The new edition of this online Journal is now available here.

It has some great articles including Darwin chaplain David Crawford on pastoral care with indigenous people and Jeff Trahair, an Adelaide nurse, lecturer and volunteer, about witnessing death and what that can represent. Check it out!!

The following information has been researched and compiled to help clarify the requirements of completing Working with Children Checks (Blue Card) application forms by people in specified Ministry positions within the Uniting Church of Australia, Queensland Synod. 

 Ministers, Minister Interns, Lay Pastors, Deacons and Youth Workers are required to complete the “B” Person carrying on a business blue card application form.  Generally people in one of these specified Ministries are remunerated for services of Ministry through their stipend, and they do not technically receive a salary or wage.  Given this arrangement, it is not appropriate for people in one of the specified Ministries to complete the “P” Paid employee blue card application form.  This information was verified in 2000 by the Commission for Children and Young People (as it was named at the time).

 In March 2008 this information has been reconfirmed with the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian (CCYPCG).

 The instructions below should assist with completing the “B” Person carrying on a business blue card application form:

     PART A – Business Details

    1.            Name of Business: Your full Name

    2.            Postal address of business: Your postal address (it can be the Manse or your personal postal address)

    3/4/5.      Phone/Fax/Email: Your phone/fax/email or that of your congregation (wherever you can be most easily contacted)

    6.            Type of child-related business: (tick) Religious representatives

       PARTS B, C, D & E are relatively straight forward

     Page 4, Q. 24 For religious representatives only

    Name of entity/group:       Uniting Church in Australia, Queensland Synod

    Contact person:                Rev Douglas Jones, General Secretary

    Postal address:                 GPO Box 674, Brisbane, Qld, 4001

    Phone:                               07 3377 9777

  For volunteers:

The appropriate form for volunteers to complete is the “V” Volunteer blue card application form, with the exception of parents volunteering in the same or similar child-related service to those received by their own child, in which case they would be exempt.

 All application forms can be found on the CCYPCG internet site http://www.ccypcg.qld.gov.au/pdf/bluecard/forms 

We trust this clarifies the requirements in respect of completing the appropriate Blue Card application form(s).

 Thank you for your assistance with this important matter.

 Further queries should be directed to the Synod Child Safe Church Officer, Rev Wendi Sargeant, by
telephone 07 3377 9833 or email childsafe@ucaqld.com.au

The 27 th Synod resolved to encourage the Uniting Church in Queensland to enter into a time of discernment. Specifically, it was resolved that the Synod

1. Is ready to watch and see what God is doing.
2. Is ready to yield its will and to seek the will of God.
3. Encourages congregations, presbyteries and agencies to enter into a time of discernment as to how God would have them enter into the new ministries God is calling them to.

Over the past five months the Synod Leadership Team has been working with facilitator Sr Margaret Endicott and secretary/theological resource person Rev Allan Thompson to develop a process to enable the Uniting Church in Queensland to undertake a journey of discernment together.

The journey we have called Together on the Way, enriching community provides an exciting opportunity to draw on the wisdom and inspiration of as many people as possible who share in the life of our Church in Queensland.

On 29-30 January 2010, an initial workshop was held for leaders from each presbytery, key synod and agency staff and chairpersons.

As a follow-on from that workshop, there will be a series of workshops conducted across Queensland that will provide opportunity for people in the church and its agencies to engage in the discernment process.

No matter how you share in our life I urge you to join this adventure and allow God to lead us through you.

I am sure that together if we are open to the Word of God, we will be renewed and energised by God’s Spirit.

Bruce Johnson
The Uniting Church in Australia
Queensland Synod Moderator

The Chaplaincy Commission will be running a workshop for Chaplains to engage in the discernment process of the church. Stay tuned for more information.

Solvitur ambulando. “It is solved by walking,” said the ancient spiritual writer, Augustine. The labyrinth, an ancient spiritual tool, has been walked by millions of people of various cultures and religious backgrounds throughout the centuries.

There are many types of labyrinths, including both linear and non-linear. They are powerful opportunities for prayer and reflection, and can also be used for stress-reduction, grief support, meditation, and finding inner peace; they have a remarkable ability to bring order to chaos and quiet to our minds.

To read the full ariticle click here

This article comes from PlainViews, an e-newsletter for Chaplains and other Spiritual Carers. Click on the link in the Blogroll to explore PlainViews for yourself.

The Health Chaplaincy sector group have been working hard to develop some resources for use in Health Care settings. You’ll find here some excellent brochures that you can download and print.

PRAYERS DIFFICULT TIMES

PRAYERS

MATERNITY Prayers

The only thing we’d ask is that you make sure all acknowledgements stay intact on the Brochures.

These Prayers will be stored on the Resources page alongside a variety of other resources that we will compile over time. We hope you find them useful.

Hi everyone…

This site has been a little static for a while. I had some problems at my end, but they are now resolved, and we are away again.

The Commission site is designed to be a clearing house of ideas and information about Chaplaincy, and what is happening in Uniting Church Chaplaincy across Queensland. If you have information that you would like to share, please e-mail me here.

I will be positing information and news as it comes to me, and trying to hook into information loops to be able to let everyone know about continuing education opportunities that are coming up.

Looking forward to keeping in closer contact.

Friends, after a number of requests for a copy of David’s words to us at Affirmation Days, David has given us permission to post them on the site. If you would like to re-read them, or to have a copy, you will find it here…  being-real-with-god.

This is a video that was sent to me. It caused me to stop and think… about the homeless of our world,  about our passion as Christians, and as Chaplains in the Uniting Church, for all the people we meet and serve. I hope and pray that as you celebrate Christ’s coming anew into your life and experience this Christmas, your passion and energy for serving people and in so doing, sharing God’s Love and Grace, might be renewed in amazing ways. Blessings for a great Christmas!

John

Chaplaincy Affirmation Days were held in Brisbane on the 29th and 30th October. They were a great time of resourcing and encouragement. One of the sessions enjoyed by the Health Sector Chaplains was led by Paula Bowman of Q Health and Richard Royal of Uniting Care Health. They presented some very interesting insights into the future directions of health care in Queensland. For a copy of the presentations, follow the links.

affirmation-days-public-health-chaplains-08                                              affirmation-days-private-health-chaplains-oct-08

From “Insights” – NSW Uniting Church Magazine – Online
The Rev. Alan Galt likens mental health chaplains to dieticians – but in the case of chaplains, it’s spiritual nourishment they’re offering, to help people with mental illnesses negotiate the often lonely journey to healing and recovery.
The read the article – click here