UTC eNews 201330week6

UTC eNews   201330week6

FROM THE FACULTY

Visit to Pittwater Uniting - Yesterday the Candidates and Faculty visited Pittwater Uniting Church. They were hosted for the day by Revs Nigel Rogers and Steve Everist. The day began with conversation centred on being called to Pittwater and some background of these two Ministers before sharing Communion together. We were then taken on a tour of the site, talked about the activities held there and the Church’s involvement in the wider community and Presbytery. There was a time for questions following lunch. The day ended with the Candidates and Faculty praying for Steve and Nigel.

Relations with Other Faiths - Clive Pearson and Sef Carroll took part in a day sponsored by the Assembly’s Relations with Other Faith’s Task Group. For the first time, Assembly representatives met for a joint seminar with the Australian Islamic Cultural Centre at Al Faisal College. The theme was ‘To Love God and to Love Neighbour’. Matthew Wilson led a reflection on the document ‘A Common Word’.

Seminars this Friday:

1.00-1.45    Matt Wilcoxen - St Augustine and the Teaching of Christian Doctrine as Ethical Formation

1.45-2.30    Caroline Batchelder - Undoing ‘this people’, becoming ‘my servant’: purpose and commission in Isaiah 6

2.45-3.30    Ruth Sheridan - The role of Abraham in John 8: Text and Intertext

Out & About

Clive Pearson - is preaching at Leigh Memorial.

Ben Myers - On Sunday morning Ben preached at Leichhardt Uniting Church. He will be preaching there each week over the next couple of months, with a series on the Apostles' Creed.

Publications

Uniting Church Studies - Faith & Atheism - is available from Student Administration. Cost $22.50.

Home and Away - Contextual Theology & Local Practice - also available from Student Administration. Cost $18.00.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Leadership in a Pluralist Society (Interfaith Seminar), 10^th May 4.00-10.00pm and 11^th May 9.00am-5.00pm - at the Centre for Ministry. Contact Sef Carroll sefc@bigpond.com

College visit to the Detention Centre, House of Welcome and STARTS, Wednesday 22 May 2013 with Rev John Jegosothy.

Cancer Council Afternoon Tea, Tuesday 4 June, 2.45pm - UTC will be hosting this fundraiser for the Cancer Council. Everyone is encouraged to wear yellow to get into the spirit of the event - the bolder the better! A donation box will be available at the tea or you can donate beforehand at http://nsw.cancercouncilfundraising.org.au/personalPage.aspx?registrationID=580260

LECTIONARY

The lectionary for this Sunday 5 May, (Easter 6) is Acts 16:9-15, Psalm 67, Revelation 21:10, 22, John 14:23-49 or John 5:1-9 (White).

FROM STUDENT ADMINISTRATION

Students are encouraged to enrol in their subjects for Second Session now, as this assists with planning classes. If you would like assistance with subject choices, please contact Student Administration.

FROM THE LIBRARY

Introduction to Referencing Workshops - you are welcome to join workshops which will be held in the library computer room on the following dates:

• Mondays from 5.00-6.00pm - May 29 and May 6
• Thursdays from 5.00-6.00pm - May 2 and May 9

One to one help is also available by booking time through the library circulation desk.

SYNOD NEWS

Synod 2013 - Executive Director of Uniting Mission and Education, Kath Merrifield, reflects on some of the decisions we made at Synod:

1.    We elected a Moderator-Elect: Rev Myung Hwa Park.  She will take up the role of Moderator at the next Synod in September 2014. See http://www.insights.uca.org.au/synod-2013/new-moderator-elect-all-i-have-i-offer-to-serve

2.    We heard inspiring messages from the President, Jan Sutch-Pickard, Ace Kim and the Moderator – if you get a chance to listen to the recordings, they are all worth hearing.

3.    UME Report – was received well.  You can access the video presentation here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnOM_r3Cr0w&feature=youtu.be

4.    We also heard from Uniting Resources, UnitingCare, Treasury and Investments, Act For Peace, Assembly

5.    The Educational Resourcing Network – was agreed to without change. You can download the proposal and the UME report at http://ume.nsw.uca.org.au/uniting-mission-and-education-reports-to-the-synod/. A summary is also available on the Insights website: http://www.insights.uca.org.au/synod-2013/new-network-to-provide-gutsy-approach-to-theological-education   I will be seeking to meet with the various groups impacted in the coming weeks to discuss timeframes and ways forward.

6.    Synod Standing Committee – will meet more frequently (stay tuned for confirmation of dates).  Also, Katalina Tahaafe Williams, Lindsay Cullen and Bronwyn Murphy were all elected to SSC.

