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Stories & Feature Articles

Review: The Struggle for Justice

The Struggle for Justice: Conversations with John Bottomley about transforming church community services, by Kate Dempsey, Coventry Press 2020

The Uniting Church, according to this book, is both “shrinking and ageing”. The congregational side of it certainly is. But the community services side is expanding. I have argued in my PhD on the Uniting Church’s future that if the Uniting Church’s community services were amalgamated and “quoted” on the Australian Stock Exchange, the new Uniting entity would be one of the exchange’s largest companies. As governments continue to privatise their welfare services, so the Uniting Church will be among the not-for-profits scooping up the additional work.

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Social Impact

Be inspired to act this Sustainable September

Rev Gordon Scantlebury, Uniting Church WA minister and member of the Social Justice Commission, has prepared this year’s Sustainable September resources. The Uniting Church WA, through the Social Justice Commission, resources the church for Sustainable September each year as part of the World Council of Churches’ Season of Creation.

Gordon invites you to reflect and take part.

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Stories & Feature Articles

Obedient to God’s call: Susy Thomas

When Susy Thomas received a tap on the shoulder to nominate as Moderator Elect of the Uniting Church WA, she was thrown. As a retired, successful CEO of a community service organisation, she was ready to enjoy some rest and much-loved time with her grandchildren.

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News & Announcements

Moderator’s Column: Looking back, looking forward

Rev Steve Francis will step down as Moderator of the Uniting Church WA on Friday 11 September. He reflects on his time in this role over the last six years.

As my time as Moderator is coming to a close, I was asked to write a reflection looking back over the past nearly six years and looking forward into the future.

When I was first elected Moderator at Synod in 2014 someone shook my hand and said “Condolences”. It was like they thought I got the booby prize in a raffle or worse. The experience of being a  two term Moderator has had some dark and deep disappointments. There have been moments when I felt something of the pain and struggle of being a church that is in slow decline and in danger of reaching a tipping point when renewal seems almost out of reach.

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Social Impact

The future must remain renewable

The Uniting Church WA and the Uniting Church Vic Tas have teamed up to invite members to write letters to our government leaders expressing concerns around funding for renewable energy supplies in Australia.

The churches have put together a joint resource to inform members and support them with their letters.

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Social Impact

Christian spirit of truth, hope and love can help protect our world from devastating climate change

Marguerite Marshall shares her thoughts on how Australia can move towards renewable energy. Marguerite is a Uniting Church member and was trained by Al Gore as a climate reality leader.

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News & Announcements

Vale Rev Dorothy Harris-Gordon

The Uniting Church pays its respects for the life and ministry of Rev Dorothy Harris-Gordon. The Uniting Church in Australia has released the following pastoral statement.

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

We join in thanking God for the life and ministry of Rev Dorothy Harris-Gordon, who passed away in Lismore in northern NSW late on Friday 7 August 2020.

Aunty Dorrie as she was known, was the first Aboriginal woman ordained in the Uniting Church in Australia Synod of NSW and the ACT, and was one of several women who forged the path to ministry for their sisters in the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC).

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News & Announcements

Trinity North Messy Church gathers once again

After a break due to COVID-19 restrictions, Trinity North Uniting Church recommenced Messy Church once the restrictions in WA were eased to allow gatherings.

Messy Church at Trinity North Uniting Church attracts both church families and families from the community. We had 67 people at the August service.

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Social Impact

Virtual sleepover provides a window to the reality of homelessness

Most people can’t imagine what it would be like to sleep rough on the streets, but this is the reality for hundreds of people in Perth each and every night.

Uniting WA is inviting people to experience the discomfort of homelessness for just one night.

Held from 1 to 9 August, the Uniting Virtual Sleepover allows people the experience virtual homelessness from home. It’s a chance to connect with friends, work colleagues and the community to feel what it’s like to sleep rough for a single night.

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News & Announcements

Celebrating the life of Lionel Edward Rose

4 January 1928 – 14 July 2020

Today we honour and celebrate the life of Lionel Edward Rose, one of our long-serving volunteers and colleague at the Uniting Church WA.

Lionel was a dedicated volunteer in the Uniting Church WA Archives department for ten years. He previously worked in the Uniting Church WA Property Department, consulting and looking after church properties.

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