Insights - September 2013

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Welcome from the General Secretary A vote for social justice

I

am writing this before the federal election, so despite polling making predictions about who is going to win I don’t know what will unfold as the campaign continues. By the time you read this you will know.

Rev. Dr Andrew Williams General Secretary

What I do know is that the two main parties’ position on refugees and asylum seekers seems like a race to the bottom. A vote grabbing exercise.

The added irony is that both leaders are quite vocal and visible in their Christian affiliations. Kevin Rudd in 2006 quoted Bonhoeffer as the man he most admires in the history of the twentieth century and used his theology specifically to address how Christians should approach the issue of asylum seekers. That view seems to have gone out the window under the pressure for votes. Tony Abbot’s views do not take account of centuries of Catholic social teaching.

We march as a church. We lament as a church. But we vote as individuals.

I wonder what a reading of Matthew 25 would do for us at this point?

Remember that story of judgement?

Read it carefully again. It’s not about how individuals are to respond – it’s a story about the judgement of nations.

Included in the criteria is, “I was a stranger and you welcomed me”. How will our nation be judged on that? Will we be in the goats’ line or over with the sheep – remembering that in the story, everyone is surprised at the unexpected line they have found themselves in!

What a job for the early scribes who had to copy out four times the criteria for the basis of the judgement. And although it’s not a very Protestant thing to say, it seems to me the whole judgement is based on what people do.

I believe what we do determines who we are. Right belief is important but so too is right action.

for us will be: What will we do? What will we do to help our country and our leaders stand up for what we believe to be the right thing to do?

I went to the rugby the other night (Wallabies v All Blacks – we lost!).

When it came to singing the national anthem I had a moment I have never had before. How can I sing with pride when I know this same anthem says “for those who’ve come across the seas, we’ve boundless plains to share”? I felt uncomfortable.

As Assembly President, Andrew Dutney, pointed out: “The uncomplicated truth – the unheard truth – is this: Our borders are not under threat. It is not illegal to seek asylum. There is no such thing as an orderly queue. We are not being overrun by asylum seekers on leaky boats. There is no ‘refugee emergency’ or ‘crisis’ in Australia.

And so we march as a church.

We lament as a Church.

But we vote as individuals The reality is around 45 million people worldwide are displaced because of conflict, famine and persecution. This is the truth that Kevin Rudd has turned his back on and that Tony Abbott wilfully disregards in this awful debate.

In their desire to secure more votes in the election, Labor and the Coalition are engaging in what must be one of the hardest and most retributory round of policies we have seen in this country since the White Australia program.”

So, whoever is in government, we believe you should know that you do not speak for us on this issue and that as a church we will continue to raise our voice in the hope that you will raise your vision.

So, whatever the policy we have postelection on asylum seekers, the issue insights.uca.org.au

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Contents

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Not since the abolition of the controversial White Australia policy in 1973 has a topic divided a nation so. The issue of asylum seekers in Australia reached boiling point in the lead up to the Federal Election with both sides of politics putting it front and square of their campaigns. Why is it such a divisive issue and what are we, as a church, doing to address it?

Cover photo: Courtesy of UNHCR

Regulars 5 your say 5 news 10 from the Moderator

30 updates from the General Secretary

Editor Adrian Drayton Design Brooke Lyons Editorial/advertising/ Distribution inquiries: Insights, PO Box A2178, Sydney South, NSW, 1235 Phone 02 8267 4304 Fax 02 9261 4359 email insights@nsw.uca.org.au web www.insights.uca.org.au

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33 fellowship news 35 belief matters 38 entertain me

Insights is published by the Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of New South Wales and the ACT. Articles and advertising content do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editor or of the Uniting Church.

Subscriptions: Australia $38.50 (incl. GST); overseas $50. Š 2013. Contents copyright. No material from this publication may be copied, photocopied or transmitted by

29 any means without the permission of the Editor.

Circulation: 19,000 ISSN: 1036-7322 Š Commonwealth of Australia 2013

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News

Your say Not a new discovery Annie White’s email letter in the July issue of Insights raises our awareness that carbon dioxide is only 0.04% of the atmosphere - implying this amount can’t be a concern.

In 1857 John Tyndall noted there was a greenhouse effect from carbon dioxide and by 1896 Svante Arrhenius had estimated that a doubling in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere would increase the temperature of the planet by several degrees.

Atmospheric carbon dioxide gas has increased over 40% since preindustrial days and global average temperatures have risen 0.8 degrees.

Internationally all academies of science agree climate change is real and human induced. I wonder if Svante Arrhenius prayed to God for the real answer over 115 years ago.

David Rossiter, via email

The vital role of young people An excellent July Insights, highlighting the vital role young people play in the future of our Church. The stories of how young people are contributing to the life of the Church is lifegiving in view of the ageing of our Congregations as reported in the last National Church Life Survey and the comments by our General Secretary.

In the good news story, Welcome to Australia, it should be noted one of the ‘inspiring speakers’ was 12-year-old Jemima Taylor from the Picton Congregation. Jemima is one in a small but enthusiastic group of young people in our church who are Continued over >>

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From Gerringong to Atlanta For Peter Chapman and his family, the trip of a lifetime awaits as he finalises plans for a three month exchange in Atlanta in America's south. After eight years of ministry in Gerringong, Peter says he’s ready to experience the challenges of working in an American mega-church.

Rev. Thomas Martin and his family, from Peachtree Road United Methodist Church in Atlanta's Buckhead region, will travel down under as part of the exchange. The

experience will be a stark contrast to what both men have become accustomed in their working lives.

Peachtree Road boasts 60 staff members and a Sunday attendance of around 2,000, which dwarfs the local congregation of the seaside township of Gerringong.

You can follow the Chapmans' adventures by checking out their travel-blog: gerringongtoatlanta. wordpress.com. Look out for an introduction to the Rev. Thomas and his family in the September edition of Whispers.

20th General of the Salvation Army elected

Seeking a risky missional path

On 3 August, senior leaders of the Salvation Army gathered at the High Council to elect Commissioner André Cox as the 20th General of the Salvation Army.

Sunday nights at Turbulence in Orange are set to change. The current intergenerational contemporary service will soon be replaced by an exciting youth evening designed to be super-friend-invitable. There will also be a new “10am Project” aiming to become a public space (and/or activity) where Christians and notyet Christians can meet, strike up friendships and discover life in all its fullness together.

Commissioner Cox is a Swiss British Salvation Army officer who is now charged with leading the 1.5 million strong world-wide church of the Salvation Army. The General accepted his new responsibility in the spirit of humility, saying that irrespective of the rank he held, he had not moved away from his original calling to officership – to be God’s servant and to proclaim the gospel.

The exact form of the “Project” is still being worked out, and the group knows risky change will be needed to reverse the aging trend in the Orange Uniting Church. But excitement is in the air as Turbulence plots its course and prepares to take off on the next stage of its faith adventure.

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passionate about being part of the Uniting Church. Young people can be inspired to be part of a church that cares for and promotes a more just and equitable world.

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David & Yvonne Cooper, Camden NSW

A confusing call

The decision by NSW Synod to divest from “corporations that extract fossil fuels” is confusing. I wonder whether Synod members were given technical advice about the manufacturing of products we use every day.

Coking coal is essential to the conversion of iron ore into steel. If it is considered that it does not meet UC ethical standards to extract the raw materials, is it ethical for us to use the products?

Are we considering giving up the use of steel and stainless steel?

Are we prepared to evaluate all the consequences of our decisions?

Margaret Lowder, Lindfield

Telling our story in different ways

How well we promote the wider work of the Uniting Church, particularly within our Synod and the National Assembly, relies heavily on congregational commitment to being part of “Uniting from the Inside Out”. The new format of Insights is part of the story, yet do we just see it as another item to sit on the table behind the welcomers each Sunday?

Maybe when this issue arrives, those congregations that don’t already do so might consider a brief “in service” announcement, supported by an item in the weekly newsletter. This could go some way in helping us all to tell our story.

Allan Gibson, Cherrybrook

A balanced view

We read Insights (August 2013) somewhat dismayed to see on page 12 the Prime Minister at Ryde Uniting Church with the Moderator, on a full page of photos and text. Also with Kevin Rudd was Ms Kate Lundy and most inappropriately the Labor candidate for Bennelong.

This is in an election Have Yourperiod Say and one party should not have “free

insights@nsw.uca.org.au Continued over >>

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125th Anniversary Celebrations at Wesley The evening of Wednesday 31 July marked the 125th anniversary since the foundation stone was laid at Broken Hill’s Wesley Uniting Church.

