P16 12 people share their personal perspectives - august 2021 - Crosslight
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august 2021
12 people share their
personal perspectives
P16
Special celebration (1) Special celebration (2)
I'm 101 and just got baptised P22 Ballarat's 160-year birthday P14
1
“
We decided intentionally
to call ourselves the Uniting
Church because uniting is
something we are called into
on a constant basis.
Several weeks ago, we celebrated the
44th anniversary of the Uniting Church.
”
weeks, I’ve been reflecting on so many
other ways in which Jesus’s prayer may
Many congregations and communities of be calling us into one-ness and how
faith marked that in worship, reflecting these have been part of the vision of the
on the prayer of Jesus that so inspired Uniting Church right from the beginning.
the UCA’s formation back in 1977. Jesus’s prayer for us, and Jesus’s
It was John 17:11 - “that they may calling to us, is that we may be one. It is
be one” - a prayer that, in our hearts a powerful thing when the Church lives
and lives, God may be glorified. We a way of life that is clearly and obviously
reflected on our identity as the Uniting different to the world of conflict, division
Church, asking questions such as, What and inequity that we live in.
is distinctive? What do we value? What We are called to be communities
do we find challenging? How are we characterised by the way we seek to
changing? overcome divisions, by the way we
Since then, I’ve found myself reflecting handle disagreements, by the way we
Reverend over and over again about all the sorts of use our time and energy, our wealth
contexts and ways in which Jesus might and properties for the good of the
Denise Liersch be imploring us to be one. And perhaps communities we are part of, by the way
it’s not surprising. Due to restrictions we live for the sake of the world God
Moderator on our gatherings, lots of birthday and loves.
Vic Tas Synod anniversary celebrations have been Over the past few weeks, I’ve had
strung out over many weeks. the privilege to see UCA communities
But really, it’s probably much more of faith living into this call and prayer
to do with something intrinsic to our of Jesus in so many different ways. I
identity as the Uniting Church. We shared with Murrumbeena, Leighmoor
decided intentionally to call ourselves and Coatesville congregations, who
the Uniting Church, not the United worshipped together last month for the
Church, because uniting is something very first time. They wanted to explore
we are called into on a constant basis. what they could do together in mission
Seeking unity is core to our DNA as the and discovered how good it was to pray
Uniting Church. Seeking unity in our and worship together.
hearts and lives with God and each other I shared with St Stephen’s and Electra
and our world is a way of life that is Street congregations in Williamstown:
central to our faith. distinct congregations who nevertheless
Many of us yearn for a recovery of that wanted to celebrate their common life in
1977 vision to live more fully into the Christ and shared stories of family, work
prayer of Jesus, and see this most fully and faith over morning tea.
expressed in recovering the ecumenical I shared stories and experiences
vision we had back then. There’s no with seasonal workers from Vanuatu
doubt, this remains important. working on farms in Gippsland and with
At the same time, over these past members of the Stratford congregation,
building connections of friendship and community, like inclusive social events, support. community gardens, homework clubs, I’ve heard survivors of child sexual ukulele groups and community choirs, abuse, telling their stories of the harm walking groups, community art projects of neglect and abuse, but also of how and community meals. they’ve risen up with courage and We are living in the time of Pentecost, resilience to be advocates and agents of asking ourselves the question of how we change and love and support for others. might live into the life Christ offers. I’ve heard stories of the impact of As we look back at the Acts Pentecost colonisation and the long-term harm story, we remember the people didn’t it has created for generations of find themselves all speaking the same families of First Peoples, and also of language. They didn’t all become the their grace and strength in reaching same as each other. They still spoke out to Second Peoples in seeking their own very different languages understanding and reconciliation and retained their particular culture – especially through Narana and and identity. But they discovered Leprena. that, when they attended to each I’ve heard stories of other and listened carefully, they communities during the storms could understand each other. and floods in the Dandenong, When Jesus prays that we may Macedon and Yarra Ranges and all be one, it doesn’t mean we Gippsland, neighbour reaching out to all have to be the same. neighbour, to offer meals, the warmth of It means knowing our their home, or access to their electricity distinctive differences, supply where they had it. we can listen to and And I’ve also heard people understand each other, expressing amazement at the and know how to live work of the Church in mission: with each other people giving of themselves in along with all our justice and advocacy work; differences. And work in emergency relief; in together for the good support for people of the world beyond living with disability; ourselves. putting their wealth What a powerful witness it and properties to work is to the gospel, when we live to support those living as fellowships of reconciliation, with homelessness; sharing what we have, and supporting vulnerable coming together as one for the families and children; sake of a shared love of the world supporting opportunities for God loves – living into Jesus’s prayer people to come together in for us, that we may be one.
approach
New president Sharon Hollis says the UCA must continue to engage with First Peoples
and embrace its multicultural communities.
By Rebecca Beisler
When Rev Sharon Hollis was named
President-elect of the Uniting Church in
Australia, the world was a different place.
It was pre-COVID-19.
“ I grew up thinking
it's possible to live
big picture thinking needed to reimagine
what might be.
Sharon comes to the role having
served in the UCA from a number of
Last month, Sharon was installed as alongside people who interesting perspectives – she was
the next President, the third woman to
hold the post, the first ordained woman
and the first person, irrespective of
gender, to take up the position in an
aren't like you.
Rev Sharon Hollis ” our Synod’s Moderator from 2016-19
and has been a ministry educator and
congregational leader.
