Category: News & Announcements

Remembering another St Andrew’s story

Post author By revivewa
Post date February 18, 2016

A late winter storm did not deter an enthusiastic crowd from gathering in the St Andrews Presbyterian Hall in Pier St, Perth in August 1910. The occasion was the first anniversary of the Dulhi Gunyah Orphanage and the minister, Rev Adolphus Summer Cloud James, was among the speakers.

The Dulhi Gunyah Orphanage had been established in East Perth in 1909 by the Australian Aborigines’ Mission (AAM), a non-denominational faith mission based in New South Wales.

Mary Fox Angelo was the first secretary of the local committee. Mary was the widow of Colonel Edward Fox Angelo, one of the first trustees of the Presbyterian Church in Western Australia. Perhaps it was her Presbyterian connection that led to the St Andrews Church Hall being the location for every Dulhi Gunyah anniversary service.

The Australian Aborigines’ Mission initially planned to work in the north of Western Australia. The committee altered its plans at the suggestion of Chief Protector Gale and agreed to provide accommodation for Aboriginal children of mixed descent. In 1911, a property of approximately 12 acres, with a weatherboard cottage, was purchased in Victoria Park and Dulhi Gunyah relocated to the more suitable site.

Tags First Peoples

News & Announcements

NYALC recharging young leaders

Post author By revivewa
Post date February 15, 2016

The National Young Adult Leaders’ Conference (NYALC) is an opportunity for young adults within the Uniting Church to grow in faith and develop their skills as leaders in the church and the community. The fourth NYALC will take place on the Gold Coast from 8–13 July this year.

Tom Kerr is the national faith development consultant (youth and young adults) for the Uniting Church in Australia. He explains that NYALC is an opportunity for young adults to recharge and connect with other young leaders around the country.

“The conference provides experiential learning, skill development and underpinning leadership knowledge to extend the participants leadership abilities,” Tom said. “Through living in community with many different cultures, cultural sensitivity and intercultural competence is strengthened. Networks are developed and productive new relationships are formed.”

Tags Youth

News & Announcements

Esperance bands together in bushfire aftermath

Post author By revivewa
Post date February 12, 2016

Two months on from devastating fires in the Esperance region, the town is beginning to recover. Many people have experienced property damage, and four lives were tragically lost. Recovery efforts have been difficult however, due to another fire which spread along approximately 50km of the coast in early January, burning at the same time as serious fires in the south west.

While no serious damage was reported after the second fire, firefighters and volunteers were under extreme pressure as resources were spread across the state. Fear and uncertainty also took over as smoke was once again hovering through the town, with many locals on high alert.

Rev Robert Dummermuth, minister at Esperance and Condingup Uniting Churches, is working tirelessly to help support the local community. As a volunteer with the SES, Robert as on the frontline while the fires were burning. Now as the recovery process begins, he is providing pastoral support and community building opportunities for the local people.

Tags Disaster Relief, Remote and rural communities

News & Announcements

Recovery for the long-term

Post author By revivewa
Post date February 11, 2016

Rev Dr Stephen Robinson, national disaster recovery officer with the Uniting Church in Australia, visited WA’s south west in late January to help local Uniting Church congregations and members work out strategies that will best help people affected by serious fires in the area.

Two people lost their lives in Yarloop when fires destroyed most of the town and threatened areas around Harvey and Waroona. While there is no Uniting Church congregation in Yarloop, congregations in surrounding areas will be offering support to those affected.

Stephen said that recovery is a long-term process. While other agencies are best at assisting as crisis hits, the Uniting Church is committed to, and well resourced, to help with long-term recovery, which could take two to three years.

Tags Disaster Relief, Remote and rural communities

News & Announcements

Preparing to go and spread the word

Post author By revivewa
Post date February 10, 2016

To a packed and joyous congregation, Rev Kim Francis was inducted into Maylands Mt Lawley Uniting Church on Sunday 7 February. Kim was ordained as a deacon on 18 October 2015.

For 19 years, Kim has worked as the children and family co-ordinator at Nedlands Uniting Church; running kids clubs, play groups, a family worship service as well as the children’s program during their Chinese English bilingual service. Prior to working with the Nedlands congregation, Kim worked as a maths teacher.

During her 7 years of candidating for ministry, Kim held placements at Juniper, Uniting Church in the City, Ross Memorial West Perth, Trinity School for Seniors and with the Uniting Church WA Social Justice Unit.

