New Times - May 2015 - Uniting Church SA

Issue 34, No 4, 2015
The voice of Uniting Church SA
May 2015
Story
LOOK, LISTEN
GOD ’S PEACE
Sharing sacred stories
Finding peace through brokenness
from Adnyamathanha
in India
country
pp. 10-11
pp. 8-9
Annual Robert Iles Memorial Lecture
Beyond Apathy: The Waning of
Postmodernism and the New Role for Intuition
Contents
FEATURES
Look, listen – there are no straight lines
8-9
God ’s peace amidst brokenness
10-11
Pastoral Relations and Mission Planning
16-17
One night, six locations
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Henk Reitsema M. Div., M.A.
L’Abri Fellowship,
Utrecht, Netherlands
7.30 pm • Thursday 21st May 2015
Burnside City Uniting Church
Cnr. Portrush Road and Fisher Street, Tusmore
Supper
___________________
REGULAR PAGES
Moderator ’s comment
4
CEO/General Secretary ’s comment
5
Getting to know...
18-19
Letters21
The Robert Iles Memorial Trust exists to celebrate and promote
the Christian faith within Australian society and engage with
the culture of the day and to bring a biblical perspective to
contemporary public issues in society and the world.
Sermons and other writings of Robert
can be found at www.ilesblog.com
Diary21
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ISSN 0726-2612
New Times is the voice of Uniting Church SA. Published monthly, February through December,
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Uniting Church SA
Level 2, 212 Pirie St, Adelaide
p. (08) 8236 4200 f. 8236 4201
country callers. 1300 766 956
100 years at Prospect Road!
Prospect Road Uniting Church invites you to join their centenary
event celebrating their rich history of faith, service and mission in
the community. The congregation will gather in their grand old
building to give thanks for the past 100 years of worship and recall
the first service held as Prospect North Methodist in May 1915.
Guest preacher: Dr Don Hopgood, former Deputy Premier of South
Australia and past member of the Prospect Road congregation.
Light lunch included. All are welcome to join the celebration!
Prospect Road Uniting Church
Sunday 31 May from 10am.
174 Prospect Road, Prospect
Please RSVP by Monday 25th May
(with number attending if booking for a group)
to PO Box 719, Prospect East, 5082
or via email to [email protected]
or call Donald on 8379 5545
Next issue: Tradition
This edition of New Times focusses on the history and
traditions of the Uniting Church and its South Australian
communities. While some traditions we keep are
empowering and strengthen faith, others are kept up out
of habit or a desire to recapture the past. The June edition
will explore the role of traditions, including how they are
sustained and created by Uniting Church SA individuals and
congregations.
DEADLINE FOR JUNE 2015 Wednesday 13 May
Cover details
This month ’s cover photo was taken in the tea gardens
at Mannur, Kerala, South India. The young girl in the
picture is the daughter of workers who earn their
income by picking tea in the gardens of Mannur. More
stories about the lives of young people in India have
been shared on pages 10-11.
editorial
Finding truth through multiplicity
A lot of my friends are non-Christian, but many of them have had
experience in Christian churches thanks to religious parents or
grandparents. Most of these experiences happened during childhood,
leaving particularly strong impressions on their young minds. These
impressions have frequently been reinforced by the experiences of
others and by depictions of church in the media.
When I talk to my friends about my own work and experiences
in the Uniting Church they often make assumptions about our
congregations and expressions of faith. Some of these – the
overwhelming number of older people attending worship services, for
example – are reasonably accurate; others are not. My friends, both
those who have experienced a particular type of church and those who
are completely unfamiliar, bring their own assumptions about what
the church looks like and does. That everyone is super conservative
or old-fashioned in their thinking. That we cross ourselves and pray
to an uncountable number of little-known saints. That only men can
be ministers or leaders. That intolerance and sexism are rife. When I
talk to them about things that contradict these assumptions they are
often surprised.
This situation reminds me of a TED Talk given by Nigerian author
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. TED Talks cover a wide range of topics
and are presented by people from a diverse range of backgrounds and
perspectives. In her talk, Chimamanda speaks about “The danger of
the single story ” – put simply, what happens when you have only one
perspective or only know one story about a person, family, community
or country. “Show a people as one thing, as only one thing, over and
over again, and that is what they become, ” she says. Chimamanda
shares her personal experiences on both sides of this issue – including
an assumption she made about a poorer family while living in
Nigeria, and the assumptions that were made about her as a Nigerian
woman when she travelled to the United States to study. When we
hear only a single story about something or someone, we must often
misunderstand them.
The stories that we hear about places and people are frequently
told from only one perspective – the perspective of those in positions
of power. The adage that “history is written by the winners ” has too
often been proven true. “Power is the ability not just to tell the story
of another person, but to make it the definitive story of that person, ”
says Chimamanda. In the past, Christians have often been placed in
this position of power. But as more people in Western countries, like
Australia, begin to identify themselves as agnostic or atheist, this is
beginning to change – and so, the narratives about Christianity and
what it means to be a person of Christian faith are changing. It may
surprise you to learn that I don ’t consider this to be a bad thing – I see
it as an opportunity.
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Everyone deserves to tell their story rather than have their story
told by others. I believe we need to listen to people ’s lived experiences
of church – positive and negative – without interrupting to protest
that “our church isn ’t like that. ” But we should also feel comfortable
sharing our own experiences of church, particularly with others who
know only a single story of Christian faith. By allowing these stories to
overlap and coexist, I think a truer picture and better understanding of
the Christian church can be created.
Chimamanda says: “Stories matter. Many stories matter. Stories have
been used to dispossess and to malign, but stories can also be used to
empower and to humanise. Stories can break the dignity of a people,
but stories can also repair that broken dignity.”
I encourage you to look beyond your assumptions about people and
places, to listen to the stories they share, and to share your own stories
courageously and honestly.
Catherine Hoffman
To watch Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie ’s TED Talk, please visit ted.com/
talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story
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moderator
On Tuesday 7 April, Dr Deidre Palmer led a worship service for retired ministers at Nunyara Conference Centre in Belair. Attendees
included past ministers from the Uniting Church SA, in addition to retired ministers ’ spouses, widows and widowers. A delicious morning
tea and lunch were provided by the Nunyara staff and allowed an opportunity for enriching conversation.
Listening to life-giving narratives
In my work as a Christian educator and a social worker, some of the
most privileged and sacred moments have been those when people
shared their own stories. In an educational setting it may be people
sharing a story of their journey with God or the ways others have
mentored them in faith. In social work contexts, people ’s stories may
be focussed around pain and the effects of abuse, but can also include
narratives of survival, courage and hope.
As I have visited local churches as Moderator, I have heard
communal stories about congregations whose narratives focus on
grace, hospitality, welcome and belonging. Their stories also include
experiences of pain and struggle, and the ways in which God has
journeyed with them through it all. I have heard many congregations
share stories of transformed lives and creative initiatives, of listening to
the Holy Spirit inviting them to be part of embodying God ’s story and
vision in their local communities.
Listening to the stories of others can change our perspective on the
world, draw us into relationship, and fill us with compassion, love, joy
or anger at the injustice that has shaped many people ’s stories.
Taking time to listen to or enter into the stories of Jesus in the
New Testament can be life-transforming, disruptive, challenging and
life-giving. Through the Gospel stories, we are invited to be open to
God ’s way of seeing the world, others and ourselves. These stories
may be very familiar to us, even to the point where we may feel that
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we have heard it all before. And yet so many times when I have heard
these Gospel stories shared and proclaimed in a Christian community
context, I have heard new insights. God has spoken to me afresh
through the gathered people of God, as we together discern God ’s
good news shaping and transforming our own stories.
As Christians we believe we have narratives of hope that are lifegiving and are gifts to be shared with the wider Australian community.
They are narratives which speak to us about a God who loves us
infinitely, a God who liberates people who are oppressed, a God who
is on the side of those who are refugees and orphans, and a God who
calls us into partnership in what theologian Letty Russell describes as
“mending creation. ” God ’s story of reconciliation and love continues to
speak into our stories. May the Spirit give us ears to hear and a voice to
speak this good news into the world!
Dr Deidre Palmer
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ce o / ge n e ral se cre ta r y
Enduring narratives
There are a number of events that have been key in the formation of
Australian identity – one example being Anzac Day, which we marked
with centenary services on Saturday 25 April this year. The landing at
Gallipoli 100 years ago was a cornerstone event in Australia ’s ongoing
narrative as a people who are marked by courage and strength, even in
the face of the utmost adversity. It is an identity we continue to celebrate
across many spheres of our society, especially in the sporting arena.
Enduring stories shape identity. However, there are times when
certain narratives are deleterious to the identity of an individual or
collective of people. The Uniting Church across Australia is an example
of this.
The prevailing story in the Uniting Church is that we are slowly
sliding into extinction because of declining attendance at worship
services. I don ’t subscribe to this extinction narrative at all. It is true to
suggest that numbers within various Uniting Church congregations
have been declining over the years. However, the population of many
towns throughout the state have also been declining. This is not a naïve
denial of reality within congregations. Rather, it is a simple observation
of the big picture within various communities, especially those in
rural South Australia. Inherent in this observation is the reason why
the church is still relevant. As people in various townships and cities
struggle with the changes prevailing upon them, the church has the
opportunity to proclaim and manifest something solid to which people
can relationally connect their lives.
Jesus built relationships of hope, purpose and love. Everybody
needs these types of relationships. Furthermore, Jesus proclaimed:
“I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer
it ” (Matthew 16:18). As followers of Christ, we are now charged
with building these same kinds of relationships with those in
our community.
As I look around the church I see this happening in many ways.
