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From the ModeratorDiverse, dispersedcommunityJeff and Jean, from Oregon, USA, are partof my community. I have never met them.Years ago my husband used to order bicycle partsfrom a mail order catalogue, but in time orderswere placed by email. Little notes, photographs andsnippets of family news started appearing on theemails as the orders went back and forth.This year their son visited Australia and came toour home for a few days. He said, “My parents havebeen talking about you guys for years!” This monthour daughter and her fiancé went to the States tovisit Jeff and Jean in their home.In our churches we need to understand thatcommunity now includes a virtual component.People may not physically gather, but they buildcommunity by interactions on Facebook, email,text, Twitter and Skype. I am still learning some ofthat way of being Church.It is not so different from a congregation I visitedrecently. About 40 people were in the buildingbut when it was time to bring our prayers forothers I heard about another 15 people who werepart of that community. Sickness, frailty, familyresponsibilities, travel and work commitments keptthem from being physically present but the careand prayer connected them.they were in community. That is why Jesus spokeso much about forgiveness, but at times it is a hardideal to fulfil.I think Bonhoeffer captures this in his book LifeTogether and Prayerbook of the Bible, “Just asChristians should not be constantly feeling thepulse of their spiritual life, so too the Christiancommunity has not been given to us by God for usto be continually taking its temperature. The morethankfully we daily receive what is given to us, themore assuredly and consistently will communityincrease and grow ” Over to you.Rev Kaye RonaldsQueensland Synod ModeratorModerator’s diaryMonday Midday PrayerGod of life,help us to appreciate our differences so thatwe can all have a place and contribute to ourcommunity.AmenReef danger declarationpostponed5–6 JulySynod Standing Committee,live-in meetingThe Great Barrier Reef’s delicate ecosystem is under continued strain. Katie Lewis reports.23 JulyOpening of Men’s Shed atMoorookaThe decision to add the Great BarrierReef to UNESCO’s World Heritage inDanger list has been deferred to 2014.Louise Mathieson from Greenpeace saysthe decision gives the Queensland andFederal governments a chance to improvethe quality of the reef and wind back portdevelopments.At a meeting of the World Heritage Committeeon 18 June, UNESCO noted with great concern“the unprecedented scale of coastal developmentcurrently being proposed and further requeststhe State Party to not permit any new portdevelopment or associated infrastructure outsideof the existing and long established major portareas”.Federal Environment Minister, Tony Burke,welcomed the decision.Felicity Wishart from the Australian MarineConservation Society said “Australian state andfederal governments must heed the World HeritageCommittee recommendation and put the brakes onthe rapid industrialisation of the coastline. Thereshould be no more port development or dredgingand dumping until a plan to properly protect thereef is in place”.26–28 JulyCentral Queensland Presbyterymeeting2–4 AugustRural Muster, BiloelaScripture suggests that the early churchexperimented with living in community andsharing all things in common. Maybe theythought it would only be for a short time but theycommitted themselves to each other and becameknown for their love for each other. Sometimes thebest kind of community occurs when people aresimply offering generous hospitality rather thansetting out to build community.“The Australian Government is committed toworking with the World Heritage Committee toprotect the outstanding universal values of theGreat Barrier Reef.“We are currently undertaking a comprehensivestrategic assessment of the Great Barrier Reefto ensure its protection, while at the same timeenabling sustainable, long-term development in theGreat Barrier Reef coastal area,” he said.The Queensland Government has also announcedthat it will continue the 35 million Reef program,however, there is little information regarding whatthe money will be spent on.Programme Specialist for UNESCO, Dr FannyDouvere, said Australia had made progressbut moved slower on issues related to coastaldevelopment.There shouldbe no more portdevelopment ordredging anddumping until aplan to properlyprotect the reefis in placeFelicity Wishart“There is for example new legislation bythe Queensland government on coastaldevelopment planning that seems inconsistentwith recommendations of the (World Heritage)Committee,’’ she said.QUALITY