Rev Steve Francis, moderator of the Uniting Church WA, and also Kim’s husband, preached at the service on discipleship as an apprenticeship in the school of Jesus.

“The call is two-fold,” Steve said. “It is to be a disciple of Jesus and to disciple others. And we see that most clearly in the words of Matthew, often referred to as ‘the Great Commission’.”

Steve encouraged the congregation to not let the Great Commission – Jesus’ calling to spread his teachings across the world – to become the Great Omission.

Tags Our People and Agencies

News & Announcements

Harmony and diversity: transforming the church

Post author By revivewa
Post date February 10, 2016

Australia is celebrated as a multicultural country, with around a quarter of Australians born overseas, according to the latest Census data (2011). This Census also confirmed that WA is the most culturally diverse state in Australia, with 31% of Western Australians originally hailing from other countries.

In WA, Harmony Week runs from Tuesday 15 to Monday 21 March. It’s an opportunity to celebrate multiculturalism and for cultural groups to learn and grow from each other. Inspired by the United Nation’s International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Harmony Day and Harmony Week aims to end discrimination by celebrating difference and getting to know each other. While Harmony Week shines a spotlight on our diversity, its aim is that we carry those stories and relationships throughout the year.

Rebecca Ball is the executive director for the Government of Western Australia’s Office of Multicultural Interests. She said that there is a range of benefits to living in such a diverse community.

“There’s a multitude of benefits. It’s realising that where you think there might be difference, in fact we’re all the same,” she said. “To have a society that’s diverse really can only improve ones understanding of other people; it can broaden our minds, accept difference. You don’t have to agree with one another on every point, but at least you can understand one another’s viewpoints. And that is absolutely essential to a peaceful and tolerant society.

Tags Multi-Cultural, Multicultural

News & Announcements

Voices unite: let them stay

Post author By revivewa
Post date February 9, 2016

For the past week Australian news outlets have been promulgating the plight of 267 refugees, including 37 babies, who are currently facing removal to the off-shore detention centre in Nauru. After last week’s high court ruling upholding the legality of Australia’s off-shore asylum seeker process people across the country have joined in protests and offers of refuge and sanctuary.

On Monday 8 February the community group Love Makes a Way hosted a peaceful public action at the office of the federal member for Swan, Steve Irons MP. The public action was orchestrated to hand deliver letters, written by concerned members of the public, to Mr Irons. The letters encouraged Mr Irons to advocate on behalf of the asylum seekers at risk of deportation, by speaking to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

Later in the day hundreds of concerned people gathered at St George’s Cathedral in Perth’s CBD to peacefully protest the government’s position on removing asylum seekers to dangerous off-shore processing centres. Rev Chris Bedding oversaw proceedings, beginning by acknowledging the Nyungar elders past and present, he also relayed greetings from Rev Sealin Garlett who was unable to attend the event.

Tags Refugees and Asylum Seekers

News & Announcements

Uniting Church WA appoints new general secretary

Post author By revivewa
Post date February 8, 2016

The Uniting Church WA has appointed a new general secretary. On Saturday 6 February, Synod members gathered and appointed Rev David de Kock.

David has served as the minister at Merredin Uniting Church, and is currently serving at Lighthouse Uniting Church in Geraldton. He is also a member of General Council and is the chair of the Pastoral Relations and Placements Commission.

Rev Steve Francis, moderator of the Uniting Church WA, wrote to members notifying them of the decision.

Tags Our People and Agencies

News & Announcements

Let them stay

Post author By revivewa
Post date February 3, 2016

The moderator of the Uniting Church WA, Rev Steve Francis has today written to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull requesting that he act urgently to protect the children in immigration detention who are at risk of being deported to Nauru.

“The Uniting Church in Australia Synod of Western Australia has grave concerns for the safety of children in the care of the Immigration Department, following the High Court decision today 03/02/2016,” Steve said.

“We have a long standing concern that asylum seekers and refugees are treated with compassion and in accordance with international law, as can be seen by resolutions made by our Synod over many years. We are aware that there are two families in WA who might be at risk of removal to Nauru as a result of this judgement.

“We note that The Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has today issued a press release which “affirms that today’s High Court decision does not alter Australia’s international obligations towards people seeking asylum.”

Tags Refugees and Asylum Seekers