All the highlights from #UCA22 Day 3

Highlights from Day 3 #UCA22 Day 3 of the reconvened Assembly began with members gathering together in song led by the Assembly band, deep reflections and joyful dancing. Students from Nungalinya College again led us in reflecting on the theme Dwelling in Love with a presentation in person and on video reflecting on John 15 where Jesus says, ‘I am the vine, you are the branches’. The Assembly was joined for the day by the National Directors from UnitingWorld, Frontier Services and UnitingCare Australia, as well as the National Director for Strategic Finance and Administration. The National Directors, along with the Assembly Associate General Secretary, were available for people to join in conversation over lunch, and in the following session shared some of the joys of their work with Assembly members. We took the opportunity in the breaks to ask some of the 16th Assembly members to share their hopes for the future of the Uniting Church in Australia. Watch the video below. The 16th Assembly acknowledged all that had been done for the Act2 Project, affirmed its importance and urgency and resolved to continue this work. Looking to the future, it was resolved that the Assembly invite the whole Church including the Synods and UAICC to work together in progressing with further work on Act2 to return to the 17th Assembly. The meeting again closed with the practice of the Examen with members invited to reflect again on the day. One more day to go! Growing in Love: Worship Day 3 Members of the reconvened Assembly began Day 3 by coming together in prayer, worship, Bible Reflection – and joyful dance - as they prepared again to discern the Spirit together. Nungalinya College students shared their particular insights and understandings of what it means when Jesus says, ‘I am the vine, you are the branches’. Assembly welcomes Agency Directors The 16th Assembly heard about the joys of the national work of the Church from the National Directors of the Assembly and its agencies. See the photo highlights from a lunchtime opportunity for Assembly members to meet with the leaders. #UCA22 in photos Check out all the photo highlights from Day 3. Make sure you use #uca22 and #godineveryact when you post your own. What are your hopes for the future of the Uniting Church? As the meeting considers God's will for the Uniting Church, we asked six Assembly members what their hopes are for the future of the UCA. Watch their responses on this video.  Join us in prayer for Members of the 16th Assembly and all those involved in the reconvened meeting as we come to our final day.  For the Wadeye Community in the Northern Territory - for God’s spirit to hover in and throughout this community as they experience a time of conflict. A peaceful and just election in the Philippines which takes place tomorrow amid deep division, uncertainty and pain. Are you at the Assembly meeting and have a great story to tell? Email Us

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Reconvened 16th Assembly - Day 2

Highlights from Day 2 #UCA22 The first full business day of the 16th Assembly Reconvened Meeting was filled with listening and discernment with a number of important decisions on continuing witness, climate change, aged care and celebrating deacons in the UCA. The Day began with worship with a sung Acknowledgment of Country in the language of the Gubbi Gubbi People followed Bible Reflections led by the students of Nungalinya College. A highlight of the day was the Assembly’s warm reception and adoption of the Continuing Witness proposal which invites the Church to engage with three documents from other churches that will challenge us, encourage us, and offer us wisdom. The Assembly also agreed to adopt a proposal on climate change which commits the Church to take seriously the voices and wisdom of First Peoples on climate justice and care of creation and to call on the Councils and agencies of the Church to join with the Assembly in committing to net zero emissions by 2040. Another decision of the Assembly will prioritise advocacy to ensure the dignity and care of older Australians. In the evening session Assembly members acknowledged with joy and expressed deep gratitude for the ministry of the diaconate within the Uniting Church in Australia, noting the 30th anniversary of the renewal of this ministry. The proposal emphasised the need for theological colleges to provide specific courses and training for deacons in the Uniting Church within the varied contexts in which they work. After the decision, the President invited Deacons who were present to stand and the whole Assembly prayed over them. There was an encouragement to take the time to listen to a Deacon and share their good news stories. Watch a video celebrating UCA Deacons. A proposal was discussed and later passed on a Review of the Regulations of the Uniting Church delegating authority to the Assembly Standing Committee (ASC) to immediately review the regulations relating to complaints and discipline. Another decision was made that allows the ASC to amend regulations in order to reduce the administrative and financial burden on small congregations in relation to auditing processes. The Assembly meeting also had its first opportunity to engage with the Act2 report and proposals.  Before Dinner Assembly members were invited to turn to another person next to them and share a concern on their heart and pray for one another. The Day finished with a quiet moment of reflection using the Examen practice, dwelling with the events of the day and within the love of Christ in one another. Listening anew to words of Continuing Witness Members of the 16th Assembly have adopted a proposal for the Church to “listen anew for words of continuing witnesses from recent and contemporary contexts” to challenge, renew and strengthen the faith of the Uniting Church. Rachel Kronberger introduced the report and proposals: “The task group believes that in studying and praying with these documents across the church we would find in them words with which to express our faith, or be inspired by them to find new words of our own.” A commitment to climate justice and care of creation The 16th Assembly has passed a proposal from the Assembly Standing Committee that commits the Uniting Church to take seriously the voices and wisdom of First Peoples on climate justice and calls upon the wider Church to commit to net zero emissions by 2040. Introducing the proposal, Palawa woman Alison Overeem said, “As First Peoples, the Creator gifted us the role of caretakers of this land. Care for country sits in our storylines, in our songlines and in our cultural practices. As First Peoples we know that if we care for country, country will care for us.” United for our older people The 16th Assembly passed a proposal that both celebrates older people and prioritises advocacy to ensure the dignity and care of older Australians. Under the proposal, Assembly members endorsed UnitingCare Australia to prioritise advocacy that urges the Australian Government to address the growing aged care crisis in Australia. Further the Assembly supported the celebration of an Older Persons Sunday in the Uniting Church each year.  "A whole-of-church national process to explore the opportunities and challenges that face us." Members of the 16th Assembly have had their first opportunity to engage with the Act2 report in an information session on Saturday morning. Act2 is process of discernment about how faithfully following Christ in our time and place shapes the Uniting Church into the future. Dwelling in Love with Creation: Worship Day 2 Another highlight of Day 2 was being led in prayerful reflection on the Dwelling in Love theme by students from Nungalinya College.  A Bible Reflection was led in person by Pastor Kirsty Burgu. A Ngarinyin Worrorra woman, Kirsty is an active artist and the Uniting Church Pastor at Mowanjum in Western Australia.  Kirsty spoke about her painting called the Creation Story, beautifully weaving together the creation stories she has learnt from her ancestors and her Christian faith. What's been great so far? We asked six members of the 16th Assembly what have been their highlights of the meeting so far. Watch their responses on this video! A wrap on social media See what has been shared so far about the reconvened meeting on social media. Don't forget to use the 16th Assembly hashtags when you share - #uca22 #dwellinginlove #Godineveryact A practice of prayer Assembly members closed their first full day with a recorded reflective practice of prayer guided by Richmond Uniting Church Minister Rev Dr Sally Douglas. The Examen helps make us alert to God's presence and the leading of the Spirit. Learn more in two videos - a guided Examen and an explanation of the practice.  Join us in prayer for The continued discernment of the 16th Assembly and for a strong sense of community as members prepare for Day 3. Are you at the Assembly meeting and have a great story to tell? Email Us