With such a rich history it was only fitting that a week of celebrations and events should mark the occasion.

On Sunday 28 July Rev. Dr Andrew Williams, General Secretary of the Synod of NSW and the ACT, attended a luncheon before officially opening and dedicating to the glory of God the new multi-purpose building in Cobalt Street. The Clerk of Works, Mr Eugene Odgers, and the members of the Perthville Congregation were recognised and thanked for their untiring support and considerable gifts towards the cost of the building from the sale of a disused church at Cow Flat.

Members from the congregation and beyond gathered on Tuesday night, at Dunes Restaurant, to

reminisce and share their stories.

The following evening Rev. Will Pearson led a service at the Wesley church, inviting ‘Mrs Charles Drew’, in the guise of Jillian Fox, to read the address given 125 years earlier.

Susan Trenerry and Jillian Fox, both great grand daughters of one of the original families, read the lessons.

On Saturday, members held a barbeque in Sturt Park and enjoyed the sunshine over a game of boules.

The celebrations came to a rousing conclusion when, at the end of a celebratory gathering and concert, three choirs combined to present Handel’s ‘Halleluiah chorus.’ It’s fair to say the heritage of this church’s great singing and acoustics were enlivened.

An anniversary booklet highlighting the church’s history is available from the church office ($5 per copy). A collection of memorabilia is also on display in the hall.

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Important 2014 conferences for your diary In 2014, the Doctrine Working Group, in conjunction with the United Theological College and Uniting Mission and Education, will hold back-to-back conferences on the Basis of Union and Preaching to help make it easy for you to attend both.

Basis of Union (Friday 22 – Sunday 24 August 2014) will be held in Sydney at the Centre for Ministry.

This conference follows on from the successful conference held in Melbourne a few years ago.

Preaching (Monday 25 – Thursday 28 August) will be held in Sydney at the Centre for Ministry. These conferences will constitute Seminar Week for the NSW/ACT Synod in 2014.

Peter Worland appointed as Executive Director of UnitingCare On Saturday 17 August, the Synod Standing Committee resolved by consensus to appoint Mr Peter Worland as the Executive Director of UnitingCare, with immediate effect.

Peter has been the Interim Executive Director since February.

“There is a big challenge ahead but I’ve never been more excited by a job”, said Peter.

“It’s vital that we understand UnitingCare is a part of the Uniting Church and to keep those values through all that we do. I want us to be bold, brave, collaborative and unified. We’ve got 380 clergy – they need to have the capacity to advocate fearlessly. I want us to engage our communities, promote volunteering and bring people together.”

UnitingCare looks forward to working with Peter and supporting him in the role as he offers leadership to the church in this important area of our life and witness.

Registration and further details will become available on the Assembly website later in the year.

125 years of continuous worship Crows Nest Uniting Church recently celebrated 125 years of continuous worship. The current church was constructed in 1905. But the history of the site dates back many millennia with the Gammeray (or Cammeraygal) peoples having used the land as a place for ceremonies – a “sitting-down place”, they called it.

A special commemorative service was held to recognise the past 125 years of worship, fellowship and community. About 100 people attended, including many former members and their families, and five Uniting Church ministers who had ministered there over the years.

During the course of the service, members of the congregation shared the greeting of “peace” with those around them. The service included a recently re-discovered video of a Crows Nest Presbyterian Sunday School Picnic held in 1951.

Three members of the congregation offered reflections on the occasion.

Lorna Bassett spoke on “The Shirley Road Story”, touching briefly on the

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history of the Shirley Road Church and its community activities. Rev. Dr Bruce Roy then spoke on “The Whole People of God”, likening the church’s history to that of an ever-enlarging family tree.

Rev. Chris Udy, our Minister, then spoke on “Always on the Way”, reflecting on some of the historical events of the Christian church, the changes over the centuries illustrating how our history, influences our future.

After the service, a wonderful luncheon was served for the congregation and the many visitors who had come for the service.

You can order a copy of the book, 125 faithful years in Crows Nest by visiting http://crowsnestuniting.org.au

Stop the traffik – we need your help!

Over the last year STOP THE TRAFFIK campaigners have sent tens of thousands of postcards to one of the world’s biggest chocolate companies, Mondelēz, (formerly Kraft and owner of Cadbury) asking two questions: 1. When will Toblerone be traffik-free?

2. When will Mondelēz release a public timeline committing to certifying the rest of their range?

We’re still waiting on clear answers, so we need your help to end human trafficking in the chocolate industry.

Instead of sending individual cards we are going to collect all your signed postcards and personally deliver them to Mondelēz’s office on 18th October, Anti-Slavery Day. You can order postcards for your church, friends and family and host a postcard-signing session after church or at work. Alternatively you can email australia@stopthetraffik.org with your name and street address and the quantity of cards required.

The Uniting Church is a member of STOP THE TRAFFIK. For more information about our campaigns and how to become involved head to www.stopthetraffik.org/australia

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advertising” over the other. It saddens us greatly when our wider church becomes involved in journalism, which has a message that is biased and on day 3 of an election campaign too! If the message was non-political, we ask why the labor candidate was mentioned and why was the sitting member not present.

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We are a church of diversity so let us pursue this aspect of our being and constantly remind ourselves that there is great good to be found in all political stances and many Uniting Church members have a wide range of views. We are all part of the one Body of Christ.

Wes & Margaret Gibbons, Epping

No room for favouritism

I have just received the [August] issue of Insights and read the article on page 12. Why didn’t the Editorial staff invite a contribution from the local Federal Member?

To ‘parachute a person in’ from China, as Rudd has done, to aspire to represent the local electorate is cynical in the extreme. For the Uniting Church’s Insights to give K. Rudd a ‘leg up’ and not give the Liberal leader equal space is, in my opinion, disgraceful.

The Uniting Church should do some naval gazing and try to determine why it is losing membership at what must be an alarming rate; maybe it’s backing the wrong horses. The road ‘down the middle’ could perhaps be the best road.

A David Brawn, Gordon A note from the editor We received several letters in response to the inclusion of images and text on Kevin Rudd in the August edition of Insights. We would like to clarify that had we not been present on the day we would have missed an enormously valuable opportunity to present directly the views of the church on multiculturalism to Mr Rudd. We were in no way endorsing Mr Rudd nor the Labor Party. We would like to thank you for your letters and encourage you to continue sending them to us.

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The greatest story ever told

through to Revelation.

The Emmy® Award nominated miniseries, The Bible, is coming to Blu-ray and DVD on October 23 and may be pre-ordered now from JB Hi Fi.

The four-disc Blu-ray and DVD set dives deeper into the making of the series and features a behindthe-scenes look at how the groundbreaking docudrama came together.

The Bible features powerful performances, exotic locales and dazzling visual effects that breathe spectacular life into the dramatic tales of faith and courage from Genesis

Stepping Stones for Life On Sunday 11 August, Jo-Anne Hewitt, Director of UnitingCare Disability, and Claerwen Little, Director UnitingCare Children, Young People and Families, attended a morning of celebration to mark the handover of Stepping Stones for Life at St Margaret’s Uniting Church in Hackett, ACT. Stepping Stones for Life is a unique planning service which assists people with a disability living with their ageing parents to plan for their future and links them with supports and services to realise their goals.

Insights readers should look out in the October issue of Insights for The Bible promotion and your chance to own a copy of this epic mini-series.

St Margaret’s has been sucessfully managing the service for many years. With the pending launch of DisabilityCare in Canberra in 2014, St Margaret’s invited UnitingCare to take on the governance and management of the service in order to lead and grow Stepping Stones for Life through an exciting new phase of growth.

Fred Mitchell and Alison CooperStanbury will stay on as part of UnitingCare and offer their vast experience in running this unique service.

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A Call to Prayer for Syria The Uniting Church in Australia has expressed distress at reports of chemical weapons attacks in Syria in late August.

President of the Uniting Church Assembly, Rev. Prof Andrew Dutney, has called on the church to join him in praying for those affected by the attacks in Damascus.

“We mourn with the families of those who were killed in these deplorable attacks on civilians.”

“In a country that is experiencing such traumatic times, we pray that those affected by this and other attacks are able to receive medical treatment and support.”

“We also pray for the peace and safety of Syrian people in their homeland and surrounding countries.”

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were killed by poisonous gases in the rebel held area.

Rev. Prof Dutney also extended his prayers to Syria earlier this year when two Christian bishops were kidnapped near Aleppo.