God ’s call is that we continue to be strengthened in our capacity to
be the incarnate presence of Christ within the relational fabric of the
places we live. This is the fruitfulness of the church. God is refining our
perspective of what growth and strength looks like in the church. The
decline in numbers within the worshipping life of the church is only
a part of how we assess the health of a congregation. The reach of the
church into the community through relationships that authentically
point others to the love of Christ is a better measure.
God is refining the church, which may well require some decline.
However, if to refine is to decline then we know God is at work in and
through us. We can take heart that as we remain in Christ, he remains
in his church. Thus, the presence of Christ is still well and truly alive
in the Uniting Church as we bring the good news to our community
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through our words and deeds. This narrative needs to prevail upon us
as a church so that our new identity can emerge.
Rev Nigel Rogers
Placements News
Placements finalised since the April edition of New Times:
Adrian Nippress (MOP) to Transforming Justice, Mission Resourcing (0.5)
from 1 July 2015
Andrew Chambers (MOP) to Chaplain, Eldercare Maitland and Stansbury
from 6 April 2015
Upcoming inductions:
Denise Champion (MOP), Port Augusta Uniting Aboriginal and Islander
Christian Congress on Friday 17 May at 6.30pm
Vacant placements:
The following is the current list of vacant (or soon to be vacant) approved
placements:
Profiles available – Adare (from 1 February 2016); Brighton (from 1
November 2015); County Jervois (Arno, Cleve, Coolanie, Cowell, Driver
River); Goolwa; Kadina Wallaroo Parish (0.8); Keith “One Church ” (Uniting
Church and Church of Christ together); Walkerville (from 1 February 2016);
Whyalla; Willunga (0.5); Woodside (0.2).
Profiles not yet available – Berri Barmera (from 1 February 2016); Malvern
and Unley (from March 2016); Moonta and Districts (from 1 April 2016);
Salisbury (from 1 February 2016); South West Fleurieu Linked Congregations
(0.6) (from 1 January 2016); Tumby Bay and Districts (0.5); Windsor Gardens
(0.5); Covenanting Officer (0.5) (to be advertised).
For more information on any of these placements, or to view national
placements, please visit sa.uca.org.au/pastoral-relations/placements-vacant
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news
Wider recognition
The annual Wilks Oration provides people
across South Australia with an opportunity
to listen to outstanding Australians speak on
key issues facing Australia and the church.
Held by the Effective Living Centre, a Uniting
Church SA mission centre and an outreach of
Christ Church, Wayville, this event provides
time for those in the church to engage with
contemporary topics – both as citizens and as
people of faith.
In 2015, the Effective Living Centre has
invited Tanya Hosch (pictured), the Joint
Campaign Director for the Recognise
campaign, to give the Wilks Oration.
Recognise is a movement that raises
community awareness and support for a
constitutional change to recognise Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander people in the
Australian Constitution. Tanya will speak into
this topic, framing her talk around the theme
“It ’s time to recognise – First Australians in
the Constitution. ”
To deliver her address on Friday 12 June,
Tanya will draw on her vast professional
knowledge and her personal experiences
as a Torres Strait Islander woman living
in Adelaide. Tanya is actively involved in
advocacy and consulting with the aim
of increasing philanthropic investment
into Indigenous investment. She sits on
numerous boards and committees, and is
the Independent Chair of Price Waterhouse
Coopers Indigenous Consulting. In 2013,
Tanya was named in the South Australian
Women ’s Honour Roll, and for the past two
consecutive years she has been recognised
in the list of “100 Women of Influence ”
awards run by Westpac and the Australian
Financial Review to recognise women who
are achievers in Australian business.
In 2009, the Uniting Church made the
decision to adopt a revised preamble to the
Uniting Church in Australia Constitution
– a step that saw Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander peoples formally recognised.
In making this decision, the church
demonstrated an affirming relationship,
which is founded on truth rather than denial
of the historical past. This has yet to be
reflected in wider Australian society. With an
upcoming referendum due to occur on the
topic of constitutional recognition in the near
future, this Wilks Oration provides people in
the Uniting Church SA with an opportunity
to engage, learn and contribute.
The 2015 Wilks Oration will be held at
the Effective Living Centre (26 King William
Rd, Wayville) on Friday 12 June at 7pm
Tanya Hosch, Joint Campaign Director for
the Recognise campaign
for a 7.45pm start. Bookings are essential.
General admission is $25; Friends of ELC
and concession tickets are $20. For more
information or to make a booking, please call
8271 0329 or visit effectiveliving.org
For more information about the Recognise
campaign, please visit recognise.org.au or call
1800 836 422 (toll-free).
The Uniting Church SA Covenanting team
is currently preparing for Reconciliation Week
(Wednesday 27 May to Wednesday 3 June) –
see more information on pages 8-9.
Potential changes to age restrictions
In August 2014, Peter Battersby (Uniting Church SA Executive
Officer, Resources) wrote to Attorney General John Rau to request
an amendment to the Uniting Church in Australia Act, 1976-1977.
When meeting in May last year, the Uniting Church SA Property Trust
discussed the age limit for (re)appointment eligibility outlined in the
Act, which states:
“No person who has attained the age of seventy years shall be eligible
for appointment as a member of the Trust. ” – Section 11(4)
Peter requested that the Attorney General, on behalf on the Uniting
Church SA, sponsor and lead the amendment to the Act, removing
Section 11(4).
As a result of the current maximum age restriction, many past
members have had to conclude their tenure on the Trust. Recently, two
members regrettably stepped down from the Trust. Both served the
Uniting Church SA with distinction through their work with the Trust
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and wished to continue this work. Section 11(4) prevents members
from continuing to serve the church, and prohibits other valuable
candidates from serving.
The Resources Board and Property Trust feel that the implications of
this clause in the Act are outdated, discriminatory and no longer reflect
the values of the Uniting Church or society ’s expectations regarding age
and volunteering.
In October 2014, John Rau advised his support for the request
and willingness to progress the required bill. The Uniting Church
in Australia (Membership of Trust) Amendment Bill 2015 was
introduced in Parliament in the House of Assembly on Wednesday
11 February. After this first reading, Peter Battersby and Uniting
Church SA Moderator Dr Deidre Palmer were invited to meet with
Shadow Attorney General Vickie Chapman to clarify the reasons for
the amendment.
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news
The second reading of the bill was considered by the House of
Assembly on Tuesday 17 March. Several members spoke supportively
of the bill.
“Discrimination against those who are mature aged is something
that is starting to evaporate at all levels... The Uniting Church has
recognised that there is wisdom – and a significant contribution that
can still be made... to church service and operation of its trust post the
age of 70 years, and that should be applauded and encouraged, ” said
Vickie Chapman.
“I would like to say that it is with considerable passion that I indicate
that we agree to this on this side of the house and that age should no
longer be a restriction.”
Other members voiced their support for the bill, with some
speaking about personal experiences in the church.
“I am overwhelmed by the support that has been received by this bill
in parliament, ” said John Rau.
As a result of this discussion, the bill was referred to a Select
Committee of the House who are due to report back to the House of
Assembly on Wednesday 6 May. Updates will be made in later editions
of New Times.
To read more about the Tuesday March 17 discussion of the Uniting
Church in Australia (Membership of Trust) Amendment Bill 2015, please
visit hansardpublic.parliament.sa.gov.au
Resourcing and resolutions
On Friday 27 and Saturday 28 March, the
Uniting Church SA Presbytery and Synod held
their first meeting for 2015. The Friday evening
focussed on business, while the majority of
Saturday was spent in resourcing sessions led by
theologian Elaine Heath. Below are some of the
highlights from the meeting.
The bulk of the Friday night session was
spent on inductions and commissioning.
Moderator Dr Deidre Palmer led the
induction of Rev Dr Amelia Koh-Butler, Rev
Dave Williamson and Rev Mark Butler, and
the commissioning of Tanya Wittwer.
Uniting Church SA CEO/General
Secretary Rev Nigel Rogers introduced
Amelia as the new Executive Officer,
Mission Resourcing. Rev Dr Steve Taylor
introduced Tanya Wittwer as the new
Postgraduate Coordinator for Uniting
College. Rev Phil Gardner introduced both
Rev Dave Williamson (Oasis Chaplain,
Flinders University) and Rev Mark Butler
(Coordinating Chaplain for Eldercare), the
latter of whom was also recognised and
received as a Minister of the Word in the
Uniting Church in South Australia during
the meeting.
Representatives from each of the ministry
areas presented ministry symbols for those
inducted and commissioned. Deidre offered
prayer for each person and invited Presbytery
and Synod members to sing a blessing. On the
behalf of those inducted and commissioned,
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Left to right: Rev Dr Amelia Koh-Butler, Rev Mark Butler, Dr Deidre Palmer, Rev Dave
Williamson and Tanya Wittwer during the inductions and commissioning on Friday
27 March.
Amelia responded by singing the Grail Prayer.
Deidre also presented three proposals
regarding readiness for ordination of Andrew
Everson (Proposal 2), Nick Patselis (Proposal
3) and Peter Sorensen (Proposal 4). All three
proposals passed by consensus.
Other important business from the Friday
night session of the meeting included an
update on changes to Mission Resourcing
and Pastoral Relations (see pages 16-17), an
update on the Uniting Women conference
to be held in Adelaide in 2016 (more
information in upcoming editions of New
Times), resources relating to the Anzac Day
anniversary, and the upcoming events being
led by Rev Malcolm Gordon (see page 13).
The Saturday session of the meeting
focussed on resourcing provided by Elaine
Heath. Elaine spoke on the topics of monastic
communities, spirituality and evangelism.
