The UnitingJustice response (Discussion Paper on Marriage) is now available on their website.
MEDIA RELEASE – LGBTI Uniting Church members call for marriage equality
MEDIA RELEASE (Uniting Network Australia – NSW/ACT)
LGBTI Uniting Church members call for marriage equality
11 June 2014
Over 60 LGBTI members, families and allies, in the Uniting Church met for their 11th national conference over the Queens Birthday Long Weekend in Sydney.
The conference issued a call to the wider Uniting Church to act for justice for LGBTI people in various specific areas, such as marriage equality.
“There were many things we celebrated about the Uniting Church”, said Convenor Warren Talbot. “Uniting Church members place a high value on being inclusive.”
Talbot said that the conference held a constructive dialogue with the national head of the Uniting Church, the Revd Prof. Andrew Dutney; and the NSW leader, the Revd Dr Brian Brown.
“There are many areas where the Uniting Church can do more to welcome and affirm LGBTI people, our partners and children”, Talbot said.
The conference’s specific proposals to the Church include:
– Support for marriage equality.
– Safe programs for LGBTI students in Uniting Church schools.
– Non-discrimination for LGBTI staff and service users in community services and aged care.
– Overseas aid programs to support LGBTI communities.
Contact: Warren Talbot, Convenor, 0458 852 882
The full Conference statement is available here.
Daring to Celebrate program now available…
Click here for the Daring to Celebrate program for 6-9 June 2014
We hope you are as excited as we are! See you soon!
Please note you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to open and view this file. If you have any problems downloading please let us know.
Daring 2014 (6th – 9th June) – join us! Registrations open…
Leave a reply
“Daring to celebrate – reflections of faith, power and the not so normative.” (Conference)
At this conference we seek to engage in some public theology, education and narrative explorations of human sexuality that seeks to be holistic, just and loving in a way that is accessible to all.
VENUE: Pitt Street Uniting Church
264 Pitt Street
Sydney, NSW, 2000
CONTACT DETAILS: Rev Ben Gilmour (minister@paddingtonuca.org.au)
In 2014 we will have our conference in Sydney (6 – 9 June).
“Daring” is the National Conference of Uniting Network.
Registrations now open @
Logo recap – did you know?
The logo was used effectively as a symbol of solidarity at the Uniting Church Assembly, 1997, in Perth and has been a Uniting Network’s logo since that event.
About our Logo
This was hand rendered by one of our members and represents the multicoloured world from which we come.
An interpretation:
We are drawn together and bound by love and faith, as members of the many and multi-coloured threads in the fabric of life and faith.
The graphic pun, “u-(k)nit(t)ing” has been pointed out by many and was probably intentional.
Evolution of the logo:
Our logo derives from the threads image used at the very first Daring Gathering, from which Uniting Network grew. A new rendering was made.
UNA Resources – did you know?
Here are some UNA resources – click here for the full list…
The Bible and Homosexuality: Understanding the Word of God
Gay and Lesbian Couples: prayers and blessings?
Ministry from within the Church
Open and Affirming Congregations
Pastoral Care with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people
The Church and Homosexuality Questions:You Decide
Mental Health & The Gay Community – a conversation
An Open Conversation with Rev Matt Glover, Baptist minister and professional counselor.
Sunday June 30
3.00 – 4.30 pm
Nunawading Uniting Church
355 Whitehorse Road
For over fifteen years, Matt Glover has offered a ministry of welcome to members of the GLBTI community, most recently in Lilydale. Recent circumstances led Matt to initiate a counseling practice for those wrestling with issues of sexuality, gender and mental health. This conversation introduced by Rev Dr Paul Tonson will focus on understanding the gay community, what has contributed to bad mental health and how we can address that. It follows a popular Conversation last year with the parent of a gay young man.
Gold Coin for entry. Café discussion opportunity to follow.
UNA members dinner (Vic)
Join us for dinner on Saturday 26th of May at 6:30pm
Il Gambero Restaurant
166 Lygon Street, Carlton
Further details about the restaurant, including the menu, can be found at: http://www.ilgambero.com.au/
We will need to have some idea of numbers so we can book a table/tables with sufficient seating for us all so if you would be kind enough to RSVP (click attending on the Facebook event wall) &/or let Andie know via email (ashider@optusnet.com.au) or phone/SMS 0411 406 935 that would be helpful.
We look forward to seeing you on the night.