We also pray for the peace and safety of Syrian people in their homeland and surrounding countries Rev. Prof Dutney labelled the kidnapping of the bishops, and subsequent murder of a deacon, a senseless act of violence against our Christian brothers carrying out their ministry.

Syria has a substantial Christian population, with around 10% of the population identifying with a number of Christian denominations. There is also a significant diaspora community of Syrian Christians in Australia.

“I ask all Uniting Church members to hold our Syrian brothers and sisters in their prayers in the coming weeks,” said Rev. Prof Dutney.

“May they be afforded protection and safety through what is undoubtedly a difficult time for the people of Syria.”

Act for Peace, the international aid agency of the National Council of Churches in Australia, has a Syria Crisis Appeal which provides families with relief packs of clothing, food and household items.

Uniting Church members interested in assisting families in Syria through Act for Peace can find out more at syria.actforpeace.org.au.

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From the Moderator’s desk

Why we felt compelled to lament our nation’s harsh asylum policies

T

Rev. Dr Brian Brown Moderator

here are two things that currently make me especially proud to be a member of the Uniting Church.

that this is not “our country” but God’s vineyard, and that for Christians it is not we, but the common good that should decide who comes here.

The first is our response to the plight of asylum seekers trying to find refuge on our shores, and those who are now in our communities and living in abject poverty. When a Service of Lament was called at eight days notice (see last month’s Insights), two hundred and fifty people from across NSW and the ACT filled Sydney’s Pitt St church, while simultaneously, Hunter people met at New Lambton Uniting Church. Many others shared the liturgy in other places across the state and the nation.

When you read this the election will be over. The nation will have decided which particular brand of cruelty to endorse. The government may now claim a mandate for it, but let’s be sure that vast numbers of Uniting Church people are saying “not in my name!”

As a church that stands squarely for inclusion and hospitality, we cannot and will not stand idly by when justice takes a holiday.

Together, in person and in spirit, we grieved the dire plight of those who have fled danger and cruelty at home, only to be rejected by the nation where they hoped to find welcome and a new life of safety and hope.

We also lamented the state of our nation’s soul; that the place of the “fair go”, that sings of having “boundless plains to share” is now turning away those in need of our welcome, shelter and comfort.

Our concern is driven in part from the experience of UnitingCare and specific congregations who work with people who have made the excruciating decision to flee their homes, families and countries. They hear these stories first-hand.

Some Sundays ago we heard the prophetic witness of Isaiah 5:1-7. I wondered at the time whether Mr Rudd, who was almost certainly in church at the time, would have noticed from verse 7 that God “expected righteousness, but heard a cry”. I wondered if Mr Rudd heard that cry from Christmas island, from Papua New Guinea and from Narau?

I also reflected that Mr Abbott if he was really listening, could have heard

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Thank you for your passion. Your ongoing energy and commitment will be needed, for lament is not an end in itself, but a step on the path to liberation of the oppressed part of the mission of Jesus as expressed in Luke chapter 4 verse 18.

It was really heartening to see the Synod theme “Uniting for the Common Good” being put into action.

It fills me with hope that parts of our church are working together in this crisis. The planning and running of the Service of Lament was a combined effort of UnitingCare NSW/ACT through its Social Justice Forum, Pitt Street Uniting Church, Sydney Presbytery, the Synod of NSW and the ACT, and the Assembly. It was really heartening to see the Synod theme “Uniting for the Common Good” being put into action.

I feel very strongly that we are entering a new era of what St Paul described as the gifts of each being used for the good of all.

One thing that will really help to coordinate our prophetic ministry is for every presbytery to set up a Social Justice Committee, or forum, that can connect with the UnitingCare forum and facilitate communication and the flow of information across the Synod. insights.uca.org.au

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Not since the abolition of the controversial White Australia policy in 1973 has a topic divided a nation so. The issue of asylum seekers in Australia reached boiling point in the lead up to the Federal Election with both sides of politics putting it front and square of their campaigns. Why is it such a divisive issue and what are we, as a church, doing to address it?

SEEKING REFUGE An issue that is as divisive as it is controversial: asylum seekers.

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n July 2013, Labor Prime Minister Kevin Rudd declared a dramatic change to the nation's asylum seeker policy. Under the proposal, no asylum seeker arriving in Australia by boat would be allowed to live in Australia. Instead, they would be transported to Papua New Guinea where they would be processed and resettled even where they were found to be genuine refugees. Like any controversial announcement, it polarised opinion.

In August the Refugee Council issued a joint statement by Australian NonGovernment Organisations (NGOs) on the current policies. UnitingJustice was one such organisation to sign off on the statement.

“We’re members of the Refugee Council and all of the positions that they’ve taken in the document reflect the statements we’ve been making lately. It’s a very strong statement of condemnation, calling for a new approach from both major political parties”, states Rev. Elenie Poulos, National Director of UnitingJustice Australia and Chair of the Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce.

The bottom line for us as a church is that we must help those who come to Australia looking for protection.

“I’m charged with promoting the church’s position on this, and that position was determined in 2002. It’s very clear about a number of things.

It’s says the human rights of all people must be upheld; that Australia must guard its obligations under international treaties and conventions; that asylum seekers should not be discriminated against based on how they arrive here; that we need an approach to caring for asylum seekers that takes account of the situations from which they’ve fled; and that they deserve to have full legal rights and protection.

“The bottom line for us as a church is that we must help those who come to Australia looking for protection. And secondly, that Australia must uphold its obligations under international conventions”, affirmed Rev. Poulos.

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According to the Australian Human Rights Commission: Australia has international obligations to protect the human rights of all asylum seekers and refugees who arrive in Australia, regardless of how or where they arrive and whether they arrive with or without a visa.

While asylum seekers and refugees are in Australian territory (or otherwise engage Australia's jurisdiction), the Australian Government has obligations under various international treaties to ensure that their human rights are respected and protected. These rights include the right not to be arbitrarily detained.

As a party to the Refugee Convention, Australia has agreed to ensure that asylum seekers who meet the definition of a refugee are not sent back to a country where their life or freedom would be threatened.

Australia also has obligations not to return people who face a real risk of violation of certain human rights under the various international treaties, and not to send people to third countries where they would face a real risk of violation of their human rights under these instruments.

These obligations also apply to people who have not been found to be refugees. western European. More recently, I think what we’ve seen is a cynical attempt to use asylum seekers to victimise them and demonise them for political gain. " “The Tampa Incident is one of those critical things that happened in our history. That famous one liner from John Howard, ‘We will decide who comes to this country and the manner in which they come’, is probably the most powerful political one-liner we’ve had in this country. It has seeped its way into our national psyche, because it plays on a whole lot of things that concern us, such as the vulnerability of our borders”, said Rev. Poulos.

At around the same time as Tampa, John Howard introduced a policy change that would change the face and opinion of asylum seekers.

Prior to the new policy, Australia had a separate offshore humanitarian program, which saw us bring refugees from

overseas, mainly from camps across Asia and in Africa, to settle in Australia. This is not one of our obligations under the Refugee Conventions. Instead, it’s seen as something ‘generous’ we do and our program has traditionally been viewed favourably by world standards.

We also had an onshore program, which detailed how we respond to asylum seekers who arrive on our shore and ask for our protection.

What John Howard did in 1996 was to link the numbers of those two programs.

And so the concept of the queue jumper was born. People were lead to believe that for every person that came by boat, one person had to be taken off the humanitarian program list.

“We are the only developed western democracy that has links to those two programs, and that program gave rise to the whole rhetoric of the queue, and that rhetoric has been poisonous in this country.

“The Uniting Church, Amnesty, the Refugee Council, and other church groups have been pleading with successive governments of both political stripes to delink those programs. But they won’t hear of it, and because that discourse is so much a part of the way that Australians view this issue, politically it becomes very difficult to go back on that. But they [the Government] need to do that because it’s a policy construction, not the way the world works”, stated Rev. Poulos.

Politics aside, the issue of asylum seekers isn’t about winning votes. In the middle of the debate are men, women and children whose lives are impacted beyond measure by the decisions we make as a nation.

UnitingJustice, working on behalf of the Assembly of the Uniting Church, takes a non-partisan stance on all of our issues. It bases its position, and that of the Church, on gospel values, on the traditions of the church, and on the history of the Uniting Church on these matters.

“On the issue of asylum seekers we’ve been very clear. What we see as a massive failure of basic humanity and human rights on the part of successive Labor and Liberal Governments. Both parties have failed to meet the things that the Uniting Church and the Uniting Church members would want to see happen.

