From the Moderator

Monday morning prayer

Join us for the Monday morning prayer during April:

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Loving God, strengthen us to overcome our fear so that we can be present to those who are mourning. Amen

Presbytery and congregation news

UnitingWomen 2018 conference

Dear wise and wonderful women—we invite you to register for the UnitingWomen 2018 conference, to be held in Brisbane from 27-30 September.

This will be the third UnitingWomen conference and the Queensland Synod is proud to be the 2018 host.

The essence of UnitingWomen is Christian women coming together in God’s name, finding acceptance, encouragement and inspiration.

A spectacular program of speakers and exhibitors is being developed, including keynote speaker Eloise Wellings who represented Australia at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.  Early bird registrations for the conference close on 31 May.

Register now or visit unitingwomen.org.au to find out more.

Retreat walk – Granite Belt

Uniting churches on the Granite Belt are hosting a walking retreat 5-6 May. Whether you just need to blow the cobwebs from your head or you need to make space and time to attend to your spiritual life, this retreat could be for you. Participants will walk the quiet roads and walking paths of the Stanthorpe district and will need to be fit enough to walk between ten and fifteen kilometres each day. Cost $100 covers meals and material for reflection. A limited number of billets are available.

For a brochure or more information, contact kayeronalds@gmail.com. For further information visit granitebeltuniting.org.au

Rev Kaye Ronalds
Minister, Granite Belt Uniting Church

Grant applications open!

Are you a Queensland Uniting Church with a great missional idea to transform families in your care or community? Do you have a plan for connecting to community? Have you a strategy to help nurture people in the faith?

If so, you can apply for funds from the Redcliffe Uniting Community Fund! Applications are now open and close 11 May for June 2018 distribution. Download the application form from our website.

Rev Paul Clark
Minister, Redcliffe Uniting Church

Synod office news

Fringe FAQs available online

To better understand ministerial fringe benefits, Finance and Payroll teams have prepared a list of FAQs. Questions include "Who do I contact regarding my fringe?", "How often are fringe claims paid?" and more. It can be found on the website under Synod Services/People and Culture/Forms/Ministers

It is important to note that all ministers are encouraged to seek professional advice concerning their remuneration arrangements and taxation position. For assistance or to submit additional questions, please contact fringe@ucaqld.com.au

Rachael Galland
Finance and Treasury Officer, Queensland Synod

Learning news

Mission in Focus: Selena Gomersall

Mission in Focus is a weekly segment in the Trinity College Queensland formation program. Designed to stretch and shape our missional imaginations, the event involves effective missional practitioners from within and beyond the Uniting Church sharing about their ministries and experience in both local and international contexts.

Early March Selena Gomersall, CEO of Outback Futures (a not-for-profit delivering mental and allied health services to the most remote parts of Queensland) shared the story of how a government-contracted not-for-profit, servicing rural Queensland, grew out of the mission work of a suburban Brisbane Uniting Church.

Click here to listen to Selena.

Tisa Lacey
Marketing and Event Coordinator, Trinity College Queensland

Trinity College Queensland open evening

We’re hosting an open evening to give people a sense of what it’s like to study at Trinity College Queensland.

It’s free and gives you a chance to meet our lecturers, some current students, learn about Fee-Help and hear short sample lectures. Faculty and College staff will answer your questions about full-time/part-time and intensive study options for diploma, degree, and postgraduate students. For those who are going through a Period of Discernment, we’ll have an optional mini-session to explain the process for a candidate at Trinity.

We provide refreshments after the session to encourage further questions and enquires with the faculty about studying at Trinity College Queensland.

Click here for more details and to register online.

Tisa Lacey
Marketing and Event Coordinator, Trinity College Queensland

Reaching out and speaking out

More progress needed – AFL and the pokies

While we know that the pokies raise a lot of money for clubs, we also know they cause a lot of harm in the community. The Alliance for Gambling Reform reports that another AFL club has announced that they are getting out of pokies having investigated the industry carefully. Now we need to work on the AFL Commission to support the AFL getting out of pokies once and for all. Using the Alliance’s pre-written email, can you please write to the AFL Commission and share this action with family, friends and colleagues.

Sue Hutchinson
Research and Policy Officer, Queensland Synod

Assembly news

Dignity not destitution for people seeking asylum

The Uniting Church in Australia joins other refugee advocates in calling for a reversal of the government’s harsh changes to the financial support of people seeking asylum.
“We have a moral obligation to support people coming to Australia seeking safety and protection,” said Uniting Church President Stuart McMillan.
“People depend on these payments and support services to rebuild their lives. Like us, they want freedom, safety and the ability to care for their families. They deserve to live with dignity—not be forced into destitution.”
Find out what you can do.

Sue Hutchinson
Research and Policy Officer, Queensland Synod