As a young person, her identity was
Some might say a daunting task lies
environment no one predicted. ahead for Sharon to lead the Church formed within and by the UCA, and those
Even beyond COVID-19, there are through this pivotal time of self- experiences have shaped the hopes she
many changing circumstances in our reflection and change, but if there is one carries for the Church going forward.
society and in our Church which have theme that is constant in Sharon’s life, When she was eight, Sharon’s
left many of us asking: what is the UCA’s it has been change. She has lived it, led family moved to Keilor Park under the
future? people through it and relishes the kind of flightpath of Melbourne’s Tullamarine
4
Airport. It was a hub of cultures and
languages of largely European migrants.
“We lived on a street with over 100
“faithRevwasJimtoMurray helped me understand that if your
have any integrity, it had to be embedded
”
houses and there were only two English-
speaking families,” Sharon says. There in committed action in the world.
were people from Hungary, Germany, Rev Sharon Hollis
Malta, Italy and Greece.
“It struck me when we moved to “I guess I grew up thinking it’s possible Monash University opened a new world.
the country how I’d really taken that to live alongside people who aren’t like “My horizons expanded beyond
for granted. It wasn’t something that you.” anything I’d ever known, both socially
was celebrated like we celebrate At 13, Sharon moved to her mother’s and culturally, but particularly
multiculturalism today, but you would home town of Finley, a small town in intellectually,” Sharon says.
hear different languages coming out of the Riverina region of NSW where she “I did a subject on how women are
your neighbour’s backyards and smell finished her schooling. Moving back to portrayed in Australian history, and I
different foods. Melbourne to begin an Arts Degree at became a feminist. It gave me that sense
Continued P6
5
From P5
that learning can change you and can congregation,” Sharon says. “They didn’t
give you real insight and power.” fight it. They just said, ‘let’s work out the
It was also a formative time for her best way to do this’.”
identity as a Christian. Sharon walked alongside the
“It was probably my first exposure to congregation and helped them discern
how negatively some people view the their priorities for transferring to a
Church,” Sharon says. new congregation. In the end, the
“I had to work out what it meant to congregation unanimously agreed to a
engage in social justice from a faith new home and they all moved together.
perspective. When that wasn’t the “When we all met a year later, they all
motivating factor for most people, looked at me and I said, ‘Oh, we should
how do you make peace with that in have done it earlier. It’s been so fantastic.
yourself?” They’ve been so welcoming’,” Sharon
A key mentor for Sharon at the time says.
was Rev Jim Murray, the minister at Sharon is still full of admiration for the
Monash Uniting Church. community’s mature approach.
“He helped me understand that if your “They were able to find new life
faith was to have any integrity, it had to because they ended the old one,” she
be embedded in committed action in the says. “It might not have emerged in the
world,” she says. same way if they hadn’t been willing to
Not long after university, Sharon say, ‘this congregation’s life is ending’.
discerned a call to ministry. She “It was a very hopeful and faithful
describes life as an ordained minister as experience.”
an honour and privilege. Sharon has also found hope in the
“To be able to preach every week, darkest moments of her own life.
open up scripture, and help people see Nearly eight years ago, Sharon’s
the way of God in the text, to accompany husband, Michael, took his own life. They
people through major life transitions had been married for 19 years. At the
and be with people in the darkest of time of his death, Sharon says she pulled Image: Nicole Cleary
moments, just to be able to encounter on all her intellectual knowledge of grief
people at depth, is really rewarding,” she and loss, but that didn’t make it easy.
says. “People say, ‘I don’t know how you
keep going’ but you don’t get a lot of
choice,” she says. “I had two daughters “I think we need those courageous
“ What life-giving
communities of faith do
and I had to get up every day and at least
make their lunch and pack them off to
school.
conversations about the way we do
things,” Sharon says.
“Is this way of being or structure or
is help people notice and “I said to myself, this can either break
me or it can break me open and I want
project helping us be the community
we want to be? That takes a lot of
see where God is in the to choose to be broken open by it. And I discernment and being willing to listen
hope it’s made me a better, wiser, more to each other, and to own our sadness
world and equip them to compassionate person. when we need to let go.”
participate in that.
”
“I still miss him all the time. I’m still For Sharon, the future conversation is
deeply grateful for having known him. also about hope.
Rev Sharon Hollis He had a great capacity to be supportive “One of the phrases that has stuck
and encouraging and I still feel the legacy with me from the Act2 conversation is
In her first congregational placement, of that all the time.” the end goal of ‘life-giving communities
Sharon was called to a congregation that A key project during Sharon’s term of faith’,” she says.
was in the last years of its life. as President will be to help lead the Sharon hopes the Act2 project will
Eighteen months into the placement, Assembly’s Act2 conversation – a process inspire us to be more creative in thinking
when all avenues for survival were of discernment about where God is about what a community of faith looks
exhausted, the congregation voted to calling the Church into the future. like; whether it’s online, face-to-face or
close and gave themselves 18 months to Sharon says this may mean sitting gathered for a short time, and to rethink
prepare. in the uncomfortable space between the ways the Church is engaged in the
“I have such high regard for that endings and new beginnings. world.