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persecution in the world, I think most Australians haven’t experienced it unless they’ve come from a refugee background, have visited a place driven by civil conflict and war, or are very close to people that have. It’s very hard to get a picture of how violent and messy parts of the world are. In Australia we like to think our government can control certain things, but the fact of the matter is we can’t. Unless we do better at tackling the root causes for refugee flows in the world, it’s not going to change”, said Rev. Poulos.

While no-one is suggesting the solution is simple to come by or implement, finding a starting point that all parties can support, no matter their political or religious persuasion should be the focus.

“Our priorities have to be peace, and doing more for peacemaking and reconciliation, and doing less to prop up militaries and governments that abuse their citizens. Australia can’t operate on its own in this regard. We need to be a leader in the world in terms of our moral leadership, and our human rights leadership.

“We have a good reputation in the international arena for our commitment to international human rights, but we’re not doing ourselves any favours in the way that we’re responding to asylum seekers.

One of my concerns is that we’re now in a situation where we need to work with countries like Indonesia and Malaysia to make it safe for asylum seekers. Because that’s the way to stop the boats make it safe for people to stay where they are.

“But why would countries listen to us when we’ve said to them ‘we’re closing our borders all together.’ Our moral authority to work with Indonesia, to ask for their help to make things safer for people there, why would they agree? They’re more likely to respond with, ‘You don’t even want these people, why should we help?’

“We need political leadership that stands up and says, ’this is not the best that we can be; there are other solutions we have failed to properly consider because they’re hard, they’re long term.

Unfortunately, there are not three-year electoral cycle fixes in this.

“I think a change in the language from our political leaders would be well received by people. I think one of the serious issues for Australians, and rightly so, is they don’t want people dying on boats trying to get here. But the political debate has played on that concern and said the only way we have to stop that is to punish the people that come by boat. This means insights.uca.org.au

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we’re going to send a message to the people smugglers by punishing the asylum seekers.

“It is not appropriate to punish a vulnerable group of people in order to send a message to someone else. It’s inhumane and it causes damage.

“It’s important to point out that about 90% of asylum seekers who arrive by boat, in our history, have been determined to be refugees. This means that they come with their own personal stories of trauma, and persecution, and hardship. They’ve seen family members die and imprisoned.

They’ve seen their communities persecuted. And this is the reality of their lives, and the policies we have in place ignore that reality. They don’t pay attention to the fact that these people are forced to leave their homes and families and see no other option. And who of us could possibly say, that in their situation we wouldn’t do the same?” asked Rev. Poulos.

1. Maintain Australia's position as a world leader in resettlement and demonstrate Australia's commitment to taking its fair share of responsibility for refugee protection and supporting other countries to address refugee crises in a sustainable and cooperative way.

2. Abandon offshore processing as this policy is incredibly costly and highly detrimental to the health and wellbeing of asylum seekers.

3. Redouble efforts to build regional cooperation on refugee protection and bring Asia Pacific states under United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to improve access to registration and status determination processes, broker durable solutions and ensure that refugees and asylum seekers have access to adequate services and support.

For ten days in August, The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) organised The Hot Potato tour – a project designed to take the heat out of the conversation and debunk myths about asylum seekers.

4. Ensure prompt access to permanent protection and offer all asylum seekers arriving in Australia, who are found to be refugees, permanent protection and the support they need to rebuild their lives in Australia and contribute to their new communities.

The Hot Potato Bus stopped in various locations on a tour around the Eastern seaboard of Australia. Along the way they served 10,000 potatoes with an international menu.

5. Commit to a sustainable model of community-based processing of asylum claims, which offer a far more humane and cost-effective approach than prolonged indefinite detention.

When the tour stopped on day nine at the Corso in Manly, Rev. Elenie Poulos joined a panel to discuss the issues facing asylum seekers.

6. Maintain a timely and fair system of refugee status determination to ensure Australia complies with its international obligations.

The tour aims to share the facts and allow people to change their minds for themselves.

7. Provide access to timely and realistic family reunion opportunities as tragically, many family members of refugees in Australia have been seriously harmed or killed in refugee situations overseas or have died while travelling by boat because they lacked access to safer pathways for family reunion.

The Hot Potato

For more information, find out the top ten myths about asylum seekers and continue the conversation, go to www.thehotpotato.com.au

Our position on asylum seekers It is time for a new approach which focuses on protection rather than punishment, on facts rather than fearmongering, and on long-term solutions rather than short-term political gain.

Regardless of which party now forms government, we call on both major political parties to demonstrate true leadership by working cooperatively to refocus Australia's policy approach in line with the following principles:

8. Abandon policies which pit onshore protection against resettlement as resettlement needs outstrip available places by a factor of eight to one, and many refugees (particularly those who have no opportunity to formally register their status) simply do not have resettlement available to them as an option.

Source: UnitingJustice and the Refugee Council

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Passion that’s beyond measure: Rev. John Jegasothy As an asylum seeker who fled the violence and intimidation of Sri Lanka more than 20 years ago, Dr Rev. John Jegasothy knows first-hand what it truly means to seek refuge.

John and his family migrated to Australia in 1986 after nearly losing their youngest son in a cross-fire. Soon after arriving he joined the Uniting Church and started his ministry in Parkes. He spent the next 20 years serving a number of ministries across New South Wales. In 1996, something happened to John that would change his calling for ever.

John received a single phone call about a Tamil youth was being released into the community and had nowhere to go.

Without giving it a moment’s thought, John took the young man into his family home and cared for him for the next six weeks, helping him find his feet and giving him all he needed to make a new start in life. From then on, this mission became his calling and life.

Since coming to Australia, John has worked tirelessly through the Church and has formed partnerships with individuals, families, community networks, human rights lawyers and organisations like Amnesty and STARTTS, (Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors) as well as advocating for asylum seekers and refugees.

To truly understand the depth of John’s commitment, you need to know a little of his history.

Back to the future

During the years 1981 to 1983, John worked to resettle displaced people in Trincomalee in Sri Lanka. He chaired the Human Rights group in the region and led the Tamil people there in advocacy for peace and justice. He demanded the Government stop the violence unleashed on Tamils, a decision that would eventually force him to flee his home country and, on humanitarian grounds, be accepted into Australia.

John settled his family in Australia and in 1996 heeded the call to mission among refuges in Australia and helped establish a Tamil Congregation in Dulwich Hill – the only one of its kind in the Synod of NSW and the ACT. He also initiated UnitingCare Refugee services in the Hurlstone Park-Dulwich Hill Church.

During this time, he worked relentlessly with people who needed help and support. He acted as their confidant and mentor, guiding them through anxiety and depression, and was there for them when they felt alienated by the system.

He helped those on Temporary Protection Visas (TPVs) gain permanent residency, and offered training, advice and assistance with finding accommodation and employment.

John also started his ministry in a number of detention centres across Australia, including Christmas Island.

Here he sat with detainees and listened to their stories and their struggles. He would then return home to write emails about what he’d learned and sent them to relevant departments. In all, John has helped more than 200 young

Get the facts Under Australia’s Humanitarian Program, 13,750 refugee and protection visas are granted each year (this increased to 20,000 in 2012-13).

In 2011-12, 13,759 visas were granted (6,718 under the offshore component and 7,041 under the onshore component). For the first time since 2002-03, the onshore component of the program outweighed the offshore component at 51.2% of the total program.

Almost half of the 14,415 people who applied for a visa under the onshore component had arrived in Australia by plane (7,036), while 7,379 had arrived by boat.

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Under the onshore component, most visas went to people who arrived by boat (4,766), an increase from the previous year. Meanwhile, 2,272 visas were granted to people who arrived by plane.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Australia consistently ranks in the top three resettlement countries in the world, along with Canada and the United States of America. *Figures sourced from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s Annual Report (2011/12)

men and women in detention settle in accommodation throughout Sydney and Melbourne.

In 1997, John was invited to join the Australian Council for Tamil Refuges in Vic . He started as a committee member but by 2002 had become President.

He traversed the country speaking with churches, government organisations and industry bodies. During this time he also represented the Church, ACTR and the refugees in the Consortium of Tamil Associations NSW. In the same year John joined the Asylum Seekers Interagency an organisation dedicated to offering information, support, assistance and advocacy for asylum seekers. He also became a member of the management committee of Friends of STARTTS. Once again, John found himself in the role President, where, with the help of TripleJ, he raised $350,000 to support young refugees.

