From the Chaplains
Celebrating 48 Years of The Uniting Church in Australia
This Sunday we will celebrate 48 years of the Uniting Church in Australia. As a proud school of the Uniting Church it is timely for us to pause and remind ourselves of the bigger church of which we are a part.
The Uniting Church is a uniquely Australian Church. We were inaugurated on the 22nd June 1977 after more than 50 years of conversation between the Congregational Union of Australia, the Methodist Church of Australasia and the Presbyterian Church of Australia. These three churches sought union as a visible sign of following Christ’s call to be one in Christ, whilst continuing to recognise that there was still work to do. This is why we are the ‘Uniting’ Church. Through our name we remember that the work of God is never complete, and that the work of brining God’s justice and peace and love is still part of our journey together.
The Uniting Church is the third largest Christian denomination in Australia. We have members from a large diversity of cultures, ages and different expressions of the Christian Faith. We are strong advocates for inclusion, and this is clearly demonstrated here at Pymble, with both of your Chaplains being ordained women. All people- women, men and people of diverse sexualities and genders are empowered to seek all leadership positions including ordination equally.
Currently both the Spiritual Leader of our State, the Moderator Rev. Faaimata Havea Hiliau, and the Spiritual leader of our National body, The Assembly, President Rev. Charissa Suli are women.
The strength of our church over the past 50 years can be seen in the many services that are included under the umbrella of our church.
Some of these things are:
- Our schools including Pymble Ladies College, Knox Grammer, Ravenswood School for Girls, MLC School, Kinross Wolaroi School, Newington College & Margaret Jurd College
- Uniting, who serve 145, 856 people each year through Aged care, Disability Services, Early learning Uniting, Out of Home care for children, Youth transition for young people and more.
- Our Parish Missions, including Wayside Chapel, Rev. Bill Crews Foundation, Wesley Mission, and Parramatta Mission, plus many other well known community service projects such as The Dish and Paddington Markets
- Support for Rural Communities through Frontier Services.
- International aid through UnitingWorld who partner with the global church to address the causes and consequences of poverty, injustice and environmental degradation
- Disaster Recovery Response through the Disaster Recovery Network
- Advocacy and Social Justice with particular areas of focus in Climate action, Drug reform and First nations Self Determination and justice
And so much more!!!
I invite you this week to simply remember that as a part of the Pymble family you are also a part of something much bigger. You are a part of the Uniting Church in Australia, and therefore the continuing work of God in the world which is much bigger than any of us can imagine.
Rev. Danielle Hemsworth-Smith
College Chaplain