EDUCATION FOR A SUCCESSFUL FUTUREWhile it is possible to be a Christian in isolation,there is something quite challenging andrewarding about being a Christian in community.It is easy to love others “in theory” but when youhear them spout different political views, or giveexpression to a different kind of Christianity, orthey have annoying habits or choose an alternativelifestyle, love can be tested and community canbecome fractured.Brisbane Boys’ CollegeSunshine Coast Grammar SchoolBoys: Prep to Year 12Boarding: Years 5 to 12(07) 3309 3500 www.bbc.qld.edu.auCo-educational day school Prep to Year 12(07) 5445 4444 www.scgs.qld.edu.auSomerville HouseClayfield CollegeDay and boarding school for girls Prep to Year 12Boarding: Years 7 to 12(07) 3248 9200 www.somerville.qld.edu.auI have been around the church long enough toknow that sometimes people feel betrayed, rippedoff, misunderstood, heartbroken or angry aboutthe behaviour of people with whom they thought4Striped Lion fish on the GreatBarrier Reef, Queensland.Photo: Istock photoGirls: Prep to Year 12 Boarding: Girls from Year 5Boys: Prep to Year 5(07) 3262 0262 www.clayfield.qld.edu.auPresbyterian and Methodist Schools Association www.pmsa-schools.edu.auA ministry of the Uniting and Presbyterian Churches, providing excellence in education in a Christian and caring environment.journeyonline.com.auJourney July 20135

Mapoon memoriesThe new policy of “assimilation” had commenced;an impetus to push mission and settlementresidents into the general community to lessen theeconomic burden on the State; to help them “livelike white people”. New battles lay ahead.The day they burnedMapoonFifty years on, the spectre of burning buildings at Mapoon mission still haunts Queensland.Dianne Jensen reports.The police arrived at Mapoonmission in Cape York undercover of darkness. The 23Aboriginal people still livingthere were told to pack theirsuitcases, and were escorteddown to the beach. Later,the government boat Gelamtook them to the newlyconstructed New Mapoon,near Bamaga. It was 15November 1963.Several houses were set alight by awork party. Within six months allof the remaining residents had leftand many of the mission buildings,including the church, were gone.The battle for Mapoon marked aturning point in Indigenous rightsin Queensland.The draconian control wielded bythe Aboriginals Preservation andProtection Act (1939) was exposedto national scrutiny, fuelling themomentum for constitutionalchange and civil rights forIndigenous Australians. Churchesand missionary organisations,including the Presbyterian Church,began to reappraise their role inIndigenous communities.Mapoon Uniting Churchmember Marda Pitt anddaughter Zion enjoy fishingon the beach.Photo: Michelle CookMapoon was oneof many Queenslandmissions pleadingfor moregovernment fundsto address thederelict housing,food shortages,and unsafe watersupplies6Mission daysMapoon was established byMoravian missionaries on behalfof the Presbyterian Church ofAustralia, with QueenslandGovernment financial assistance,on land reserved under the CrownLands Act (1884).The three villages and outstationbecame home to a number ofIndigenous groups. After 1901,when Mapoon was gazetted as anindustrial school, many mixeddescent children removed fromtheir families by the Protector ofAborigines were sent to the mission.journeyonline.com.auBy the 1950s, after decades of financial hardship,government neglect, drought and economiccollapse, Mapoon was one of many Queenslandmissions pleading for more government funds toaddress the derelict housing, food shortages andunsafe water supplies.The missions were in crisis, with the Presbyterianmission committee running a deficit of 10 000by 1952.Closing the doorsThe initial impetus to close the mission camein 1953, when the Department of Native Affairs(DNA) advised that no further aid would beforthcoming unless the church rehabilitatedthe buildings and made the mission more selfsupporting.A year later, without any community consultation,church and government officials made the decisionto close Mapoon and evacuate the people to Weipaor other stations, or to “assimilate those readyfor exemption [from the Protection Act] into theAustralian way of life elsewhere”.Rich bauxite deposits had been uncovered onCape York Peninsula, and powerful enterpriseshad the land in their sights. The CommonwealthAluminium Corporation Pty Ltd (Comalco)negotiated an 84-year lease with the Queenslandgovernment in 1958. Comalco was granted 2270square miles of Cape York, including the landoccupied by both Weipa and Mapoon Missions.The government and the church were determinedto dissolve the mission, running down the storeand