LETTERS
Your say insights AUGUST/ SEPTEMBER 2016
A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT LITHGOW GROWS IN FRESH EXPRESSIONS YURORA: WHAT’S AHEAD FOR 2017 1
INSIGHTS
WELL DONE ON REACHING OUT
I write to thank you for the article on the lower Darling River System (Insights, August/September). It is excellent that the Uniting Church has the foresight to review problems which are normally out of reach of our mainly urban constituents. I congratulate the Moderator on having the vision to visit the area. Does the Uniting Church have a policy in relation to the Murray Darling River System? Brian Connor, Armidale
‘UNITING’ IDENTITY CRISIS
I was disturbed to read Peter Worland’s response in ‘Your Say’ (Insights, August/ September), in which he says that sometimes it is derogatory to be considered a faith-based organisation and that, on occasions, Uniting deliberately hides its association with Christ – none more deliberately than its use of ‘Uniting’ as its logo. His claim, that the ‘t’ represents Christ’s cross is esoteric (known only to the secret few). I can assure him that his organisation has succeeded in its intent. The Port Macquarie community, having read the new signage, assumes ‘Uniting’, Mingaletta and Burnside are now NOT part of the Uniting Church of Australia or, in fact, identified with Christ. That same community is happy to be involved with Catholic Care and send its children to Christian schools. Eliz Heywood, Port Macquarie
I AIN’T CONVINCED
I read with interest the ‘Your Say’ comments of Rev. Meredith Williams re: an ‘Uniting’ advertisement, and the response by Uniting CEO Peter Worland (Insights, August/September). I must say, Mr. Worland – I ain’t convinced. While I can understand that, as Mr. Worland points out, since the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, faith-
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based organisations are perceived pejoratively as somewhat on the nose. But how could ‘Uniting Care’ — which also contains no direct reference to ‘church’ — be perceived as less good than ‘Uniting’? ‘Uniting Care’ indicates, to me at least, an organisation whose sole reason for existence is to care, in practical ways, for people — aged care, family care, etc. ‘Uniting’ tells me absolutely nothing. It’s like renaming Lifeline ‘Life’. Gwyn Austen, Red Rock
A GRAVE ERROR
The explanation given by Peter Worland of ‘Uniting’ (formerly Uniting Care) of its decision to cut mention of the Uniting Church from its publicity (‘Your Say’, Insights, August/September) illustrates a grave error. The work of Uniting Care is part of the evangelical mission of the Uniting Church, and should bring people to faith in God through Jesus Christ. Works of charity and care have saving power only by leading to faith. Uniting Care has a duty of conscience to stand up for Christian faith, not to allow itself to be bullied by the secular voices who seek to remove religion from Australian public life. Saint Paul gave a good answer to this problem in the first chapter of Romans, where he tells us he is not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to all who believe. Robert Tulip, Fraser
CHURCH NOT MENTIONED IN ‘UNITING’
Thank you Rev. Meredith Williams for your letter (‘Your Say’, Insights, August/ September). I too am dismayed that not only is the ‘church’ not mentioned, but the logo of the UCA has been replaced with just the word Uniting. So, as Peter Worland explained, “the symbol of the cross at its heart with the ‘t’ with a person either side of it (each ‘i’) to represent this connection and inclusivity”’ To me, it just reads the word ‘uniting’, no different from any other word we read in print every day. I only hope that everyone in the community feel the sense of inclusivity that Peter hopes for, but I just can’t see the sense in a ‘logo’ that isn’t really a logo. Anne Towner, Bateau Bay
UNITING? NEW FOOTBALL CLUB?
Peter Worland states in his letter (‘Your Say’, Insights, August/September), that ‘...to carry out Christ’s work, people must know who we are, and what we do.’ Yes, this is exactly what many have been confused and puzzled about since the introduction of the new advertising ‘brand’ word, ‘Uniting’. The single word does not claim the meaning of Uniting Care as a statement, and the symbolism of the letters ‘iti’ could be lost on most people. Bernice and Stan Munns, Forestville