Uniting Church in Australia - Are you the next Assembly General Secretary? #16days of Activisim, 8 days to respond to Act2, Q&A with UnitingCreative + more in today's Update

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22-28 November 2023 National Update Your weekly snapshot of the Uniting Church in Australia

Our Featured Story Join us in the #16Days of Activism As part of our commitment to the equality and safety of all people, the Uniting Church joins people around the world in marking 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. This annual global campaign kicks off on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day.  Gender-based violence is one of Australia’s most significant social challenges. On average, one woman a week is murdered by her current or former partner. As the Uniting Church, we affirm that all gender-based violence is against the will of God. Throughout the 16 Days, the Assembly will share a series of short prayers written by Uniting Church President Rev Sharon Hollis on our social media. You can follow them on our Facebook stories, Instagram or X, or download them to share directly to your own channels.  The Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC) has also offered resources for the global community to mark Break the Silence Sunday as part of the call to break the culture of silence and shame around violence against women in the church. We pray that as a church, and in our own spaces, inspired by the love of Jesus, we create communities where women are equal, valued and feel safe.  Go to the prayers and resources ASSEMBLY POSITION Are you the next Assembly General Secretary? Are you someone who is passionate about the national life of the church? Do you have experience and skills in leading change and governance? Do you thrive working and collaborating with diverse groups of people? The Assembly is seeking its next General Secretary. The position will be appointed by the 17th Assembly in July 2024. Applications are open now until 23 February 2024. Read more and find out how to apply. ACT2 PROJECT 8 days to make your Act2 response The countdown is on for your chance to respond to the Act2 Project! After six months of discernment across the Uniting Church about concrete Directions and Options for the future, the Collective Discernment phase will close on 30 November. If you're keen to have your say but don't know where to start, we've got a simple three-step process you can use right now to make your response: 1) read these eight key takeaways from the Act2 report, 2) get a quick overview of the Options and Directions with our video series, 3) email your thoughts to the Act2 team. THIS IS MY UNITING CHURCH A ministry of creativity This week's #ThisIsMyUnitingChurch is a celebration of UCA creatives and musicians! Read along as we catch up with Tash Holmes, Music Project Facilitator for Uniting Creative in the Synod of NSW/ACT. Uniting Creative is a network of artists working together to create and share new worship resources to enhance the creative ministry and mission of local congregations. Tash shares about the inspiration for Uniting Creative, its brand new album and the healing power of music. Do you know a congregation with a great story to tell? Email us to nominate them! ISRAEL-PALESTINE Advent reflections on Palestine and Israel The Palestine Israel Ecumenical Network (PIEN) has released an Advent resource with week-by-week reflections from Ecumenical Accompaniers (EA) who have been deployed in Palestine and Israel. Read first-hand accounts from EAs who have been tasked to provide a protective presence and monitor human rights. Each week includes stories, bible readings, further resources and prayers. Week 2 features UCA Minister Rev Helen Richmond who was recently deployed in Bethlehem.  PODCAST Dwelling with Bronte Wilson The Dwelling podcast is back! In this series, UCA President Rev Sharon Hollis speaks to ex-Moderators of the Uniting Church who have recently concluded their roles. In the first episode, the President shares a conversation with the ex-moderator for the Synod of SA, Bronte Wilson. They talk about being called to leadership, insights gained into the Uniting Church and highlights of serving as Moderator. HUMANS OF THE UNITING CHURCH Meet Dominic Chan Meet Dominic Chan, new this week in our Humans of the Uniting Church series! From Emmanuel Uniting Church in Brisbane, Dom shares some of his Uniting Church story, what enlivens his faith in Jesus and the one thing he loves telling people about the Uniting Church: "we really believe the Spirit moves in and through people." FIRST NATIONS JUSTICE Support the campaign to Raise the Age Youth incarceration disproportionately impacts First Nations children, who account for 65 per cent of children in prisons. Join the week of action in support of the campaign to Raise the Age of criminal responsibility.  The Uniting Church supports this campaign as part of our covenant commitment to build a nation based on justice and reconciliation. Federal, State and Territory Attorneys-General meet on 1 December to address this issue.Take a selfie this week and share it, tagging your Attorney General.  ECUMENICAL WCC statement on Nagorno-Karabakh refugees At its recent executive committee meeting in Nigeria, the World Council of Churches expressed solidarity with Armenians who have fled their homeland in Nagorno-Karabakh. More than 100,000 people have been forcibly displaced from the region since Azerbaijan regained control of the disputed border area in late September. The statement calls for a generous humanitarian response to Nagorno-Karabakh refugees, particularly vulnerable women, children and the elderly. Image: a WCC delegation visits a 13th-century Armernian monastery in September. FRONTIER SERVICES Welcoming Jennie Feldmeier Frontier Services has welcomed its newest Bush Chaplain, Jennie Feldmeier, whose ministry field covers 450,000 square kilometers across the Cunnamulla, Burke and Wills Remote Area in South West Queensland. Meet Jennie in this great piece from the latest edition of Frontier News. Image: Jennie Feldmeier and Frontier Services National Director Rob Floyd at the old Birdsville Hospital, Queensland.

Intergenerational Steps resource Take the next step in your intergenerational journey with the Steps resource, a practical guide developed collaboratively by churches in New Zealand. Designed for communities which have already started to think intergenerationally, this resource contains questions, guiding principles and useful suggestions to help you on the way. Download Act2 Project National Prayer Gathering On 30 November the Act2 Project will close six months of discernment across the Church. Join Act2 and Assembly leaders for a time of prayer and thanksgiving before we turn to concrete proposals for the Assembly next year. Register to join on Zoom, next Thursday 30 November at 8pm AEDT (7:30pm ACDT, 6:30pm ACST, 5pm AWST). Register

Positions Children's and Youth Ministry Worker - Turramurra UC Work with congregational leaders to lead, manage and develop the Children’s and Youth programs and implement discipleship pathways at Turramurra UC. New Testament Lecturer - Pilgrim Theological College (VicTas Synod) Teach in the field of New Testament and related early Christian literature within the accredited awards of Pilgrim Theological College. Upcoming Dates 25 November: 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence begins 30 November: Act2 National Prayer Gathering (online) 3 December: Beginning of Advent 25 December: Christmas Day (President's Christmas Message coming) Check out more dates across the year Join us in prayer for All those impacted by gender-based violence, and those advocating for a safer and more equal world, as we begin the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence on Saturday. Uniting Creative's vibrant ministry of music and for all those whose creative gifts enrich the spirituality and worship life of Uniting Church communities. A just and abiding peace in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank amid ongoing violence and suffering, for those on the frontlines of impossible conditions, for peacekeepers. East Timor (Timor Leste), Indonesia, Philippines as part of the WCC Ecumenical Prayer Cycle. What is your Uniting Church story? Email us!