Being in relationship with others is instrumental to how the Uniting Church seeks to witness to Christ in the world. The Seeking Common Ground Circle invites people to learn about and participate in the ways the Uniting Church is in relationship with other Churches, other faiths, and those of no institutional faith, as together we seek to find common ground for the good of all.
Circle members will be informed about and invited to contribute to the Church’s witness through ecumenical relationships. This includes the ways that we seek to witness to the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, with churches across Australia and overseas Partner Churches.
The Circle will invite members to explore the importance of interfaith relationships as a means to witness to God in a world of many faiths. Circle members will engage with theological reflection discerning God’s openness to the world, be invited into mutually respectful interfaith dialogue and promote opportunities for friendship with other faiths.
Additionally, the circle will explore how the Church witnesses to the reconciliation and renewal of the whole creation as it engages with the search for spirituality and meaning in wider society, including with people who do not identify with any institutional faith.
The Advocate for the Seeking Common Ground Circle is Rev. Dr Amelia Koh-Butler.
We asked Amelia to share a bit about herself.
News
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
2-9 June 2019 Daily themes for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity prepared by the NCCA. See the full resource, including reflections, questions and prayers here: https://www.ncca.org.au/images/stories/Departments/Faith_and_Unity/Week_of_Prayer_2019/WoPCU_2019_Reflections_for_the_8_Days.pdf
The Dao Become Flesh
The first and second introductions of Christianity to China (C7-9, 12-14) Newly discovered evidence shows that Christianity was in China about 1400 years ago. Rev. Dr Ji Zhang, Assembly Theologian-in-Residence has used contextual theology and translated some major inscriptions to recover the intercultural dialogue which took place during the Tang and Yuan Dynasties. Here is
One Body in Prayer
In the town of Goolwa in South Australia, growing relationships between local churches has given birth to a new ecumenical group who gather for prayer and fellowship. Rosemary Austin reports on its first gathering. World Day of Prayer, 1st March came from Slovenia. For our town of Goolwa, South Australia this was a wonderful
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
Sunday 2nd to Sunday 9th June 2019 Theme: Justice and only justice you shall pursue (Deuteronomy 16:18-20) By Doug Hewitt Each year the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is jointly promoted by the Vatican Pontifical Council for Christian Unity and the Commission on Faith and Order of the World Council of Churches. Resources for
Women, Faith and Peace-Building
From invisibility to inspiration: the power of story Rev. Heather Griffin, a Seeking Common Ground Panel Member, shares her presentation from the 2018 Parliament of World Religions on Women, Faith and Peacebuilding. Thank you to the Parliament for giving me the opportunity to speak. Thank you too for your attendance here. I am passionate about making our