From the General Secretary

Synod-wide recovery scheme

Recently, the Synod office communicated to the church the synod-wide recovery scheme which was the outcome of consultation conducted earlier in the year.

A frequently asked questions document has been released to help answer some of the questions that congregations may have.

Rev Heather den Houting
General Secretary, Queensland Synod

From the Moderator

Statement regarding people seeking asylum

The Uniting Church in Australia, Queensland Synod is deeply concerned about the welfare of refugees, both those detained in Nauru in Australia’s name and those who have come to Australia seeking safety and have had their supports and benefits cut off by the Australian Government.

Our firm position is that people seeking asylum and refugees should have their human rights upheld. This means they are supported with fairness, compassion and justice. Read the full statement.

Rev David Baker
Moderator, Queensland Synod

Monday morning prayer

Join us for the Monday morning prayer in October:

Lord, strengthen us to stick up for the truth of the gospel; may our speaking and living be done in faith, hope, and love. Amen

Moderator's diary

This week, Moderator Rev David Baker will be presenting at the Inspired Disciples festival held at the Synod office. David will also be preaching at the Chaplaincy Affirmation Day on Wednesday.

On Thursday David will be attending a boardroom discussion on “Why rural, regional and remote Australia is fed up and what we can all do to help” with special guest Ms Gabrielle Chan.

Positions vacant news

Presbytery Minister – The Downs Presbytery

The Presbytery of The Downs invites expressions of interest for the role of Presbytery Minister. This significant placement within the life of the Uniting Church in Queensland is seeking to call individuals with vision, energy and a strong team commitment who will provide strategic leadership, pastoral oversight, missional direction and support across the Presbytery and the Synod.

See the online vacancy for the position description. Send expressions of interest to: The Downs Presbytery Minister JNC, c/- Secretary of Placements, Uniting Church (Qld Synod) GPO Box 674 Brisbane QLD 4001, or email placements@ucaqld.com.au. Applications close 19 November 2018.

Rev David Baker
Chair, Joint Nominating Committee

October/November 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 Keren Seto
Acting Secretary, Queensland Synod Placements Committee

Assembly news

New UnitingCare Australia report

The new report Child Social Exclusion, Poverty and Disadvantage in Australia captures the multidimensional nature of disadvantage in Australia and its impact, providing a unique perspective through the eyes of the child.

One in six children aged zero to 14 years live in poverty. Child social exclusion means lost opportunity, marginalisation from the life of a community and the risk of leading lives of unfulfilled potential.

As this Eternity News article suggests, poverty is about income, not social ability.

Sue Hutchinson
Research and Policy Officer, Queensland Synod

National Uniting Church news

Uniting pushes for drug policy rethink

Uniting NSW and ACT is leading the national Fair Treatment campaign which was launched recently in Sydney. Uniting says the war on drugs is not working and that the response to illicit drugs needs to change.

In 2001 the Uniting Church in NSW and ACT supported the establishment of the Uniting Medically Supervised Injecting Centre (MISC), which made Australia a world leader in this arena. Read more about this initiative here and here.

Sue Hutchinson
Research and Policy Officer, Queensland Synod

Learning news

Principal's Hour: Week 10 Semester 2

In this week's Principal's Hour, Paul Jones examines two very different characters in 1 Samuel 25—husband and wife—​and how the same principles of characterisation apply to us who endeavour to reflect God's image in the world.

Subscribe to Trinity College Queensland's podcast.

Belinda Hoadley
EA to the Principal and Office Manager, Trinity College Queensland

Trinity Unplugged – limited seats available

Register today and invite your congregation, friends and family. Limited spaces available so don't miss out!

Sharing Jesus with our friends requires a lifestyle change, not merely learning a new technique.

Jesus commands us to make disciples. But are we all equipped for the job? How do you talk with your friends about following Jesus?

Join us as Dr Sam Chan (gifted evangelist and trainer in evangelism) helps us explore the key steps to telling our friends about Jesus.

Cost: $10 (discount for groups of five or more). Held 7–9 pm, 1 November at Trinity College Queensland, Level 1, 60 Bayliss St, Auchenflower.

Belinda Hoadley
EA to the Principal and Office Manager, Trinity College Queensland

Reaching out and speaking out

Kids off Nauru prayer vigil

Love Makes a Way, Common Grace and Kids Off Nauru are coming together to pray, to lament, and to witness to a better way for children on Nauru. We come from many different traditions, but on 2 November we’ll unite at St Andrew’s Uniting Church, Brisbane from 6:30–7:45 pm.

Please join us there. If you are not in Brisbane, consider organising your own prayer vigil.

Contact Sue Hutchinson for liturgy resources.

Join us in the journey!

In good news, Australia’s Modern Slavery Acts now well into the parliamentary process, having been to the Senate last week and now set to return to the House of Representatives. However, we need this Act to be robust!

Send a postcard to the Prime Minister. Order a couple of packs for free from STOPTHETRAFFIK and get your congregation and friends on board!

Make sure you watch this

The two-part documentary "How Mad Are You" was recently aired on SBS and is now available online for the rest of October. This series takes a unique look at mental health. Ten Australians from all ages and backgrounds spend a week together. Five have a history of mental illness. Five do not. Who is who? Questions are raised about the meaning of diagnosis, stereotypes and stigma, and the social implications that come with the label, and the value of seeing the person behind the diagnosis.

Sue Hutchinson
Research and Policy Officer, Queensland Synod