The five life-giving themes adopted by Synod are summarised below. While the themes give direction each council must determine its own response to God’s calling in its context. Neighbourhoods vary tremendously. Characteristics of some will be absent in others. The church finds diverse ways to be a dynamic presence in specific contexts.
Detailed descriptions of each theme and the ongoing process of discernment can be found in the Report on a spirited journey towards the future
Five life-giving themes
How might we encounter Christ in community? Perhaps this will come as we witness and serve in the name of Christ. Maybe it will come in the faces and lives of our neighbours or the stranger. As we invest in experiences with others, God’s grace will become clearer. We are the body of Christ, the ‘In-Christ’ community. Participating in the worship, witness and service of Christian congregations or faith-based communities is often where we encounter Christ. As we journey, let us watch and listen for Christ. Let us celebrate being the In-Christ community in all that we are and do.
Living God’s transforming story is about how the ordinary becomes extraordinary. It is about living every day aware of the love and grace of God. One tradition names this ‘practicing the presence of God’. This theme reminds us that pilgrims attend to the practices of daily life in a spirit of inquiry and interpretation. Pilgrims learn from scripture. We are formed through the personal disciplines which become the rhythms of our life. We mind how we walk this pilgrimage, alone and together.
Spirited listening, giving voice reflects our Christian character. Jesus’ life and ministry shapes our listening disposition. We listen and speak as Luke’s gospel tells us Jesus listened and spoke. We are to be good news to the poor, to proclaim release to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free and to proclaim the time of the Lord’s favour. We listen with Christ’s ears, we watch through his eyes. Our pilgrim disposition is to listen and speak out of God’s love and grace. Our attitude and practice are of extravagant compassion and liberating reconciliation. Pilgrims communicate, listening to the other’s story, speaking God’s love and grace in response.
Engaging diversity celebrates the reality of our life as the Uniting Church in Victoria and Tasmania. This theme calls us to engage and embrace ever more fully the diversity of God’s creation. On the pilgrimage we meet many people. We hear their stories, sing their songs, dance their steps and enjoy their food. How does this hospitality feed us? What might we learn and how do we benefit from engaging with neighbours and strangers? We are reminded that through hospitality we may entertain God’s messengers unaware. Pilgrims engage diversity because doing so teaches, nourishes and uplifts. We discover new relationships. The promise of the gospel is realised in the communion at the heart of diversity.
Liberating stewardship reminds us that our resources are not for our benefit. They are to enable God’s work in the world. When our resources are liberated, they bring healing, reconciliation, peace and new life. When they are withheld, we lack generosity, we are inhospitable and exclusive. Our Uniting Church is blest with incredible resources. We see these in the diversity of people, their gifts and strengths, our funds and properties and many other assets. We are rich in highly valued relationships with governments, institutions and neighbours. Travelling pilgrims are marked by their hospitality and generosity, and for the ways they respond to the hospitality and generosity of others.