Jan van Eyck, "Adoration of the Mystic Lamb," c. 1390-1441 In the early chapters of the Book of Genesis, there are four rivers. Two are unknown to us today; the others are the Tigris and the Euphrates, flowing through present-day Iraq. At the end of the Bible’s narrative arc, there is also a river. John …
Beyond Habel: Creation, eco-justice and Christian discipleship
The Season of Creation Part 3 By Rod Benson Norman Habel’s Earth Bible project and Australian Season of Creation teach Christians to notice dimensions of Scripture that anthropocentric habits of interpretation often obscure. Yet Habel’s work leaves unfinished questions. How should ecological interpretation lead to discipleship? How should Christians committed to biblical authority and the …
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Subsidiarity and Uniting Church ecclesiology
Murray River mouth and Coorong lagoon system near Goolwa, South Australia. By Rod Benson One of the most significant principles in Catholic social teaching is the doctrine of subsidiarity. In broad terms, subsidiarity holds that responsibilities should be exercised by persons and smaller communities when they are capable of doing so, while larger institutions should …
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Rethinking the future of the Uniting Church
By Rod Benson The Uniting Church in Australia has undertaken many reviews and reorganisations since its inauguration in 1977, but few have matched the breadth or potential significance of the Act2 Project. Act2 is arguably the most consequential attempt in recent decades to reconsider the structures, governance, theological formation and mission of the national Church. …
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FAQ for Baptists transitioning to Uniting Church ministry
Yarralumla Uniting Church, Canberra. A guide for Baptist ministers transitioning to the UCA (Part 12 of 12) Rod Benson, 19 July 2026 For Baptist ministers discerning a call to ministry within the Uniting Church in Australia, practical questions soon follow theological reflection. Every minister's journey is unique, but many of the same questions arise as …
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