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“Attention animated by desire is the whole foundation of religious practices. That is why no system of morality can take their place.” The above dictum of Simone Weil is well known yet difficult to employ. For what she invites is a conscious habitation of worlds that are governed by pre-conceptual experience. That is, a deep…
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Rev Dr Christopher C. Walker
Reflection on the Theological Culture of the Uniting Church in Australia
Introduction The Uniting Church in Australia grew out of the 20th century ecumenical movement. Formed in 1977 after decades of preliminary work, the Uniting Church was the coming together of Methodist, Presbyterian and Congregational Churches. Except that many Presbyterian churches and some Congregational churches stayed out of the union. Nevertheless, the Uniting Church in Australia…
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One of the interesting (and slightly frustrating) challenges I’ve encountered in my role as Dean of Candidates, is the notion of fast-tracking—by this I mean people engaged in Period of Discernment (PoD), applicants and candidates, asking: “How long will it take?”, “Can I finish earlier?”, “Why do I need to do 3 years in Formation?”…
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“The theological culture of the Uniting Church is that network of practices, institutions and texts which resource, sustain and extend the Uniting Church’s particular conversations, doctrinal decisions and prophetic speech about God, Christ and the world.” What is the theological culture of the Uniting Church in Australia? The theological culture of the Uniting Church is…
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My filters I have been aligned-in-curiosity with the Uniting Church since April 2023, having been welcomed into the community of Richmond Uniting Church. I am an urban dweller on unceded land of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation. I live in an extended family ‘commune’, that has for more than the past decade provided…
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Rev Assoc Prof Geoff Thompson
The Theological Culture of the Uniting Church in Australia: Reflections and Possibilities
The theological culture of the Uniting Church is that network of practices, institutions and texts which resource, sustain and extend the Uniting Church’s particular conversations, doctrinal decisions and prophetic speech about God, Christ and the world. Introduction Act2 has invited the Uniting Church to reflect on its theological culture. This is an unusual term. It…
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The Act2 Project is calling for papers about the theological culture of the Uniting Church. But what is ‘theological culture’?
In May 2023 the Act2 Project issued a Call for Papers from theologians and others across the Uniting Church about our theological culture as a Church. On this page you will find papers, reflections and provocations from those who have offered contributions for this series. It is part of Workstream 4 on Theological Culture and Education and seeks to foster a vibrant and honest conversation about our theological life as a Church. Contributions were invited until 30 September 2023.