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Reconvened 16th Assembly - Day 1

Reconvened 16th Assembly kicks off The 16th Assembly has officially reconvened on Gubbi Gubbi Country on the Sunshine Coast. Around 200 members from around the country have come together to continue the business of the triennial meeting which first met online in July last year. The meeting began with a Welcome to Country from the Gubbi Gubbi Dance Troupe who shared a number of traditional songs and dance from their Country. Members then shared in worship led by Uniting Church President Rev Sharon Hollis which included a historic renewal of the covenant between the Uniting Church in Australia and the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress. In gesture of deep humility, those Second Peoples who participated in the worship and all who were watching online, were invited to kneel for an Act of Confession, and read the words, “We pray that our commitment to this covenant will be renewed and enlivened. Kindle in us a flame for justice and equity in these lands known as Australia, and remind us to work in solidarity, shoulder to shoulder, with our First Nations siblings." During worship, Bible readings were shared from Ezekiel (36:22-28) and Genesis (1:1 – 2:3). Prayers were shared in Fijian, Dinka, Korean, Tongan and English. The worship included joyful song and dance led by liturgist Megan Laurie-Thomson.  The night closed with blessing from the President and sung blessing for one another. Members were encouraged to continue to dwell in the love of Christ as the reconvened meeting begins. Renewing the Covenant Uniting Church President Rev Sharon Hollis led a liturgy of renewal together with UAICC National Interim Chairperson Rev Mark Kickett during the worship at the commencement of the reconvened 16th Assembly. It was a time of both a celebration of this important commitment and a time of confession for the ways we have not honoured or lived up to the vision of the Covenant. Youthful delegates gather ahead of meeting Twenty youthful members of the 16th Assembly have gathered today ahead of the beginning of the reconvened meeting, building community and sharing hopes for the meeting. The final session was joined by President Rev Sharon Hollis and Assembly General Secretary Colleen Geyer, who fielded questions about the process and shared their own hopes for the meeting.  Join us in prayer for The Covenant shared between the Uniting Church in Australia and the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress. We pray that as Second Peoples we choose love and justice over racism and fear.  Day 2 of the reconvened 16th Assembly as members regather from across the country to discern the will of God and listen to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Are you at the Assembly meeting and have a great story to tell? Email Us

Copyright © 2022 Uniting Church in Australia, All rights reserved. We're sending you weekly updates because you opted into news from the Uniting Church in Australia. Our mailing address is: Uniting Church in Australia Lvl 4 262 Pitt St Sydney, NSW 2000 Australia