Uniting Church in Australia

Since issuing the conditions for entry in the “Songs that Unite” competition the Assembly has received feedback that suggests that the requirement that contest winners effectively sell their copyright to the Assembly has affected the willingness of some writers to enter the competition. This is not an outcome that the Assembly desires as the goal of the competition is to encourage awareness of the work of Christian musicians and to assist in making their work available.

In response to the feedback received the Assembly is removing the requirement that successful entrants must pass the copyright to the Assembly. All entries received prior to this change of condition will be subject to the revised terms of entry.

A reminder that entries close on Friday February 26 2010

Terence Corkin

Assembly General Secretary

The meeting of the 12^th Assembly supported a proposal for a new Preamble to the Uniting Church’s Constitution. It has now been referred to the Synods and Presbyteries for consideration.

This paper from the President of the Uniting Church in Australia, Rev Alistair Macrae, offers a very short theological and biblical perspective on the paragraph that attracted most attention in the Assembly debate.

Click here to download the paper.

Engaging the Basis: Theological Directions of the UCA is a Uniting Church conference to be held at the Centre for Theology & Ministry, Melbourne on July 9-11th 2010. This event will explore the theological commitments and responsibilities of the UCA.

Five days after the earthquake that devestated Haiti's Port-au-Prince the US general running the military relief effort in Haiti says the death toll from the earthquake could be as high as 200,000.

"We are going to have to be prepared for the worst," Lieutenant General Ken Keen, deputy commander of US Southern Command.

Rev Alistair Macrae, President of the Uniting Church in Australia has expressed his concern for the people of Haiti.

"Our prayers are with the people of Haiti following the earthquake that has added huge suffering to a country already burdened by extreme poverty and political corruption.

The world has watched in horror as estimates of those killed by the earthquake late Tuesday in Haiti's Port-au-Prince have reached as high as 100, 000.

Many of the 2 million residents of Port-au-Prince live in the grip of poverty and have no infrastructure to deal with this tragedy.

"There is no doubt that we are facing a major humanitarian emergency and that a major relief effort will be required,'' UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon told reporters, as he prepared to visit Haiti as soon as possible.

The relief and development agency of the Uniting Church in Australia, UnitingWorld has asked that those interested in donation to the relief effort check their website www.unitingworld.org.au for updates. They will post any new information as they investigate partner aid organisations, in the absence of partner church in Haiti through whom to direct assistance.

Pace e Bene Australia presents: The Spirituality and Practice of Nonviolent Leadership, a new eight-day, residential program for Church leaders, clergy and lay, in Australia.

Please click here for further information.