Today, John is still an active advocate of asylum seekers and refugees. He’s been a pastor minister for the past 18 years and still makes weekly visits to the Villawood detention centre and is regularly on the phone with detainees in other centres. He continues his work with various refugee agencies and organisations, and acts as an adviser on policy. To list all that John has achieved would require an entire edition of Insights.

A conversation with Rev. John Jegasothy “One of the things asylum seekers lose when they come here is trust. They trusted the people who wanted to get them out of the country; they trusted people smugglers who let them down by putting them in dangerous leaky boats and then treated them very harshly – denying them food, water and safety.

They trusted the people who told them everything would be done for them and they would be looked after. And in every state, they were not looked after properly and they don’t trust anyone now”, states John.

“For the last six years I was in Sri Lanka, I worked with suffering people there, within internally displaced people, and I was chairman of the human rights organisation from 1981 to 1983. Then I became a target. I managed to escape and relocated but after the incident with my son, we realised we had to get out of Sri Lanka”, recalls John. insights.uca.org.au

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believe Australians are absolutely compassionate people. When the tsunami hit in 2004, Australia was the most compassionate country. I know of a 16-year-old girl who runs a program to get children out of detention.

There are plenty examples of Australian’s being compassionate.

But the political football has caused confusion among the Australian people.

“The political game is bringing a lot of confusion and people now feel that the two parties are becoming crueler just to get the votes. But we have signed the convention and have an obligation, and we are under an international law. We might have a migration law, but that shouldn’t clash with international law. And the very fact that this is a global phenomenon and every day 23,000 people are running away from their home. We take 20,000 people a year and we make a big fuss.

“I don’t believe people should get into boats, because I know how dangerous it is. Regionally, the countries must get together and sort out the problem and find out exactly where these people are and try to help them where they are.

We have the ability to resettle them in our country, because they can't go back to their country or origin.

We should not see them as numbers but talk about refugees and asylum seekers for who they are. They are the ones who are the subjects, the ones that are vulnerable.

“There is a war going on between people smugglers and the government.

I don’t disagree. The government can’t ignore the fact that these are real people. I take the people I help to forums because I want other people to see and speak with real refugees, and I keep telling the refugees, “Learn to love these guys, then you will accept them and trust them”.

“So long as we keep ‘strangers’ at a distance, we can always forget them and go to sleep at night."

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an imperative. I have to listen to the different drums. I can hear the different drums and I have to go.”

John kindly offered to share just a few stories of hope based on his experience with asylum seekers.

Mathanraj – doctor in the making Mathanraj came as an asylum seeker fleeing from unfair detention and torture from the north of Sri Lanka, suspected of having connections with the militants. I stood by him in every step of his settlement, the refugee assessment process, his marriage, and studies where he excelled and became a graduate in Medical science. He now holds a position of responsibility in the work place and continues to pursue his dream of becoming a doctor.

My wife and I were the family for him during his Hindu wedding and I was his maternal uncle that stood by him at the marriage ceremony. Even after 12 years, to this day I am still his mentor and confidant. As a toddler, Mathanraj lost his father and while I can’t replace his father, I can be there for him like a father.

Rahman – pining for lost connections The Afghan young man, Rahman, and his older brother fled their homeland after their father was taken by the Taliban. By the time I met Rahman and his older brother, during the Refugee Review Tribunal, their case was as good as lost. But with the help of my lawyer and a few advocates, we fought their case with all the evidence we could gather and managed to secure them both a Permanent Visa. While Rahman is now working and getting on with life, he constantly worries about his family who also fled the country. Rahman is in constant contact with me. When he faces medical problems or worries about his family, I am there for him.

Photos from The Hot Potato courtesy of UnitingJustice and photographer Siobhan Marren, all other photography courtesy of UNHCR.

Pratheep – family man and entrepreneur I looked after Pratheep from the time he was in detention. I personally saw to it that he had a successful operation on time, which otherwise could have claimed his life. He lost his father as a teenager so I have been a father to him. I helped him through the initial work and settlement when he came out of detention and now he is a big businessman in Australia married with three lovely children.

Subra – from detainee to doting dad This young man, Subra, was about to deported from detention in 2000. With the help of a lawyer from Amnesty, I intervened and fought the battle with immigration. Eventually, Subra got his Temporary Protection Visa and later had it converted to Permanent Visa.

Today he is a father of three children, married to his teenage sweet heart.

The children call me grandfather and play mate at times, and we are in regular contact.

Get to know the facts

There is a vast number of resources that can help you better understand the plight of asylum seekers, the resources available to refugees, government policy and what we’re doing as a Church to help. Here is a starting point.

UnitingJustice: www.unitingjustice.org.au/ Department of Immigration and Citizenship: www. immi.gov.au/ UN Refugee Agency (UNCHR): http://unhcr.org.au/unhcr/ Refugee Council: www.refugeecouncil.org.au/ STARTTS: www.startts.org.au

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100 years of fairs a Wesley Fair has contributed millions of dollars to Wesley Mission’s range of diverse services and programs.

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here is no other event in the Wesley Mission calendar like the annual Wesley Fair. And there is no other church fundraising event in Australia that has enjoyed such longevity.

For the past 100 years, Wesley Fair has contributed millions of dollars to Wesley Mission’s range of diverse services and programs, ensuring its dedicated staff can continue offering professional and supportive care, as well as practical ministries that reach people for and with the gospel.

It all started with the first Spring Fair, organised by the Ladies’ Auxiliary Committee, which raised £200.

Following these humble beginnings the Fair flourished. By the 1970s it was raising $30,000 a year.

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In the early 1980s, Mrs Beverly Moyes, wife of then Superintendent, Gordon Moyes, became the President of Spring Fair. Under her leadership the Fair grew, attracting large crowds and raising significant sums of money each year.

In 2006, Mrs Carol Garner, wife of the current Superintendent, Keith Garner, embraced the role of President. With Carol at the helm, there have been many new and successful initiatives, including monthly stalls and year-round ‘fun-raising’ events.

Carol leads a dedicated team of volunteers who work tirelessly throughout the year sourcing donations from supporters and fashion houses, as well as designing and creating extraordinary jewellery, a variety of insights.uca.org.au

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crafts, and delicious jams, preserves and cakes. Once you’ve sampled them you’ll be back each year for more!

For further information, contact Hannah Rodrigues or Carol Garner on 02 9263 5569.

Mrs Beverley Moyes, OAM, will open the 100th Wesley Fair at 9.30 a.m. on Thursday, 7 November at 220 Pitt Street, Sydney. It will be a wonderful, colourful and exciting occasion.

Special events to mark the occasion

In addition to the November Fair, Carol Garner, with the support of Hannah Rodrigues, organises a series of fundraising events throughout the year. You can find more information about these events by visiting wesleymission.org.au.

All donations to Wesley Fair are tax deductible. An Everyday Hero account, choosing Wesley Mission as the recipient, can also generate personalised tax-deductible receipts. insights.uca.org.au

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Sharing stories over a cup of tea: To celebrate this century milestone, Wesley Mission is inviting all people celebrating their 100th birthday in 2013 to an afternoon tea in the Lyceum in Sydney.

What: Centenary Afternoon Tea Where: The Lyceum, Ground Floor of the Wesley Centre, 220 Pitt Street, Sydney When: 7 November at 2.30 pm The silver screen: Australia’s Silent Film Festival is partnering with Wesley Mission to screen Douglas Fairbanks

in The Mark of Zorro on 5 September at 6pm. To add a touch of drama and theatre to the evening acclaimed theatre organist, David Bailey, will fire up and play the Mighty Christie Theatre Organ. Tickets and further information are available at ozsilentfilmfestival.com. au Best in show: In the foyer of Wesley Mission’s headquarters in Pitt Street, Sydney, a display of 100 ‘flying’ doves dominates the vista – Wesley Mission’s symbol of peace and hope. It is also symbolic of Wesley Fair’s fundraising goal of $100,000 — a brave leap from 1914! Wesley Mission believes the wider Uniting Church will help it reach the goal. A booklet with 100 tips on how to fundraise for the 100 Doves project is available.

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An update from UME Multicultural ministry update In the language of our Basis of Union, we are a culturally diverse pilgrim people on the way to the promised multicultural end.

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n multicultural terms, our church membership tells one story and many of our church practices tell another. The former affirms the fact that we are a multicultural church made up of many different racial-ethnic cultures, and the latter are often a testimony to the deeply entrenched mono-cultural mindset that assumes multiculturalism means many different cultures in the same space leading separate and parallel lives. This is indeed one model of multicultural church. It is the model that predominantly operates in the Uniting Church and in our Synod.