6
“Wethathavewe toarekeep reminding ourselves
a multilingual church
”
Rev Sharon Hollis
“What life-giving communities of faith that and really work out what it means.” culture embedded in them. I hope it
do is help people notice and see where At the 16th Assembly online meeting prompted people to find someone who
God is in the world and equip them to in July, Sharon invited First Nations spoke another language and asked them
participate in that,” she says. students from Nungalinya College to how they drew out different meaning
For Sharon, how the UCA engages in lead the Bible Study. when they read it.”
the public space unequivocally starts “I’m intrigued and really glad we had Sharon is also aware that stepping into
with how we as a Church and as a nation that opportunity to hear those leaders the role of President requires switching
come to terms with the dispossession open scripture for us and to hear what her own perspective from a Synod lens
of Australia’s First Peoples and the they wanted to say to us about what to a national perspective.
continuing privilege most of us have it meant to live together in love, and “I have belonged and worked in the
because of it. what that demanded of us as Second Synod of Victoria and Tasmania for
“Our First People have gifted us with Peoples,” she says. nearly 30 years,” she says. “It’s a part
the Statement from the Heart, and the Another way Sharon hoped the 16th of my life I’ve always been involved in.
generosity in that continues to stagger Assembly helped the Church think There’s a little bit of grief in that part of
me - that a people dispossessed by us differently was the intentional use of my life coming to an end, but I am also
would come back and say they would different languages to communicate the looking forward to seeing the future
like to have another go to set this right,” theme “Dwelling in Love”. of the UCA from all of the unique and
she says. “We have to keep reminding ourselves diverse perspectives that we have across
“I think if we miss that opportunity, it’s that we are a multilingual church,” she our Church.”
catastrophic for us as a nation. says. Whatever lies ahead, change is certain.
“Our own Preamble is a beginning, but “We all speak many languages and Sharon will no doubt lead with creativity,
we still have a long way to go to live into those languages have meaning and energy, resilience and hope.
7
our s tes
Many of our churches were built for communities that no longer exist as they once did and,
as such, have become under-utilised or, in some cases, empty. But those very churches can
enrich their congregations and communities in ways not previously possible.
By Andrew Humphries
On November 11, 1880, bushranger Rev Daniel Draper’s grand vision for “It is undeniably at present the finest
Ned Kelly was hanged at Old Melbourne Wesley Church was of a Gothic design, church in Australasia, and will bear
Gaol, reportedly uttering the phrase featuring high-quality architecture favourable comparison with many of the
“such is life” as he met the noose. and, while that vision was criticised by churches of the old country.”
Kelly’s death came just 46 years after some as being too ornate, his design More than 160 years after its
pioneer Edward Henty had established prevailed, the foundation stone was laid construction, a revamped Wesley
Victoria’s first European settlement at on December 2, 1857 and the first service Church now takes pride of place as
Portland Bay, 360km west of Melbourne, was held on August 26, 1858. part of the $200 million Wesley Place
in 1834. Daniel’s vision had come at a cost of redevelopment in Lonsdale St, with
Just 23 years after Henty’s deed, £26,000, the equivalent of more than $2 restoration of the church itself costing
Wesley Church was built in the heart of million today and, for that sort of money, about $6 million, about three times the
Melbourne. attracted more than a few accolades. original cost of construction.
Originally a Wesleyan Church, it “No visitor of Melbourne can fail to be The 35-storey office complex was
became a Methodist Church in the struck with the very large and handsome constructed on land owned by the
union of 1902, and then part of the ecclesiastical edifice in Lonsdale Street, Uniting Church, on and around Wesley
Uniting Church following the union with known as Wesley church,” John C Church, and a partnership arrangement
the Congregational and Presbyterian Symons wrote in his 1870 biography, Life with developer Charter Hall means
churches in 1977. of the Reverend Daniel James Draper. the site has not been sold, but is being
8
Image: P. Archavin
“from
leased from the Uniting Church for 125 former Synod abundance with
years, assuring the Church’s future as Moderator This principle of sharing needier parts
a place of worship and community
gathering.
and National
Assembly
our abundance with of the church is
reflected in the
So as the UC’s spiritual home in
Victoria, Wesley Church has an important
President
Alistair Macrae
needier parts of the church way we have dealt
with property
role to play, but can the same be said for firmly believes is reflected in the way we sale proceeds for
every church, church hall, manse and
related building within the Victorian and
congregations
should be
have dealt with property decades,” Alistair
says.
Tasmanian Synod?
As times change and congregation
numbers dwindle, particularly in
considering the
issue carefully.
Alistair says
sale proceeds for decades.
Alistair Macrae ” “A significant
percentage of such
sales is directed
regional areas, is it time that serious the principle of to the broader
questions are asked about what use can sharing resources across the Christian mission resourcing of the church so that
be made of buildings that are surplus to community has deep Biblical roots, and the whole church benefits, especially
requirements and could potentially reap he cites Paul’s call for mutual aid in 2 those parts of the church that may not
financial benefits? Corinthians 8: 7-15 as a perfect example. have valuable property and other assets
Current Wesley Church Minister and “This principle of sharing from our to finance mission.”
Continued P10
9
From P9
Alistair says it is incumbent on church
officials to look at how assets not being
used can be utilised for the betterment
of all.
“It is clear that currently our Church
has very significant asset resources
that are underutilised, giving the lie
to our professed understanding of
stewardship,” he says.
“In many cases, we have received
these assets from the sacrifice and
generosity of our forebears. We honour
them by acting creatively, imaginatively
and generously, asking the Spirit to
use these received resources for the
proclamation of the good news, the
embodiment of God’s reign and the
service of God’s world.”
In regional Victoria and metropolitan
Melbourne, Ballarat and Airport West
represent interesting case studies in how
the sale of church assets has ensured
the funding of ongoing missional work,
benefiting congregations and the wider
community.
In Ballarat, Pleasant Street Uniting
Church (formerly Wesleyan Methodist)
and Wendouree Uniting Church
were both sold in September 2019,
with part of the proceeds opening
up opportunities to fund a range of
initiatives within the Presbytery of
Western Victoria.
“beenOurused
congregation has
to a history of
amalgamations from the
days when we had four services in Ballarat. “The Presbytery was “We have invested in the chaplaincy
the beneficiary of those sale proceeds program because we believe it’s not
churches and a parish and and as a result it is able to fund the just a benefit to Ballarat, but also to the
usually this was done for Ballarat Regional Health Care chaplaincy
program,” Trevor says.
whole of the presbytery.”
