Uniting Church in Australia - Four Inspiring days: 2023 President's Conference, Children's Day video, ASC Update and more - UC National Update 2-8 August 2023

View this email in your browser

2 - 8 August 2023 National Update Your weekly snapshot of the Uniting Church in Australia

Our Featured Story That's a wrap on the President's Conference People from across the Uniting Church gathered for four inspiring days last week at Redcliffe Uniting Church on Gubbi Gubbi land in Queensland for the 2023 President’s Conference. Hosted by Rev Sharon Hollis, the conference created two communities, first gathering around 60 Uniting Church ministers from Wednesday to Friday before opening to the wider Church for dinner on Friday night and a packed Saturday program. Bethany Broadstock from the Assembly Communications team reports back from the event, highlighting key input across the week. This included two keynote presentations from Uniting Church minister and theologian Rev Dr Sally Douglas reflecting on the kind of communities Jesus is calling us to be in a time of ferment and change. “As we seek faithful ways to be the church today, I would argue that it’s loving God and loving neighbour that is at the centre. Not the numbers, not the success, not the programs, not the cultural messaging of ‘big is best’. Like salt, it’s the little. It’s 'little' work,” Sally said.  Read the story and check out our wonderful collection of photos from across the week.   Go to the story ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER CHILDREN'S DAY Little voices, loud futures This Friday 4 August is National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day – a celebration of the strengths and culture of First Nations children. This year’s theme “Little Voices, Loud Futures”, acknowledges that a First Nations Voice would amplify the work being done to ensure First Nations children can flourish. UAICC Tasmania hosted a Children’s Day celebration at Leprena this week and recorded reflections of the day in an inspiring video featuring local students. Thanks to the team at UAICC Tasmania for sharing the video and to Alison Overeem for sharing a written reflection for Children's Day.  ACT2 PROJECT Ask us anything: Act2 edition What's your Act2 question? Want to know more about where we're up to? What we're hearing? The Directions and Options in the report? President Rev Sharon Hollis and Act2 Project Lead Andrew Johnson will be going live on Facebook to take your questions on everything Act2. Find the stream on the Uniting Church in Australia page on Thursday 10 August at 11am AEST (10:30am ACST and 9am AWST). To submit your question you can post in the Facebook event, use the 'Submit a Question' button here, email us or simply jump on live and post in the comments. ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ASC Update July 2023 The Assembly Standing Committee (ASC) met in Sydney from 21-23 July. The ASC received reports from UnitingWorld, Act2, the Defence Force Chaplaincy Committee, outgoing Christian Conference of Asia Executive member, Terence Corkin, Assembly activist Christine Gordon and the Uniting Church National History Society.  Among the business of the meeting, dates were set for the 17th Assembly and the President-elect's theme for the following triennium was approved. This and more in the ASC July Update.  UNITING FOR THE VOICE "As a migrant, they welcomed us." This week we hear from Rev Myung Hwa Park, Korean National Conference Chairperson, who shares this message of support for the Voice to Parliament both in Korean and English. Myung Hwa says as a migrant who has been welcomed to this country she feels it is important to support and give a voice to Australia's First Peoples.  See our growing collection of messages and share with us what saying Yes to the Voice means to you.  UNITING FOR THE VOICE RESOURCES 5 voices on the Voice The Voice to Parliament continues to be a defining conversation for our nation this year. Across the Uniting Church, many people are giving considered thought to this topic, engaging in respectful dialogue and discerning how we might be informed by our faith in Jesus. We share five pieces of writing from Uniting Church members who have approached the invitation of the referendum from different angles, offering clarifying, reasoned information and reflecting deeply on the reasons to support a yes vote.   AROUND THE UNITING CHURCH Transforming communities in Tuggeranong The newest video in the Our Story series from the Synod of NSW/ACT tells the story of the thriving community of Tuggeranong Uniting Church in the southern suburbs of Canberra. Under the energetic leadership of Rev Elizabeth Raine, the Tuggeranong Church Council has charted a deliberate course to make a difference in the wider community -  to be the “salt of the earth”. Beautifully produced by the Mission Enablement Team and Signal Box, the video can be watched on Facebook or via the Our Story: Future Directions website.  NATIONAL FORUMS Tomorrow: Exploring our intercultural identity The third Act2 National Forum is tomorrow afternoon! Exploring what it will mean to live out the multicultural and intercultural identity of the Uniting Church in the future, this public conversation open to all will be resourced by a fantastic panel including Rev Dr Matagi Vilitama (Being a Multicultural Church Circle Advocate), Rev Amel Manyon (South Sudanese National Conference) and Rev Dr Paul Goh (Multicultural and Cross-Cultural Ministry, Synod of SA). Register here to join on Zoom, tomorrow Thursday 3 August from 12:30-2:00pm AEST (12pm ACST and 10:30 AWST).

