{"id":154,"date":"2026-01-19T22:29:38","date_gmt":"2026-01-19T22:29:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/victasuca.wpengine.com\/?page_id=154"},"modified":"2026-01-19T22:29:38","modified_gmt":"2026-01-19T22:29:38","slug":"news","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/church.debug.victas.uca.org.au\/?page_id=154","title":{"rendered":"News"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t

\n\t\t\t\tLatest News\n\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"Picture\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\tThe harsh reality of having no place to call your own<\/a>\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAug 7, 2019\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Homelessness Week (4-10 August) is a time for us to stop and think about what life is like living on the street, particularly as temperatures continue to plummet. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead more\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"Picture\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\tModerator’s pastoral letter on Voluntary Assisted Dying response<\/a>\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJul 25, 2019\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThis pastoral letter from Moderator Denise Liersch was sent to congregations in Victoria and Tasmania following Synod’s decision on how to respond to Victoria’s Voluntary Assisted Dying legislation.\u00a0\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead more\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"Picture\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\tSee Synod for yourself with this video recap<\/a>\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJul 11, 2019\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe 14th Synod saw the installation of Reverend Denise Liersch as Moderator, a formal response to Victoria\u2019s Voluntary Assisted Dying legislation, introduction of the new Disability Action Plan and much more.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead more\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"Picture\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\tSynod day four – recap<\/a>\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJul 9, 2019\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tToday\u2019s major order of business was to decide on the response to the Victorian Voluntary Assisted Dying legislation.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead more\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"Picture\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\tSynod day three – recap<\/a>\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJul 8, 2019\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDay 3 included Agency and Assembly reports, NAIDOC Week presentations and the adoption of a Statement of the Heart.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead more\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"Picture\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\tSynod day two \u2013 recap<\/a>\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJul 7, 2019\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe day began with a Bible study led by Dr Liz Boase, which was followed by reports from Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress Victoria, UAICC Tasmania, Walking Together Group and Synod Ethics Committee.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead more\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"Picture\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\tSynod day one – recap<\/a>\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJul 6, 2019\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDay 1 of Synod kicked off with a welcome by new Moderator Rev Denise Liersch. What followed was a mix of reports, proposals, Bible study, reflections and other activities, such as Choose Your Own Adventure.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead more\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"Picture\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\tNew Moderator calls on Church to explore new ways of worship<\/a>\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJul 5, 2019\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDenise Liersch says \u201cdon\u2019t cling to the status quo \u2026 look for where the Spirit of God is at work in unexpected places and ways\u201d.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead more\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"Picture\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\tNarana swells with Indigenous surfing pride<\/a>\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMay 30, 2019\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNarana Aboriginal Cultural Centre is preparing to welcome some of Australia\u2019s top Indigenous surfers who are taking part in the eighth Australian Indigenous Surfing Titles.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead more\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"Picture\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\tUCA reaffirms same-gender marriage stance<\/a>\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMay 27, 2019\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tUCA President Dr Deidre Palmer has reaffirmed the Uniting Church’s stance on same-sex marriage after the ABC published an article stating the church is divided.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead more\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"Picture\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\tA call for unity after Sri Lanka bombing<\/a>\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tApr 24, 2019\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIn the wake of the horrific bomb attacks in Sri Lanka, Uniting Church Reverend Dev Anandarajan has called for people to come together and reject violence and disunity.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead more\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"Picture\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\tSenior magistrate calls for removal of courtroom Bibles<\/a>\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tApr 23, 2019\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tA senior magistrate wants all Bibles to be removed from Victorian courtrooms because \u201cthey are relics from another time\u201d that “belong in a museum, not a modern court”.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead more\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"Picture\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\tUCA calls for end of gas tax loophole<\/a>\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMar 28, 2019\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGas producers aren\u2019t paying a fair share of tax and the government\u2019s plans to cut back their future concessions do not go far enough, Synod\u2019s Senior Social Justice Advocate Mark Zirnsak says.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead more\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"Picture\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\tUCA marchers join climate class action<\/a>\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMar 15, 2019\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tUniting Church members and staff marched through the streets of Melbourne in solidarity with about 40,000 striking students demanding action on climate change\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead more\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"Picture\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\tA message to Uniting Church members about the decision on marriage at the 15th Assembly<\/a>\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAug 8, 2018\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDr Deidre Palmer addresses members of the Uniting Church about the decision to hold two equal and distinct views on marriage.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead more\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"Picture\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\tA Christmas greeting from Moderator Sharon Hollis<\/a>\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDec 15, 2017\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  Message – Transcript Theologian Serene Jones often speaks of her congregation’s celebration of the Christmas story. Each year, as someone narrates, different members of the congregation act out the various parts. Serene\u00a0tells how transforming this can be, both for…\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead more\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"Picture\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\tCelebrating 40 Years<\/a>\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJun 13, 2017\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tModerator Sharon Hollis asked five previous moderators of the VicTas Synod what they hope for the Uniting Church in the next 40 years. This short video is to assist congregations consider what they hope for themselves and the whole of…\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead more\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Keep up to date with what is happening in the church and beyond. Our particular focus is on stories that relate to social justice, the environment as well as spiritual subject matter. We report impartially and objectively. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":4,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-154","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/church.debug.victas.uca.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/154","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/church.debug.victas.uca.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/church.debug.victas.uca.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/church.debug.victas.uca.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/church.debug.victas.uca.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=154"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/church.debug.victas.uca.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/154\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22231,"href":"https:\/\/church.debug.victas.uca.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/154\/revisions\/22231"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/church.debug.victas.uca.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=154"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}