Together on the way

photo: Nathan Dean

The Uniting Church in Queensland is currently in a process of seeking to discern God’s direction for the church in Queensland. This began in January 2010 and will culminate at the Synod meeting in October 2011. The process is being called “Together on the way, enriching community”. Hundreds of people across Queensland have already been involved in various workshops. At the Synod meeting in May this year the following “call and values” were affirmed:

The Church’s Call at this Time
In response to God’s call at this time, the Uniting Church in Queensland is committed to:

Uniting in Christ
acting with love
living with hope
witnessing in faith
working for justice

Gospel Values
As the Uniting Church in Queensland sharing in God’s mission in the world, we will be guided by values that derive from and give expression to God’s reconciling action in Jesus Christ.
In response to God’s grace, we are called to live out these values:
Faithfulness
Compassion
Humility
Truthfulness
Justice

These gospel values will inform our lives as individuals and as the community of the Uniting Church in Queensland.

Faithfulness
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. (John 3:16)
We respond to God’s faithfulness to us by living the gospel story by gathering in worship and sharing good news.
Related themes: prayer, renewal, community, belonging, hope

Compassion
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:32)
Caring for others and being cared for is at the heart of our Faith. Caring is the ultimate basis for true community. Compassion is the force that drives us to eliminate suffering and encourage new ways of being in the world.
Related themes: love, action, respect, reconciliation, inclusion

Humility
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness, and being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross. (Phil 2:5-8)
We are called to reflect a Christ-like life towards others, through service, sharing the gospel and demonstrating servant leadership.
Related themes: grace, wisdom, insight, service, generosity, forgiveness, wonder

Truthfulness
And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14-15)
As Jesus is revealed to us as the light of the world, coming in glory, truth and unfailing love and faithfulness, so we will be known for our integrity, truth telling and honour for all people.
Related themes: integrity, advocacy, reconciliation, honesty, forgiveness, peace

Justice
Here is my servant, whom I have chosen, my beloved, with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him and he will proclaim justice to the nations … He will not break a bruised reed or quench a smoldering wick until he brings justice to victory. (Matthew 12:18, 20)
Because God requires that we do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with our God, so we understand that all we have is to be shared with others and the resources of our planet directed to the benefit of all. We will achieve this in word, deed and action.
Related themes: mercy, hope, risk-taking, commitment, mission, advocacy, action

Current steps
Currently congregations and agencies across Queensland are being invited to reflect on and offer insights into the vision and direction of the Uniting Church in Queensland over the next 10 years. The following helps us do this:

A vision is a picture of the preferred future. Visions need to be developed from time to time by people to ensure the dream, the call can be revitalised and lived out in our time. It calls us beyond the present, it makes us uncomfortable, it challenges us, it demands change, it invites repentance and transformation. What is the vision the Uniting Church of Queensland is being asked to name? What do we want to be doing in 2020? How can we be – Uniting in Christ, acting in love, living with hope, witnessing in faith, working for justice?



Process steps:
• Imagine it is 2020 – let us vision what we can do into the future.

1. In 2020 you have gathered with a group. Who will be there? There are reports from a variety of places. What sort of groups, people etc will be providing these reports?
2. You are pleased with the changes that have happened in the Church and the way you have responded to the Call and Gospel Values created in 2010 and the vision you set at that time.
3. You know the Church has been revitalised and the Church has enriched communities, locally, state-wide, nationally and globally.
4. What has happened? What do you see in the Uniting Church in Queensland?
5. How do you see the Church – Uniting in Christ, acting with love, living with hope, witnessing in faith, working for justice?

• Jot down concrete examples of what is happening in 2020, for example:
1. worshipping in homes
2. ecumenical worship, especially in rural areas
3. strong advocacy on government policy

• Now, as you look at the Vision for 2020:
1. What stands out for you?
2. What excites you? Disturbs you?
3. What insight have you gained into the Uniting Church?
4. What part of the Call and Gospel Values document do you see reflected in this vision?
5. What is not reflected here?

If you would like more information on the “together on the way, enriching community” process please go to http://together.ucaqld.com.au/
Otherwise talk to myself, Glen or Tim Robinson.

Please pray for the Uniting Church in Queensland and perhaps engage in conversation about this in your faith life groups and/or write down your personal reflections and send them to me.

Yours in Christ

Graham Keech

Remembering the disadvantaged & disempowered

photo: Corey Grunewald

On Sunday the 22nd August I preached from James 1: 27 - 2: 13 on God’s heart for those who are disadvantaged and disempowered; and reflected on how easy it is to exclude people. I argued that “in order not to show favouritism (that is to deliberately or inadvertently exclude people) the dominant culture (which at Logan Uniting are those who are white, speak English as their first language, are ‘Ok’ financially, and reasonably able bodied) must purposefully and deliberately create space and show favour to those who are not part of this group.” I then asked us to think about, “who are the unseen ones – the ones who sit on the outer at work or at church or at our social groups; the ones whose voices are not heard; who are not usually invited out or included first in activities?” I also asked all of us to deliberately look beyond our circle of friends and those who we relate to easily in order to “see people” and then to step out of our comfort zone to include them.

A couple of weeks later (Wednesday the 8th September) I attended a remembrance service for the “Forgotten Australians”. I attended because a friend of mine was speaking at it. “Forgotten Australians” are the survivors of childhood institutional care in Australia. They are now adults, some in their thirties, some very elderly; and include indigenous children, child migrants and others who were placed in institutional care for a whole range of reasons.

I was sitting beside a lady who in 1951 at the age of 12 was sent with 11 other girls (the youngest being 5) to Australia. The Priest at the orphanage in London signed her deportment papers without any reference to her parents. Upon arriving in Australia, she and the other girls were sent to Neerkol Orphanage outside of Rockhampton. This lady was telling me that back in London they would leave the orphanage to go to school or church or on outings. At Neerkol the school and church were part of the orphanage and for the next years of her life she NEVER left the orphanage.

A Senate Inquiry identified systemic deception, neglect, exploitation, brutality, sexual assault, poor health care, denial of educational opportunities, removal or loss of identity etc. within childhood institutional care. Apart from this, such children suffered deep and lasting feelings of separation and abandonment.
As I sat in the service I heard words like, forgotten, unseen, invisible, and I found myself reflecting on the sermon from the book of James. In November 2009, the Australian Parliament, through the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition, formally acknowledged and apologised for the experiences of Forgotten Australians and Child Migrants, their harsh treatment and their ongoing trauma. At the remembrance service I attended, people spoke about how this apology has helped them feel heard and seen.

My friend who spoke was in institutional care from the age of 2 and as a teenager experienced physical, emotional and sexual abuse by staff within a local institution. I also met two ladies who claimed to have experienced abuse within Uniting Church institutions. One of these commented to me that those who grew up in institutional care benefit a lot from a relationship with a secure person who provides an experience of acceptance and stability. Over all the years relating to my friend (17 years all up) I had always felt I was never doing enough to help. It seems just being a faithful friend was and is the best gift I can give.

It was an amazing experience and introduced me further to a group of people who have been disempowered and disadvantaged, whom God loves and whom He calls us (well I guess at least me) to serve well.

I continue to ask all of us to look beyond the circle of people with whom we naturally relate, asking God to show us those He wants us to befriend/serve/show His love to.