Richard was just like any other family man. Happily married with two young daughters, Emma and Hayley, Richard was working five days a week when tragedy struck. His wife died, leaving him widowed and raising his girls alone. Then he suffered a work place injury and had to face a future without any stable income.
When Cyclone Pam devastated parts of Vanuatu earlier this year, the North Ringwood Uniting Church swung into action. A close relationship developed throughout many years with the Paunangisu community (a small village outside of Port Vila) meant the church was able to act quickly to offer support where it was needed most.
Justice and International Mission (JIM) unit staff member Denisse Sandoval is working with congregations in a new initiative to empower them to create social change. As part of this initiative, she is inviting congregations to reflect on the question, ‘What kind of Australia do we want to be?’
Ms Sandoval recently collaborated with Habitat Uniting Church’s social justice committee, ...
National Child Protection Week (6-12 September) was chosen by the VicTas Synod as an appropriate time to launch the Keeping Children Safe Policy in Victoria. Planning is currently underway to also hold a launch of the policy in Tasmania.
The policy builds on the good work already being done in church communities to ensure a safe environment ...
St Francis of Assisi is often cited as the inspiration for Christian concern for the environment. The 12th century monk is best known as the patron saint of animals and ecology, his legendary ability to ‘talk’ to birds and tame a wild wolf remind us of our human responsibility to all creatures.
St John’s Uniting Church in Essendon has recently completed the VicTas synod Safe Church Recognition program. The program is part of a number of initiatives to continually review how the Church maintains safe and caring environments for everyone.
Chair of St John’s church council, Bruce Missen, said the program was a valuable part of the Church’s response to revelations ...
Jessie Cato has recently been employed by the Justice and International Mission (JIM) unit as a part-time coordinator for their Publish What You Pay (PWYP) campaign.
PWYP is an international campaign aimed at creating greater transparency in the extractives – mining, gas and oil – sector. To achieve this in Australia, Ms Cato advocates for the introduction of mandatory disclosure ...
In his recent encyclical, Pope Francis reiterated each person’s duty to protect the environment for future generations. His assertion that climate change is a moral issue poses the question of how leaders and citizens can respond to the challenges of global warming.
A Grand Stand For the Environment has assembled a panel of experts to answer questions ...
In recent years sophisticated tax avoidance practices have received increasing scrutiny from advocacy groups such as the Tax Justice Network.
Such organisations campaign to highlight unethical practices that serve to ensure global multinational corporations pay as little tax as possible.
The practice of shifting profits to low-tax secrecy jurisdictions such as Singapore, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Ireland, the Netherlands and the ...
Uniting Church members are invited to participate in Freedom Sunday and campaign for an end to human trafficking.
Freedom Sunday is a global event that encourages different faith communities to unite for a day of worship, prayer and action to end human trafficking. It will be held on 18 October to coincide with European Anti-Slavery Day.
A new Islamic declaration set to be announced next week will call on the world’s 1.6 billion Muslims to take urgent action on climate change.
The Islamic Climate Change Declaration will be officially presented in Istanbul on Tuesday 18 August. Compiled by leading Muslims scholars and academics, the declaration will explain why climate change is the world’s most pressing ...
Rev. Dr Apwee Ting found wonder in diversity from an early age.
“Growing up in Indonesia was such a happy time for me,” recalls the Uniting Church’s newest National Director.
“I remember playing outside from morning to night – flying kites, playing soccer, badminton and marbles. We had many friends of different ethnicities and everyone always left their doors ...
