National Update December 2011

When I used to read my daughter bed time stories it would often end with her pleading me to tell the story again. In my cynical moments I was sure that it was designed to let her stay up later than she should. However it was such a regular cry that I thought there must be something in it.

As I have reflected on the importance of stories it seems to me that we re-tell them because we want to understand them more fully or deeply; or because they touch some emotion inside us that we cannot bring to the surface without the benefit of the story. Stories connect us to people – people we never knew, to the person who shares their story and even to ourselves. And of course the stories we choose to tell each other communicates profoundly about our values, commitments, hopes and fears. Story telling is a powerful thing. What are the stories that you tell? Why those stories? Have you seen stories change lives?

So maybe story telling – even very familiar stories are new after all when we enter into them with openness to connecting to them at many levels and in our particular times.

Grace and Peace this Christmas as we revisit all those familiar stories.

Christine wasn’t actively looking for a new placement, having recently finished a six-year term with the Australian Navy. However, the role of Christmas Island chaplain seems to have been created just for her. She brings with her a unique mix of skills and experiences, including time working in congregational ministry and as a Navy chaplain. Her arrival on Christmas Island with her husband, Luke, earlier this month was the answer to almost two years of prayer and planning by the Uniting Church in Australia and the Anglican Diocese of Perth.
In February 2010 the Uniting Church President Rev Alistair Macrae and the Anglican Archbishop of Perth, the Most Reverend Roger Herft, visited Christmas Island to look into the needs of people in the detention centre. The Jesuit Refugee Service, along with the Catholic Archdiocese of Perth, have had a commitment to providing chaplaincy services on Christmas Island for some time, and currently have Sr Joan Kelleher, a Sister of Mercy, placed there. However, it was clear that the need was great, and the Anglican and Uniting Churches agreed to work together to recruit and fund another chaplain.
For 6 months, Christine will provide humanitarian chaplaincy on the remote Island, which currently houses around 1,500 detained asylum seekers, 1,200 residents, and fly-in, fly-out detention centre staff. It’s a huge challenge, but one Christine is looking forward to.
“There are a lot of dark places in the world. And if people are going to be in those dark places, don’t we want the light of Christ to be there in some way?” she asks.
“Chaplaincy is one of the ways we can be there. It doesn’t mean we have all the answers, or suddenly the darkness will all become light, but we’re able to say, ‘We’re here with you in the suffering or the joy or whatever this experience this is, and let us be here together.’
“I want to be able to say, God is here too, in these circumstances, in a real, tangible way. Let’s discover what that is and how that is.”
The detention centre, as well as Christmas Island generally, is multi-cultural and multi-faith. She anticipates that part of her role will be to advocate on behalf of people of other faiths to ensure they can express their spirituality the way they need to, and to work ecumenically and with the Muslim Imams who visit regularly.  
“My view is, I’m a Christian and I don’t ever run away from that, but I don’t impose that either,” she says. “I respect that other people see or think of God differently”.
“If I was in a country where Christianity was a minority or had issues, I’d hope someone would be able to resource me, and if during that process some of us change our opinions — well it’s a two way thing, we learn and grow.”
As far as the detainees are concerned, Christine is aware she is only one person, but says chaplaincy can be an important step on a journey.
“People may only see me as a chaplain who cares about them, but hopefully when they get their visas, then they’ll know there will be other people who care about them.”
Rosemary Hudson Miller, the Uniting Church in WA’s associate general secretary (justice and mission) has the dual responsibility of refugee advocacy and chaplaincy oversight on behalf of the Synod. She spent two days with Christine in Perth, briefing her about the situation on Christmas Island and arranging for meetings with key Perth support people, including previous Port Hedland immigration detention centre chaplain, Rev Bev Fabb. Rosemary said it was a great joy and relief to deliver Christine and her husband Luke to the airport, but, “this is only the beginning,” she said. “The challenge is to sustain the ministry, by supporting Christine, and the chaplains who follow her.”

Please support this important work and show care for those in Christmas Island by helping to send a Chaplain to Christmas Island.  Read more here.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE.

Reverend Bill Crews, Chair of the NSW Churches Gambling Taskforce said he believes Father Riley has been misled on the issue of poker machine reform.

Reverend Crews said that while counselling is an important part of helping people overcome their addiction to poker machines, preventing the problem in the first place is essential public policy.

“The major churches provide around 70 per cent of all social services in Australia. Every day our agencies see people whose lives have been damaged by poker machine addiction – individuals, families and whole communities. And it’s not just our gambling services that are picking up the pieces. It’s our financial counsellors, family counselling services, mental health services and others.