closing the school, demolishing buildings andrefusing to allow the return of those leaving thecommunity for work or health reasons.The Presbyterian Church handed over control ofMapoon to the government in July 1963.A core group of residents refused to leave, keento establish local industries such as crocodileshooting. As supplies dwindled, organisations suchas the Cairns Aboriginal Advancement Leagueacted as a conduit for goods, and the FederalCouncil of Aboriginal Advancement lobbied PrimeMinister Robert Menzies and the United Nations.But there was no reprieve for Mapoon.Nearly 20 years later Eddie Mabo and four otherTorres Strait Islanders began proceedings whichwould lead to the historic 1992 Mabo decision inthe High Court and the Native Title Act (1993).But on that night 50 years ago, the police took thepeople away, and their homes and belongings wereburnt to the ground.Coming homeSome former residents refused to give up. Ledby traditional people such as Jean Jimmy, theycontinued to lobby for the re-opening of theircommunity.In 1974 several families led by Jerry and InaHudson returned and began re-building theirhouses and gardens.Ten years later the Marpuna CommunityAboriginal Corporation was established, graduallybuilding up the community at Rugapayn (RedBeach) to a stage where people were able to resettlepermanently.A Deed of Grant of Land in Trust (DOGIT) forAboriginal Reserve Purposes was handed over tothe Mapoon people by the Queensland Governmentin 1989, and the inaugural Mapoon AboriginalCouncil was formed in 2000.Currently the town has a primary school, nursingstation, council office and small shop providingfuel and food. Local people are employed on thecouncil and there is also a productive fishingbusiness.A new ministryDeacon Michelle Cook is the minister of theUniting Church in Mapoon, Calvary Presbytery,(Uniting Aboriginal and Islander ChristianCongress). Her husband James Hughes is the youthworker for the Western Cape.They describe Mapoon as a fantastic place to liveand work, where children are keen to go to schooland most families are keen to get them there, andwhere people look out for one another.“The people are welcoming and willing. The landis beautiful,” says Ms Cook. “People have chosento come back here and they want this to be a goodplace for their families.“Our role in the community is to help facilitatethe local community’s events and dreams, as wellas encouraging people’s faith and helping thembe self-starters in discipleship. This is not toodifferent to what usual clergy do—help people bedisciples—just the context is different.”Mostly, the ministry couple provide an“incarnational presence”, which Ms Cook defines as“loitering with intent”.Former Mapoon residentFlorence Luff.Photo: Dominic ChaplinMemories of homeFormer Mapoon resident Florence Luff is 83 years old and lives in Cairns withher daughter Lottie.Florence Luff is proud of her threechildren, 11 grandchildren, 39 greatgrandchildren and one great-greatgrandchild.Mrs Luff was in her 30s when the mission wasclosed.“We had a good life there,” she recalls,describing a busy community where peoplewere employed working around mission, doingstock work, working with boats, and crocodileshooting.anymore. The sand was no good, the soil wasno good—it was hookworm soils—and thewater was no good I think they told us a lie.“Some stayed on, like Jean Jimmy’s family. Weleft because we were scared of them movingus to some other community. We all had to getout in so-and-so time because the mining wasjust waiting to move in. We all had to leave ina rush.“There was a lot of bush hunting, we would gocamping and hunting.”“They gave us a choice, who wants to go out?They can go and get a job, take their familyout of there. Whoever was left there would beunder the government, and they could movethem wherever they want to move them.”She has many happy memories of the missionschool and of swimming and fishing.Mrs Luff returns occasionally to Mapoon formeetings.Years later, married with three children, sheremembers being told that Mapoon was not agood place, and that it was going to be closed.“There are a lot of memories. I feel sad, youknow, to see it. It’s a real small community;nice, with plenty of room to move around butnot much housing.“The missionaries told us we have to move,because it was unhealthy to live there“We are here for people, whoever they are,pointing to the work of the Spirit. ‘Preach always, ifnecessary use words,’ is the approach.”Journey July 2013“It was a beautiful mission with a lot ofpeople.”7