The new Uniting Church SA website (sa.uca.
org.au) was also launched on the Saturday.
Uniting Church SA CEO/General Secretary
Rev Nigel Rogers spoke about the changes
to the site, which include improved search
functionality, online space for articles and
news, and the inclusion of video stories to
communicate the message of the church in a
wider variety of ways. Video of Elaine Heath ’s
resourcing session will be made available
through this new function of the website
in the coming weeks; a link to this video
will also be provided via UC e-news once it
becomes available.
For a full account of the meeting ’s
proceedings, please refer to the meeting minutes,
which are available at sa.uca.org.au/pressynod-meetings
7
story
Narratives are central in much of Jesus’ teachings throughout the Bible and continue to be used widely in the Uniting Church
today. Stories help us to share, teach and connect with one another. They help us to express our faith in a wide variety of ways.
Each member of the Uniting Church has their own unique story to tell. This edition of New Times provides an avenue for people
across the breadth of the church to share and teach one another, expressing our faith and spirituality in all its diverse forms.
Look, listen – there are no straight lines
Earlier this year Sophia Lizares, a deacon student in Western Australia, travelled to Adelaide for two deacon ’s conferences.
While in South Australia, she also participated in the Adnyamathanha Pilgrimage alongside visitors from the ecumenical Taize
community based in France. Sophia reflects on her experiences in Adnyamathanha country (the Flinders Ranges).
“You asked about how to approach Aboriginal
people, ” Aunty Denise Champion picks up
our conversation from several days ago. “This
is how, ” she says, as we step together onto a
path leading to a low circular monument.
Nothing would have kept me from walking
directly to the sinuous rust stone carving that
mimicked the two snakes of Ikara (Wilpena
Pound), the vast geological monument
that surrounds us. There were no barriers,
no instructions, no protocols, just a stone
marker at the mouth of the path announcing,
“Ngarlparlaru yata. ” “This is our country, ”
Denise translates as we tread the two-toned
gravel walk that wound its way to the centre.
In the Aboriginal world, nothing is direct, the
subtleties confound. I am saved by the saying
“relationship before stories before questions, ”
a way so counterintuitive to the journalist
in me.
At the brown centre of the monument,
however, no words are minced:
“We lost our traditional way of life to
pastoralism and our land to pastoralism –and
adapted to an alien culture, a new language
and religion. ”
“My dad couldn ’t vote, he was under the
Dog Act. I felt so bad. ”
“If the missionaries heard us kids speaking
our language, they would refuse to sell our
mother groceries at the store. She would have
to wait for the next week or travel to the next
town to buy flour and sugar. ”
“After years of pastoral settlement, our
traditional life has disappeared. ”
Embedded on the ground of the
monument are crosses, horseshoes, and a
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length of barbed wire that cuts across. Even
for me, it is painful, the line between prison
and freedom.
For all the Adnyamathanha place names
that Aunty Denise had earlier asked us to
remember –Vandha Urthanha, Yura Bila,
Ngurri Madlanha – she gives us no name for
this memorial. She refers to it in English as the
“National Park Rangers ’ Quarters. ” The same
was true when she named “Colebrook Home ”
at Quorn during our drive; this place was the
second of three homes to which Aboriginal
children stolen from their families were taken.
The visit to the monument is part
of a pilgrimage of about 30 persons on
Adnyamathanha country, 430 kilometers
north of Adelaide. Led by Aunty Denise, the
group is made up of both whitefellas and
blackfellas – but when one looks closely, the
lines blur. There is Rhanee whose mother
is Aboriginal and whose father came from
Indian, Malay and Anglo lines. With her is
her American-born husband, who traces his
genealogy to Puerto Rico and to Africans who
were taken there. Their nieces and nephew
are dusky blonde beauties. There are the
three brothers from the Taize Community
– one French, another German, the third an
Australian – with their own “Pilgrimage of
Trust. ” Others come from Anglo-Australian,
German-Australian, Italian, French, Liberian
and Filipino traditions.
“Anhangha idla ngukanandhakai (I am
going back to this place now), ” Aunty Denise
recalls her father saying. “Wanangha nai?
(And where are you going?), ” her mother
would respond, as she must to keep the story
alive. “I am going to a special place in my
mind, ” her dad would reply. Together they
would converse about a special time and
place, weaving new aspects to the story being
told as they shared it with their children.
Thus, the Pilgrimage is not only
for the visitors from various countries
and backgrounds. It is also for the
Adnyamathanha elders, Aunties Denise,
Pauline and Noelleen, so they could take their
daughters and grandchildren on country, too,
and relate their stories.
Their communities now live in the
settlements of Hawker or Port Augusta.
Rangers have put fences around sacred rocks
in the area for health and safety reasons. In
1948, the Adnyamathanha elders, deciding
that they could not live in two worlds, ended
their ceremonial lives and adopted Western
ways. Well-meaning tourists have gouged
deeper into old, traditional carvings in local
gorges to make them more distinct. It is sad.
Theirs is a matrilineal society. Through
story, their daughters have themselves become
“Star Women, ” able to navigate at night. The
world has become an even stranger place.
One tells of how on a trip to Taize in France,
she frantically called her mother: “Mom, I
can ’t see the Southern Cross! ”
As we travel through country, the aunties
will not let us have paper and pencil to write
on. “Look, listen, ” they instruct. “It could be a
matter of life or death. ” They take turns telling
creation stories and naming plants, detailing
their nutritive and medical properties. They
ask us to say the names after them and leave
blanks in the stories for us to fill out. One
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story
Scenery in Adnyamathanha country, captured by Sophia Lizars during the pilgrimage led by Aunty Denise Champion (bottom left).
story, told just as the sun was rising, is about
Aldyanada, the Barking Lizard, and Adnu,
the Bearded Dragon, and why the sun rises in
the east.
These stories are written on the land and in
memory. It is “on country ” where the stories
become alive. They are stories of orientation
without which one might get lost; stories of
accountability and cooperation. For these
stories to live on, they need to be retold afresh,
acting like winter floods washing the roots of
trees in the dry creek beds.
Aunty Denise has broken with tradition
to write a “paper and ink ” book with colour
photographs. The stories she shares of her
people become parables of a faithful God who
searches for lost children. They are stories of
vulnerability and hospitality on land that is
a sacred storybook and where, if one listens
deeply, there might be no need for questions.
For more information about Aunty Denise
Champion ’s book, Yarta Wandatha, please
contact Mission Resourcing on 8236 4243 or
[email protected]
Teaching people to lead
The Pilgrimage of Healing is run annually by the Covenanting team in Mission Resourcing during Reconciliation Week (27 May to 3 June).
Each year, this campaign focusses on a different project within Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC) in South
Australia. Since 2011, people across the Uniting Church have generously supported Pilgrimage of Healing projects involving youth leadership,
transportation for remote communities and building developments.
From Wednesday 27 May to Wednesday 3 June this year, funds raised through the Pilgrimage of Healing will support training for Aboriginal
people wishing to lead pilgrimages, such as the one detailed in Sophia ’s article. This will provide an opportunity for Aboriginal people across
the state to ensure their stories are not lost and to share them with others.
The South Australian Covenanting Committee has planned two Kaurna spirituality pilgrimages this year. The first will take place in Adelaide
on Saturday 23 May followed by a Marion pilgrimage on Saturday 12 September. Uniting Church SA congregations, faith communities and
individuals are invited to support these important pilgrimages and training for pilgrimage leaders through prayer or provision of funds, or by
attending a pilgrimage.
For more information about the Pilgrimage of Healing or to access Reconciliation Week resources, please visit sa.uca.org.au/covenanting/
reconciliation-sunday or contact the Congress Resource Officer, Ian Dempster, on [email protected] or 0417 217 320. For more
information about the May Pilgrimage, a Kaurna Walking Tour of Adelaide, please email [email protected] or call 8212 3295 (9am- 3.30pm).
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9
story
Clockwise from top left: Bindy Taylor walking in Mannur tea gardens, Kerala. Bindy and her father, Brenton. Bindy (right) with educators
from Shalom Delhi Project, including Dr Savita Duomai (second from right). Fruits of character wall display at Shalom.
God ’s peace amidst brokenness
Bindy Taylor
Two years ago I travelled to India with Stop
the Traffik and Amor Ministries to learn more
about human trafficking. The experience
provided me with the unique opportunity
to hear stories from girls and women who
had been enslaved in trafficking situations
throughout India. I was also fortunate to
meet with many inspirational individuals and
Non-Government Organisations (NGOs)
undertaking life-giving work for the millions
of Indian people living below the poverty line.
In February this year I had an opportunity
to return to the country – having learnt so
much on my initial trip, I wanted to delve
deeper into the stories I had previously heard,
whilst remaining open to hearing new ones.
I travelled from Delhi in the North of India
to Kerala and Tirripur in the South, seeking
more information and contacts in an effort
to provide support for those who desperately
need it. This time around I did not have
the safety of a tour group, but was instead
accompanied by my dad who, at the age of 65,
had never travelled to Asia before.
Prior to leaving, I gathered donations
of stationery from the Uniting Church
community. Overwhelmed with the response
and generosity, I took half a suitcase full of
10
gifts. A contact I had made from the Sahaara
Charitable Society in Mumbai suggested I
get in contact with the Emmanuel Hospital
Association (EHA) as a suitable NGO who
would welcome such gifts. EHA operate the
Shalom Delhi Project, which was established
in 2001 to provide care for people affected
by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
infection and acquired immune deficiency
syndrome (AIDS).