7.    UME Board – Geoff Smith, Julie Grieg, John Squires and Elizabeth Raine were all re-elected to the Board. We will be working in the next week to co-opt up to 4 more.

8.    UnitingCare brought proposals seeking to advocate for the Disability Insurance Scheme, affordability of in-home care (ageing) and a pro-active response to care for refugees.

9.    We agreed to move to divest the Synod’s investment in companies involved in mining fossil fuels and to voice our concerns about coal seam gas mining.  We also wrestled with a proposal relating to how we might respond to issues faced in the Murray-Darling Basin.

10.  We agreed to move towards using Fair Trade products as much as possible (including serving only Fair Trade tea and coffee at our meetings).

Pearl Wymarra’s Closure of Ministry Service, Friday 10 May 2013, 7.00pm -  the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress of NSW and the ACT Region and UME invite you to attend this service for Pearl to be held at St Andrew’s Chapel, Centre for Ministry. For catering, please RSVP Hazel Leano at hazell@nsw.uca.org.au

Christ and Cultures Gathering - Exploring the Missional Church, Saturday 18 May 2013, 9.30am-4.00pm at the Centre for Ministry - come and join a discussion to explore “What it means to be a Missional Church.” Keynote speakers: Dean Drayton and Amelia Koh-Butler. Cost $10.00 (morning & afternoon provided). Lunch BYO or Tamil restaurant food $15.00 extra Nb: for Tamil food register by 11 May. For more information and registration go to http://ccgathering.org/

Men’s Breakfast - 18 May 2013, 8.00-10.00am at Wentworthville Uniting Church, 115-117 Station Street - Guest Speaker Beyond Blue Ambassador, Mr Paul Walshe. RSVP sharoncutts@bigpond.com

ASSEMBLY NEWS

Prayers for the Safety of Syrian Archbishops  The Uniting Church in Australia has offered prayers for the safety and well-being of two Christian bishops reported kidnapped in Syria earlier this week. The President, Rev. Professor Andrew Dutney has condemned the kidnapping in which a deacon was killed, and urged Church members to join in prayer for their safe release.

Uniting for Change Website - The Uniting Church community will have a stronger voice on the things that matter following the launch of a new website that encourages citizens to get active on important social issues.Uniting for Change is UnitingCare Australia’s new online social advocacy and discipleship platform that aims to build an Australia where all people have access to the means for a decent life. National Director, Lin Hatfield Dodds says “The site encourages people to learn, to share and to act on the things that matter and offers a toolbox of advocacy and theological resources that help people advocate for change both locally and nationally as well as create change in their own lives and in their communities.The site currently looks at five important social issues: aged care reform, energy poverty, disability reform, income support justice, and gambling reform. Resources include liturgies on energy poverty and disability reform. These worship resources allow congregations to engage in current advocacy issues and consider their theological implications. Daily news clips bring you up to the minute details and fact sheets ensure you’ve got the issue in a nutshell. Hear people’s stories and share your thoughts online. You can contact your local Federal politicians using the easy link to contact details and advocacy messages.” Find out more at www.unitingforchange.org.au, and get involved on social media or by signing up for the eBulletin.

GENERAL NEWS

The third Common Dreams Conference, “Midwives of Change: Progressives Shaping Religious Communities” will be held at the Manning Clark Centre at Australian National University, Canberra, September 19–22, 2013.The conference draws together people from Australia, New Zealand and other parts of the world to explore ways that progressive religion can shape religious communities and contribute positively to the common good, so that religion enhances human life rather than diminishes it. The 2013 conference will feature Marcus Borg, Canon Theologian at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Portland, Oregon, USA, and Bruce Sanguin, a minister of the United Church of Canada. For more information and to register visit www.commondreams.org.au.

Australian eJournal of Theology - invite you to take up a free subscription to the Journal. Issued three times a year, the Journal contains articles by leading Australian and international scholars, as well as new theological faces. See http://apps.acu.edu.au/newsletters/?p=subscribe&id=5

Book Sale, 4 & 5 May 2013 (or at any other time by arrangement) at 9 Clanalpine Street, Eastwood - Christian economics and business, Reformed theology, church leadership and worship, Bible commentaries, cooking, photography, economics, macroeconomics, securities, finance, and more. Priced at 2 cents per page - all proceeds will be donated to the Christian Reformed Churches Solomon Islands’ Ministry. Bring your own box. Contact Mary Meischke 0458 710 201.

The newsletter is from the Principal & College Secretary Please direct news items to suzannec@nsw.uca.org.au