DiscipleshipCoorparoo sewsseeds for missionSome congregations look at a large grassy block and worry about themowing roster. Others, like the members of Coorparoo Uniting Church,think about the possibilities. Dianne Jensen reports.Coorparoo is one of Brisbane’s oldestsuburbs. Its central location andtraditional housing are prime targets forredevelopment, and green space is precious.This meansthinking differentlyabout how we useboth buildingsand land, andconsidering newways of connectingto the communityFour years ago the congregation (then led byRev Yvonne McRostie) offered church land fora community garden. Since then, the space hasbeen transformed into a food-growing precinctused by locals including the nearby Stepping StoneClubhouse, an organisation established by theSchizophrenia Fellowship of Queensland.Brisbane City Council has assisted with set-upfunds, including grants for the 10 000 litre watertank and a planned upgrade of the toilet facilities.Architect John Loneragan is the coordinator, andthe project reflects his passion for enabling innercity institutions to fully utilise their property.Coorparoo community garden coordinatorJohn Loneragan with some of the gardenproduce. Photo: Holly Jewellso, congregations can foster the small-scale socialinteractions which help re-vitalise communities.“Our senior generation find it interesting as a lot ofthem used to do this growing up—they grew theirown vegetables, had a few chooks for youngerpeople it is a way of showing how food gets to thetable,” says Mr Loneragan.Make disciples;love our neighboursThe Year of Discipleship is part of the Uniting Church in Queensland’s Vision 2020, focusing on the call to form active andaccountable disciples. Catholic chaplain Gary Stone elaborates on his Norman and Mary Miller address to the 30th Synod.I was delighted to be able to come and share my storyduring the 2013 Queensland Synod. I was so impressedby the energy, vitality and commitment of thosegathered.The community garden is full of life. Raised gardenbeds are lush with eggplants, rampaging tomatoes,basil, passionfruit and leafy plants. There are beesand ladybugs, compost bins, garden benches, and animpressive pizza oven.For those who did not hear me speak, I simply sharedsome of my experiences of being a disciple of Jesus,principally in the military as an infantry officer anda chaplain and also as a chaplain to the AustralianFederal Police. I also spoke about founding thehumanitarian organisation Friends and Partners ofEast Timor.The Coorparoo garden runs on a relaxed model,with participants sharing the care and the bountyof the common garden beds. There is a regulargardening session on Saturday afternoons, and themonthly working bee followed by home-made pizzasladen with garden produce attracts between 20 and30 people.I am amazed how God has called me to work in somany places beyond the established frameworks ofchurch, particularly to work as a peacemaker, especiallyin the countries of our region. In Matthew 28, Jesuscommissions us to go out into the world and makedisciples, and that is what I have made myself available for.“The pizza oven project means we can grow andcook, which is a great asset. Young families love it.The children garden, run around, and help make thepizzas,” says Mr Loneragan.“Institutions are often well located with wonderfulassets,” he says. “Places like churches have facilitieswhich are not really being used.”Four years into the project, he describes thecommunity garden as “a work in progress”, anidea which has evolved into a vibrant local missionoutreach venture, replete with possibilities.This means thinking differently about the useof both buildings and land, and considering newways of connecting to the community. In doing“We can be too occupied with just keeping our doorsopen,” he says. “We are only the custodians of theseresources. They should be shared.”,1 22 22,1'225223,// 63/( 63/( -,1' /((,1'225223,// &(175 /2 22& &RRQDQ 6WUHHW &RRQDQ 6WU&RRQDQ 6WUHHW 20(0 .(5 &,7 20(0 .(5 &,7 & LOOPHUH 5RDG LOOPHUH 5RDG LLOOPHUH 5 20(0 .(5 &,7 20(0 .(5 &,7 & *RJJV 5RDG *RJJV 5 *RJJV 5RDGJJV3KR H 3KRQH 3KR H 3KRQH 3KR H 3KRQH /2* 1/2* 1* The other foundation scripture that has empoweredme has been Jesus’ reminder in Luke 11 that we shouldnot only love God, but that we should also love ourneighbour. When you look at the impoverished nationsin our region you will find there is a lot of lovingneeded. My parish has established a partnership witha remote parish in East Timor and together we haveraised and distributed one million dollars for capacitydevelopment over 12 years.Indeed I can’t imagine any Christian communityin Australia being true disciples of Jesus if they arenot engaged in some practical way in loving ourneighbours through sharing our surpluses. Whileit is always