Growing in Faith

Daring to question and to act

Jesus questioned traditional religious practices as well as the oppressive power and religion of the Roman empire. He proclaimed a life-giving message of love.

As we grow as Christians, we need to question earlier childish understandings of faith that aren’t much use to us personally or to our society.

The Uniting Church thinks of itself as a Pilgrim Church which is on the move and which is open to new experiences in the world.

On this page we hope to give you resources that will help you in your own growth and questioning.

Statements from the President of the Uniting Church, Rev Charissa Suli

Uniting Church President calls on the Government to Support nuclear disarmament

The President has also encouraged Uniting Church members to get involved in the various activities of ICAN over the coming weeks.

Read: https://uniting.church/president-calls-on-government-to-support-nuclear-disarmament/

"With humility and repentance, we confess that our voice has not been clear or courageous in naming the immense and disproportionate suffering of Palestine. We lament our silences and hesitation. We know we cannot claim peace as our prayer if we have not named the injustices we see."

In this season of Easter, Uniting Church President Rev Charissa Suli has released a public statement affirming the solidarity of the Uniting Church with the suffering people of Palestine.

Read: https://uniting.church/a-cry-too-great-to-ignore-statement-on-palestine-easter-2025/

Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde at Kirchentag: We are family A conversation between Bishop Budde and Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm moderator of the WCC central committee 2 May 2025

Books that members of the congregation are reading

Two books mentioned by John Schmidt in the reflection on Easter Sunday

Two books that Sue Baglow found useful in the preparation of the worship service of November 10.

Articles

“Gustavo Gutierrez: A Lasting Legacy of Liberation of Hope” by Yenny Delgado

The Widow’s Mites – Praise of Lament? – A matter of context by Addison G Wright

Beyond A Fetal Position by Walter Brueggemann (A reflection following the US election)

Local discussions

Wine Cheese and a Theologian is a local initiative that meets from time to time to engage with a relevant theologian in a friendly and supportive environment.

Websites for questioning.

U C Forum promotes open discussion on progressive Christianity in the Uniting Church in Australia

The Marcus J Borg Foundation continues the work of questioning of Marcus Borg

The Westar Institute Pursues honest and rigorous inquiry on the origins and cultural implications of the Christian tradition through critical, collaborative, and cumulative scholarship.

Walter Brueggemann blog is a blog by an eminent Old Testament scholar. Sadly Walter Brueggemann died earlier this year. However, he was writing, thinking and praying even during the early months of this year, and the website is still active and his reflections still relevant.

New Testament scholar, John Squires, has a topical blog, An Informed Faith

Websites for Reflection

3 Minute Retreat from Loyola Press

Our Library

We have an extensive library - some 400 titles - of books available for loan, located in the Brindabella Room. As it incorporates the library of the former Centre for Progressive Religious Thought, there is a large number of books by writers offering different perspectives; however that is only part of the holdings. You can browse the following catalogues:

St James
South Woden (St James and South Woden merged to form Woden Valley UC)
Against the Wind

You can come and browse - and borrow - on Friday mornings when Coffee 'n' Chat is on, after morning services, or after other in person events such as Gathering@6. For other times, contact office.wvuc@gmail.com to find out if the premises are open and the library able to be accessed at the time you wish to drop in.

A Thought from Walter Brueggemann

We must understand our faith in large, public categories, because God's purposes are not worked out in our small zones of piety, but in the great affairs of state where folk are either crushed or valued.

A Gospel of Hope, Hodder and Stoughton, 2018, page 120

We are all on a journey