From the Moderator

Moderator's Easter message

Queensland Synod Moderator Rev David Baker's Easter message for 2018. Download here.

Moderator's Musing

In this week's Moderator's Musing, Rev David Baker reflects on his time at the Grasstree Gathering in Sydney.

"The church needs to hear that there are many encouraging things going on in the world of Indigenous Christian leadership; that these leaders are making great connections between the gospel and Indigenous spirituality..." Read more.

Moderator's diary

This Wednesday, Moderator Rev David Baker will be attending the launch of the "Friendship in the Presence of Difference" study guide. The study guide will be used by members of the Uniting Church in Australia to explore what it means to live generously and productively as Christians in Australia’s multi-faith community.

On Sunday, David will be guest preaching at Dalby Uniting Church.

Synod office news

2018 insurance renewal update

The Queensland Synod Group Insurance team is currently working on finalising this year’s insurance renewal which is due to expire on 31 March 2018. The indications currently being received from insurance markets is that there are likely to be premium increases of between 10 per cent and 15 per cent for this year’s insurance renewal. Group Insurance will continue to work with the church’s insurance broker to ensure that our insurance renewal is placed, on or before expiry date on 31 March 2018, at the most favourable terms and conditions that are able to be negotiated with the insurance markets.

David Munro
Manager, Group Insurance, Queensland Synod

Presbytery and congregation news

#TakeHeart this Easter!

To help you celebrate this Easter, Communications and Marketing have also produced the following resources:

• A3 poster (editable)
• Invitations (editable)
• Social media banner
• PowerPoint template
• Moderator's Easter message video
• #TakeHeart video series

Please download these resources from the Synod website.

Phillip Hay
Communications and Marketing Manager, Queensland Synod

Position vacant

Uniting Church WA: Secretary of Presbytery

The Secretary of the Presbytery of Western Australia is to provide leadership and resourcing to the Presbytery, fulfilling the necessary business, administrative and operational responsibilities in order to enable the successful life of the Presbytery and its congregations in the areas of worship, witness and service. If the person is a Minister of the Word or deacon, the appointment may be considered a placement. This is a full-time position. Expressions of interest close 31 March.

For more information, visit the Uniting Church in Western Australia website.

Rev Lorraine Stokes
Chairperson, Presbytery of Western Australia 

Learning news

Trinity Unplugged

Let’s face it—the Bible contains some pretty weird stories. But where do we begin in making sense of them? Sometimes we are left wondering whether we have really heard what certain passages have to say.

Come and hear Paul Jones, Trinity’s Lecturer in Old Testament and Preaching, as he walks us through one of the strangest stories in the Old Testament—1 Kings 13. Paul will guide us step by step through a process of reading and interpreting difficult texts, using the unusual tale in 1 Kings 13 as a case study.

Join us 7–9 pm, 23 March at Trinity College Campus. #TrinityLife

Tisa Lacey
Marketing and Event Coordinator, Trinity College Queensland

Two new faculty members complete the Trinity team

It’s been an exhilarating start of year for Trinity. We’ve had 54 people enrol in our accredited courses, launched our Activate Gap Year program for 18–23 year olds, and now we’re announcing the addition of two new faculty members:

Victoria Lorrimar as Lecturer in Systematic Theology. Vicki is an Australian completing her DPhil in Theology under the supervision of Professor Alister McGrath at the University of Oxford.

Nigel Rogers as Dean of Formation and Dispersed Learning. In addition to the skills and experience Nigel has accumulated as the CEO/General Secretary of the South Australian Synod, Nigel brings a passion for discipleship.

We welcome both to Trinity College Queensland. Read more.

Leigh Trevaskis
Director of Education for Ministry, Trinity College Queensland

Principal’s Hour: Week Three (Simon Gomersall)

In this week’s Principal Hour sermon Simon Gomersall, Lecturer in Historical and Contemporary Mission and Director of Activate (Gap Year Program) at Trinity College Queensland, shares on Ephesians 2:1–10.

Though the central focus of Principal’s Hour is a sermon preached by faculty or invited guest, the community also enjoys music and hears students provide input about their academic learning and everyday life (“People in Focus”). The college provides lunch following Principal’s Hour to encourage further theological discussion. You’re invited to Principal’s Hour 11:45 am on Tuesdays even if you’re not enrolled in one of our courses.

Listen to Simon's sermon on Ephesians 2:1-10.

Tisa Lacey
Marketing and Event Coordinator, Trinity College Queensland

Reaching out and speaking out

Reach Out, Speak Out and Uniting Green update

The Queensland Synod office has made the exiting decision to instead publish social justice articles where a much larger audience has the opportunity to read about these important issues. We invite you to:

• read the quarterly Journey magazine which is distributed to all congregations
• regularly visit JourneyOnline at journeyonline.com.au

Alternatively, you can follow the Synod Facebook page.

In addition, a new 'Social responsibility review' has become a regular Tuesday feature in JourneyOnline.

Palm Sunday Refugee rally

This year’s family-friendly rally and march in support of refugees and peace in our world, will start in King George Square at 1 pm on 25 March. At 2 pm the march will take over Brisbane CBD streets and end at St John’s Anglican Cathedral on Ann Street.

Please look out for Sue Hutchinson at King George Square, with the Synod’s "Speaking out" banner, and join her for this important event.

Refugees on both Manus Island and Nauru remain in serious danger. Meanwhile the government supports wars that create refugees and recently announced its intention to create an arms export industry. There will be similar rallies and marches in every state.

Concerned about climate change?

The Uniting Church in Australia has expressed concern about the wellbeing of the planet and the rights of future generations since its first public statement. We are all called on to model ways of living and working that support the environment and minimise climate change.

Earth Hour is a great opportunity to be engaged in advocating for climate action—for congregations as well as individuals. There is a variety of ways to get involved in the largest global movement for the environment. Millions of people in over 180 countries will switch off their lights on March 24 at 8:30 pm as a symbolic gesture to show the need for stronger climate action.

Sue Hutchinson
Research and Policy Officer, Queensland Synod