The number of people living with HIV
in India is estimated at 2.1 million. There is
a great deal of stigma and discrimination
against people living with the infection within
households, the community, workplaces
and even healthcare providers throughout
India. The Shalom Delhi Project ’s mission
is to provide unconditional care for those
infected by and affected by HIV/AIDS. Their
website is emblazoned with the words “God ’s
peace amidst brokenness ” and their objective
is to model compassionate, cost effective,
clinical and home-based care for those living
with HIV/AIDS. Along with educating and
training other NGOs, the Shalom Delhi
Project aims to mobilise churches and
Christians to extend support to infected and
affected families.
Upon visiting the Shalom clinic in Swaroop
Nagar, North Delhi, I was greeted by the
Director, Dr Savita Duomai, who at the age of
16 made the decision to dedicate her career as
a doctor to help those with HIV/AIDS.
Savita introduced me to the team
responsible for Shalom ’s two adolescent
awareness programmes, which were created
to educate, care for and support children with
HIV/AIDS infected parents. The Character
Development Programme caters to children
aged 10-13. The Life Skills Programme
teaches practical skills to adolescents
aged 14 to 19. Both programmes have the
added advantage of providing support and
time away for young people in stressful
family situations.
The Life Skills Programme also provides
important education about puberty, HIV/
AIDS, faith, values, sexuality, refusal skills,
gender roles, marriage, stress management,
life goals and time management. Participants
also have the opportunity to join smaller cell
groups, providing the programme ’s facilitator
with an opportunity to personalise things
taught in the larger life skills group.
While these programmes do include
children infected by HIV/AIDS, Savita
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story
and her team are planning to create special
programme components to better address
the particular needs of children who have
been infected.
The Shalom Delhi Project relies on support
from the government and the North Indian
church community, with the majority of
support provided through a Christian funding
organisation. The support being offered has
slowly waned as funding groups have been
unable to raise adequate support specifically
for HIV. Savita and her team are hoping to
establish new links with other organisations
who are willing to offer support through
prayer, funding or other connections.
Savita and I spoke about the possibility
of having people in the Uniting Church SA
community connect with the Shalom Delhi
Project through a potential pen pal project.
This would provide congregations and
individuals with the opportunity to sponsor a
child participating in the project ’s adolescent
Seema as a peer educator
programmes. As it may take time to establish
a pen pal project, Savita has shared the
story of one young person who participated
in Shalom ’s Character Development
Programme, and has given me permission
to share this with the Uniting Church
SA community.
For more information about the Shalom
Delhi Project, please contact Dr Savita Duomai
on [email protected] or visit
shalomdelhi.org
Seema with her friends in the adolescent programm
Developing determination
Ten-year-old Seema* listened eagerly as her instructor in the Character
Development Programme at the Shalom Delhi Project told her the
story of two birds who did not give up building a nest for their little
ones, even though the storm had blown the first one away. Ever since
her parents were diagnosed to be HIV positive, her family too had
been rocked back and forth by the storms of life. Seema ’s parents were
sick frequently and for fear of being discriminated against, they had
isolated themselves from the rest of the community. Their financial
situation, which was already bad, worsened as her parents were unable
to work like before. Seema had every reason to be discouraged and
disheartened. But like the birds in the story, she was determined to rise
above her situation, persevere and not give up.
When Seema ’s parents were diagnosed with HIV someone
introduced them to the Shalom Delhi Project and they were enrolled
in the Home Based Care Programme (HBC) for HIV/AIDs affected
families. Seema was happy when her name was included in the
Character Development Programme for young adolescents of
these families. She loved the programme from the very start and
wholeheartedly participated in it. She enjoyed the games and activities,
and looked forward to each session ’s story and discussion time.
A different value was introduced each time – values like honesty,
perseverance, wisdom, self control, hard work and many others. Each
time she was encouraged to write down how she had applied the
previous lesson to her life. Some examples of things she wrote were:
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“I always used to cheat in class, but now I don ’t cheat. ”
“I had gone to buy something from the shop, and someone threw
water on me. I was angry but controlled my anger. ”
“I work hard to finish my science lessons. ”
“I remembered that I should be honest, and so I returned the pen
that I had borrowed from my friend. ”
It was heartwarming to see the fruits of character growing in her
as she imbibed these values into her life. During group counselling
sessions, she received focussed counselling on how to cope with the
various life challenges that she faced. When she shared her personal
and family struggles with her instructor, she received inner strength
and encouragement as they prayed together over these matters.
Today Seema is a bright and promising young girl who dreams
of becoming a doctor one day. On completing the Character
Development Programme, she was selected and trained to be a peer
educator for the next batch of adolescents. She found it very satisfying
to share with her young friends how she had coped with the challenges
she faced and how she applied the different values in her life situation.
As a peer educator she was personally mentored and her leadership
qualities were developed. She is brimming with confidence and
wants to explore every possible opportunity to grow and develop. The
harshness of life did not succeed in destroying her spirit, instead she has
risen up high and is now a source of inspiration to others like her.
*name changed
11
story
Left: Rev Bob Macintosh with the Cessna plane in Meekatharra, Western Australia. Right: Bob and Jenny Macintosh in the 1980s.
Fighter pilot to flying minister
Dan McAloon
As a young fighter pilot flying Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)
Meteor jets in the Korean War, Rev Bob Macintosh recalls how readily
he described himself to people who asked about his beliefs – “I ’m an
agnostic, ” was always his curt reply. But that would soon change.
Bob was one of 17, 000 military personnel who served Australia
under the direction of the United Nations in the Korean War from
1950-1953. Before an armistice was declared, this terrible conflict
claimed over two million lives, including those of 339 Australians.
It was the death of Bob ’s best mate, Des Nolan, who was killed in a
mid-air accident, which left Bob searching for the answers to life ’s
deepest questions.
“After Des died my idea of myself as an agnostic just fell away, ” says
Bob. “An agnostic, I came to realise, is a fence-sitter who ’s having a two
bob bet each way. But that was no longer good enough. I decided I had
to be either a believer or an atheist. There wasn ’t an in-between.”
There was one source of enlightenment Bob was prepared to explore
– a copy of the King James Bible given to Bob by his father-in-law.
Opening the pages after Des ’ death, Bob took his first tentative steps
into Bible studies. He found the experience confronting. “I thought,
‘Where do I start? Hmmm, okay, I ’ll start reading from page one and
aim to finish a chapter every day! ’”
It was a simple plan, but by the time Bob got up to the book of
Leviticus, he said he was having “real trouble ” understanding it.
“I spoke to the Airforce padre. He was a bit quizzical of what I was
doing but I insisted I was sincere and he took me seriously and offered
to help, ” Bob recalls. “Little by little my understanding grew as my
faith deepened.”
Meanwhile as a career RAAF pilot, Bob ’s service took him into
another fierce conflict – the Vietnam War. In the mid-1960s Bob was
flying the army ’s Huey helicopters from the Australian base in Nui
Dat, Vietnam. The choppers were instrumental in ferrying troops back
and forth from the front, and were often under fire. Bob flew over
approximately 2,000 sorties (dispatches) and played a crucial part in
evacuating wounded troops at the Battle of Long Tan.
12
The Battle of Long Tan occurred on the afternoon of 18 August
1966 when a company of Australian troops encountered a much larger,
determined and well-equipped regiment of North Vietnamese troops.
In monsoonal rain, with several dead and fighting for their lives, the
Diggers dug in at a rubber plantation, resisting over many hours the
sustained frontal assaults of North Vietnamese and Viet Cong soldiers.
After the battle, Bob piloted one of three choppers used to medically
evacuate wounded Australians from the battlefield. It was a feat of night
flying for which no training could prepare him.
“It was pitch-black and I was unable to put on my landing lights until
I was about 50 feet off the ground. Prior to this I was guided down the
pencil-thin beam of a penlight held up by a soldier, ” says Bob.
After active service, Bob became a Base Squadron commander
in South Australia. His RAAF career and war experiences had not
diminished his desire for deep spiritual knowledge. He had become
a committed Christian and his hunger to forge new life in religious
ministry was stirring in him constantly. He couldn ’t ignore it.
At age 49, Bob retired from the RAAF. With the support of his
wife, Jenny, he sought out a religious vocation. He was accepted
into theological training in Adelaide and became a minister in the
Uniting Church.
During his first placement as minister of Bordertown Uniting
Church in South Australia, Bob was approached by the Frontier
Services ’ Superintendent, Rev Gray Birch. Gray hoped to convince Bob
to join the aerial patrol based in Meekatharra, Western Australia. A
Cessna plane was required to cover the distances between 150 stations,
12 mines and six churches located in the patrol ’s 460,000 square
kilometres patrol mission area. The combination of flying and ministry
seemed particularly suited to Bob ’s skills.
However, Bob knew nothing would be possible without the blessing
of his wife. He introduced Gray Birch ’s proposal rather obliquely.
“‘Jenny, ’ I said, ‘how would you like to learn to fly? ’ ” Bob
remembers. “She knew something was up [and asked]: ‘Hmmmm. So
what ’s the catch? ’”
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story
Jenny Macintosh did indeed learn to fly the Frontier Services ’
Cessna (the same plane that continues to be used by Rev Colin Gordon
in the Centralia Patrol today). Bob gives credit to Jenny ’s important
contribution throughout the ministry. When landing their Cessna
in the red dust at an isolated station, it was typical for many women
not to have seen another female for over six months – they were
thrilled to have the opportunity for conversation and a cuppa with
another woman.
“Jenny was of vital support, ” Bob says. “Together we made a
very effective ministry team – she came with me everywhere and
everyone knew her.”
Over nine years from his 1985 appointment, Bob and Jenny
Macintosh were the face of the Frontier Services Murchison Patrol.
The dependable plane they flew became the means by which the good
news of Christ was carried to many far-flung places.
