From the General Secretary

Nominations for Moderator-elect

One of the important privileges and opportunities of congregations and presbyteries is to identify persons who are available to serve as Moderator-elect of the Queensland Synod.

The Moderator is the spiritual head and the main spokesperson for the Uniting Church in Queensland. Nominees for Moderator-elect will be consultative, well-versed in the consensus decision-making of the church and value and promote good governance.

Nominations should reach the General Secretary at generalsecretary@ucaqld.com.au by 5 pm, 14 December. Download the nomination form.

This is a key role in the life of the Synod and we pray for all involved as we engage in the discernment process of nominating suitable candidates.

For more information contact Chairperson of the Moderator-elect Candidature Task Group, Rev Kaye Ronalds, via email.

Peer support training program

The Synod office is resourcing an adapted peer support training program to provide collegial pastoral care and peer support for leaders in the Queensland Synod in response to the Assembly decision on same gender marriage.

Training in this specialised program will be offered on 14 and 15 December 2018 at venues to be advised.

If you wish to be trained to provide support to ministry colleagues as part of this program, please contact the General Secretary via email. 

Rev Heather den Houting
General Secretary, Queensland Synod

From the Moderator

Help struggling families this Christmas!

The Queensland Synod is partnering with UnitingCare and Wesley Mission Queensland to lend greater support to the 2018 Target UnitingCare Christmas Appeal and Wesley Mission Queensland’s Red Bag Appeal.

See how you can get involved in spreading the wonder of Christmas! The Synod office will be collecting gifts on behalf of both appeals.

Please bring unwrapped gifts and/or gifts of non-perishable food to level 2 reception, 60 Bayliss St, Auchenflower 4066 before 14 December 2018. For more information, please email Chief Fundraising and Marketing Officer, Raushen Perera. 

Monday morning prayer

Join us for the Monday morning prayer in November:

We thank you, Lord for the people who revealed the living presence of your son to us; may your spirit enable us to bear witness to him also. Amen

Synod office news

Asbestos Awareness Week

As a general rule, if a building was built or renovated before 1990, it is likely that it will have some asbestos containing material. If you are planning renovations, major maintenance or repairs, it is important to take precautions before starting work.

Asbestos Awareness Week (19–25 November 2018) is a great opportunity to raise awareness about working safely with asbestos.

Asbestos Awareness Ambassador Trevor Gillmeister, and safety advocates, Julie and Don Sager have teamed up in this short film to remind us why it is important to plan for any work carried out around materials that may contain asbestos.

WorkSafeQueensland has produced a short video as part of the Asbestos Awareness Campaign.

For further information, contact the WHS Manager on 07 3377 9946 or via email on Christine.Przibilla@ucaqld.com.au.

Christine Przibilla
Work Health and Safety Manager, Queensland Synod

New resource to support ministering in disaster-affected communities

‘Tis the season to be jolly well prepared for storms, cyclones, flood fires and the ongoing drought conditions.

The Queensland Synod Disaster Response and Recovery Committee have prepared a booklet to assist congregations as they plan for disasters and respond to events in their district.

Good advice for churches, congregations and faith groups ministering in disaster-affected communities will be launched in February and distributed to your presbytery office.

Meanwhile a PDF version of the booklet is available online.

If you would like to receive a grant from the Queensland Synod Disaster Relief Fund please apply here and email completed application form to disaster.relief@ucaqld.com.au. To donate to the Disaster Relief Fund please call (07) 3377 9777 or visit missionpossible.ucaqld.com.au.

Kaye Ronalds
Convener, Queensland Synod Disaster Response and Recovery Committee

Position vacant news

Blue Care Chaplain—Aged Care

UnitingCare Queensland/Blue Care is seeking a Chaplain to serve in a 0.3 placement in Mareeba, 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 and Respite facilities, and Community.

As a lay person applying for this position, please ensure that your application includes the aplication form for Lay person in placement.

Please apply in writing to:
Blue Care Mareeba JNC
C/- Secretary of Synod Placements Committee
Uniting Church in Australia (QLD Synod)
GPO Box 674
BRISBANE

Applications close before 28 November 2018.

Kay Bittner
Chaplaincy Coordinator, UnitingCare Queensland

Reaching out and speaking out

Join Vic/Tas Synod postcard action - kids off Nauru now

The Justice and International Mission cluster of Vic/Tas Synod has produced postcards to the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs welcoming the government’s intention to transfer all the children seeking asylum off Nauru, but asking that this be done immediately and that their claims for asylum be processed in Australia.

If you would like any postcards for your congregation, please send the following to jim@victas.uca.org.au: “Please send [Insert number of postcards] "Kids off Nauru" postcards to [insert name] at the following address [insert address]".

Children resources: "Jesus was a refugee"

Jesus was a Refugee is based on that unsettling bit of the Christmas story in Matthew 2:1-23.

This never makes it into the end of year nativity play. Fair enough. Who wants to traumatise the kids with Bad King Herod, the atrocities in Bethlehem and a dull ending where the family drifts off to Nazareth?

So, why tell the escape to Egypt story to children? Simply because it is a Jesus story and it mirrors the story of 70 million people including 25 million children around the world who have been forced from their homes. Check out these helpful resources or purchase the book online.

Sue Hutchinson
Research and Policy Officer, Queensland Synod

Other news

King's supports rural and regional Queensland

In 2019, King’s College at The University of Queensland will award over $500,000 in scholarships and bursaries to support those in financial need, particularly students from rural and regional Queensland.

The College will also launch a new catering operation to provide students with greater choice and financial advantage. Read the full article. 

James O'Callaghan
Communications Coordinator, Queensland Synod