W E LCO M E F R O M T H E G E N E R A L S E C R E TA RY
Wilderness Taunts T
REV. JANE FRY GENERAL SECRETARY THE GENERAL SECRETARY IS APPOINTED BY THE SYNOD TO PROVIDE LEADERSHIP TO THE CHURCH BY ACTIVELY ENGAGING IN STRATEGIC THINKING ABOUT THE LIFE, DIRECTION, VISION AND MISSION OF THE CHURCH.
he book that I’m wondering through Lent with this year is called Wilderness Taunts by Ian Adams. The daily reflections are responding to the demands and challenges of being a hopeful human being in 21st century. It was published in 2016 and I’m quite relieved that the author didn’t have the COVID experience to further colour his ruminations – I’m finding them quite challenging enough! The book …imagines what might be the taunts that we face now, whenever the light of our hope is confronted by the darkness in the world, and by the shadows within ourselves…
been reflecting on the hope embodied in recent Synod decisions – Saltbush was a proposal born out of the faithful witness of disciples in rural and regional NSW and a strong desire to see that witness grow;
some of that reorganization even as it has concentrated attention on the growing thirst in the community for words of hope and promise.
My hope for this Synod is that we can reaffirm our commitment to directions already set by previous Synods – to rural and Pulse was born out of an regional ministry, to ministry equally bold hope that the with people born after 1970, witness of the UCA has to walking together with something valuable to learn First Peoples, to being wise from and share with people stewards of the earth and, in the first third of life (or in so doing, to growing born after 1970); the witness of the church in all the Makaratta IT FEELS AS communities reiterated and where we serve. THOUGH NOTHING restated the What I also C A N B E TA K E N commitment hope (quite made over FOR GRANTED fervently!) is that The whole human community many years to ANYMORE we will collectively continues to be taunted by walking together ‘organise’ ourselves the antics of a devastating with First People across the whole church microbe and it feels as and to the Covenant to adequately resource the though nothing can be taken with the UAICC; implementation of these for granted anymore. ‘Church’ Climate – at the last Synod, initiatives. I remain convinced as we had known it forever I was slightly taken aback by – more convinced than has been shaken out of the vehemence and passion ever – that the vision of a familiar places, patterns and of young people across contemporary, prophetic and habits and is having to draw the church, including many courageous Uniting Church on deep reservoirs of faith to as first imagined in the Basis sustain hope and discipleship. from our UCA schools, who of Union has a vital witness I confess that somedays I find insisted on being part of the presentation and practically to make in responding to it easier than others. invaded the stage! Grounded the dilemmas faced by the As I contemplate the as we all are in the story whole community and in hopefulness that I see of creation, reconciliation helping people to navigate infusing and informing the and renewal and given the the white water of complex planning and preparation for responsibility to be wise transitions. Always bearing Synod 2021 which is due to stewards of the earth, the in mind, as Ian Hunt affirms kick off formally in April, I’m ‘groaning of creation’ cannot in Wilderness Taunts that … struck by the sheer audacity go unheard in church. your future is, if you allow it and tenacity of the church in to be so, just one element Finally, Growth – still its determination to gather, in the greater future that is in my head the most witness and work together already taking shape. Nurture surprising resolution in all despite very complex awareness of the deeper my experience of Synod challenges. streams that are at work and meetings which committed step into them… Not surprisingly perhaps, I all the councils of the church think a lot about the Synod to reorganizing themselves AMEN to that! meeting at the moment – for growth in discipleship, doing something completely relationship, impact and differently is peppered with number. Of course, COVID interesting moments! I’ve has disrupted and delayed
insights
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