“Fr Riley’s comment is at odds with the Catholic Church which is a member of the Australian Churches Gambling Taskforce.

“The Clubs have capitalised on a conflict of interest here. Those who receive funding from the industry to run their services are caught between a rock and a hard place. They are committed to providing support to people already living with a poker machine addiction but do not want to jeopardise their funding.

“Under the reforms, all players will have to decide ahead of time how much they are willing to lose. This can be as high or as low as the individual chooses.  In the cold light of day, away from the ‘zone’, problem gamblers are telling us they are able to make sensible decisions. Mandatory pre commitment will, as part of a whole range of measures, help poker machine addicts who are ready to help themselves. More importantly it will help people who are at risk, from developing a problem. And that’s good public policy.

“Many clubs provide benefits to their local communities.  But forty per cent of profits come from people addicted to poker machines. Those clubs that can only provide this support on the back of someone’s gambling addiction need to rethink their business model,” Reverend Crews said.

Members of the Australian Churches Gambling Taskforce include the heads of Christian churches in Australia and the heads of their social services agencies nationally. Established earlier this year the Taskforce is united by a commitment to reduce the harms caused by poker machine gambling.

Frontier Services National Director Rosemary Young said Ms Burley was deeply committed to providing people in remote areas with the best possible health care.
“Anna’s skills, her dedication and, importantly, her passion are a wonderful asset to Frontier Services and also to her community. The award is a wonderful acknowledgment of her contribution,” Ms Young said.
As one of two nurses with the health service, Ms Burley travels across the 77,000km Gulf Savannah region to provide primary health care services to about 2000 people.
Ms Burley and her team provide regular health clinics in the towns of Mt Surprise, Einasleigh and The Lynd, as well as health promotion and education programs to properties and townships across the Croydon and Etheridge Shires.
In the aftermath of Cyclone Yasi, Ms Burley played a leading role in bringing together community members.
Working with other Frontier Services programs and local service providers, these events assisted community members to access services, participate in mental health training and simply to support each other.
Ms Burley has coordinated health specialist visits in these remote areas that otherwise would not be accessible. She has also advocated on behalf of the community for more services in the area.
Ms Burley said it was the people in her community that made it all worthwhile.
“It’s a privilege to be a part of people’s lives in remote areas,” said Ms Burley. “If there is anything I can do to reduce the impact and disadvantage of isolation and distance – that is a big thing.”

“The continued training of our staff ensures we can provide the best possible level of care for our clients,” said Frontier Services Regional Manager NT Sharon Davis.
“We also want to nurture the development of our aged and community care workforce. We are extremely proud of the achievements of our staff.”
The courses completed by the staff include Certificate III and IV in Aged Care and Community Care as well as Frontline Management.
The Australian Government provided the funding for the training which was conducted by the Dovaston Training and Assessment Centre in Darwin.
Frontier Services paid the travel and accommodation costs of the students, assisting them to undertake the training during their work hours.
Frontier Services has 12 residential aged care services across the NT and in WA and also provides a number of community care and respite services that allow elderly people and young people with a disability to continue to live in their homes.

Participants were selected from the corporate, government and not-for-profit sectors. Ms Melksham is undertaking the program alongside senior people from Westpac, BHP Billiton, the Queensland Police Service and Queensland Health.
To be chosen, Ms Melksham went through an in-depth selection process.
“To be one of 24 people selected to take part is a testament to Davida’s skills and capacity as a leader in her own community,” said Frontier Services National Development Manager Gabriel Lacoba.
“In her work with the Outback Links program, Davida is passionate and extremely dedicated to bringing about positive outcomes for people living in remote Australia.”
Outback Links places skilled volunteers with families living in remote locations that could use a helping hand.

Each gift will have a direct impact on people living in remote Australia throughout the year to come.
You can select one of the following gifts:
•    Help educate a young person from a remote area. For $25, you can support the cost of a student to live in a Student Group Home when there is no high school closer to home.
•    Give the gift of a helping hand for a family in the bush. For $50, you can support a volunteer placement through the Outback Links program that connects volunteers with isolated families who need an extra helping hand.
•    Fill the tank of a patrol minister. For $100, you can assist a patrol minister to cover 500km visiting isolated families to provide practical and emotional support.
•    Alternatively, you can select a gift amount to support the work of Frontier Services as a whole.
After selecting your gift, you will be sent a card with a description of your gift and a Christmas message for the person who is to receive it.
Check out the Frontier Services gift cards at www.frontierservices.org

The Christian Unity Working Group invites expressions of interest from persons who may care to be considered for nomination as a delegate, or for recommendation as potential nominees to the WCC Central Committee. Interested persons are invited to send their contact details and a short statement (with brief cv) on why they would be an appropriate person for the CUWG to nominate. To lodge expressions of interest or to seek further details, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it the Rev. Dr. Sandy Yule (Secretary to the CUWG)  or by phone (03 9606 00340 or by post at CUWG, Level 4/11 Bank Place, Melbourne Vic. 3000.