None of this happens, though, without
missional purposes.
Ken Baker ” “So that money is able to fund a
full-time chaplain who co-ordinates
volunteer chaplains for the major
tough but necessary decisions needing
to be made around what happens
to church property that is no longer
hospitals in Ballarat, as well as some of needed, but can be put to use in a
Presbytery Minister for Pastoral the nursing homes. financial sense.
Leadership and Education, Rev Trevor “A lot of people in western Victoria In fact, some properties are not just
Bassett, says the sale of the Pleasant have to come to Ballarat for major no longer needed, they are often a drain
Street and Wendouree buildings has medical procedures, so we think the on financial resources through ongoing
enabled the presbytery to fully resource whole presbytery benefits from having a maintenance, rates and associated costs.
the Bev Pratt Chaplaincy Centre and its chaplaincy network in Ballarat. When looking at all of this, Trevor
10“ We have invested in
the chaplaincy program
because we believe it’s not
just a benefit to Ballarat,
but also to the whole of
the presbytery.
Rev Trevor Bassett ”
argues there is little to weigh up and he have had and it is also freeing them up wouldn’t have been available. “Our
is firmly in the camp that says utilising from the worry of maintaining ageing congregation has been used to a history
the proceeds from the sale of church properties that are falling into poor of amalgamations from the days when
infrastructure no longer needed is clearly repair. we had four churches and a parish and
the way to go. “It really is a win-win situation (for usually this was done for missional
“I’m very much a supporter of that congregations).” purposes,” he says.
concept,” he says. About 110km away in Melbourne, “After the parish went in the mid-
“I think it represents a really positive Airport West Uniting Church members 2000s, we were left with two churches,
step for the church that is going to are also reaping the rewards after St Mark’s in Keilor East and St Phillip’s in
enable a lot of smaller congregations making the decision to divest some Airport West, and in 2012 it was decided
to divest property that is really just a church assets after the amalgamation of to become one church.”
millstone around their neck. congregations. This move meant a decision was made
“This means that money is now Their decision, says chairperson to sell the Keilor East site and renovate
being freed up to provide missional Ken Baker, has opened up a range of and extend the Airport West site, which
opportunities which they would never missional possibilities which otherwise contained two blocks of land that the
Continued P13
11“It has attracted a population, area. It was such a social hub (with) all
extraordinary in number, with year-round activities’.”
unprecedented rapidity; it has Christopher writes that many years
enhanced the value of property to ago, churches were a much bigger part
an enormous extent and it has of local communities.
made this the richest country “In the 19th and early 20th
in the world. centuries, when most of Melbourne
“In less than three years, it and Victoria’s churches were built,
has done for this colony the vast edifices with seating for hundreds
work of an age, and made were filled every Sunday,” he writes.
its impulses felt in the most “(It was) not just one church per
distant regions of the earth.” suburb or town, but five at least.
In Ballarat, the then- “Those churches were often of great
Wesleyan church, which became architectural merit. Indeed, churches
Pleasant Street Uniting Church, are not uncommonly the finest
opened in 1867 at the grand cost buildings in their community.”
of £1700, the equivalent of about Retired Minister and Uniting Church
$500,000 today. Historical Society member Robert
For what was to follow, that £1700 Renton says the importance of early
seems to have been a bargain, as the church services was reflected in how
By Andrew Humphries church played a pivotal community they were reported in the local media.
role over the next 150 years. “In the 19th century, and to some
In 2019, Pleasant Street Uniting
Churches such as Pleasant Street extent in the first half of the 20th
Church in the heart of Ballarat was
became more than just places century, local newspapers reported
sold, ending more than 150 years as a
of worship and were, in fact, on Sunday’s church services, and
place of worship.
cornerstones of the community: a occasionally printed the sermons of
The proceeds from its sale, and that
special place where people travelled the ministers,” he says.
of Wendouree Uniting Church, have
long distances to gather in a “Oratory was still regarded as
allowed the Presbytery of Western
communal sense. something of a gift and was highly
Victoria to fully fund chaplaincy
For many pastoral families, the valued, so sermons could extend
services in the region, offering
Sunday service was the only time well beyond the 12 minutes of more
support and hope to many people.
they travelled into “town” all week, modern times to up to 30 or even 40
The construction of Pleasant
making it a grand occasion and a minutes in length, or even longer.”
Street offers a snapshot into one of
major day out. This was a period in which
Australia’s most famous periods, the
Long-time journalist Christopher ministers really did “tower” over the
time when Ballarat was gripped by
Akehurst has been visiting and writing congregation, thanks to “a central
fever: “gold fever”.
about churches for many years and pulpit so high that the Lord’s Table
Beginning in the 1850s and
describes Pleasant Street as “a good was dwarfed down on the floor”, says
continuing to the late 1860s, the gold
example of a local church as centre of former minister and historical society
rush led to a period of extreme wealth,
social life as well as worship”. member Peter Aumann.
setting regions including those around
“A fourth-generation Pleasant In the 1950s, though, that was
Ballarat and Bendigo on the path to
Street member reminisced in beginning to change, as ministers
prosperity.
the (Ballarat) Courier that in her youth saw the need to better engage with
“The discovery of the Victorian
‘so much … activity was church- congregations.
Goldfields has converted a remote
based. There were church dances “By the 1950s, ministers were
dependency into a country of
and there was a very strong Ballarat coming down out of high pulpits
worldwide fame,” the Victorian Gold
churches tennis association which anyway, they needed to be more
Discovery Committee wrote in 1854.
was the main tennis association in this informal” Peter says.