Looking back on the happiness that typified those outback days, Bob
says being a flying padre was “a job made in heaven for me. ”
The Assembly Standing Committee that met in Sydney from 20-23
March this year made several key decisions to support the provision of
remote area ministry through Frontier Services. A National Consultation
on Remote Area Ministry will be held to further consider the future shape
of the Uniting Church in remote Australia.
For more information about Frontier Services and patrol
ministry, please visit frontierservices.org or call the National Office
on 1300 787 247.
Storytelling through worship and song
Over four days in June, Rev Malcolm Gordon
(pictured) will visit Adelaide to deliver seven
training sessions on the theme of “Creative
worship essentials. ” Malcolm brings a wealth
of knowledge to this teaching role through his
experiences as a songwriter, worship leader
and Presbyterian minister in New Zealand.
He is also the Worship, Music and Arts
Enabler at the Knox Centre for Ministry and
Leadership in Auckland and coordinator of
The One Voice Project.
The One Voice Project (TOVP) focusses
on contemporary expressions of Christian
worship, particularly through the arts – music,
visual arts, photography, design, poetry, dance
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and more. Throughout the various projects,
albums and resources created by TOVP,
there is an emphasis on encouraging creative
expression as a mode of communicating the
Christian story. Art is not seen as an end in
itself – instead, TOVP encourages artistic
expression that tells a story, is deeply rooted in
faith and guided by the light of Jesus.
While visiting Adelaide, Malcolm will offer
training sessions on the topics of creative
worship, building worship teams, worship
leading, practical tips, evaluating worship, and
different styles of worshipping.
In the days immediately before Malcolm ’s
training sessions, Adelaide West Uniting
Church will host “Songwrite, ” the second
national Uniting Church in Australia
gathering for writers of Christian worship
songs. This event provides a creative space for
people to listen, learn, perform, record, score
and write. Malcolm will be the guest musician
at the gathering.
Registration and dates
Songwrite will be held at Adelaide West
Uniting Church (312 Sir Donald Bradman
Drive, Brooklyn Park) from 2pm on Friday 12
June to 2pm Sunday 14 June. The programme
includes input from Rev Malcolm Gordon
and other experienced worship leaders
and songwriters. Cost is $135, which
includes lunch on the Saturday and Sunday.
Registrations are still being accepted but
would be appreciated as soon as possible.
For more information about Songwrite,
please visit ucasongwrite.wordpress.com or
contact Craig Mitchell on [email protected].
org.au or 0417 323 088.
Creative worship essentials will run from
Monday 15 to Thursday 18 June. Two of the
sessions will be held at Adelaide West Uniting
Church at 7pm on the Tuesday and Thursday,
and will cover the topics of “Designing
creative worship ” and “101 practical tips ” (a
specifically youth-friendly topic) respectively.
Monday and Wednesday sessions will be held
between 9am and 3pm, while the Tuesday
and Thursday sessions will take place from
1pm to 8.30pm.
Uniting College for Leadership & Theology
is offering course accreditation through
Malcolm ’s training sessions at a cost of $200
(includes assessment). For those not looking
for accreditation, attending all seven sessions
will cost $120. The two evening sessions cost
$25 each or $35 if attending both. Group
discounts to the evening sessions are available.
For more information or to register for
this event, please visit cmla.org.au or contact
Uniting College for Leadership & Theology via
email [email protected] or phone
8416 8420 or the Centre for Music, Liturgy
and the Arts via email [email protected] or
phone 8267 2657.
13
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Learn more at ucinvest.com.au or call 1300 274 151
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*Some conditions apply - offer starts 1 April 2015 and may be withdrawn without notice. Minimum investment is $1,000. UC Invest is an activity of The Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (S.A.) ABN 25 068 897 781, the legal entity of the Uniting Church SA. Investment
services are provided on behalf of the Uniting Church SA pursuant to ASIC Policy Statement 87 exemptions and APRA Banking Exemption No.1 of 2013 (“The Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (S.A.)”). Neither UC Invest nor the Uniting Church SA are prudentially supervised
by APRA. Investments and contributions lodged with UC Invest will not benefit from the depositor protection provisions of the Banking Act (1959). All products offered by UC Invest are designed for investors who wish to promote the charitable purposes of the Uniting Church SA.
story
Left: Than and one of his children holding some of their flour rations. Right: Karen Mc Grath (right) with refugee children on a communiy
agriculture programme at Mae La.
Living on little in Mae La
Karen McGrath
In December 2013 and March 2015 I travelled to Mae La refugee camp
on the border of Burma and Thailand as part of my work for Act for
Peace, the international aid agency of the National Council of Churches
in Australia. The people of Burma have lived through the longest
running conflict in the world. Hundreds of thousands have fled their
homes for neighbouring Thailand and now live in refugee camps, like
the one I travelled to.
Whilst I was in Mae La I met Than.
Than was just a boy when he saw his village being burnt to the
ground by the Burmese army. He walked day and night with his family,
with no food or water, finally finding safety in Mae La refugee camp.
I clearly remember Than talking about his desire to go back home,
despite the safety he had thankfully found in Thailand: “Life in Mae
La camp is better than in Burma. Because I grow vegetables I can
support my family. ” Like many refugees, Than has been living in Mae
La refugee camp for more than 21 years. He desperately hopes that one
day it will be safe enough to return to Burma.
Life for Than and the many others like him is tough. Confined to
the camps and without an official way to earn a living, he relies on food
rations to survive.
When I first saw the rations Than and his family had to live on I
was in shock. He and his family have to survive on just a small amount
of rice, flour, salt, fish paste, split peas and oil. Their rations for an
entire month fit in one small corner of the kitchen. But the thing that
really made me emotional is that funding for even this small amount
of rations is running low, meaning the rations may have to be cut
yet again.
This situation made me realise that Australia really is one of the
richest countries in the world – yet many Australians don ’t seem to
care about the refugees in places like Mae La, people who have nothing.
How can it be right to turn our backs on people in their time
of need?
I believe that we can inspire people in Australia to be more
compassionate, and make a real difference to the lives of refugees, like
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Than, living in Mae La camp.
On returning to Australia my colleagues and I developed the Act
for Peace Ration Challenge. During Refugee Week from Sunday 14
to Saturday 20 June this year, I will be participating in the second ever
Ration Challenge – and we need as many people as possible to join
us. I will be eating the same rations as Than for one week, sharing my
experience with my friends and family, and asking them to sponsor me.
Together I believe we will change attitudes in Australia towards
refugees – starting with our own. The money we raise will provide
rations, seeds, tools and training to help ensure people like Than have
enough to eat – now and in the future.
To take the Ration Challenge or find out more, please visit
actforpeace.org.au/rationchallenge or free call 1800 025 101.
About the Ration Challenge
The Act for Peace Ration Challenge is about standing up
for refugees.
By taking the challenge, you will be surviving on the same rations
as a Burmese refugee during Refugee Week and will be sponsored
to do so. The money you raise will help make sure refugees have
enough to eat. By sharing this powerful experience with those
around you, you can also bring the refugee struggle closer to home
in a way that is impossible to ignore.
Together we can make a difference for refugees and create a more
compassionate society.
When does it take place?
During Refugee Week, from Sunday 14 to Saturday 20 June, 2015.
How do I register?
Register online at actforpeace.org.au/rationchallenge
By registering you will be immediately linked to your online
fundraising page, which you can personalise, and share with your
family and friends to start getting sponsored.
15
ministry centres
Pastoral Relations and Mission Planning
This is the final article detailing the work of the various ministry centres of the Uniting Church in South Australia.
Ceduna
Quorn
Streaky Bay
Whyalla
Peterborough
Lock
Burra
Cowell
Bute
Waikerie
Cummins
Ardrossan
Kapunda
Port Lincoln
Walker Flat
Yorketown
Stokes Bay
Adelaide
Murray Bridge
Coonalpyn
Vivonne Bay
Mundulla
congregational regions:
rural west
rural east
urban north & west
urban east & hills
urban south
uaicc
team member:
rev David BUXTON
rev ashley davis
rev diane bury
pastor wendy perkins
rev beth seaman
ms sharonne price
At the March meeting of the Uniting Church SA Presbytery and
Synod, a structural change within the Synod office was announced.
The Synod ’s two Mission Planning positions (held by three people,
two in a half-time capacity) have moved from the Mission Resourcing
team to Pastoral Relations. The new Pastoral Relations team will
16
Robe
Coonawarra
Mt Gambier
unite under a new name, which reflects the team ’s growth – Pastoral
Relations and Mission Planning (PRMP). This change is the first step
in an ongoing plan to build stronger connections between the Synod
and congregations.
The addition of the Mission Planning roles has enabled the PRMP
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ministry centres
Who, what, where
team to divide the Presbytery into five regions, each of which have been
allocated a “go to ” person from the team (see the break out box to the
right for further details). Each of the regions is quite large, as illustrated
in the map to the left, but it is anticipated that this geographical division
will enable the Presbytery and Synod to better serve the congregations
and ministers in its care.
Sharonne Price, the Executive Officer of Pastoral Relations and
Mission Planning, says that the purpose of these changes is to make it
easier for congregations and the Presbytery/Synod to understand, assist
and “stay in touch ” with one another.
In the past, issues have arisen when congregations have been unsure
who to contact about particular concerns in the areas of mission
planning, governance, ministry leadership, finance or resourcing.
Many have also struggled with identifying the areas in which they need
assistance, partially because they often overlap.
The new system aims to make it simpler for congregations and
ministers to understand and communicate with the Synod office – and
vice versa. This will assist the PRMP team in delivering assistance,
advice, planning and support.
