As a movement of people wearing a denominational label of the Uniting Church in Australia, we are marking in various ways 40 years of journeying together. I've seen some refer to it as an experiment. But that kinda irks me. There was nothing experimental in those who were discerning the call of God to seek a path of unity and celebrating the diversity of God's people. There was nothing experimental in the giving up of previously held expressions of gathering and decision making for those who responded to the call of God. |
We can't think for a moment that God has finished with us yet. We can't for a moment let go of the central core of our faith - Christ crucified and risen. We can't stop looking for what God yet might do amongst us. And there are some things - whether we like them or not - that hold us to a line of steady understanding in who God is, as Father, Son and Spirit. This is us!
We are celebrating as a church this week, a call, a response, a faithfulness. We are celebrating hard journeys and difficult conversations. We celebrate the ongoing commitment to walk with First Nations people of this land in Australia, and to those who have arrived in more recent times and greatly enriched all our lives. We celebrate the ongoing work for economic, social, and environmental justice. Sometimes finding ourselves at conflict because of it, but determined to wrestle with the concerns and issues. We are fearful sometimes. We seek to be safe communities for all. We are hopeful and we want people to encounter the depth of love that God has for us all - because a lot of us know just how deep that love goes.
We are a uniquely Australian church. And people around the traps hold a great respect for us. Happy 40 years of being the Uniting Church in Australia. Without it, I would not have had a place for the particular expression of ministry - a woman, a deacon who can celebrate with community the wholeness of Christ given through sacraments - that I am called to.
What's next for us God? I wonder . . . . .