The problem with this model of multicultural church is that it lulls many of us into thinking we are multicultural since our membership is racial-ethnically diverse. It makes us believe we are multicultural simply because we a moderator elect from a non-Anglo background. This is akin to the sentiment expressed by some that racism no longer existed in the US when Obama was elected President. It perpetuates tokenistic practices and allows many of us to ignore the reality that dominant white European cultural norms continue to shape and influence all our lives.

It pushes mono-cultural mindsets deeper into entrenched mode.

But it is not the kind of multicultural kingdom image of being a church painted by John of Patmos in the book of Revelations where ‘…a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages…’ together constitute a new heaven, a new earth, a new Jerusalem in which God dwells and is worshipped by all.

(Rev. 7:9 & 21: 1 – 2)

to equip ourselves for bringing into fruition that vision of a new multicultural Jerusalem.

As the Synod Multicultural Ministry Consultant, I play a key role in that equipping process. My current focus is to proactively address the urgent need to build capacity for the laity especially amongst minority ethnic communities where a mono-cultural approach to being church is deeply entrenched.

Capacity building programs for minority ethnic lay members and leaders include: • UCA Polity & Ethos • Ecclesial Administration • Ministry: Duties of the Minister • UCA Property Policy & Usage • Cross-cultural Conflict Resolution • Meeting & Consensus Model • Lay Preaching • Unity in Diversity & Racial Justice • Leadership Development • Intergenerational Relations • Christian Education for Adults, Youth, and Children.

Working closely with Presbyteries I aim to deliver these programs in a cohesive, systematic and uniform way so we are effective in equipping our Synod to truly reflect God’s vision of Christ’s multicultural church.

Dr Katalina Tahaafe-Williams, Synod Multicultural Consultant katalinat@nsw.uca.org.au

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Rev. Bradon French New Generation Consultant

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Decision to divest:

Uniting Church a new leader in an international campaign

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he decision by the Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of NSW and ACT to divest shares in fossil fuels and instead invest in clean renewable goes to the very heart of our life as Christians to care for God’s creation and to love one another.

Last April’s decision was firmly in line with the Church’s teachings and has made the church a leader in a new international campaign.

The Uniting Church accepts the overwhelming scientific consensus that humans are causing climate change.

Climate change brings severe and frequent natural disasters. The poorest people in the developing world will bear over 90% of the burden of climate change according to former UN Secretary-General and President of GHF, Kofi Annan in 2009. Yet they are least responsible for creating the problem because the major cause of climate change is the release of greenhouse gases mainly from burning fossil fuels.

According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the most effective and cheapest way to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is to put a price on carbon. However, with the carbon price in doubt in Australia, there is a greater urgency for other measures to be taken.

In June, gofossilfree an international campaign to divest fossil fuel shares was launched in Australia.

Leading the campaign is awardwinning American environmental

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author Bill McKibben (who is a Methodist Sunday School teacher).

Divesting shares can be powerful and this action by the international community contributed to the fall of the South African apartheid government, according to Bishop Desmund Tutu. In the US, ten big cities, including Seattle and San Francisco have announced plans to divest their fossil fuel shares.

Decisive action is urgent, says Chief Australian Climate Commissioner Professor Tim Flannery. Global carbon dioxide emissions must drop to near zero by 2050, for a two thirds chance of a safe climate of two degrees above pre-industrial levels. However, to do this, about 80 per cent of the world’s fossil fuel reserves must stay in the ground.

The Uniting Church accepts the overwhelming scientific consensus that humans are causing climate change For a safe climate, says McKibben, we can burn about 500 gigatons more carbon between now and 2050. But financial analysts have discovered there are 2800 gigatons of carbon from fossil fuel in reserves, which business plans to burn.

Several plans demonstrate that renewable energy can replace fossil fuels. For instance, a plan from Beyond Zero Emissions, with the University of Melbourne Energy Research Institute,

involves wind and solar energy with storage which would make energy available when the sun doesn’t shine.

Wind solar energy is endorsed by international and national experts and such technology operates in Spain and is being built in the US. The UCA cautions against using Nuclear Power, as it produces radioactive waste and risks the proliferation of nuclear weapons. Clean coal technology is not commercially available and may never be. Wave and geothermal energy are not yet commercially available and there is no time to wait.

The International Energy Agency says the longer we delay addressing the problems the more costly will be the solutions. The UCA urges members to respond to this crisis. But what can the ordinary person do?

We can urge our MPs (www.aph.gov. au) and use our vote to support the rapid development of renewable energy and to stop subsidising fossil fuels. We can divest our shares in fossil fuels, buy green power and install solar panels on our roofs.

Marguerite Marshall is a Christian who was trained by Al Gore as a leader in the Climate Reality Project managed in Australia by the Australian Conservation Foundation. She is a presenter for Beyond Zero Emissions with the University of Melbourne Energy Research Institute.

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It’s a Spring Thing S

ydney Presbytery has the highest concentration of tertiary campuses of all the Presbyteries in our Synod. There are over 185,000 students across these institutions. So it comes as no surprise that tertiary ministry is a key priority.

The tertiary ministries within the Sydney Presbytery fall under the umbrella of Christian Students Uniting (CSU). To assist and support CSU in this missionary work, the Sydney Presbytery set up the Tertiary Resource and Oversight Committee (TROC).

The TROC recently launched ‘It’s a Spring Thing’ campaign to help build awareness of the work they do and the support they need to continue their efforts. This involved speaking with people who have been reached by the missionary.

Sally Andrews, student “I’m doing a combined degree of Law and International Studies at Sydney Uni and I live at Epworth House (a student house beside Leichhardt Uniting Church). For the first 18 years of my life I was part of the Ebenezer/Pitt Town Uniting Church congregation.

“Ebenezer is the oldest church in Australia, finished in 1809. My parents were married within that congregation, I was baptised and confirmed there, and from about the age of 10 or 11 I was the organist. But this is a church with

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an ageing congregation. I really was the only regular attendee under the age of 50. This church has a very important place in my heart, but moving into a church of such vitality as Leichhardt Uniting has been really rewarding.

“The support I’ve received from weekly meetings at Christian Students Uniting (CSU) has been quietly crucial.

At CSU there is room to ask questions, there’s encouragement to think deeply about what your faith stands for, what the Bible stands for and you receive highly considered, Biblical-based answers.”

Restart fresh hopes and ideas and put energy and effort into new growth.

Rev. Andrew Johnson, Tertiary Chaplain “Tertiary chaplaincy calls people to faith and seeks to sustain them in discipleship. It trains and resources people in leadership, and teaches people to love their church. Yes, we want to ask critical questions, but that goes hand in hand with working for, and loving your own congregation.”

Andrew then spoke of the Bible study group he’d led earlier that week, with members from many different

congregations, both Uniting Church and others (Anglican, Catholic, Pentecostal and home church). It had started with some in the group asking questions of predestination, fate and purpose but soon rolled into a deep discussion of depression and anxiety, and how we might resource our local congregations to respond to and speak out on this issue.

‘It’s a Spring Thing’ was born out of the idea that we need churches to spring into action and cultivate, nurture and support new growth and new life in tertiary outreach work.

This is our future church. It’s a seasonal reminder of work on the green shoots at the edge of our church and like the start of the spring season a good time to renew what’s been left untouched over the winter, restart fresh hopes and ideas and put energy and effort into new growth.

If you, your church or group would like to offer prayerful, practical or financial support to the Tertiary Chaplaincy work in the Uniting Church, please contact your local Presbytery Office. For more information on Sydney Presbytery’s ‘It’s a Spring Thing’ campaign email troc@sydneypresbytery.org.au or contact Michelle Loxton on 0403 868 965.

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Lectionary Reflection October 6 October – Luke 17: 5-10 Jesus teaches his disciples about faith.

Using the example of a tiny mustard seed, Jesus makes the point that even the smallest amount of faith can enable someone to do amazing things. The Gospel passage goes on to compare the disciples with servants or slaves. Jesus encourages his disciples to go beyond just doing what they are told so that they can care for others.

Who are the people that take care of you?

How does God take care of you?

Do you have faith that God loves and cares for you?

When we think of who loves us it may be hard to imagine that God loves us even more. When we have faith in God we believe that God is always there for us.

Faith in God helps us to care for others.