“Perhaps the image of the doorway works best, ” says Sharonne.
“We are striving for a better and quicker alignment of resources and
expressed needs, and to make it easier for congregational leaders,
whether lay or ordained, to know where to start when there is an issue.
That ‘place to start ’ will be a person whom they know, and who knows
them.
“Congregations will directly access the staff of the Synod and, we
hope, their voices will be even more influential in the directions we
take as a Pastoral Relations Committee and as a whole Presbytery and
Synod when we meet together.
“We need to be less remote from each other if we are to support and
build each other ’s mission and ministry, ” Sharonne says.
Despite these new regional divides, Sharonne is quick to point out
that the boundaries between the regions will be quite porous.
“We hope to still benefit from the special expertise that each team
member has developed over time. There will also be times when the
best ‘match ’ for a situation may need to take into account personal
history and conflicts of interest. ”
Supporting the PRMP team is a wealth of resourcing from Uniting
College, the Mission Resourcing team, the Mission Networks, other
congregations and the Uniting Church in Australia Assembly. It is
anticipated that the new structure will also facilitate the necessary
connections between resources so that mission and ministry can be
built together.
For more information about the new Pastoral Relations and
Mission Planning team, please contact the team on 8236 4204
or [email protected] or visit sa.uca.org.au/
pastoral-relations
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The South Australian Presbytery has been divided into five regions,
each with their own representative from the Pastoral Relations and
Mission Planning team.
Rev David Buxton will be the contact person for the Rural West
region. David has served the church in many capacities – locally, at
Presbytery and Synod levels, and through an Assembly agency. His
knowledge about and passion for the church is immense, and he is
particularly well-versed in the issues currently facing congregations
– large and small, rural and metropolitan.
The Rural East region will be tended to by Rev Ashley Davis.
Ashley has worked as a minister in a variety of contexts – regional,
suburban and urban. A country lad at heart, he has served rural
congregations as a member of the Pastoral Relations team for
approximately five years.
Rev Diane Bury will offer her wealth of knowledge and
experience to the Urban North, West and Barossa region of
the Presbytery. Diane has experience in presbytery matters and
complex urban congregations, which has helped her to develop
significant skills in governance, managing conflict, planning for the
future, worship and pastoral responsibility.
Rev Beth Seaman will serve the Urban South and Fleurieu
region, in addition to her role as minister of Wesley Kent Town
Uniting Church. Beth has an extensive knowledge of congregations
in this region, having served them as first a Pastoral Relations
Officer and then as a Mission Planner. She is passionate about
asset-based mission planning and has a very pastoral approach to
all she does.
The Urban East and Adelaide Hills region will be served
by Pastor Wendy Perkins. Wendy served one of the largest
congregations in the Uniting Church SA for 18 years in various
capacities. She knows and understands complex congregations and
leadership demands, but also has a heart for smaller communities
and congregations. Wendy offers thorough and expert help, and
is very responsive to congregational need. She also serves as the
Co-ordinator of Disaster and Recovery Ministries (0.5 time) and is
engaged with many smaller Hills congregations quite intimately especially since the Sampson Flat fires early this year.
The other members of the Pastoral Relations and Mission
Planning team include Sharonne Price (Executive Officer, Pastoral
Relations), Rev Philip Gardner (Pastoral Relations Officer,
responsible for placements and chaplaincy), Linda Vinall (Called to
Care Training and Development Officer), Rev Dr Trevor Whitney
(Disability Chaplain) and Gill Morel (Personal Assistant to the
Executive Officer). Pastoral Relations Administrator Bill Shepherd
has served the Uniting Church SA for many years but will soon
retire from his role in the Synod office. We offer Bill our thanks for
his hard work and our prayers for the future.
17
g e t t i n g t o k n o w. . .
Cherry Gardens Uniting Church
Established in 1849, the Cherry Gardens
congregation has been serving the local
community for 166 years. With a keen focus
on outreach, this small church community
enthusiastically encouraged the development
of faith communities in Ironbank and
Upper Sturt. In partnership with Clarendon,
the Cherry Gardens congregation also
assisted in establishing Coromandel Valley
Uniting Church - an early example of
church “planting. ”
The original Cherry Gardens church was
quite small with no seats – attendees were
made to stand throughout the service or kneel
on the hard Jarrah wood floor during prayer.
The church was later enlarged with chairs
added, and currently has three windows on
each side, including a leadlight window which
serves as a memorial for soldiers who died in
World War I.
The current Cherry Gardens Uniting
Church congregation continues to prioritise
and engage in outreach. As a member of the
Cherry Gardens Community Association,
the church contributes articles to “Cherry
Chatter, ” a local monthly newsletter. The
18
Cherry Gardens Garden Club meets in the
church once a month and has a membership
of 38. This club has been helping the church
with their own garden and building facilities,
partnering with the congregation to apply for
grants with Onkaparinga City, resulting in the
provision of a new tank and air conditioner.
Each year, the Cherry Gardens
congregation provides music and chaplains
for the local Anzac Day service, and assists
in catering a breakfast in the Memorial Hall
following the service. Rev David Houston,
a decorated army chaplain, conducted the
centenary event this year. Cherry Gardens
also runs an annual Community Carols
event showcasing local talent. Some of the
congregation ’s members are involved in
preaching in the local community and in
rural areas, visiting Upper Sturt, Ironbank,
Mt Pleasant, the Riverland, Murray Mallee
and Coonalpyn. One member, Dr Gillian
Marshman, is a team leader of the Flinders
Overseas Group. The group visits West Timor
each year to provide general medical services
and are currently training and setting up their
first oncology unit in Kupang.
For many years Cherry Gardens used
a galvanised iron shed for Sunday school
and morning tea. This space was freezing
in winter and swelteringly hot in summer,
and had a low roof that made maneuvering
difficult for taller members of the church.
Fortunately, architect Jim Ward is a member
of the church and agreed to prepare a vision
for something to replace this shed. Based on
this, skilled members of the church began
fundraising and building. The generosity
of the congregation ’s members, founding
families, local councils and groups, and
Habitat for Humanity assisted in making
Jim ’s vision a reality. The new meeting
room includes air conditioning, a modern
kitchen, current technology and a deck with
a beautiful view of a nearby valley – a perfect
complement to the historic Cherry Gardens
Uniting Church building!
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g e t t i n g t o k n o w. . .
Christ Church Uniting, Wayville
Christ Church is a very special place to
be. The beautiful, contemporary church
building is nestled down off King William
Road where Eldercare The Lodge also has a
large presence. The community formed in
the mid-19th Century as Unley Methodist
Church. Since 1983, Christ Church formed
part of the Parkin-Wesley College site
(now Uniting College for Leadership &
Theology based in Brooklyn Park) and many
theologians lived and prayed in the Christ
Church building during the week. Many of
the members of the current congregation
have been theologically trained through the
College, and have either remained or returned
to share in the theologically progressive,
diverse and challenging community upon
their retirement.
In cooperation with talented worship
leaders, Rev Nicholas Rundle offers creative
Sunday worship with a focus on renewal.
Christ Church also holds a fortnightly
contemplative mindfulness service on
Tuesday evenings.
Approximately 100 members gather at
Christ Church each week for a 10am Sunday
worship service. Visitors are welcomed
with open arms as the congregation is
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guided by their desire to be an inclusive,
spirited community, inspired by faith in
Jesus Christ and exploring Christian faith in
contemporary ways. Christ Church attendees
are a diverse group – not only in age, but in
theological viewpoints, politics and church
backgrounds. Despite this, members are
united in their commitment to a community
where people feel respected and safe. People
are encouraged to explore their spiritual
journey through worship, prayer and study.
Outside of regular services, many of the
church ’s members are involved in the local
community and serving neighbours as a
compassionate expression of faith. Social
justice is at the core of Christ Church ’s
community engagement programmes
as the congregation seeks to make
meaningful connections between Christian
faith and the many complex issues of
contemporary society.
Artistic endeavours are also a strong
focus for members of Christ Church. Local
glassworks artist Cedar Prest created the
church ’s stained glass windows, which
are a wonderful treasure and are a weekly
reminder of the congregation ’s commitment
to spirituality and the arts. This commitment
is also expressed in creative worship through
music from David Gigger and other artists.
The church also holds an annual artist-inresidence programme, hosts a SALA art
exhibition in their exhibition space, and offers
regular trips to art galleries.
The Effective Living Centre (ELC) is an
integral part of Christ Church ’s identity.
ELC is a Mission Resourcing centre for the
wider church and the community, and seeks
to empower people to engage with and
contribute to life more effectively. ELC is open
and available to people of any social, political
or religious stance.
The church council recently led the
congregation through a strategic planning
process for the next five years. This planning
put emphasis on the ever-changing landscape
of the Uniting Church, recognising the church
as “pilgrim people ” who are always on a
journey.
This year Christ Church has a particular
focus on effective parenting, building cultural
awareness and participating in reconciliation
with local Aboriginal communities. The
church currently hosts a “circle of friends ” for
refugees and asylum seekers, offering close
support and friendship for families.
19
Visual Presentation Systems
Public Address
Church - School - Board Room - Retail Display - Hospitality
Data Projection - Plasma - LCD - Projection Screens - Accessories
Sale - Installation - Service
“TEC - Everything Electronic installed with Excellence”
Greg Hallam 0411 550417 - Keith Ellison 0411 556075
Campbelltown: 8365 0377 - Fax: 8365 0677
Web: www.tecsa.com.au
(Morgans A.B.N. 49 010 669 726 A.F.S.L.235410)
Participant of ASX Group, A Professional Partner of the Financial Planning Association of Australia.