important to sustain a healthy churchbase, we are all called to be missionary. What I havefound is that when we make ourselves available andinterested in truly loving our neighbours, the HolySpirit will bless us and open the doors to new ways ofbeing church. I have come to see that all people of theworld are our brothers and sisters, and we must worktogether in unity and solidarity to live out our Christianvocation with integrity.I would encourage anyone who has not yet givenattention to overseas mission to seriously considerwhat you can do for the neighbours we have in ourregion. There are many ways to do this both from homeand abroad, and I am sure UnitingWorld could guideyou into some practical projects should you see scopeto assist in this area.May God continue to bless the mission and ministryof the Uniting Church in Australia. I was delightedto study with many of your ministers through theBrisbane College of Theology and continue to work inchaplaincy with many more Uniting Church ministers.Together we can make the world a better place. I amsure that Jesus delights in seeing us as his disciples.Chaplain Gary Stonehas served in the Australian Army and Federal Police, andis now heavily involved in aid and development work inEast Timor.I can’t imagineany Christiancommunity inAustralia beingtrue disciples ofJesus if they arenot engaged insome practicalway in lovingour neighboursthrough sharingour surplusesThe audio from Gary Stone’s Norman and Mary Miller lecturecan be heard on JourneyOnline.52%,1 52%,1 52%,1 683(5 &(175(68&/2* 1 0(*/2* 1 0(* &(175(2* 1 0(* &(175(** &5RELQD 7RZQ &HQWUH 'ULYH5RELQD 7RZQ &HQWUH 'ULYHQWUH 'ULYH 3DFLILF LJKZD\ 3DFLILF LJKZ 3DFLILF LJKZD\ 3DFLILF L3K3KRQH 3KRQH 3K3KRQH CHC is about disccovering a Godly perspective for life and career. It’s about discovering yourpurpose, no matteer what your age knowing that you are called to do something extraordinary totransform this woorld for His glory. Find your balance between life and study, anywhere, anytime.Business8journeyonline.com.auEducation & HumanitiesJourney July 2013Social SciencesMinistries9

David Busch’s discipleshipjourney has taken him tomany places. On the way,he found his voice andcontinues to help othersfind theirs.Photo: Holly JewellIdentity, loss andfinding your voiceDavid Busch has spent years working for the ABC and in media roles across three synods,including at Journey and its predecessor, Life and Times. He has just completed a Periodof Discernment and begun supply ministry as a pastor at Trinity Wellington Point UnitingChurch while he considers whether to candidate for ordination. Tara Burton reports.“Through all my Christian life there hasbeen an interest and a draw for me tocongregational ministry, leading worshipand linking the body of Christ in mission tothe local community,” says Mr Busch.Mr Busch was introduced to Christianity at theage of 13 when his friend brought him along tothe West End Methodist Mission in 1973.The congregationwelcomed me andenabled me to findmy voice“The thing that struck me when I went tothat church was not a doctrine of Christianfaith, which I had never had any exposure toas my family was not Christian. This churchwas a community and I discovered that inthis community of people of all ages andbackgrounds there was a sense of takingseriously the claims of Jesus Christ and being aservice of ministry in the community,” he says.As a teenager Mr Busch found this experiencevery inspiring and uplifting.10journeyonline.com.au“The congregation welcomed me and enabledme to find my voice. Before long I was involvedin Christian discussion groups on a Sundaymorning. I brought all my questions and peopleheard me, and I was able to learn as theconversations were inclusive of everyone,” hereflects.“I’m not one to seek the limelight. It’s curiousthat one of my formative experiences of churchas a teenager was being given a voice, and I thenmoved into a career where my journalism had afocus of giving others a voice.”Faith in journalismMr Busch had been a religious programsspecialist at the ABC since 1994 and ExecutiveProducer for 10 years before leaving in earlyMay this year. Mr Busch found it an exciting andempowering environment for a Christian to beworking in.“The ABC sees its role as informing a nationalconversation, helping shape the Australianidentity, whether it’s abo

Day and boarding school for girls Prep to Year 12 Boarding: Years 7 to 12 (07) 3248 9200 www.somerville.qld.edu.au Brisbane Boys' College Boys: Prep to Year 12 Boarding: Years 5 to 12 (07) 3309 3500 www.bbc.qld.edu.au Sunshine Coast Grammar School Co-educational day school Prep to Year 12 (07) 5445 4444 www.scgs.qld.edu.au