12From P11
congregation was encouraged to make church assets that are no longer of “Those were times of great suburban
use of in terms of a sale. practical use. expansion, when, as earlier, all
That decision, says Ken, has allowed “As far as I’m concerned, it’s the only denominations wanted a local place of
the congregation to ensure ongoing way to go,” Ken says. worship in each locality.
funding for important missional work. “In our case, some people were “According to the Heritage Council
“The only avenue for us to have an initially disappointed about the decision of Victoria, 743 places of worship were
income to ensure our ministry into the to sell the two blocks of land, as they constructed between 1945 and 1994
future was to sell those blocks of land were used for extra parking, but they in the Melbourne metropolitan area
and we did that in December last year,” could see the missional benefits in doing alone, and the congregations were
he says. so. there to go to them, since most families
With the congregation about to begin “I know that there are churches sitting still maintained some sort of church
receiving the proceeds from the interest on buildings they no longer use, but connection.
on the sale of the blocks, with settlement they have to maintain them and that will “In those same suburbs, such customs
confirmed in April, Ken says their become an expense into the future. and habits have all but vanished and it
financial future is now guaranteed. “I don’t think it’s good stewardship to is there that churches, some no more
“The outcome from the sale is sit on anything that you are not using.” than 50 years old, are most seriously
a favourable one for us because it As times change and other interests threatened.
guarantees us an income,” he says. take priority, church attendances have “The young parents who took their
“We want to be able to maintain a continued to fall, as places of worship no children to them when the buildings
minister and continue our programs and longer hold the same pull they once did. were new are old now or dead.
this enables us to have a viable financial Journalist “The new
“wouldn’t
future. and church generations that
“We would probably be OK with what historian without this money we buy their houses
we have now for another four or five
years but, beyond that, we need an
Christoper
Akehurst has
have been able don’t go to church.
Many of these
income of several thousand dollars (a tracked the to keep anyone in ministry, post-war churches
year) to remain in the black. changing face are buildings of
“So the income from the interest of worship over because if we were looking architectural quality
accrued from the sale of the blocks
amounts to about $35,000 a year and
the years and
laments the fact
for a minister today, I and emblematic
of the taste of their
that will enable us to continue with our that dwindling couldn’t say with any time.”
programs, have a minister and also put congregation And while we
aside money for any renovations needed numbers confidence that we could may feel a sense of
down the track.
“The fact is that without this money
means many
churches, of all
pay them in five years’ sadness at this loss
and the passing of
we wouldn’t have been able to keep
anyone in ministry, because if we were
looking for a minister today, I couldn’t
denominations,
now face the
prospect of
time.
”
Ken Baker
history, perhaps an
opportunity opens
up.
say with any confidence that we could closure. Yes, some churches
pay them in five years’ time.” “The other category of churches most and other assets may not be viable, as
As a former school principal, Ken in danger now are those in Melbourne or congregation numbers no longer support
knows his way around budgets and the provincial-city suburbs that were built them, but that doesn’t mean they don’t
need to make tough decisions around in the two decades before the Second represent a final gift: the opportunity
finances and, like Trevor, says there World War and the five decades after,” he for sale and ongoing funding of vital
should be little debate around selling writes in his blog, Here Today. missional work.
13All
in the Laurenne admits to a feeling of great
pride around what Neil Street has
contributed to her and the wider
family
community.
“I get very teary at times when I think
about it,” she says.
“It’s my spiritual home and it’s my
family.”
However, that emotion is balanced
by reality, and Laurenne acknowledges
that it makes sense to consider selling
By Donald Moss some of Neil Street’s assets, which are
no longer useful, to ensure its financial
future.
“We have already looked at selling
Laurenne Robertson admits to for services, with about 40 people the old manse, which is very rundown,
becoming quite emotional when she attending on a weekly basis, as COVID-19 and is too much for us now (in terms of
talks about what the Neil Street Uniting restrictions have had an impact on upkeep),” she says.
Church (pictured) means to her. numbers. “As time goes on, we might look at
That’s hardly surprising, given the fact Laurenne says the number of doing something with the first two
that five generations of her family have worshippers during those early years churches because they also need so
worshipped at the historic church on would have numbered comfortably in much work done on them.
Ballarat’s Soldiers Hill. the hundreds, as the church became a “We’re definitely receptive to having a
In fact, the site contains three distinct weekly focal point of life in the growing conversation (around the possible sale
churches, making it, Laurenne believes, city. of some church assets).”
unique in Australia. “The number attending would As secretary-treasurer, Laurenne is
“I’m not sure any other congregation certainly have been in the hundreds and, heavily involved with administrative
in the country would have three separate even when the first church opened, there matters relating to Neil Street and, while
churches on their site,” she says. were about 80 children taking part in it takes up a large amount of her time,
And to suggest those three churches Sunday School,” she says. she can’t imagine doing anything more
have played a major role in the Ballarat “They used to have an anniversary rewarding.
community for many years would be a in the largest of the churches and “It really is a labour of love as far as I’m
serious understatement. there would be 400 children on a large concerned,” she says.
They have, in their own way, become platform at the front of it. That devotion is easy to understand
part of the fabric of the city’s life for “If you add two parents for each of when you consider that Laurenne can
nearly 160 years. those children, you are looking at a huge trace her family’s involvement with Neil
The original church opened on August congregation.” Street back to the late 1800s.
