Exploring ministry in tourism settings

24 May, 2013

The Commission For Mission is hosting two forums on how to provide effective ministry to those on holiday.

People are invited to share experiences and advice on congregations or agencies exploring ministry in tourism settings.

Click here for more information

Lutheran/Uniting Church shared liturgy

23 May, 2013

Representatives of the Lutheran Church of Australia and the Uniting Church in Australia have launched a new liturgy for shared ministry between their churches.

The Co-chair of the Lutheran/Uniting Church Dialogue, Rev Dr Anna Grant-Henderson of the Uniting Church, said that the liturgy marks a significant step in the continuing relationship between the two churches.

Read the media release here

Another national failure to welcome the stranger

20 May, 2013

The President of the Uniting Church in Australia Rev Professor Andrew Dutney has deplored the move by the Federal Government to excise the Australian mainland from the migration zone. The move means that no asylum seekers arriving in Australia will have the automatic right to remain in Australia while their claims for a humanitarian visa are being processed.

“Yet again Australians of compassion are ashamed at the lengths our Government will take to avoid its obligations to some of the world’s most vulnerable people,” said Rev Prof Andrew Dutney.

Read the media release here.

UnitingCare calls for Coalition to reconsider policy

17 May, 2013

UnitingCare Australia’s National Director, Lin Hatfield Dodds said the Coalition’s decision to cut the Income Support Bonus, should it form government after the Federal election in September, will deliver a significant blow to low income Australians including people on Newstart, Youth Allowance and Parenting payments.

Speaking shortly after the Budget reply speech in Canberra last night, Ms Hatfield Dodds said the budget must not return to surplus on the backs of the most vulnerable people.

“At less than the cost of a cup of coffee per week, the Income Support Bonus is paid twice a year to some of the poorest Australians to help with life’s basics,” Ms Hatfield Dodds said.

Read the media release here.

UnitingCare states Budget priorities

13 May, 2013

UnitingCare Australia’s National Director, Lin Hatfield Dodds said today that long run social priorities can be delivered in this year’s Federal Budget by redistributing existing revenue and scaling back wasteful tax concessions.

“The starting point for the 2013 Budget is that the economy is performing well, but is vulnerable to weak international conditions. While this context does not give the Government a lot of room to move, it highlights the importance of not wasting money on tax concessions that have little merit,” Ms Hatfield Dodds said.
 
“Budgets are all about choices and priorities. There are opportunities to fund important programs by scaling back tax concessions that do nothing for everyday Australians.
 
“New spending on disability insurance and education reforms will help give every Australian a fair go. We need to make sure that funding and taxation decisions also support a fair go.

Read the media release here

NCCA Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

10 May, 2013

Members of the Uniting Church are urged to join with other Christian churches in a week of prayer organised by the Nation Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA).

“We invite all of our members to join our brothers and sisters from other churches to celebrate the unity that is ours in Christ,” said the President of the Uniting Church Assembly Rev Professor Andrew Dutney.

The Week of Prayer begins on Sunday 12 May and finishes the following Sunday 19 May.

Read the media release here

Synod 2013 concludes

10 May, 2013

Synod 2013 concluded on 7 May after four days of vorting on reports, proposals and resolutions affecting the life of the Uniting Church Synod of Victoria and Tasmania. Members from across the two states convened for the meeting, held every 18 months, at La Trobe University in Bundorra.

Following a round of nominations, a new Standing Committee was appointed and a range of other procedural decisions were made. More information on these outcomes will be posted shortly. Access the Synod 2013 meeting site here and read its blog news feed to find out what happened.

NDIS Levy for sustainable disability funding

01 May, 2013

The Uniting Church Synod of Victoria and Tasmania congratulates Prime Minister Gillard and the Labor Government on the introduction of a levy to fund the NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme). The Uniting Church calls on all political parties to support the introduction of the NDIS Levy and hopes people with disability will be placed before political ‘point scoring’.

The NDIS Levy will ensure that whatever future constraints are on the Federal budget, funding for the NDIS will not be affected. The introduction of the NDIS Levy will also ensure that as the nation’s GDP grows so will the funds collected through the Levy to meet the needs of future generations.

The NDIS Levy also acknowledges that all Australians will have access to the benefit of the NDIS. Whether or not a person with disability receives the support they need will no longer depend on compensation, the state they live in or type of disability that they acquire.

Uniting Church prays for kidnapped priests

26 April, 2013

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 of the Uniting Church in Australia’s national Assembly, 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.

“The Uniting Church in Australia deplores this senseless act of violence against our Christian brothers carrying out their ministry,” said Mr Dutney.

“Our prayers and our deepest sympathies are with the deacon who was killed, his family and colleagues.

“We pray to God for the safety and security of Archbishop Ibrahim and Archbishop Yazigi, for their congregations and for the people of Syria."

Read the media release here

Call for support on NDIS

18 April, 2013

We're nervous about the NDIS and we need your help.

On May 14 the Prime Minister will deliver the last budget before the Federal election. We're hearing from commentators that the budget will not fully fund the National Disability Insurance Scheme, now known as DisabilityCare. Some are even arguing that the NDIS should be abandoned altogether.

This is the make or break budget for guaranteeing safe passage of the NDIS and we want the government to hear this from as many people as possible.  You can help. Make a quick phone call to the MP in your state or territory who can make sure the Labor Government backs the NDIS in the Federal Budget.

Together, we have 48 hours to put the pressure on the government and prove the naysayers wrong. There's just about four months until the September 14 election and our political leaders are keenly listening to members of parliament who hold their electorates by the smallest margins.

Read the full message here