By Andrew Humphries
Mark Twain once famously said reports of his death had been greatly exaggerated.
At first glance, Twain would seem to have little to do with the Uniting Church in Australia, but if we could stretch a long bow to within breaking distance, we might argue that his words perfectly sum up where the Uniting Church finds itself ...
By Stephen Acott
See if you’ve heard this story before.
Five years ago, Jesse had a drug habit. A big one. His drug of choice — because he chose it, not the other way around — was ice.
Ice is an insidious drug. Highly addictive, when you inevitably fall into its vice-like grip, the only way is down. And you ...
By Andrew Humphries
Like many young people in high school, Meredith Allan had dreams of pursuing tertiary education.
Nothing unusual in that, you might think, except that physical mobility issues and no voice mean everyday life is a constant struggle for her.
Even more frustrating is that Meredith, like so many Australians with a disability, is immediately pigeonholed because of ...
At a recent meeting of the Synod Standing Committee I invited the members to imagine the Uniting Church as a vineyard, following the prophetic words of Isaiah.
In small groups we spent a few minutes drawing images of the church as a “vineyard”, to help us to focus our minds on the situations of the church across ...
By Peter Malone
Where is that text in Matthew’s Gospel about not calling anyone Master or Rabbi? It is there in chapter 23, Jesus being really fierce in his denunciation of the behaviour of the religious leaders, urging that we do what they say but not what they do.
Duncan Macleod will bring a wide range of experience gained in New Zealand and four Australian states and territories when he begins a vitally important role with equipping Leadership for Mission next year.
General Secretary Mark Lawrence has announced Duncan will take on the role of Executive Officer in February as the permanent replacement for Jenny Byrnes, who retired earlier ...
By Andrew Humphries
It’s no understatement to say Josephine Inkpin knows a thing or two about change, in both a physical and spiritual sense.
Until 2017, Josephine had been assumed to be male, married to wife Penny and the father of twins.
The pair are still married and so strong is their relationship that in 2020 they renewed their wedding ...
By John Bottomley
Many people are puzzling over the underlying reasons behind Scott Morrison’s so-called ‘grab for power’.
I suggest these reasons are based in his formation in Pentecostalism and patriarchy. Both were hidden in plain sight when the former Prime Minister sought to justify his decision to appoint himself minister of five separate ministries in his government. Speaking at ...
By Susan Malthouse
All of us have watched the recent USA Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe V Wade and the rights of women to access safe abortion.
Many of us have watched with shock, helplessness, horror and with a deep sense of sadness for women across the world.
By Adelaide Morse
The thread of Christianity weaves itself throughout history – frayed in some time periods, bound intricately with government and structural institutions in others, but from the moment of Jesus’s birth until now, that thread has been a constant presence, altering our understanding of the world, its people, and how we interact with both.
By Andrew Humphries
When Rev Matt Cutler reflects on his role as Minister at Tecoma UC, he does so with a deep sense of gratitude.
In finding Tecoma, he believes, he has been blessed.
Social justice is pivotal in Matt’s life and faith and, at Tecoma, he has found a congregation and community that puts that concept at the heart ...
‘God is seeking and sowing and kneading. This is what the Kingdom of Heaven is like. We are sought and treasured and nurtured by God; we are loved.’
A few years ago I wrote a short article for Crosslight about my favourite parable – the little parable in Matthew 13 in which Jesus says that the Kingdom of Heaven is ...