25, 1861, as an alternative to the Lydiard Such was the level of support from “I’m actually the fourth generation
Street Wesleyan Church which, although worshippers at that time, Laurenne says on my mum’s side of the family to have
just a mile away across Gnarr Creek, Neil Street would hold three services come here, but it’s really five generations
became almost impossible to get to each Sunday to accommodate everyone. because my son now also attends,” she
during winter as heavy rain turned the This year marks the 160th anniversary says proudly.
creek into a muddy bog. of the first service at Neil Street and, “In the late 1800s, my great-
With Ballarat’s population growing while it will be a low-key event, the grandfather came from England and
quickly, the original church wasn’t occasion will be marked with a service attended Neil Street. My mum used to
considered big enough and, in 1866, a on September 12. sing in the choir here, and did so when
second church was built, with the first “We had a huge celebration (in 2011) she was pregnant with me, so I can say
service there held on March 3, 1867. for our 150th anniversary, but we won’t that I have been attending for 64 years.”
However, 20 years later, it was decided go that big this time around as we can
even that church wasn’t large enough to only have 172 people attending due to Likely COVID restrictions will limit the
accommodate congregation numbers, COVID-19 restrictions,” Laurenne says. number of worshippers at the 160th
and a third church was constructed, “It will be low key, but it will still be a anniversary service on September 12.
opening on October 30, 1892. special service.” If you would like to attend, contact
That church is currently used As that 160th anniversary approaches, Laurenne at laurennejr@gmail.com
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15Putting the
in Uniting
A new book chronicles the lived experience of 21 members of the Uniting Church.
Their reflections are honest, insightful, illuminating and sometimes inspiring.
These are edited extracts.
“
WE TRY NEW WAYS OF WORSHIP It’s not always easy, but I think it’s
Our Church’s By Michelle Harris so important. It’s basic to our faith and
The Uniting Church was a risk. humanity and contributes to our sense
willingness to What a leap of faith, bringing three of belonging.
try new ways of denominations together. I’m sure there
would have been doubters, and there
The Uniting Church, of course, has
its struggles. Some of these are unique;
worship, to were definitely dissenters. But it has some of them I feel are societal. It seems
worked. It’s not perfect and it might to be a societal problem that people are
value both traditional and not last forever. But it has shown me joining and volunteering less and less in
modern, old and new, is sometimes you have to take that leap.
Being part of the Uniting Church
community organisations.
The commitment to live and learn
encouraging.
” means being part of community. And
being part of a community, amongst
other things, means serving others.
and grow, the continued effort and
struggle to be a relevant church in the
21st century is what makes me stick with
16
16the Uniting Church. There are several
other reasons as well. Our Church’s work
and relationship with our Aboriginal and
Islander brothers and sisters through
“ I attend
rarely, but the
I NEEDED TO FORGIVE MYSELF
By Katrina Davis
Just before I started my HSC my family
moved again, this time to the outskirts
UAICC (Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Uniting Church of Sydney.
Christian Congress) is another.
Our continuing relationships with, and
is still my I had three resolutions when I moved.
The first was to join a gym (this took
support for, overseas partner churches church and I am proud of another 20 years). The second was to get
”
is another. Also, our Church’s willingness a job (didn’t happen until university).
to try new ways of worship, to value both it. It has saved me. The third was to join a youth group.
traditional and modern, old and new, is The youth group at the local Uniting
encouraging. Church was a huge success. There
Michelle Harris has completed tertiary was nothing like it in the small town
studies in education and theology. I had come from. I had tremendous
Continued P18
17
17From P17
fun with this group of young people. I
felt connection and belonging. I had a
proper grown-up spiritual life of my own
and I took to this and to the social life
(with groundings in a Buddhist, rather
than Christian tradition).
None of this critical reflection should
be taken as the definitive judgement of
“Church’s
The Uniting
with enthusiasm. the influence that the Uniting Church support for
I still drink from my commemorative
1997 National Christian Youth
has had on me. I have been shaped in
profoundly positive ways as well.
many justice
Convention mug. My parents took some Many of the values that I aspire causes is both a strength
”
convincing to let me fly all the way to to reflect have come from Christian
Tasmania for the convention, but I am so influence. I believe governments and weakness.
glad they did. I had never experienced should intervene and intervene often
anything like it: young people like me with outlandish compassion and I vote INVEST IN CHILDREN AND YOUTH
from all over the country, so much accordingly. I try really hard to avoid By Glenda Downie
talent and creativity on display, amazing holding people in judgement. I rail I believe the future of the church is its
speakers, and buckets of fun. against ever writing someone off. I don’t children and youth; without investing
My beliefs became more fully my own doubt there are many close friends and significantly in them, the church will
during these years. I unquestioningly distant acquaintances who could testify literally die.
believed that Jesus died for my sins. I to my failings in all these areas, but my One of the attractions of the Uniting
understood that if I believed in Jesus and failure to inhabit these values does not Church is its ability to welcome all:
gave my heart to him that I would go to negate their importance to me. “just as you are”. However, welcoming
heaven when I died and not to hell. The bulk of these “blessings” come can only go so far if you do not have
The theology I listened to and from the latter part of my Christian programs or supports in place to
endorsed at this time was hugely life when I was an active member of encourage families and young people
impactful, but not always positively. The a progressive, inner-city church. We to stay and become connected. The
most fundamental tenet of this theology, celebrated the leadership of women congregations themselves can only do so
as I understood it, was that I was a sinner and LGBTIQ+ people. We honoured the much without support from Synods.
