The Kevin Rudd MP, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, has announced the Australian Government’s plans to support Australian NGO’s, including the Relief and Development Unit of UnitingWorld, in their response to the Horn of Africa crisis. 

The Australian Government’s Dollar-for-Dollar initiative will match each dollar donated to appeals run by AusAID-accredited Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) working to alleviate the food crisis in the Horn of Africa from 5 October until 30 November 2011.  

Speaking of the Uniting Church, The Hon Kevin Rudd MP said “I’m proud of the Uniting Church and what it does locally, nationally, and with partners overseas.”

As an AusAID accredited agency and a signatory to the ACFID Code of Conduct, UnitingWorld Relief and Development Unit’s Horn of Africa Crisis Appeal is eligible for this initiative.
The need for assistance remains acute.  

• More than 13 million people require urgent humanitarian aid.

• In Somalia 750,000 people are at risk of starvation and 1.3 million children are acutely malnourished.

• Unprecedented numbers of people are fleeing their homes for neighbouring countries.

• The situation is being made worse by life-threatening cholera and measles outbreaks in the region.

Rev. Dr. Kerry Enright, National Director of UnitingWorld attended the announcement and welcomed the Government’s commitment to the NGO efforts for the Horn of Africa.

To find out more about UnitingWorld’s Horn of Africa Crisis Appeal please visit our website: www.unitingworld.org.au/horn-of-africa-crisis-appeal or call 1800 000 331.  You can donate via the website, phone or by mail, using a downloaded form from the link above.

The Uniting Church SA is supporting mental health week with a series of different installations inside and around the Pilgrim Uniting Church. The displays will provide a quiet space to reflect on yourself, or someone you care about who suffers a mental illness. 

The displays will be available inside and outside the church, between Monday the 10th and Friday the 14th of October:
•    Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 12 noon – 2 pm
•    Wednesday: 4-6pm

More information: check out the events section of the Pilgrim website http://www.pilgrim.org.au/events

Walkerville Uniting Church celebrated its 170th anniversary with a thanksgiving service on June 26th, commemorating the formation of the first congregation of Wesleyan Methodists in a settler’s cottage in 1841. Guest preacher at the celebration was Dr. Lynn Arnold AO, the CEO of Anglicare in South Australia and former State Premier.  The service included the culmination of the 2011 planned giving programme, and a cake cutting by the oldest and youngest members of the congregation.

Rev. Geoff Ellery said that the planned giving 2011 theme of “Stepping Up and Stepping Out” had been appropriate for Walkerville in its mission at this time, and had combined well with the celebration of 170 years as a worshipping community. The church was decorated with ladders and shoes to highlight the theme and a celebratory lunch marked the occasion. After the lunch Dr. Arnold spoke of the Christian response to need, and outlined some of Anglicare’s community programmes. He noted with gratitude the level of co-operation that exists between his organisation and the welfare agencies of the Uniting Church.

On Wednesday 6 July the Australian Churches gambling task force, a group comprising of the heads of Australian churches and their representatives, joined together to discuss how they could work together to assist families affected by gambling.

The Taskforce is putting together a kit for a grass roots campaign to help congregations share their concerns with their communities, including their local Federal MP. 

Uniting Church President, Rev Alistair Macrae commented, “I’m excited that Australian churches are speaking with one voice to our Federal politicians on this issue and hopeful about the change we can help bring about for families affected by problem gambling.”

A video of Alistair, letting people know about the work happening in this area and the reforms supported by the Church is available on the Assembly website at http://assembly.uca.org.au/news-media/news/assembly-news-2004/churches-join-to-protect-victims-of-problem-gambling.