UNITING COMMUNITIES BOARD MEMBER
Uniting Communities provides a diverse range of services to the
Community of South Australia.
8261 8211
All hours
www.ivanbutlerfunerals.com.au
[email protected]
We seek a Uniting Church member with a strong financial background
to join our Board of Directors in a voluntary capacity. Board
membership is an opportunity to join a team of people committed to
ensuring Uniting Communities uses its resources strategically to create
a more compassionate and just community. Ideally the person will be
a member of an appropriate professional body and have experience
in: provision of strategic financial advice, financial risk management,
trends in financial reporting particularly in a not-for-profit context,
interpretation of meaningful monthly management accounts, and
experience in overseeing financial investment strategies.
For an information kit please contact Beth Alcock on 8202 5886.
Enquiries to Jo Baulderstone (0419 036 124), Chair of the Board or
Simon Schrapel (8202 5886). Expressions of interest together with
a CV should be sent to Simon Schrapel, Chief Executive, Uniting
Communities, 10 Pitt Street, Adelaide by COB 22 May 2015.
www.unitingcommunities.org
26 OG Road Klemzig SA 5087
classifieds
AUSTRALIAN
FUNERAL
DIRECTORS
ASSOCIATION
Geoff Lewis
General Manager
20
RESTORE your phonographic records or tapes
to near original quality & preserve them on CD
Restore your faded 35mm slides to bright colour
and preserve them on DVD. Ask us about VHS or
MiniDV video tape & 8mm film to DVD conversion,
SA MEDIAWORKS, Kent Town SA Ph: 8362 2251
[email protected]
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diary
ANNIVERSARY SERVICE. Karoonda Uniting Church will hold its 90th
anniversary service on Sunday 3 May at 11am. Rev Barry Oakley will be
the guest preacher at the event, which will also include a shared luncheon
at 12.30pm in the church hall. All welcome. For more information, please
contact Carlene Schulz on 8578 1250.
WESLEYAN METHODIST HISTORY EVENT. “Women ’s Suffrage
1894 & the Power of the Wesleyan Methodists ” is the title of an event to be
held on Sunday 3 May at 2.30pm at Wesley Uniting Church (cnr Grenfell
St and Fullarton Rd, Kent Town). This fascinating talk will explore the
role of progressive Wesleyan Methodists in agitating for social reform as
advocates for women ’s suffrage in 19th Century South Australia. The guest
speaker is local historian Denise Schumann. This event is part of the Wesley
Uniting Church 150 year celebrations. For more information, please visit
wesleykenttown.org.au or contact the church office on 8362 2544 (Mon to
Thurs, 10am-3pm).
GARAGE SALE. Come grab a bargain and enjoy a sausage and cold drink
or cuppa and scones at The Corner Garage Sale. The sale goes from 9am1pm on Saturday 9 May at The Corner Uniting Church (cnr Oaklands and
Diagonal Rds, Warradale) and will feature a wide variety of wonderful stalls.
Fun for the whole family! For more information, please visit thecorner.org.au
or contact the church office on 8350 5400 (Tues to Fri, 9am-3pm).
ABORIGINAL SPIRITUALITY is the theme of the next Progressive
Christianity Network (SA) Friday Forum, to be held on Friday 15 May,
7.30pm at the Effective Living Centre (26 King William Road, Wayville).
It will feature two outstanding speakers – Pastor Denise Champion and
Dr Olga Gostin – who are both published authors. Aunty Denise is the SA
Chair of the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC),
and has recently been appointed as Pastor to the UAICC congregation at
Port Augusta. She will speak on “Aboriginal Spirituality. ” Dr Gostin is an
anthropologist and Adjunct Senior Lecturer in the David Unaipon College
of Indigenous Education and Research at the University of South Australia.
Her topic is “Menticulture: Unpacking Aboriginal Spirituality and Care for
Country. ” Entry to the forum is $20 waged and $15 unwaged. Bookings are
essential and are available online at effectiveliving.org/pcnetsa or by calling
the Effective Living Centre on 8271 0329 (Tues, Wed and Fri, 10am-3pm).
TEACHING WEEKEND. “Seek. Praise. Live. - The Psalms for Today ” is the
title of a teaching weekend on the Psalms which is to be held from Friday 15
to Sunday 17 May at Rosefield Uniting Church (2 Carlton St, Highgate). Dr
Liz Boase will speak on the topic, and the weekend will also include electives
on praying, singing, seeing and speaking the Psalms. Cost: $25. The event
is presented in conjunction with the SA Lay Preachers ’ Association and the
Urban Mission Network. For more information, please visit rosefield.org.au
or contact the church office on 8271 9528 (Mon and Wed, 9.30am-12.30pm;
Thurs and Fri, 9.30am-3pm).
ORGAN MUSIC EVENT. “Voices from the Past II ” will feature classical
organ music from past Adelaide musicians. Many of these compositions
have never been published making this is a rare opportunity to hear this
music. The event will be held on Saturday 16 May, 2.30pm at Wesley Uniting
Church (cnr Grenfell St and Fullarton Rd, Kent Town). Gold coin donation.
This event is part of the Wesley Uniting Church 150 year celebrations. For
more information, please visit wesleykenttown.org.au or contact the church
office on 8362 2544 (Mon to Thurs, 10am-3pm).
A GUIDED TOUR of Wesley Uniting Church (cnr Grenfell St and Fullarton
Rd, Kent Town) will be held on Saturday 16 May at 4pm. The tour will
feature gothic church architecture and aspects of Adelaide ’s social history
spanning 150 years. Rev FRM Macdonald, former minister of the church,
will highlight architectural and historical features. Gold coin donation. This
event is part of the Wesley Uniting Church 150 year celebrations. For further
information, please visit wesleykenttown.org.au or contact the church office
on 8362 2544 (Mon to Thurs, 10am-3pm).
MESSY CORNER. People from many nations were touched by God ’s Spirit
at Pentecost. Those gathered for Messy Church at The Corner Uniting
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Church (cnr Oaklands & Diagonal Rds, Warradale) on Sunday 17 May will
explore the ways many different cultures worship God. Come and enjoy a
noisy and fun time interacting with God and each other in new and different
ways. The session starts at 3.30pm for craft, activities and dinner. $5 a person
helps cover costs. For more information, please visit thecorner.org.au or
contact the church office on 8350 5400 (Tues to Fri, 9am-3pm).
MIGRATION EVENT. The Wellspring Community invites you to hear
about Fairbridge Farm Schools – “The Untold Story of Child Migration ”
on Saturday 30 May, 10am-1.30pm at Port Adelaide Uniting Church (169
Commercial Rd, Port Adelaide). Special guest Brian Kirkby will share stories
which will both confront and inform. Morning tea will be provided, but
please bring lunch to share. A time of worship will be included. For more
information, please contact Val and Norm Bennett on 8240 1945. The
Wellspring Community is an Australian ecumenical community inspired by
the Iona Community.
CELEBRATION SERVICE. A special church service celebrating the long
association between Kent Town and Annesley College (formerly Methodist
Ladies ’ College). If you were part of this association, please join in listening
to preacher Rev David Purling at this event on Sunday 31 May, 10am at
Wesley Uniting Church (cnr Grenfell St and Fullarton Rd, Kent Town). This
event is part of the Wesley Uniting Church 150 year celebrations. For more
information, please visit wesleykenttown.org.au or contact the church office
on 8362 2544 (Mon to Thurs, 10am-3pm).
A THIN PLACE. Everyone who enjoys (or wants to try) contemplative
worship is invited to “A Thin Place ” at The Corner Uniting Church (cnr
Oaklands and Diagonal Rds, Warradale) on Sunday 31 May at 5.30pm. All
are welcome to an hour of quiet reflection on Mark ’s gospel at several prayer
stations. The event includes a multi-screen audio visual presentation of art,
photography and scripture. For further information, please visit thecorner.
org.au or contact the church office on 8350 5400 (Tues to Fri, 9am-3pm).
To have your upcoming event or message published here, email
[email protected] with ‘Diary’ in the subject line.
letters to the editor
Encouraging thoughtful engagement
I ’ve really appreciated seeing some articles about environmental issues
in New Times recently.
Christians should be strongly associated with looking after the
planet, but so often the opposite is true. Good to encourage us all to
deal more thoughtfully and kindly with the plants, animals, air, water,
etc. that God has given us.
L. Morrison,
Rostrevor
Send your letters to:
[email protected]
or PO Box 2145, Adelaide 5001.
Be topical, be brief, be timely.
Letters over 150 words will be edited; responses to previous letters /articles will
be considered within two months of the original item ’s publication only.
All letters are published at the editorial team ’s discretion.
positionsvacant.sa.uca.org .au
21
reviews
Feature Review:
Reforming the church for the 21st Century
Rev David Phill
Once in a lifetime a book can come into one ’s possession which
challenges one ’s faith and ministry and throws a light upon many
of the issues with which one wrestles. Religion in exile: a spiritual
homecoming, written by the Irish Catholic priest, philosopher,
counsellor and social psychologist Diarmuid O ’Murchu, is one
such book.
It would have been valuable and fascinating to have had this book
20 years ago, and even better in the 1960s when some of us were
training for the ministry at the time of the “God is dead ” movement.
God was not dead, of course. What the school of thought back
then was telling us was that many of our traditional concepts were
effectively outmoded. We needed to radically re-think most of the
ideas we had taken for granted.
One of Rev Dr Paul Trudinger ’s hymns features the
following lines:
Fine traditions still affirming,
Give us grace to leave behind
Stale and profitless commitments
Outworn attitudes of mind
Fresh resources thus to find.
