Family Camp 2012 registration now open
23 January 2012
Synod's Family Camp gives you the opportunity to enjoy a flexible program and have a holiday together.
Meet other Uniting Church families, explore your faith and create an opportunity for your children to share the experience of Christian community with lots of other kids.
This year's theme is Peacemaking at home.
Where: Adekate Lodge, Creswick Dean Road, Via Creswick VIC 3363.
When: 7pm Friday 9 March until 1pm Monday 12 March
Cost: $90 per adult, $60 per child
UnitingCare calls on poker machine industry to commit on mandatory precommitment
23 January 2012
UnitingCare Australia National Director Lin Hatfield Dodds said today it's deeply disappointing that our federal politicians were unable to agree to evidence based reform, and action mandatory precommitment in this parliamentary term.
“UnitingCare Australia calls on the poker machine industry to commit to the implementation of mandatory precommitment when the ACT trial returns positive outcomes,” Ms Hatfield Dodds said.
“The human cost of the obscene pokies profit is just too high."
Uniting Church supports constitutional change
20 January 2012
The Uniting Church in Australia believes that today’s report from the Expert Panel on Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People signals a landmark opportunity in our journey towards reconciliation.
"This will ensure that all Australians are aware of the importance and value of Constitutional recognition of the First Peoples for everyone in our society," said Rev Ken Sumner, the National Chairperson of the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress.
"We now have a Preamble which speaks honestly about our past and looks forward with hope to our future," said President of the Church, Rev Alistair Macrae.
"It has enabled us to imagine our new shared destiny together."
Invitation to Rob Brown's conclusion of placement service
Uniting Church launches Typhoon Washi Appeal
20 December 2011
The Uniting Church in Australia has launched an emergency appeal in response to the devastating impact of Typhoon Sendong (Washi) that stuck southern Philippines on Friday, December 17, 2011.
Kerry Enright, National Director, UnitingWorld said “Flooding has brought devastation and death to Mindanao in the Season people were preparing to celebrate new life."
Click here to donate to UnitingWorld's Typhoon Washi Appeal through SHARE.
Alternatively phone 1800 668 426 or send a cheque or money order to SHARE, PO Box 24154, Melbourne, Vic, 3001.
It’s official, new Cornish College
14 December 2011
Cornish College will be officially recognised as an independent Uniting Church school on Friday 16 December, marking the end of a tumultuous period for the Bangholme based campus.
In March it was announced the St Leonard’s College campus would close at the end of this year due to financial reasons, much to the dismay of the local community.
Initial attempts by a dedicated group of parents to save the school did not succeed, however the Uniting Church was able to broker a deal to save the campus’s future in July.
The new Cornish College has had a significant boost in enrolments for the 2012 school year and will unveil a brand-new school uniform acknowledging its fresh start.
Could “Arab spring” turn into “Christian winter”?
9 December 2011
Churches in Egypt are praying and helping migrants, who flee home due to political turmoil, violence and uncertain future. There is a great need to develop stable democratic societies if the “Arab spring” is to bear fruits.
Or else it might turn into an “Arab winter” with religious minorities at the risk of persecution.
Operation Santa is in full swing
8 December 2011
The UnitingCare Christmas Appeal, Operation Santa is in full swing.
The appeal allows people to share the spirit of Christmas with those doing it tough in their local communities by placing gifts under trees at local Target stores.
Click here to watch a video on how you can help support Operation Santa.
ACL does not represent all Australian Christians, nor all Christian viewpoints
8 December 2011
The Executive of the Victorian Council of Churches today expressed dismay at the one-sided view of Christianity portrayed in the Australian media.
“There are well-organised and well-financed lobby groups who routinely present their views as “the” Christian position”, General Secretary Theo Mackaay said.
“Australian Christian Lobby Pty Ltd (ACL) is a voice in the community that presents a particular Christian view on a range of issues, usually based on a fundamentally conservative view of the Christian faith.”
“The community needs to know that there is a range of views held on many topics in the Christian tradition, just as there are numerous views in all areas of human endeavour. It is important that no one view captures the attention of the community, of the media and of government.”
Support Care for Christmas Island – President’s Appeal
7 December 2011
The President of the Uniting Church in Australia, Rev Alistair Macrae, has launched an Appeal to support a ministry of pastoral care and spiritual support for detainees and staff at Christmas Island Detention Centre.
"The Uniting Church has been consistent in its advocacy for a more humane approach to asylum seekers," said Rev Mcrae.
"While we oppose offshore detention strongly, and recognising that it will be there for the foreseeable future, we need to match our advocacy with a demonstration of pastoral care and spiritual support of those detained or working in these dreadful places."
Click here to donate to the 'Care for Christmas Island' President's Appeal through SHARE.
Alternatively send a cheque or money order to SHARE, PO Box 24154, Melbourne, Vic, 3001. Please note that donations are not tax-deductible.