and I deserved punishment. A lifeline sacred texts and sought their historic As a children’s worker, I am often
was offered in the divinity of Jesus and contemporary meaning. We were, disappointed that United Theological
who could forgive my sins. Critically, at worst, a bit wordy and exclusively College does not offer children’s
forgiveness didn’t provide a free pass to erudite, but this matched my devotional ministry-specific day courses or
sin. Despite never being able to achieve bent. intensives to help develop those already
worthiness in the sight of God through I attend rarely, but the Uniting Church involved in youth work. While this might
my own actions, I received the message is still my church and I am proud of it. It not be the intention of the Uniting
that I must never stop trying. has saved me. I still turn to its stories in Church, it does tend to scream “young
The theological understandings making sense of my life. I am cross that it people are not our focus or who we
important to me have changed hurt me. I take comfort in the belief that value”.
considerably since these first years I will one day return when we are ready The Uniting Church’s support for many
of adulthood, but even in the more again for each other. justice causes is both a strength and
“progressive” churches that I have Katrina Davis is an aspiring writer. weakness. While for the most part many
attended since then, theology has been Continued P20
a central preoccupation. Not necessarily
in sermons or theological reflections, but
orders of service still included confession
and absolution as non-negotiable
liturgical beats.
I wonder what might have been
achieved if instead of being encouraged,
albeit gently, to confront my sins, I
was taught how to live with mistakes,
to recognise the common humanity
rather than individual sinfulness that is
inherent in mistake making, and to learn
to forgive myself.
This is the work of the self-compassion
journey that I have started in mid-life
1819
From P18
“
My Christian
causes need our love and attention, they years, and I wonder now how my parents
should never be at the expense of its carried the hopes and expectations of
people. When an issue begins to divide faith was an the Uniting Church on their shoulders.
and causes disunity within the Church, How they must have stood in that
I begin to wonder if it is truly wise to oddity in my ghastly gap, between what was and what
pursue it.
At times it can seem like these causes
circle of could be.
Traditions and dreams colliding,
sap all our energy, leaving children and friends. I was the God- generations held together in grace, yes,
young people bereft of love, safety, and but also in the pain of loss, and that
a place to belong to and be hopeful, believing kid, and I was peculiar grief of a slowly dying church.
”
something only Christ can provide. You see, growing up Uniting means
I yearn that believers in Christ would OK. I never saw the golden years of the
invest in children and young people in church. I never heard the sound of a
the same way people invested in me UNITING MEANS BELONGING Sunday School filled to the brim with
through my childhood and teenage By Elizabeth Elia children.
years. While the frustration I have I think it was in the childhood of my faith I never knew the certainty of all my
experienced in recent years has made that I became aware of “the Christian friends going to church.
me question my loyalty to the Church, I veneer” and the lengths to which we I never knew what had been lost or
realise no church is perfect. God calls me might go to hide our true self, our how the church’s decline permeates
to be where I am for his purposes alone doubts, our fears and failures. every Hallelujah, filling my Uniting
and this is the driving force that keeps Having a dad as a minister deeply Church with perpetual grief and
me within the fold of the Uniting Church. imprinted on me the reality that our resurrection hope.
Glenda Downie is engaged in ministers are only ever human, thanks Eventually life’s tragedies and
children’s ministry at Pittwater UC, be to God! triumphs brought my family to the
NSW. These were in many ways difficult Blue Mountains, where I would soon
20“identity
meet Rev Marjory who would be called my circle of friends. Yet I was grounded
to Leura Uniting Church. She wore in the ability to wonder and question, My Yolnu
colourful dangly earrings. She told
stories. She spoke of God like a woman.
I was so committed to inclusion and
acceptance, that it wasn’t hard for my
keeps
I will be forever grateful to have grown friends to accept me. I was the God- me strong. As a
up in a church where gender was not a believing kid, and I was OK.
stumbling block to imagining myself in When I think back on the communities Yolnu Christian
ministry.
The term “Bible-believing church”
that have shaped my growing up I am
filled with gratitude and hope for the
I think we have something
somehow entered my consciousness as future of the Uniting Church. to bring the wider
”
a young person, the implication being Growing up Uniting means creating
that some churches, that is the Uniting safe places of belonging. It means seeing church.
Church, didn’t really believe in the Bible. and nurturing potential, but also making
The truth is I didn’t grow up reading space for trying and failing. It means LET’S LISTEN TO YOUNG PEOPLE
the Bible “religiously”. carrying one another in our grief and By Justine Ganwanygawany
But what I did learn was how to frustration and when things fall apart. As a child I went to youth programs but
question and wrestle with the scriptures. It means learning to tell your own story, as I got older I dropped out of going to
I was given a safe space to doubt and which is also our story and God’s story. It church.
rage and wonder what on earth this holy means listening for God’s call in the lives I was a single mum and life was a bit of
text could mean for my life and for the of the church and community who love a struggle. And I was working and pretty
life of the world. you. stressed. I spent a lot of time at card
For someone growing up in a It means continuing the wonderful and games.
predominantly secular environment, this lifelong journey of growing up. One night I lost all my money Ŋ
way of “reading” the Bible was helpful. Elizabeth Elia is the Minister at gambling. This wasn’t unusual but on
My Christian faith was an oddity in Glenbrook UC, NSW. this night I became aware of music
Continued P22
21Rev Sani Vaeluaga has done in-a-million done in ministry life.
many wonderful things in his time experience,” “(There is a great
as a Minister, but one of the most he says. message around this)
memorable occurred recently when “It’s an for not only Eve, but
he fulfilled a 101-year-old woman’s incredible her family and the
dearest wish. story and, church, in the sense
On May 20, Sani had the remarkable from what I that in faith and hope
honour of baptising Lara aged care heard from it is never too early or
resident Eve Crumpton (Eve and Sani the family, it too late to celebrate
are pictured right). seems there such an occasion.”
