Apology anniversary a solemn reminder
Uniting Church President Dr Deidre Palmer has reminded Church members of our commitment to be a safe place for all, on the anniversary of the national apology to survivors of institutional child sexual abuse.
“The Uniting Church has expressed its deep regret for the harm that was perpetrated on children who were abused in the care of our Church,” said Dr Palmer.
“We recognise the terrible breach of trust and the damage done to individuals, communities and relationships. This is part of our story that we will continue to acknowledge so that we never forget, and never become complacent, about the care and safety of all vulnerable people in our Church and wider community.
Weaving and singing the Lord’s song
Women in Church leadership were the focus of this year’s gathering of the Niue National Conference (NNC) of the Uniting Church.
Women led the worship and bible studies from start to finish and for the first time Holy Communion was presided over by a woman minister, Rev. Fieta Ikitoelagi-Faitala of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand (PCANZ), assisted by Niue women Church Elders and Pastors.
UCA President Dr Deidre Palmer preached at the opening worship of the 2019 Tongan Conference
“Liberating by Faith in Jesus Christ” TNC 2019
More than a thousand Tongan members of the Uniting Church came together in a joyful celebration of faith and fellowship for the 2019 Tongan National Conference (TNC).
With the theme “Liberating by faith in Jesus Christ”, the annual gathering was held in Katoomba NSW from 27-29 September.
UCA Submission on new Religious Discrimination laws
The Assembly of the Uniting Church in Australia has made a submission to the Federal Government’s proposed Religious Discrimination Bill.
UCA President Dr Deidre Palmer said the Uniting Church supported the Government’s efforts to improve protections against religious discrimination for all people in Australia.
Statement in relation to reporting in The Australian
The Australian newspaper has published an article today on the Uniting Church’s decision on same-gender marriage. Regrettably, the story includes a number of allegations in relation to a congregation in Queensland which are untrue.
A True First Nations Warrior
WARNING: This story includes the name and image of a deceased Aboriginal person.
The Uniting Church and Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC) are mourning the passing of Indigenous rights “warrior” Tauto Sansbury this week.
The Narungga elder, who was born at Point Pearce Mission on South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula, dedicated his life to advocating for justice for First Peoples.
Report documents violence in West Papua
The Uniting Church in Australia has co-signed a report that was sent to six special procedures of the UN Human Rights Council regarding recent violent crackdowns of anti-racism demonstrations in Papua and West Papua, Indonesia.
Local churches have documented that during one demonstration in Deiyai Regency, at least eight indigenous Papuans were killed and more than 50 protestors sustained serious injuries when security forces fired into the crowd using live ammunition.
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Anniversary of the National Apology to Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse
October 22 marks the first anniversary of the historic National Apology to Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse.
A year on from the landmark apology to survivors and their families, the Uniting Church in Australia acknowledges and laments the role of the Uniting Church in causing harm to children and renews its commitment to be a Church that is safe for all people.
Uniting for Climate
More than a thousand people from across the Uniting Church took to the streets joining more than 300,000 people all over Australia as part of the Global Climate Strike on Friday 20 September.
Huge crowds of people, young and old, spilled onto the streets in more than 100 locations across the nation in an historic show of support for stronger action on the climate crisis.
UCA Values Statement for Disability Royal Commission
Hearings have begun for the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability, with the first hearing taking place in Brisbane on 16 September 2019.
The Uniting Church in Australia has welcomed the Royal Commission and its inquiry into what must be done to build a society in which people with disability feel included, supported and have their human rights respected.
Tagata Pasifika speaks, listen in
The Uniting Church is home for many people from a Pacific cultural background, and those voices were elevated at a theological symposium dedicated to the stories and theologies of the Pacific.
The Tagata Pasifika Theological Symposium was held at Parramatta Mission in Sydney from 13-14 September, co-ordinated by Rev. Dr Matagi Jessop Vilitama, the Advocate for the Assembly Being a Multicultural Church Circle, and UCA theologians Rev. Dr Clive Pearson and Rev. Dr Seforosa Carroll.