Note: Expressions of interest should reach the CUWG no later than March 31, 2013.

The new teaching DVD on “A guide to worship for the people of God” is already proving to be popular. It has different people covering four areas: the nature of worship, prayers of confession, reading the Bible in worship and music in worship.  It will be helpful for any people involved in preparing and leading worship. Simply This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Chris Walker at the Assembly office  and a free copy will be sent.

LUKE WILLIAMS (Perth WA)
Luke is currently in formation for the Ministry of the Word with the Uniting Church at the Perth Theological Hall (based at Murdoch University.) He is in the second year of formation and will complete both the Bachelor of Theology and formation programme at the end of 2012.

The Joan Stott UCAF Bursary is open to applicants under 35 years of age, and studying in the field of Leadership or Theology within the ethos of the Uniting Church.

Next off the rank is the Fijian National Conference at Merroo Conference Centre, 182 Mill Road, Kurrajong, NSW, from January 5th to 8th 2012. The Sydney based planning Committee are anticipating a gathering of 500 participants to be part of a continuation of our last five year theme ‘Lay Empowerment and Participation’.  

In Darwin in January 2010members of the Conference focussed on the Psalmist words:  “How can we sing a song to the Lord in a foreign land.”  We have again continued to focus on the unpredictable future or at least we can plan for it. One of the concepts that came to mind was the famous words of a Pacific missionary Rev. John Williams, who said in 1823, “I am not content with a single reef”. It was his vision to go beyond the reef of Raiatea, Tahiti, where he was stationed, and ventured to uncharted waters, to take the risks in order to reach people of other islands and to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to them.

We feel that at this point in our journey, Fijians in Australia are challenged by the new church, the Uniting Church, its vision and purposes, its mission, its witnessing efforts; its theology, its leaderships and the ever growing multicultural and cross-cultural church and its dynamics.  Part of our journey is to take the risk and venture away from our comfort zone, going beyond the reef into the deep.

For more information about the Fijian National Conference, get in touch with This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

From January 11th to 13th the Chinese National Conference will be held at the Melbourne Gospel Hall UCA in Little in January 2012. This is a biennial function held among Chinese congregations in the Uniting Church.

The theme of this Conference is “Australian Chinese Church growth in the 21st century”. It is a great opportunity for all members involved in Chinese ministries and others to share and catch up with one another. This time, apart from sharing, we have included visitations to the Center of Theology & Ministry and the Melbourne School of Theology (Chinese department) as one of our functions. Hoping that these activities will be able to assist and unite Chinese ministries in the UCA.

For more information about the Chinese National Conference This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Tony Lai.

UnitingWorld received an influx of generous donations throughout this period, which came to a grand total of $171,333.33. With the dollar for dollar initiative, the Australian Government will turn this into $342,666.66.
On top of the $134,604.70 raised prior to the Government’s announcement, our grand total of nearly half a million dollars will go a long way toward contributing to the work of our partners in some of the most overcrowded refugee camps along the Somalia/Kenya border.
You can read more about the drought, famine and the work of UnitingWorld’s partners here.
The dollar for dollar initiative may be over, but you can still donate. Call 1800 998 122.

Nelson Mandela once said that “education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” In Amritsar, North India, our ‘Right to Learn’ program is transforming communities from the children up.
Are you up for the adventure? After you register, we’ll help you fundraise, which will cover the cost of your trip as well as support the Right to Learn program.
Keeping a New Year’s Resolution has never been so easy!
To find out more about this amazing opportunity, click here.

New content in December includes:

Dr Jennifer Borrell from UnitingCare Kildonan has written that clubs should support communities and back pokie reform.

Rev Tim Costello, Chair of the Australian Churches Gambling Taskforce explains why poker machine reform will empower problem gamblers.

There are new articles from papers across the country at the  In the news page.

“By purchasing a Frontier Services Christmas gift card you will help us to ensure that no one is alone – no matter where they live.”

After selecting your gift, you will be sent a card with a description of your gift and a Christmas message for the person who is to receive it.

Check out the Frontier Services gift cards at their website.