13 October – Luke 17: 11-19 Jesus performs a miracle. Ten lepers are cured of their terrible disease but only one comes back to give thanks. The one person to return and give thanks is a Samaritan, a foreigner. The cured Samaritan shows his overwhelming gratitude by coming to Jesus and prostrating himself, lying flat on the ground

before him. The thanksgiving that the Samaritan shows is a true sign of faith.

Not only is the leper cured but he is saved as well.

What are you most thankful for?

Do you take the time to thank God? How do you give thanks to God? When we take the time to thank God we pray prayers of thanksgiving. We thank God for our many blessings.

20 October – Luke 18: 1-8 Jesus helps his followers understand that God always listens to their prayers. Jesus tells a story about a widow and an unjust judge. At the time when this Gospel was written, widows were treated unfairly.

The widow in today’s story does not give up hope. She keeps asking the judge for fairness. The widow wears down the unjust judge and to keep her from bothering him, the judge grants her justice.

God loves and cares for us. God knows our every need. When we ask God for help, God hears to our prayers.

27 October – Luke 18: 9-14 Jesus teaches his followers about how to pray. He tells a story about a self-righteous Pharisee and a humble tax collector. Jesus tells this parable to teach his followers to be honest and humble when they pray.

When the Pharisee prays, he brags about his own greatness. The tax collector, on the other hand, speaks to God with humility. He is sorry for his sins and he asks God for forgiveness. The tax collector shares everything about himself with God. God hears and answers the honest prayer of the tax collector.

What is it like to pray a prayer of meditation?

How does it feel when Jesus comes toward you?

Do you listen to what Jesus had to say to you?

Jesus tells this story to help his listeners so they will understand they should not When we pray we share everything give up hope. God always hears our prayers. We can ask God for help and trust about ourselves with God. We also listen when we pray. Praying helps us grow that God listens. closer to God. Do you ever keep asking for what © http://rclblectionary.com/ used with permission you want until you get it?

When do you ask God for help?

Why do you ask God for help?

Not just J.f.k but a tribute to C.s. Lewis too!

Both were leaders in their fields and both died on the same day in November 1963.

C.S. Lewis wrote some brilliant and persuasive Christian books, created science-fiction and also entertaining stories for children about the land of Narnia (which have become classics of fantasy.)

There will be a special event in the CBD on 22/11/13 to pay tribute to these two great men of literature and history. If you would like to offer suggestions phone 9221 1688 (St Stephen's Macquarie Street) and watch for the advert in next months Insights!

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special guest speaker, Mrs Kathy Pereira, Associate Director of UnitingWorld Church Connections and Experience to speak to attendees. Mrs Pereira spoke of “Women, Water and the Sound of Music...The Church in Mission in 2013 and Beyond”. She shared many stories of her experiences travelling to remote and adventurous places on behalf of Uniting World and the Uniting Church.

Fellowship news The ultimate who’s who guide Each year the NSW/ACT Uniting Church Adult Fellowship Synod Committee publishes a year book that’s full of invaluable information. It lists contact people and organisations and the representatives affiliated with us. It also lists Fellowships that provide catering for groups visiting their areas. If you would like to be included, or you need to change your details, please email Laraine Jones by 22 November: larainejones@bigpond.com

P hilatelists being philanthropists Many of you collect stamps for the Stamp Committee. Recently, the committee came together to allocate its funds. A total of $43,000 in requests was submitted. We’re happy to report the hard working group was able to make $29,000 available to support projects such as Frontier Services, which trains pilots in night flying, as well as transport for the Pastoral Council and new projects with UnitingCare. Two long serving Committee members, Enid Kent and Joyce Swanson, were honoured for their 30 years

of service. Please keep those used stamps coming.

Hide and seek

Guests also heard first-hand experiences from recently returned volunteers Trish and Peter Mileham from New Lambton, who were in East Timor. Communion was led by the Rev. Tom Stuart and everyone was entertained by The Notables Singers.

The $935 offering was shared with UnitingWorld and Margaret Jurd Learning Centre.

Blaxland Uniting Church was the venue for Parramatta-Nepean’s Presbytery rally held in July. More than 70 people representing 13 congregations enjoyed the day. Special Guest Speaker for the morning session was Dr. Ben Myers, who teaches Systematic Theology at UTC (you can read his column on page 35). His theme was “Hide and Seek: The Song of Songs and the Shape of Christian Experience”. The $600 offering went to Exodus Foundation and Parramatta Mission. In the afternoon the Silver Fox Quartet entertained those present.

Mrs Joan Macleod, who now lives in Queensland, was recognised for her tireless work for this group.

Rallies • 5 September: Far North Coast Presbytery at Alstonville UC • 12 September: New England North West at Tamworth UC • 18 September: Mid North Coast at Foster/Tuncurry UC

Women, Water and the Sound of Music

• 22 October: Macquarie/Darling at Forbes UC

The Hunter Presbytery recently held its 73rd rally, welcoming over 100 people at Charlestown Uniting Church. Mrs M. Brooks, who chaired the morning session of that first rally in Maitland in 1977, joined

For more information, please email Judy Hicks: judyh_rnh@hotmail.com

EXPLORE LIFE AND HOPE IN THE LIGHT OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST United Theological College (UTC) is part of the Charles Sturt University School of Theology. UTC seeks to provide theological education and ministerial formation for: • those preparing for specified ministries in the Uniting Church • anyone seeking an intelligent and deepening understanding of the Christian faith

• undergraduate university students studying theology as part of their degree in some other subject • postgraduate and research students in theology and ministry studies.

UTC is located in North Parramatta and is an inclusive community of women and men from a vibrant diversity of cultural backgrounds who are committed to theological enquiry and the practice of the Christian faith.

Now is the time to consider exploring the Christian faith in a culturally diverse community... faith seeking understanding.

ENROL NOW FOR SESSION 1, 2014

Apply now for undergraduate and postgraduate courses, including: • Bachelor of Theology

(including an 8 subject Diploma and 16 subject Associate Degree)

• Graduate Diploma in Theology

• Master of Theology • Master and Doctor of Ministry • Doctor of Philosophy

Options for study include part-time, full-time, on campus or by distance education, in many cases. Single Subject Study options are also available.

For more information: Charles Sturt University 1800 334 733 www.csu.edu.au/contacts/enquiry UTC, Renee Kelly 02 8838 8914 reneek@nsw.uca.org.au www.utc.edu.au/courses/theology

UTC is constituted within the Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of NSW & the ACT, and Charles Sturt University’s School of Theology.

AD53

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Position Vacant A Minister of the Word to be part of a team ministering to the 3 worshiping communities within Wesley and St Aidan’s Uniting churches that form Canberra Central Parish.

Canberra Central is a city church with many of the hallmarks of a regional congregation bringing together people with a wide variety of professional experience from across the national capital. The Parish is looking for a minister to join the collegiate ministry team with Rev. David Thiem and other staff and deliver a focus on preaching the gospel, leading worship, encouraging and supporting congregational members in their Christian lives in church and community and nurturing connections with the Wesley Music Centre.

Visit wesleycanberra.org.au to find out more about Canberra Central Uniting Parish or contact JNC convenor John Williams, 0419 253 915, jwil3940@bigpond.net.au Forward enquiries and applications to: Rev. Jane Fry, Associate Secretary NSW/ACT Synod janef@nsw.uca.org.au PO Box A2178, Sydney South NSW 1235 Applications close Friday October 11, 2013.

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6/09/2013 5:17:53 PM

Belief matters “In God the Father Almighty…”

W

hen we say the Apostles’ Creed, the first thing we confess is belief in “God the Father Almighty.” We confess that God is utterly sovereign and therefore utterly trustworthy.

The early Christians liked to compare God to a breastfeeding mother: it’s an image that comes up again and again in sermons and writings from the early church. We relate to God not like loyal subjects submitting to a powerful ruler, but like infants drawing nourishment from a mother.

God nurtures and sustains us, and we respond to God with grateful trust and dependence. God’s power is not above us but alongside us, beneath us, and with us. It is not a power of subjection and control, but a power that frees and enables. In his commentary on the Psalms, St Augustine described divine power as “maternal love, expressing itself as weakness.”

Such “maternal” divine power doesn’t just intervene in the world from time to time. It is the deep underlying mystery of everything that exists. God’s power is not just a solution to problems in this world.

It is the reason this world exists at all.

We could not really trust in God if God’s power were limited, sporadic, or unpredictable. A God who exercised that kind of power would not be the world’s sustainer but its invader, a distant ruler whose wishes had to be imposed by force.

