UTC eNews 201360 Week 1

UTC eNews  201360 Week 1

FROM THE ACADEMIC DEAN

We trust everyone has had a restful and enjoyable break and we look forward to seeing you as classes commence for second session this week. Orientation for new students is also being held - so if you see some new people around, please make them feel welcome.

Good news about our faculty!  The results of the CSU student survey on learning and teaching in 2012 have been released.  Our students have spoken and the School of Theology received the second highest score across the university on effective teaching for face-to-face mode, and the second highest score across the university as a whole for distance education mode.  Congratulations to all our teachers.  Many thanks also to students who filled out the online evaluations: these are read closely by the university and progress and improvement is monitored.  Your contribution makes a difference.

 

FROM THE LIBRARY

Opening Hours Session 2 - In view of the new staffing quotas, the library will need to close on an additional evening per week. As there are no classes scheduled for Wednesday evenings, the library will close at 5pm.

So the hours for Session 2 will be:

Mon, Tues  10.30-6.30

Weds          10.30-5.00

Thurs          10.30-6.30

Fri               10.30-5.00

FROM STUDENT ADMINISTRATION

Mail - students are asked to collect their mail and marked assignments form the pigeon holes outside student administration.

Enrolments - please finalise your enrolment by Friday 19 July, otherwise you will be charged a late fee of $50 for adding in subjects.

CFM community gathering - this will now be held as a morning tea from 11am each Tuesday in the Atrium - all welcome.

Pizza Night - it is with regret that students are advised that Pizza night will not be offered for this upcoming semester as the cost has become prohibitive for UTC to carry even with the student contributions. If you have alternative suggestions, please feel free to contact Susanne Stanton from the Student Association on suziestanton@bigpond.com

CHAPEL SERVICE & COMMUNITY LUNCH - a Service of Word and Sacrament will be held on Wednesday 17th from 11.30am-12.30pm followed by community lunch - all welcome. The lectionary for Sunday 21 July (Pentecost 9) is Amos 8:1-12, Psalm 52, Colossians 15-28, Luke 10:38-42 (Green).

SYNOD NEWS

Scholarships for Undergraduate and Continuing education - applications for the second round of scholarships in 2013 are now open and close Tuesday 6 August. Download an application form from www.utc.edu.au or www.ume.nsw.uca.org.au or contact Student Admin.

Kentigern Sale - 80% off all stock

Sale extended until Wednesday 31 July
Cash or credit card only
Mon-Sat 9.00am-5.00pm

Some titles available:

God under Howard, Marrion Maddox - $6.00

Why we’re equal, Val Webb - $6.80

God as he long for you to see Him, Chip Ingram - $1.40

Men behaving badly, John Goldingay - $4.40

Spiritually incorrect finding God in all the wrong places, Dan Wakefield - $5.80

Right and Wrong, Hugh Mackay - $5.00

The story of Christianity, Justo L Gonzalez - $7.50

ASSEMBLY NEWS

A Prayer for Friendship in the Presence of Difference  - the President, Rev. Professor Andrew Dutney, has called on Australians to show due respect for each other’s faith, after a Muslim MP was vilified for choosing to swear his oath of office on the Koran. Western Sydney MP Ed Husic became the first Australian Federal Member of Parliament to take his ministerial oath on the Koran when sworn in as a Parliamentary Secretary this week. He subsequently became a target of abuse on social media.

“This was a moment in our history as a nation to celebrate our diversity and our success as a multicultural society,” said Rev. Professor Andrew Dutney. “Instead Australians of goodwill are again forced to rebut attacks that display the worst kind of religious intolerance. The representation of people of all faiths in our Parliament is something of which we can be justly proud.”

The National Director responsible for the Uniting Church’s relations with other faiths, Rev. Glenda Blakefield, has called on Australians of all faiths – and those of no faith as well - to open their hearts in friendship to those who are different from us.  “We are called to love our neighbour as ourselves, regardless of religion, culture, ethnicity or beliefs,” said Rev. Blakefield.

“The Uniting Church in Australia actively seeks to promote the knowledge and understanding of other living world faiths and communities through our Relations with Other Faiths work. This ministry, which works with Islamic, Jewish and other faiths, acknowledges the Uniting Church’s role in our multicultural and multi-faith society. God delights in diversity and seeks unity from us, which is why we work towards creating relationships with other faiths as an important part of our ministry,” said Rev. Blakefield.

MCCM Resources - A compilation of resources is now available from the Multicultural and Cross Cultural Ministry unit of the VIC/TAS Synod - see http://assembly.uca.org.au/mcm/news/item/1410-new-resource for more details.

SYNOD NEWS

Faith leaders join in prayer to combat climate change  - Religious leaders from across Sydney joined together at a prayer vigil at Pitt Street Uniting Church last week to call for bipartisan support of a carbon price.

Leaders included those from Islamic, Jewish, Christian, Buddhist and Hindu traditions and all have signed the open letter on climate change. The leaders signed an open letter, coordinated by the Australian Religious Response to Climate Change, which asks politicians to act on climate change this election.

Rev. Dr Brian Brown, Moderator of the NSW and ACT Synod, joined the vigil and shared the story of the NSW and ACT Synod’s decision to divest in fossil fuels. “As Christians, we share a concern for the common good. Not just for humanity, but for the good of all creation,” said the Moderator. “We must understand we are entrusted with a stewardship of this earth and it is our responsibility to care for the garden that is creation.”

Leaders of other faiths also spoke about the religious impetus to act now on climate change and rising greenhouse gas emissions. Ajahn Brahmavamso, Head of the Australian Sangha Association, a Buddhist fellowship, said that the wisdom of leaders of all faiths should be considered deeply. “Leaders of our great faith traditions will see far into the future and think of future generations. We must act now to preserve what we have for future generations,” said Mr. Brahmavamso.

The vigil included prayer in the Christian and Jewish tradition, as well as time for reflection and comment from all the leaders. Leaders spoke about their spiritual and faith based motivations for supporting greater action on climate change, which included a strong theme of social justice and the environment across the different faiths.

The letter has also been signed by other prominent faith leaders including the President of the Uniting Church in Australia National Assembly, Rev. Prof Andrew Dutney, the Grand Mufti of Australia, Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohammad and Senior Rabbi of the Great Synagogue in Sydney, Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence. See http://assembly.uca.org.au/news/item/1407-faith-leaders-join-in-prayer-to-combat-climate-change


KEEPING IN TOUCH

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