This event is being held over two days; the first day will be for the retreat and the second day will be for the AGM. You will need to register for each individual day using the two ticket options. Please note both sessions will be held via Zoom, with the Zoom link being sent out on October 10th. The Zoom link will be the same for both sessions.

‘The Synod Intercultural Forum is a forum for members of the Uniting Church interested and committed to the enhancement of the intercultural reality of the UCA.

Each year the Forum organises retreats, seminars and meetings to promote, support, educate, and advocate to enhance cultural diversity within the polity, leadership, worship, witness and service of the Uniting Church in Australia within the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania.

This year we are privileged to have Rev Dr Monica Melanchthon, Associate Professor of Old Testament at the Pilgrim Theological College in Australia. She is a graduate of the United Theological College, Bangalore (BD) and the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, USA (Th.M and PhD). Born and raised in India, she taught Hebrew Bible studies and Women’s Studies at the Gurukul Lutheran Theological College, Chennai, India, before coming to Australia in 2012.

Monica positions herself as a feminist advocate and liberation theologian, committed to producing reflections and texts that resist and counter cultures and languages of dominance that exclude the voices of the oppressed. She has strong commitments to the marginalized, particularly, women and Dalits. Her approach to the Biblical text is critical, contextual, interdisciplinary and liberative. She draws on insights derived from the lived experiences and social biographies of the marginalized, particularly women and dalits to interpret the biblical text.Monica is an ordained Lutheran minister and serves the wider church as speaker, theological reflector and bible study leader.

DAY 1

Topic: ‘Reading the Bible with Marginal Communities: Values and Implications for a multi cultural Church’

Day: October 11th

Time: 9.30 am to 12.30 pm

Cost: $10

Speaker: Rev Dr Monica Melanchthon, Associate Professor of Old Testament at the Pilgrim Theological College, Parkville, Australia

DAY 2

Topic: Synod Intercultural Forum AGM

Day: October 12th

Time: 10.00 am to 12.30 pm

Cost: Free

AGM Agenda:

1. Worship

Welcome and Acknowledgement: Rev. Dr Jong Soo Park

Devotion: Moderator Rev. David Fotheringham

2. Reports

SIF Steering Committee Report: Rev. Juliette Maua'i

Intercultural Leadership Development: Rev. Dev Anandarajan

Intercultural Community Development: Rev. Syliva Akau'ola Tongotongo

3. Discussions

Synod Meeting Planning Committee (SMPC): Rev. David Fotheringham

Intercultural Theological Education: Rev. Dr John Flett

Other businesses

4. Closing Prayer