That’s the problem with trying to place any limitations on God’s power. If God’s power were just one power among others – if God were “mighty” but not “almighty” – then divine power would end up being another form of violence or control.

Only a God who is totally free and totally sovereign can relate to the world with total love, patience, and generosity.

Our freedom as creatures, therefore, is not threatened by God’s sovereignty, but upheld by it. God’s power – like the power of a good parent – is the capacity to nurture life and to make it flourish.

True power is not the ability to dominate or control but the ability to love and enable.

This is true power, true sovereignty.

But God’s sovereignty is exercised as gently as a mother nurturing her child.

The British theologian Sarah Coakley has spoken of God’s “gentle omnipotence.”

That phrase captures the strange paradox of a God whose power is most clearly seen in Jesus of Nazareth.

It is because God is like this – as dependable and as loving as a parent with child – that we can freely and gladly say together with all Christians: “I believe!”

Dr Ben Myers is Lecturer in Systematic Theology at United Theological College

In the creed we confess the three great movements of God’s power: God lovingly brought the world into being; God lovingly entered into the world in Jesus Christ; and God is lovingly transforming the world through the Holy Spirit.

Do you need counselling which incorporates a faith dimension?

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Our specialist psychologist offers individual and group sessions specifically for victims and perpetrators of sexual assault and their families.

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Basic counselling skills inte¬grated with theology will teach you to in¬tegrate your faith and effective listening skills to provide a caring link between church and community, turning your compassion into practice.

This course teaches people to provide practical visitation in both parish and community settings, compile a referral kit and experience liturgies for specific pastoral care situations. It covers topics such as Introduction to Counselling and Communications Skills. It is also designed to meet continuing education requirements.

The Institute offers training in a number of areas for churches and ministry teams. These include programs on: • Learning How I Listen • I'm Going Visiting • Qualities of Leadership Each of these programs is designed to encourage members of your congregation to increase their skills in pastoral care. And to ensure you're getting the most from your training, each course can be be tailored to suit the needs of your congregation.

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Check the website for Our Christian Psychologists have training in both

Visit our website: theology and psychology and are dedicated to a holistic, dates! www.pastoralcounselling.org sensitive approach to personal, marriage and family issues. insights.uca.org.au

Our specialist psychologist offers individual and group sessions specifically for victims and perpetrators of sexual assault and their families.

If you would like more information on any of the Pastoral Counselling Institute activities please call on 9683 3664 or email to pciuca@ihug.com.au

Insights September 2013 35

People with a referral from their GP on a Mental Health Care Plan may be able to claim Medicare benefits* (* see Medicare schedule for claimable items – available on request or on the Medicare website)

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6/09/2013 5:21:50 PM

Culture watch

Seven virtues of good governance

L

ast month we worked through the seven deadly sins of governance, so it’s only fitting that this month we present the Seven Virtues of Good Governance.

These qualities would enhance our productivity and bless our wider church.

1

Integrity: acting honestly for the benefit of the whole church Promoting trust, confidence and confidentiality, and working for the common good, even when the decision does not go our way.

2

Leadership: promoting trust and confidence Being a good role model for rest of the church with everyone actively contributing and participating.

3

Competence/Commitment: understanding the scope of what your council/committee is required to do Prepare, review and evaluate personal and corporate performances, and create processes enabling membership to be evaluated and reviewed to ensure the best blend of gifts and skills.

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4

Initiative and Enterprise: actively promote the mission of the Church Refusing to allow business, budgets and property maintenance to take top billing in every agenda and creatively looking for ways to engage with the wider community.

If we could courageously risk honesty in our relationships and our meeting processes, our church would be better served, and the good news better proclaimed. Synod Standing Committee will continue to grapple with how we can best serve the Synod of NSW/ACT.

5

Fairness and Respect: recognising the value of diverse opinions Accepting that we will not always get things all our own way, and ensuring every voice and opinion is heard with respect.

6

Accountability: taking responsibility for the decisions we make Seeking the information needed to make good decisions and a better way forward is crucial.

7

Transparency: being able to give a full and open account of deliberations and decisions These should be defensible in terms of governance, policies, systems and processes.

Rev. Bronwyn Murphy Lay Ministry, Education, Discipleship and Rural Ministry Consultant Uniting Mission & Education

insights.uca.org.au

6/09/2013 4:51:58 PM

Position Vacant

Position Vacant

West Epping Uniting Church is seeking a Children & Family Ministries Pastor – 38 hours per week

Willoughby Uniting Church is seeking an energetic and creative Children and Family Worker (20 hours per week) who demonstrates active Christian faith to join our team to:

A significant opportunity exists for an enthusiastic, mission-focussed person with gifts in children and family work to: ● Work as part of a ministry team to nurture faith, specifically with children and families ● Support and develop leaders and leadership structures that best facilitate the teaching of the Christian faith to children For more information and a full job description, applicants should email:

● Co-ordinate our playgroups and manage them as Christian ministries ●E ngage with children and families in the community ● Teach primary school Scripture ● Develop a new family worship service ●A ssist and resource the existing Sunday School program For more information and a full job description, applicants should email:

Erica Harrison, Church Council Secretary at ericaharrison@optusnet.com.au

Rev Michael Thomas at office@willoughbyuniting.org.au or call 9415 2100.

Applications close 8 october 2013.

Applications close September 26 2013.

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6/09/2013 5:22:57 PM

Entertain me press play LISTEN up

Home Kim Walker-Smith & Skyler Smith BIG SCREEN

Elysium (MA) If ever there was a film to tap into the conversation about asylum seekers and refugees it’s Neill Blomkamp’s film Elysium, starring Matt Damon.

Set in 2154, the earth has become almost uninhabitable. Those who can afford it have relocated off-world to the idyllic Elysium, and those who cannot try by any means to get there — even if it means risking their lives.

Sound familiar?

Nothing goes smoothly for people on earth and it’s no different for Max who succumbs to a life-threatening accident. With five days to live he visits his local people smuggler and cuts a deal. In exchange for doing a job for him he gets free passage and access to Elysium’s life-saving medical facilities. What ensues is visceral violence as the film reaches its sacrificial and bloody conclusion.

In Australia recently promoting the film, Damon was asked about the hot button issues of immigration, asylum seekers and people smuggling the film raises “Neill Blomkamp (the director) didn’t want to offer a prescription to the problem. I like it when a movie resonates with people and the zeitgeist and gets people talking about issues. This is a zeitgeist idea of the haves and the have nots.”

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Home is refreshing and vibrant, hopeful and encouraging. Both singers have a gift at delivering songs in poetic and poignant fashion. Full of songs to lament upon and others to join along in upbeat exaltation, Home is going to be a classic in the eyes of many Walker-Smith enthusiasts and modern worship music lovers alike. Home reminds us where our home is and forever will be.

read this

Scientism: A word we need John Cowburn In a quiet voice, John Cowburn has highlighted the need for defining scientism. This world of ours can be described in many disparate ways other than via science. The reductionist myopic pose that causes all raison d’etre to evaporate into meaninglessness needs (John’s word) to be stated clearly in the intellectual debate.

I would like to say this book has done that, but his quietude of approach left me feeling the book appeared more apology than apologetic. Nevertheless, Tim Patrick’s opening summary is right.

Both novice and informed scholar can benefit from reading this accessible short volume if only to learn more of the debate and thence not to succumb to those who use scientism to render us dehumanised and meaningless.

Richard Willgoss

The Great Gatsby (M) Many people aren’t fans of Baz Luhrmann’s work, often criticising it for style over substance. But his approach seems to fit Gatsby’s subject matter as Luhrmann follows would-be writer Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire) to New York City in the spring of 1922, an era of loosening morals, glittering jazz, bootleg kings, and sky-rocketing stocks.

Chasing his own American Dream, Nick lands next door to a mysterious, party-giving millionaire Jay Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio), and across the bay from his cousin, Daisy (Carey Mulligan) and her philandering, blue-blooded husband, Tom Buchanan (Joel Edgerton).

Nick is drawn into the captivating world of the super rich, their illusions, loves and deceits. As Nick bears witness, within and without of the world he inhabits, he pens a tale of impossible love, incorruptible dreams and high-octane tragedy.

SURF THIS

freshexpressions.org.uk Changing church for a changing world, Fresh Expressions encourages and resources new ways of being church; working with Christians from a broad range of denominations and traditions.

The movement has resulted in thousands of new congregations being formed alongside more traditional churches. insights.uca.org.au

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