Manningham Uniting Church’s Pilgrim Patchworkers have for many years made knee quilts for elderly or infirm church members. The group has recently become involved in an outreach activity making quilts for the Aussie Hero Quilts Program (AHQ). This program encourages members to make quilts and laundry bags for Australian Servicemen and Women currently on deployment; mostly in the Middle ...
Seven representatives of the NextGen group which travelled to China in September for a contextual learning trip. They spoke of their trip at a special event at the Synod offices late last month.
They described how the Chinese Christian communities they visited utilise young lay leaders alongside older members of the congregations. The reality of a ...
The word ‘missionary’ may conjure an image of old-world, and perhaps outdated, Christian missional work in developing countries.
However missionary placements are often a matter of practical and professional support for partner Church communities throughout the world.
Rev John Bottomley and Margaret Neith are certainly not your ‘traditional’ missionaries.
Lorraine Sage’s lifetime of giving to others was recently recognised when the life-long UCA member was presented with the City of Stonnington Citizen of the Year Award for community service.
A member of St Andrew’s Uniting Church in Gardiner, Lorraine’s association with the church began at birth. As a teenager she joined the youth group of the Methodist Church in ...
Recent media reports have highlighted shocking instances of foreign worker exploitation in various Australian industries, particularly in relation to labour hire companies.
The ABC reported a Victorian man, operating as a labour hire business, was under investigation over allegations he had exploited migrant farm workers. Workers were allegedly paid as little as 60 cents an hour for 22-hour working days.
...Few issues cause more angst within the church community then the issue of property. Many people feel property can take over and even determine church life. Recognising this dilemma, the synod’s Property Services unit has developed a Property for Mission Workbook to assist congregations as they discern the best use of property.
A call for radical changes to Victoria’s out-of-home care system and a push towards more kinship care have been welcomed by community welfare organisation Kildonan UnitingCare.
It has backed the call to move forward “in a pro-active child-focused manner” by Victorian Commissioner for Children and Young People, Bernie Geary, in the wake of the Commission’s recent report into the sexual ...
The synod People and Culture team has recently updated policies and processes around managing volunteers.
Stephen Mullen, director of the synod’s People and Culture unit, said the amended policies particularly relate to congregations working with vulnerable individuals.
“We’ve updated volunteer processes with a significant focus for when our congregations are working with people who are in a special-needs category,” he said.
...The Creative Ministries Network (CMN) board has recommended to the Commission for Mission (CFM) board that the agency move to dissolution.
CMN board chair Rev Paul Mayfield said the agency is aware that many people throughout the church will be concerned and distressed about this decision. He told Crosslight he hopes to inform them, as much as possible, about the ...
By NIGEL TAPP
Property can enhance a congregation’s life. But, if it is unfit for purpose or requires significant upkeep, congregations can quickly find too much of their time and money is poured into property maintenance rather than undertaking their mission.
With this in mind the Property Board has launched an Asset Strategy Program (ASP) to support congregations and church ...
