the results are incredible. Hear about the impact in their own words, and how you can help support this work through UnitingWorld. JOBS Bush Chaplain - Cunnamulla, Burke and Wills Remote Area Ministry We are seeking a person who loves connecting God, people and the land to become Frontier Services' newest Bush Chaplain. The purpose of the role is to provide practical, pastoral and spiritual support to people needing assistance across remote outback Queensland, from individual properties to small country communities.  Donor Relations Coordinator - UnitingWorld UnitingWorld seeks a Donor Relations Coordinator to be responsible for nurturing a cohort of donors by building strong respectful relationships to increase loyalty and financial support. This role is based in Melbourne. Join us in prayer for The National Conferences of the Uniting Church. We give thanks for the joyful gifts and insights they contribute to the life and faith of our church and pray for their continuing mission and place in the life of the UCA.  Our church partners across the Pacific who are empowering women as theologians and working to address the root causes of and break cycles of violence through gender equality theology. Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela as part of the WCC Ecumenical Prayer Cycle. What does an Intercultural Church mean to you? Email Us

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