Despite our “contemporary ” worship and modern songs, which
have displaced hymns that many treasured, people have voted with
their feet. According to data gathered in the 2013 Uniting Church in
Australia census, the number of active Uniting Church congregations
and faith communities in South Australia fell from 450 to 296
between 1990 and 2013. Church attendance has declined by 40%,
and the average number of attendees at worship is 35. In 44% of
our churches the average number of people attending is between 20
and 49.
Some ministers have felt responsible for this decline, but the
author of Religion in exile, in a breathtaking sweep of religion, shows
how many of the more traditional aspects of faith have become
irrelevant for a large number of adults. Religion may be dying, but
spirituality, he says, is alive and well in the hearts of a growing throng
of adults.
For 70,000 years or more, spirituality has expressed itself in dance
and in an intimate relationship with creation, which O ’Murchu
believes is the central and first revelation of the creator.
Increasingly Christians, or “Adult Seekers, ” are understanding
how the “Kingly Rule of God ” concept was central for Jesus.
Traditional theology taught us that Adam sinned and an
angry God sent his son to atone for the sins of humankind. Many
Christians believed this without comprehending it.
22
Jesus ’ whole ministry was the witness to and the passion for
proclaiming that the Kingly Rule of God was already here in him and
in us. Jesus was not crucified by the Jews, nor by the Romans, but by
the all-pervading, cruel Imperial Roman System.
Proclaiming the Kingly Rule of God put him on a collision course
with this other Imperial system. He was prepared to give his life
for the Kingly Rule of God. His message was directed against the
cruel regime that traumatised and marginalised the poor and needy
people of his day.
To Pilate, Jesus said: “How can you take my life if I give it to you?”
To his disciples (and so to us) he said, in effect: “Whoever wants
to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily
and follow me. ” (Luke 9:23 NIV)
Diarmuid O ’Murchu is the author of over twenty books and the
above is but a brief introduction to parts of Religion in exile which
I felt were particularly applicable to our situation in the Uniting
Church. It is an enthralling but difficult book to read. However,
I believe it is well worth the effort. If this article has whetted your
appetite, I encourage you to obtain a copy of Religion in exile and
possibly even form a study group to discuss it.
WILKS ORATION 2015
Tanya Hosch - Joint Campaign Director of ‘Recognise Australia’
will speak on the topic:
IT ’S TIME - TO RECOGNISE
First Australians in the Constitution
Friday June 12th – 7.00pm for 7.45 start at the
Effective Living Centre, 26 King William Street ,Wayville
An Aboriginal musician will perform from 7.15pm- drinks will be
served in the foyer and supper will follow the Oration.
Cost: $25.00 and $20.00 for Friends of ELC or conc.
Bookings Essential www.effectiveliving.com or phone 8271 0329
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magazine
Fossil fuel divestment and the Uniting Church
The open cut mine at Leigh Creek is a source of low grade black coal. Photo courtesy of Gordon Smith.
Jim Daly
At the October/November 2014 meeting of the Uniting Church
SA Presbytery and Synod, members resolved to have a task group:
“Undertake a six month process of discussions with interested
parties to look deeply into the matter of fossil fuels and the potential
for divestment. ” This task group, now known as the Environment
Action Group, are to report back at the June 2015 Presbytery and
Synod meeting. This article is one in a series they have undertaken for
New Times.
Underlying the report being prepared for this meeting is a clear
theological and ethical commitment to understanding that “the Earth
is the Lord ’s, ” and that we have a responsibility to love and care for
the world as God ’s creation. With this goes the ethical and moral
obligation to pass on to future generations a world that is liveable
and able to support a wholesome life for all. Australia is one of the
privileged nations in terms of its natural resources, but it is also a
major contributor to global warming. Therefore, for us as Christians,
climate justice demands a faith response. Our love must include a
commitment to decreasing our greenhouse emissions and keeping
global temperatures below the internationally agreed limit of 2ºC above
pre-industrial levels, thereby reducing the frequency and intensity of
future climate-related disasters.
The last National Church Life Survey revealed that 80% of church
attendees would like the Church to offer leadership and to speak up
about environmental concerns. Therefore, the proposal that will go
to the upcoming Presbytery and Synod meeting addresses the issue
of fossil fuel investments. Fossil fuels have served us extremely well.
Their energy intensity has allowed the development of technology
and industry, modern agriculture, mobility and our modern lifestyle.
However, by using these sources of energy we have inadvertently
created conditions that will deny that lifestyle to our children and
grandchildren. If we continue to use fossil fuels at current rates and
emit carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, by 2100 we can expect the
Earth ’s average temperature to rise by 3-5ºC above pre-industrial levels.
This occurs because the additional carbon dioxide strengthens the
natural Greenhouse Effect and warms the Earth. New research recently
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published in the leading scientific journal Nature identifies which fossil
fuel reserves must not be burned to keep global temperature rise under
2ºC. These include over 90% of Australia ’s coal resources. Knowing
this, how can we share profits from any business that is largely involved
in the fossil fuel chain without accepting the ethical responsibility to
minimise the impacts of its greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide and
fugitive methane) on the living planet?
The Uniting Church Synods of Queensland, New South Wales,
Victoria/Tasmania and Western Australia, six Anglican Dioceses
in New Zealand, and the World Council of Churches have already
made the decision to divest from fossil fuel companies. The Australian
National University has taken a similar decision and the University of
Sydney has deleted coal mining from its investment portfolio. In the
financial sector, the Bendigo and Adelaide Bank will not lend to firms
involved in thermal coal or coal seam gas extraction. The ANZ Bank
have admitted that customers are concerned about the bank ’s carbon
exposure and are committed to “playing its part in helping to cut
emissions. ” We should be proud that the Australian Uniting Church
Assembly has shown leadership when President Rev Prof Andrew
Dutney said: “To avoid damaging climate change we must move
quickly to a clean energy economy. The Uniting Church recognises
that continued investment in fossil fuel industries does not support the
change needed.”
The Ethical Investment Working Group, in consultation with the
Environment Action Group, are seeking the Uniting Church SA
Presbytery and Synod ’s endorsement of a proposal to avoid investing in
companies that cause unacceptable damage to the natural environment
through their primary involvement in coal extraction and exploration.
Meanwhile, the Environment Action Group has prepared guidelines
for local churches wishing to reduce their carbon footprint and work
towards sustainable environmental practices. They also hope to
provide information that encourages individuals to divest from fossil
fuels and prudently invest in companies involved in renewable energy,
environmental or humanitarian enterprises.
23
magazine
One night, six locations
Live Life Loud, the ecumenical youth worship evening run annually
at venues across South Australia, continues to grow each year. In
2014, a fifth venue was added to the line-up; this year, a sixth has
been established.
On Friday 12 June, dynamic speakers have been engaged to share
an encouraging message in at locations in the North, West and
South of Adelaide, the Mid-North region, the Adelaide Hills and the
Eyre Peninsula.
Live Life Loud was started by the Uniting Young People team
in 2010 with the aim of seeing teenagers from different churches
experiencing transformation, having encounters with God and
becoming agents of change in their local communities. Each
year, more young people from across denominations engage
with the event, and there are plans to establish Live Life Loud
locations interstate.
This year, over 800 high school-aged young people will join their
local Live Life Loud event to explore ideas, participate in worship
and create community. Each location is coordinated by local
communities and leaders with support from the Uniting Young
People team.
Mid North
Where: Horizon Christian School (21 Gwy Terrace, Balaklava)
Time: BBQ at 6.30pm, service 7.30-10pm
Cost: Money is required for BBQ, but entry is free
Speaker: Ben Whittaker
For more information, please search for “Live Life Loud Mid North ” at
sa.uca.org.au or contact Lee Cunningham on 0429 621 143.
Hills
Where: Aldgate Baptist Church (202 Old Mt Barker Road, Aldgate)
Time: BBQ from 6-7pm, service 7-9pm
Cost: $5
Speaker: Dan Beasy
For more information, please search for “Live Life Loud Hills ” at
sa.uca.org.au or contact Kurt Mahlburg on 0406 308 017.
Eyre Peninsula
Where: Cummins Uniting Church (68-72 Bruce Terrace, Cummins)
Time: 6.30-9pm
Cost: Money is required for the BBQ and café, but entry is free
Speaker: Pete Riggs
For more information, please search for “Live Life Loud Eyre
Peninsula ” at sa.uca.org.au or contact Sue Ellis on 0427 162 009 or
Benji Callen on 0427 792 869.
24
Young people participating in past Live Life Loud events across
South Australia.
North
Where: The Journey Uniting Church (2-30 Surry Farm Drive,
Golden Grove)
Time: Pre-show and BBQ from 6.30pm, main event 7.30-9.30pm
Cost: Free
Speaker: Cullen Bailey
For more information, please search for “Live Life Loud North ” at
sa.uca.org.au or contact Mike Wardrop on 0430 666 959.
West
Where: Adelaide West Uniting Church (312 Sir Donald Bradman
Drive, Brooklyn Park)
Time: Dinner and games from 6-7pm, service from 7.30-9.30pm
Cost: Money is required for dinner, but entry and games are free
Speaker: Danica Patselis
For more information, please search for “Live Life Loud West ” at
sa.uca.org.au or contact John Harris on 0458 586 777.
South
Where: Seeds Uniting Church (42 Sunnymeade Drive,
Aberfoyle Park)
Time: Café and BBQ from 6.30pm, doors open at 7.15pm for a
7.30-10pm service
Cost: Donation for entry or $5 for entry, drink and BBQ
Speaker: Ana West
For more information, please search for “Live Life Loud South ” at
sa.uca.org.au or contact Shane Rayner on 0468 453 654.
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