From the General Secretary

Polity Committee advice regarding same-gender marriage

In July 2018, at the 15th Triennial Assembly, the National Assembly made a decision regarding the conduct of same-gender marriage in the Uniting Church in Australia. The full decision can be viewed online.

The National Polity Committee has provided advice on whether a Presbytery decision can constrain the exercise of a council or authorised ministry agent’s decision.

Read the full statement.

Resources will continue to be provided by the Assembly and the Synod to assist councils of the church, and individual ministry agents in terms of making decisions in relation to the conduct of same-gender marriage within the Uniting Church in Australia.
 

Rev Heather den Houting
General Secretary, Queensland Synod

From the Moderator

Monday morning prayer

Join us for the Monday morning prayer in August:

Create in me a clean heart, O God; a heart fully alive to you. Amen

"Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God." Matthew 5:8

Moderator's diary

Moderator Rev David Baker will be visiting Mackay from Tuesday to Thursday meeting with ministers and congregations.

On Sunday, David will be preaching at Redcliffe Uniting Church.

Synod office news

August/September placement vacancies

The list of current vacant placements is now available.

People in specified ministries who are seeking a new placement are invited to make contact with the nominated person if they would like their names considered for any of these placements.

Rev David Fender
Associate General Secretary, Queensland Synod

Position vacant

Chaplain—Princess Alexandra and Brisbane Southside Hospitals

This role requires significant pastoral care experience, a willingness to connect with local congregations, the ability to work within an ecumenical, multidisciplinary team framework and to build volunteer capacity. Qualifications in theology and pastoral care are essential. Experience in a similar role will be highly regarded.

To obtain a position description or for further information, contact Rev Keren Seto.

Applications close 14 September 2018 and should be addressed to:
Princess Alexandra Hospital JNC
C/-Secretary of Placements Committee
Uniting Church in Australia, Queensland Synod
GPO Box 674, Brisbane QLD 4001 or placements@ucaqld.com.au

Rev Keren Seto
Executive Officer, Synod Chaplaincy Commission

Volunteers for the Board of Christian Formation

Vacancies currently exist to serve in a volunteer capacity on the Board for Christian Formation (BCF). The BCF gives oversight to processes involved with the selection, training and continuing education of people in specified ministries within the Synod, including overseeing Trinity College Queensland. Information on the mission, vision and aspirations of the BCF can be found on the Synod website.

The Synod is seeking broad representation of skills and perspectives to serve on the BCF, from either lay or ministry members, with previous business or tertiary education experience considered favourably. These important roles provide appropriate governance of the Synod and its agencies while richly blessing and offering development opportunities to the individuals who contribute.

Please send an expression of interest to the governance mail box governance@ucaqld.com.au or call Belinda on 07 3377 9768.

Belinda Bones
Governance Secretary, Queensland Synod

Blue Care Chaplain—Aged Care

UnitingCare Queensland/Blue Care is seeking a Chaplain to serve in a 0.75 placement in Bundaberg, Queensland. The purpose of the placement is to provide and ensure chaplaincy services are ministries of compassion. The services are to be provided across Residential facilities, Allied Health and Community, and Retirement Living.

Contact Kay Bittner, UnitingCare Queensland Chaplaincy Coordinator, for a copy of the position description.

Please apply in writing to -
Blue Care Bundaberg JNC
c/o Secretary of Synod Placements Committee
Uniting Church in Australia, QLD
GPO Box 674, Brisbane, QLD, 4001 or
placements@ucaqld.com.au by 9 September 2018

Kay Bittner
Chaplaincy Coordinator, UnitingCare Queensland

Human Resource Officer

The Synod office is seeking an individual to join our People and Culture team, and focus on providing operational human resource support to the Queensland Synod (including Synod office staff, Synod office management and congregations).

To apply, please send a completed Application Cover Sheet, CV and cover letter (addressing the selection criteria in the position description) to careers@ucaqld.com.au. 

Enquiries in relation to the position can be made directly to Grant Weaver on (07) 3377 9867.

Applications close 7 September 2018.

Grant Weaver
People and Culture Manager, Queensland Synod

Learning news

Pioneer ministry and fresh expressions

South Moreton and Moreton Rivers Presbyteries, together with the Synod, are hosting a masterclass and seminar with Rev Canon Dave Male, a world leader in Pioneering and Fresh Expressions on 21 and 22 September.

The masterclass (21 September) at Moreton Rivers Presbytery office is for pioneering practitioners. There are two tickets left.

Saturday (22 September) will include a day seminar at Broadwater Road Uniting Church for those who are already expressing pioneering leadership, those who are interested, and those who are curious.

For further information contact Beth Nicholls 0407 170 573 (South Moreton) or Tim Bennett 0413 701 012 (Moreton Rivers).

Information and online registration available on the South Moreton Presbytery website.

Trinity Open Evening

Join us to get a sense of what it’s like to study at Trinity College Queensland.

You’ll meet with current students, learn about fee-help and listen to sample mini-lectures. If you can’t make it to the open evening, we’re opening our doors the following day from 9 am giving you the chance to attend one of our lectures or listen to a faculty member as they unpack the Bible during Principal’s Hour.

Belinda Hoadley
Executive Assistant and Office Manager, Trinity College Queensland

Principal's Hour: Week 5, Semester 2

What happens when we confuse the act and form of worship with the object of our worship?

Comparing the responses of Jonathan and Saul to military threat in 1 Samuel 14-15 helps us to understand what true obedience looks like. Listen to this week's episode.

You’re invited to Principal’s Hour 11:45 am on Tuesdays even if you’re not enrolled in one of Trinity's courses.

Subscribe to our podcast today!

Marie Bourne
Marketing Coordinator

Reaching out and speaking out

Start a conversation

This World Suicide Prevention Day, Monday 10 September, people all around the world will be talking about suicide prevention. So, this is a day to start a conversation that matters! Did you know that eight Australians die every day and 65, 000 consider taking their lives each year?

So, what more can we do? Check out the #YouCanTalk webpage by Life in Mind or R U OK?. In fact the R U OK? Conversation Convoy is on the road and in Queensland right now. Check out where they are visiting. Maybe organise your own event?

The solution to poverty?

So often we hear the question: Why do people who are poor make so many bad decisions about how to spend what money they have? How do they get themselves into these situations—is it poor decision-making skills? This three-minute extract from a TED talk looks at the real reason. This is worth watching. It has been suggested that Universal Basic Income be trialled in Australia as a real solution to poverty. What do you think?

Kids off Nauru

The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) and the refugee sector is calling on the Australian Government to act to bring the 119 children and their families who are currently detained on Nauru, to safety in Australia before Universal Children’s Day on November 20, 2018. That’s 93 days to get these children to safety. This is entirely in line with existing Uniting Church policy. Please sign the RCOA petition.

Sue Hutchinson
Research and Policy Officer, Queensland Synod