Uniting Church in Australia History Symposium - almost Fifty Years

by Dr Rachel Krohn

On Saturday, 15 August, Trinity College Queensland hosted a symposium celebrating (Almost)-Fifty Years of the Uniting Church in Queensland. The symposium was part of our History of Christianity in Australia unit, which we opened up to the public. I hoped students and non-students would leave with a deepened understanding of the history and character of the Uniting Church, and that all attendees would see the value of the College as a place for open, hospitable, and robust theological conversation.

​​​​​​​A significant highlight was the final session, a discussion forum hosted by Reverend (and former Moderator) David Baker. The panel consisted of Kym Korbe, Executive Officer of the UAICC and Covenanting, Dr John Harrison, Dr Anne Pattel-Gray, and Dr Rachel Krohn. The camaraderie between scholars from different generations and cultural backgrounds was beautiful, and it was a demonstration of the ways in which Christ holds his diverse Body together.

We put out a call to all congregations to share their story. Several congregations brought picture albums and scrapbooks that were created by their local lay historians and shared banners that had pictures of people and significant events from their congregation's life. The photos of Trinity's student body from 1993-2013 were a real highlight, as attendees remembered their time studying at Trinity, but also the lecturers and friends who helped form them. ​​​​​​​

​​​​​​​It was inspiring to hear about ministers whose faith led them to political activism for which they were arrested!  It was also inspiring to hear about the ways that the Church has tried, sometimes successfully, often-times not, to be good allies and advocates for First Peoples.

History is an integral part of our identity. Understanding the history of the Uniting Church in Australia, Queensland, demonstrates God's faithfulness to God's church not only over the past 50 years, but in the histories of the Methodist, Congregationalist, and Presbyterian churches before us. Hearing stories about ordinary people living out their faith in both ordinary and extra-ordinary ways is inspiring. Each of us is part of a much bigger story.

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