The next Daring conference is going to be held in Adelaide over the June long weekend. For UNA executive members to support the sorts of issues that are important to you all it is important that we have a good understanding of what those issues are so we can discuss them at the conference. As a way of getting your input into discussions, as well as having the chance to get together in a social setting, we are going to get together for a dinner in Melbourne.
All UNA members and their partners/families living in Victoria (or those of you that happen to visiting our fair State at that time) are welcome to join us.
The theme for the 2012 “Daring” gathering is…
“Daring to be family” – exploring being families today
Uniting Network Australia invites you…
Daring 2012
“Daring to be family” – exploring being families today
Adelaide gathering (8 – 11 June 2012)
Explore your faith
Enjoy workshops
Make friends & have fun
Worship
Share meals
Check out the draft programme here.
WHAT IS…WHO IS…DARING?
The Daring Gathering is a once-every-two-years gathering of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered people, their families, friends and supporters within the Uniting Church in Australia, who gather together from across the nation to reflect on their journey to date and envision their future. The first gathering was held in Adelaide in 1994, with the theme “Daring to speak – daring to listen”. The gathering is open to people of all faiths or no faith who are interested in supporting this journey.
Venue: Church of The Trinity (318 Goodwood Rd, Clarence Park, SA [only 5 mins from CBD])
Keynote Speaker: Rev Dr Margaret Maymen – from NZ
A Bio about Margaret
Margaret has been senior minister at St. Andrew’s on The Terrace since February 2002. She is passionate about creating joyful and inspiring worship, compassionate community, and the work of justice and peace. Margaret was ordained in 1982 after studying at Victoria University and Otago University for a BA in political science and religious studies, and a BTheol in Biblical and Pastoral Studies. After a short-term interim ministry, she moved to New York where she gained STM and M.Phil degrees in Christian Ethics and began PhD studies at Union Theological Seminary. She also taught feminist theology and ethics at Maryknoll School of Theology, and undergraduate Religious Studies at the New School for Social Research. In 1995, after 12 years in New York, Margaret retuned to New Zealand and was inducted as minister at St. Ninian’s in Christchurch. During that time, she completed her PhD, which was awarded in 2001. Her doctoral dissertation was titled “Raising Voices: Re-Visioning Moral Agency in Intimate Violence Discourses.” During her ministry in Christchurch, Margaret came out as lesbian and has been involved in working to promotes the inclusion of gay and lesbian people in the Presbyterian Church. From 2002 to 2005, Margaret participated in the annual United Nations Commission on the Status of Women meeting in New York, representing the Association of Presbyterian Women. She founded Christians for Civil Unions and advocated for the passage of the Civil Union Act. Margaret’s interests include politics and economics, queer spirituality, human rights advocacy, peace issues, sexual justice, reading fiction and theology, film, eclectic music, podcast documentaries, camping, and café culture.
Registrations now open – please complete & return registration form with your payment today PayPal options below).
Cost:
EARLY-BIRD EXTENDED UNTIL 31 MARCH – GET IN QUICK!
Early-bird (avail. until 31 March)
Waged $100.00 (pay now via PayPal)
Unwaged $90.00 (pay now via PayPal)
Late-birds (after 31 March)
Waged $120.00 (pay now via PayPal)
Unwaged $90.00 (pay now via PayPal)
Day-rate
Waged $50.00 (pay now via PayPal)
Unwaged $45.00 (pay now via PayPal)
½ day Waged $30.00 (pay now via PayPal)
Unwaged $25.00 (pay now via PayPal)
Children 5-14yrs $40 (pay now via PayPal)
Dinner/entertainment (Saturday night) $40pp (pay now via PayPal)
Free crèche
(available Sat, Sun afternoon, & Mon morning)
NOTE: All PayPal transactions include a small fee to cover costs.
Need accommodation?
Billetting is available (apply on reg. form above) OR there are some motels close by (Church of the Trinity is a 5 min. drive outside the City of Adelaide).
Suggestions
Adelaide Riviera – North Terrace
South Park Ridges – South Terrace
Chifftley on the Park – South Terrace
Green Ways – North Adelaide
For more info email leanne.jenski@optusnet.com.au or phone Val on 08 8293 3980 or find us on Facebook (“Daring 2012″).
Daring 2012 – location announced!
And the location is…
Adelaide!
Daring Gathering 2012
A coming event for 8 – 11 June 2012, in Adelaide.
Everyone is welcome!
Email daring@ucce.org.au for more info…
