Prayer vigil for asylum seekers

More than 50 people braved the cold last Sunday to pray for asylum seekers at a vigil held outside St Mark’s Uniting Church, Mornington.

The 90-minute vigil was organised by three Uniting Church ministers: Rev Cameron McAdam from Mount Eliza Uniting Church, Rev John Haig from St Mark’s Uniting Church and Rev Paul Chalson from Mount Martha Uniting Church.

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Celebrating NAIDOC Week


NAIDOC Week, celebrated on the first full week of July every year, is an opportunity to recognise the contributions Indigenous Australians make to this country.

This year’s theme is ‘We All Stand on Sacred Ground’ and acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ deep spiritual connection with land and sea. The theme was chosen to celebrate the ...

A Guilt Free Shop


The collapse of the Rana Plaza factory in Bangladesh on 24 April, 2013, focused the eyes of the world on conditions endured by workers in developing countries. The scenes of devastation revealed the true cost of the retail bargains to the world.

While many people might have been vaguely aware that goods were manufactured overseas in less ...

Washing on wheels


The first thought that springs to mind when thinking of fresh laundry and men aged in their early 20s is (perhaps unfairly) the frequent trips back home made by such boys with a week or two’s worth of dirty clothes in tow.

So it is something of a surprise to hear of the latest initiative to help ...

Committing to a green future

Clean energy has come under the media spotlight in recent weeks with Pope Francis’ encyclical on the environment. The Pope’s urgent call to action was a timely reminder that Christians have a moral obligation to nurture God’s creation for future generations.

When the synod pledged to reduce its energy use by 20 per cent by 2020, many congregations set ...

Social Media Day


An increasing number of congregations are using social media to communicate with their communities. Social media can be a powerful tool for Uniting Church members to stay in touch with each other beyond the doors of their church. The instantaneous nature of social media also allows congregations to be informed and up to date on news happening ...

UnitingCare ReGen expands to Narre Warren

UnitingCare ReGen has welcomed the Victorian Government’s $25 million expansion of drug rehabilitation services across the state.

Martin Foley, the Victorian Minister for Mental Health, announced last Friday that the new services will treat an additional 500 Victorians with ice addiction every year.

One of the new programs will be run at Connections UnitingCare’s Narre Warren site. This will enable ...

Melbourne store opens its doors to the homeless


A new shop, opening in Melbourne next Monday, will enable the city’s homeless people to access free, high-quality clothing.

HoMie is a pop-up clothes store that will occupy Melbourne Central for the next three months.

Each time a transaction is made, HoMie will donate an item of clothing of the same value to a person experiencing ...

Presbytery minister appointed to World Council of Churches role

The synod’s Rev Dr Morag Logan has been elected as a Vice-Moderator for the World Council of Churches’ Faith and Order Commission.

Dr Logan is one of five Vice-Moderators elected by the 49-member commission. The Vice-Moderators will assist the commission’s moderator, Rev Dr Susan Durber from the United Reformed Church in the United Kingdom, until the next World Council ...

Uniting Church welcomes Pope Francis’ encyclical


Uniting Church in Australia President Rev Prof Andrew Dutney has welcomed Pope Francis’ encyclical letter on the environment.

Last week, Pope Francis issued the Laudato Si, where he warned that humanity is failing in its God-given role to be responsible stewards of the Earth. He challenged global leaders to work together to tackle what he calls an ...

Fellowship of reconciliation


It has been a weekend of celebration for the Uniting Church in Australia.

Hundreds gathered at Adelaide West Uniting Church on Saturday to celebrate the ordination of Rev Denise Champion, the first Indigenous woman of any Christian denomination ordained in South Australia. Prominent Indigenous elder Lowitja O’Donoghue was also in attendance.

Ms Champion is an Adnyamathanha woman from ...

Topics of interest at Assembly


This month, members of the Uniting Church will meet in Perth for the 14th national triennial Assembly meeting. More than 60 reports and proposals will be considered by Assembly throughout the six days. Rohan Salmond, editor with the Queensland synod, has put together eight highlights of the meeting.

  • Anglican–Uniting Church dialogue
  • Assembly Standing Committee commends the adoption ...