Roundup: Feetwashing, fundraising, leadership development, insecurity and blame, dialogue and government funding.

More international collaboration in theological education

Participants at a recent consultation on theological education in the United Kingdom have called for comprehensive Christian leadership development of both lay and ordained men and women in the church.

Ray’s on a mission

Ray Ingram knows how to organise a good feed. The Uniting Church volunteer has been running the delightfully titled ’Ray’s Mission Breakfast’ five times a year for the last eight years to raise money for the church and occasionally other charities.

Powerful ‘must reach out’ to poor

Australia’s ”plasma TV prosperity” can mask deeper and more profound issues of personal fear, insecurity and stress that lead us to blame the disadvantaged, the superintendent of Wesley Mission said.

No government funds, please – we’re Christians

There is no surer way of bringing the simmering debate about the role of religion in Australia to a full boil than by invoking the money and tax concessions given by government to fund certain religious activities.

Atheists can have a genuine conversation with believers

Talking with people is more likely to bring results than talking at them – there’s no point casting a whole culture as the enemy.

Feet washing says a lot: minister

You can tell a lot about a person by looking at their feet, says Uniting Church clergyman the Rev. Bill Crews.