Justice Lives in Limbo The Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce (ACRT) has joined others in calling for an end to the cruelty of offshore detention on the 10th anniversary of the offshore processing agreement between Australia and PNG. The Refugee Council of Australia says 80 remain in PNG a decade on. Read this update from ACRT on its work advocating for those who remain in limbo in PNG and Australia and its calls to reinstate support for refugees living in Australia.  Read more Events Q&A with Noel Pearson Do you have questions about the upcoming referendum? Wondering why this matters? Hear directly from Indigenous leader Noel Pearson in conversation with Uniting Church President Rev Sharon Hollis about what a Voice to Parliament would mean for Australia. Hear also from constitutional lawyer Dr Shireen Morris who has worked alongside Noel for many years. All are welcome to join this online webinar on Wednesday 16 August, 7.30pm AEST, 7pm ACST, 5.30pm AWST.  Register now Ecumenism Hearing back from WCC reps Next Monday, the National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA) is hosting an informal online conversation with Australians who attended the recent World Council of Churches Central Committee meeting in Geneva. Hear highlights and updates from the meeting from UCA President Rev Sharon Hollis, a member of the Central Committee, Naomi Boulton who attended the meeting as a steward, and others. The gathering will take place on Zoom, 7 August at 7.30pm.  Join the conversation Frontier Services  Frontier News out now! The August edition of Frontier News is out now! In it, you'll meet people who have been part of this land for more than 60,000 years and people who only arrived a month ago. They each bring a unique perspective on life, faith and everything in between. Read about the resilience of people in bushfire-ravaged Buchan, Victoria, how our Bush Chaplains are meeting practical and spiritual needs in the most remote parts of Australia, and the amazing work of Outback Links volunteers. Read now

Positions Community Development Coordinator - Bayswater Uniting Church Coordinate a range of activities that promote connection, friendship and community for people experiencing mental illness and social isolation, working with mental health providers and others to grow the program. Youth and Young Adults Ministry Worker - Quakers Hill Uniting Church You'll be responsible for engaging with young people (high school to young adults) and growing strong multicultural youth and young adult ministries in this exciting opportunity for a passionate candidate. Upcoming Dates 3 August: Act2 National Forum - Multicultural and Intercultural Church 4 August: National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day 9 August: Act2 Going Deeper online session (exploring the Options in the report) 16 August: Nungalinya College 50th anniversary celebrations 24 August: Act2 Going Deeper online session (exploring the Directions in the report) 24-27 August: Uniting Church National Historical Society National Conference (Darwin) Check out more dates across the year Join us in prayer for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children to grow up into strong futures, grounded in their identity and connected to culture, language and community. Uniting Church Moderators who have been gathering with the President this week. We give thanks to God for these leaders in our Church and pray for their ministries. Those gathering in Brisbane later this week for the National Conference of Lay Preachers, and for all in the Uniting Church who faithfully preach the Gospel. Republic of Congo, Gabon, Sao Tome and Principe as part of the WCC Ecumenical Prayer Cycle. What's your Act2 question? Email us!