Sani and Eve’s pastoral carer, Beryl were circumstances that meant she Eve was born in the UK and married
Kenny, conducted the baptism, while couldn’t be baptised as a child. Raymond in 1943. They had three
her family was also there to witness the “But she still had that dream and children – Wendy, Susan and Paul –
special event at the Costa House aged that hope with her, and it goes to show before moving to Australia in 1952 and
care facility, where Eve lives. that it doesn’t matter how old you settling in Lara.
Not surprisingly, Eve’s baptism broke are, if something is so significant and Ray died in 2013 but Eve still
new ground for Sani, who was only too important to you, the right time and is in good health. She now has
happy to play his part. opportunity will come along. eight grandchildren and 12 great-
“I have never baptised anyone over “It was such a privilege to be able to grandchildren.
100 before, so it brought a whole new share it with Eve and it’s certainly one When asked how she felt after the
dimension to baptism and was a one- of the most memorable things I have event, Eve said simply: “At peace.”
Leave a lasting
legacy.
Planning an estate is a personal process and
a time to reflect on what matters most. If you
are considering including Uniting in your Will,
we would love to hear from you.
Call us
03 9051 4743
Visit
unitingvictas.org.au/gift-in-will
Uniting is the community services organisation
of the Uniting Church in Victoria and Tasmania.
22From P21
coming from the church mob who were together. Both are water, they meet and throughout the last few years especially
having fellowship outside. I remember mingle, like different tribes. We might where I have questioned the point of
the words of the song were “There is a travel together or separate but we come having a belief in something as strongly
place for you.” together, we are connected. as some do.
An internal tug of war was going on If you ask me what my hopes are, I have questioned the existence of
inside of me, whether to go and hang out I remember how recently my young any god(s) at all, especially in high
with another group of card players or cousin, Abigail, was carrying a bag with school where most of my peers openly
go and join the church people. I had my a Bible in it. She said, “I want to be a expressed a disbelief and distrust in the
daughter with me and we went towards minister.” I don’t know what she’ll grow Christian God, in particular, and the ones
the sound of the music. up to be but I felt happy to think that this who didn’t were right-wing conservative
I sat down in the shadows, furthest was something she was thinking about, traditionalists and with that latter group
from the light. Listening to the words a possibility. I shared polar opposite views about
of that song I was asking in my heart if I hope the church can encourage and most things. Any that were in between
God has a place for me. My little girl kept listen to young people. Many have so were too afraid to disclose their minority
saying she wanted to sit closer to the much to share and good stories to tell belief, or if they followed a religion other
light. so we need to give them opportunities than Christianity.
That night I made a choice. I got up to lead. I hope we can give space to My faith and spirituality is what most
and moved into the circle of light. My newcomers. We need their gifts. would describe as an unconventional
heart was thumping. And I found myself Justine Ganwanygawany works as and progressive view of religion. I believe
crying as if the outer shell had broken. an assistant teacher in Ramingining in a God who is perhaps a creative force,
I felt the need to kneel down and pray. community school and is currently a positive energy, a mystery that is
And it was like light was shining all doing a Diploma in Translation Studies not meant to be fully known, in order
around me giving me a new start. at Nungalinya College, NT. for us to find ourselves amongst the
I prayed to the sky, “Now I know it’s uncertainty of life.
you Lord. And you want me not to keep I do not believe you have to be
“believe
wasting all my money and wasting my religious in order to be a good person,
life. You have a purpose for me”. I do not but I believe my faith has had a very
A heaviness lifted. I felt light and there
was a great sense of relief. I felt the heavy
you have important role in shaping my personality
because it has made me more
burdens I’d been carrying could be laid to be religious empathetic, open-minded and free of
down. judgement towards other people and
That was 2007. And I never went back in order to be a has assisted me so far in finding all sorts
to the cards. How would I describe
the last 14 years? I think of words like,
good person, but I believe of meanings in my life.
Jesus spoke about love and he also
wonderful, precious. I still have family my faith has had a very talked about justice and judgement—the
struggles and face tough obstacles but whole basis of His message was that God
I know I can learn from those and keep important role in shaping loves therefore we must love as well. In
going. I have God with me and I’d never
want to go back to what it was like
before.
Darkness can ruin your life. It’s hard
my personality.
MY FAITH HAS BEEN FLUID
” light of all this, the biblical call of our
God to justice, to love of neighbour, to
care and love of the groaning creation is
still what the Church can offer and what I
By Madeline Gordon
to describe but moving to the light has see is the future of the Church.
Something that I have found to have
given me a beautiful life. We have responsibilities that come
been difficult at (my congregation) is the
My Yolŋu identity keeps me strong. with our many blessings and I am
ageing demographic within the church
As a Yolŋu Christian I think we have convicted that more needs to be done.
and I understand that this is an issue all
something to bring the wider church. Christianity is fighting a relevancy
throughout the Uniting Church.
The Christian faith that has been battle in Australia and part of that is
I do find it difficult to see the church
passed down to me by my Yolŋu family the church not being able to keep up
itself remaining relevant to me and
weaves together knowledge of Jesus with the changing context because it is
other people within my generation.
and knowledge of this land from our changing so rapidly.
While I believe the core messages to be
Indigenous heritage. The song lines of So how do you make the message
enduring and timeless, these seem to
our ancestors connect us together. Like relevant for this time?
get lost amongst the many things that go
the way a river (Yirritja moiety) runs We have a timeless message, but
against religion.
towards the ocean (Dhuwa moiety). we are not able to make it relevant for
I have had a very fluid relationship
The fresh water and salt water mix this particular time, so we go back to
with my faith. There have been moments
Continued P24
23You can also read
