As a church community, CoroUniting fully embraces the SA Synod Safe Church Policy as an integral part of our Duty of Care. An important part of this relates to children in our care and is covered in detail on our Child Safety at CoroUniting resource page.
Other aspects of our Safe Church Duty of Care are:
Authorising and Appointing Leaders
When appointing leaders to positions of trust, influence or authority, we adhere to the Safe Church Authorisation and Appointment process detailed in the SA Synod Duty of Care Policy. This includes applying the six-month rule, ensuring successful screening and interviewing and checking references.
All volunteers and lay leaders are also required to complete a Code of Conduct for Volunteers and Lay Leaders. Our Confidentiality Agreement is for those where further confidentiality is needed, eg. finance or property teams.
Screening Checks
In addition to the new Working with Children Check (WWCC), additional checks are required for those volunteers or staff who deal with money, drive people to/from church activities or engage in intentional pastoral care on behalf of the congregation.
See our Screening Checks resource page for further information.
Event Planning (incl. Risk Assessment)
There are a lot of factors to consider when planning an event, especially with the Work, Health and Safety Act of 2012 in SA.
You can use this Event Planning Guide (incl. checklist) to help you through the process. This is a fillable PDF with links to the various forms including:
Incident Reporting
This Incident Report form (CoroUniting) is to be used to report all accidents/incidents and near misses (as defined in the Incident Management Policy & Procedure). This will then be passed to the Church Council Secretary who, if required, will then complete the official Incident Report form and immediately pass this on to the SA Synod office to ensure SafeWork SA can be notified, where required, as per the Work Health and Safety Act 2012.
Food Safety
Refer to the SA Health web page Charity and community groups and food safety for up to date information about food safety.
Everyone who handles food in relation to a CoroUniting church activity must read and sign the below policy and pass this to the Safe Church Congregation Liaison (Kathy Fopp) for filing.
Sausage Sizzles and BBQs
Refer to the following two resources that relate specifically to sausage sizzles and BBQs:
Code of Ethics Training
This training course introduces a code of ethics that includes training on the awareness of the prevention of sexual misconduct. It is mandatory for all Ministers and Pastors with a 3-hour refresher course to be held annually.
Called to Care Orientation Sessions
Called to Care Orientation Sessions promote and assist the Uniting Church community with relevant information about ensuring a safe physical, emotional and spiritual environment. In order for our ministry to be effective we need to incorporate safe and best practices in leadership, in our programs, our actions, our behaviours and within our facilities, and this session looks at people-centred solutions to:
More information, including training dates can be found on the SA Synod Safe Church Training Courses web page. We will cover the cost of anyone working or volunteering with children within the church who would like to undergo this course. Please contact our Safe Church Congregation Liaison (Kathy Fopp) to make the necessary arrangements.
More Information
Reporting concerns and matters of abuse
Current situations: If you believe a child or adult is in immediate danger please call SA Police on 000.
If the concern relates to a child at risk of harm or potentially at risk call the Child Abuse Report Line (CARL) on 13 14 78.
If any of the above involves any person in a leadership / role of responsibility within the church please notify the Safe Church Committee by telephoning (08) 8236 4268 or by email.
THE CROSS OF CHRIST
Christ’s sacrifice upon that cross
Somehow just sets us free
He died but then He rose again
For us that’s hard to see
We struggle in this earthly life
Entrapped by fears within
Not fully understanding that
Christ took away our sin
We all are called to just believe
“It was finished” on the cross
God’s grace beyond all measure
Sacrificed Christ on that cross
To somehow make a way for all
Who’d strayed since Adam’s fall
It was the perfect sacrifice
Planned especially for all
God Himself then saved His Son
He took Him back to heaven
Christ is with His Father now
Knowing man can be forgiven
The holy Spirit’s been sent down
To help us here to know
Christ will come again one day
Christ’s Father made that vow
We know there is a home for us
When Jesus comes again
He’s coming on that wondrous cloud
With a host of angels then
Creation will bow down to Him
They’ll know their sin and shame
Even those who pierced Him too
Will know He took their blame
On that Day when Christ arrives
Life will change for all mankind
Those who’ve loved the Lord of life
Will be renewed in soul and mind
From that old wooden cross
I have been set free
Christ their took all sin
From you and from me
Just believe that it’s true
What God in Christ did for you
— Graham K Byrne 2023
Thank you to Simon for preparing this Lenten Series of Life Group Bible Studies on Lamentations. For each week there are some helpful thoughts, suggested readings and questions either for discussion in groups or for pondering on your own.
There are printed copies of each study on the Easter Resource Table at church - they are also available for download below:
- Study 1 - Lamentations intro
- Study 2 - How lonely sits the city (Lam 1)
- Study 3 - Where is bread and wine? (Lam 2)
- Study 4 - The Great Turning Point (Lam 3)
- Study 5 - How the gold has lost its lustre (Lam 4)
- Study 6 - A Prayer for Restoration (Lam 5)
As a church we are following Tim Chester’s 3-year Bible Reading Plan, taking us through the Old Testament once and the New Testament twice. It’s in weekly chunks so there is no pressure if you happen to miss a day. It’s flexible and manageable. We've done it for the past 4 years and we're starting it again in 2023.
Developing a Bible reading habit can be challenging so we'd suggest doing it together. This way you'll not only read the Bible but also be able to share with others the insights you are gaining from the readings and be encouraged to keep going.
How to get involved:
- Life Groups: Get your Life Group involved and use the readings as the basis of your sharing each week;
- Solo: Read the set readings on your own and prayerfully journal your thoughts;
We'd love to have you join us!