- Evil Seminar: Evil Unleashed; Evil Tamed - 28 March 2026
- Seminar: Mending our Social Fabric - 3 September 2025
- Workshop re Deportation - 6th July 2025
- Narcissism Seminars 2 – 23 February 2025
- Pastoral Care Training Opportunity 14 –16 June 2024
- Lenten Seminars on Perspectives on Evil (2024)
- The Challenge of COVID-19 to Social Ethics As We Know Them (2022)
- Ethics Study Series Rev Dr Geoff Dornan (Oct 2021)
- Workshop -
- “Before Belief” (2021)
- Wesley Wayfarers
- Wesley Faith Frontier Forums
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EVIL UNLEASHED; EVIL TAMED: FOUR CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVES
Saturday 28 March (9am to 5pm). One day conference on the topic of evil held at Wesley Uniting Church Forrest.
For more information and tickets: http://www.trybooking.com/DJDZE
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Seminar: Mending our Social Fabric - 3 September 2025
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Workshop re Deportation - Sunday 6th July 2025 - 3–5pm @ Wesley Foyer
We have observed efforts of the Trump Administration to deport in massive numbers, people who have lived in the U.S. for decades, and who have worked in the U.S. economy in jobs that the majority of people are not prepared to do. In short, 'illegal' immigration has been a policy of consensus between political parties, in order to keep the American economy resilient. Now that consensus has evaporated. This past week, in a split decision, the Supreme Court authorized the Federal government to expel people to countries other than those of origin.
The Vice President J.D. Vance, a recent Catholic convert, has sought to justify the new policy on the basis of an appropriation of the moral teachings of St Thomas Aquinas, leading to push-back from the Vatican.
Rev Dr Geoff Dornan will be holding a workshop on Sunday 6 July between 3pm-5pm examining two aspects of the events: First J.D.Vance's interpretation of Thomas Aquinas' teaching, and second, an examination of Catholic teaching on immigration, asylum and deportation.
The essay was sent out a month ago, but Geoff has divided the material into two for ease of discussion:----------------
Narcissism Seminars 2 – 23 February 2025
Rev’d Dr Bruce Stevens will be hosting four seminars on narcissism or excessive self-focus from a
Theological and Psychological Perspective at the Wesley Foyer on Sunday February 2, 9, 16 and 23 at 4.00 pm for around 90 minutes each.
Please download the flyer for more details of the topics to be explored each week.
A copy of the flyer is also on the notice board in the foyer. All welcome.
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Pastoral Care Training Opportunity 14 –16 June 2024
Rev Dr Bruce Stevens, supply minister at Wesley, will provide pastoral care training to Uniting Church people based on his extensive experience as a practicing Clinical Psychologist and Minister of the Word. He has extensive experience offering professional training to psychologists and convened the clinical psychology program at the University of Canberra for five years.
There were be sessions held from 14 – 16.
An outline of the topics to be covered includes:
Session 1: Why care? The place of pastoral care in a church. Ethical practices such as confidentiality are foundational to an emotionally safe community.
Session 2: The skill of active listening. Some practical exercises. Listening as an act of courage.
Session 3: Grief with a special focus on the loss of the child. Worden’s four tasks of grief.
Session 4: Surviving trauma. Symptoms of PTSD. The idea of post-traumatic growth.
Session 5: A general classification of mental disorders with a special focus on an awareness of suicide risk.
Session 6: Issues related to chronic pain. The chronic pain trap. The importance of remaining active.
Session 7: Towards a deep story of the self. How we construct identity. How to elicit and encourage spiritual integration around a healthy narrative.
Bruce will provide notes.
Sessions have been video recorded for anyone who may not be able to attend the full weekend of training.
If you have any questions please contact the church office.
Download this brochure here.
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Lenten Seminars on Perspectives on Evil (2024)
Led by Rev Dr’s Geoff Dornan and Bruce Stevens. No need to register.
Simply come along to any or all five sessions (4pm-5.30pm each Sunday in Lent 2024)
First session is Sunday 25 February 2024 in foyer at Wesley - click here for more information
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Workshop: Understanding Intergenerational Family Themes - 27 Jan 2024
This 1.5-hour workshop will teach and use the genogram, a tool from family therapy, to explore emotional and spiritual themes that run in families.
The Rev Dr Bruce Stevens, endorsed clinical psychologist, will lead this interactive workshop. Discover both healthy and maybe not so healthy patterns – and think about what might need to change. You are welcome to bring a friend or family member who might be interested.
Wesley Foyer, 4pm, Saturday 27 January 2024 - click here to download the workshop notes
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The Challenge of COVID-19 to Social Ethics As We Know Them (2022)
The Impact of COVID-19 on the Way We Think about Ethics by Rev Dr Geoff Dornan - download here
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Ethics Study Series Rev Dr Geoff Dornan (Oct 2021)
Series I - Why Do We Think The Way We Do About Ethics?
Study 1 - The Examined Life study materials here
Study 2 - Hebrew thought study materials here
Study 3 - Greeks and geeks study materials here
Series II - Why We Think The Way We Think About Morality and Ethics?
Study 1 - Genetic Engineering: What's All the Fuss About? study materials here
Sunday 14th November from 3pm-4:30pm
Wednesday 17th November from 11am-12:30pm
Thursday 18th November from 11am-12:30pm
Study 2 - Euthanasia - We All Die study materials here
Sunday 21st November from 3pm-4:30pm
Wednesday 24th November from 11am-12:30pm
Thursday 25th November from 11am-12:30pm
Study 3: Covid 19 study materials here
Sunday 28th November from 3pm-4:30pm
Wednesday 1st December from 1am-12:30pm
Thursday 2nd December from 11am-12:30pm
These studies are open to everyone who may like to be part of them.
For more information please contact the church office.
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“Before Belief”
What is our first understanding of God? Perhaps there is a sense of spirituality, mystery or transcendence from birth. As we mature, becoming more rational and cynical, do we lose something? These and other intriguing questions will be discussed along with practical exercises of self-discovery in six sessions. Come to what you can, there is no expectation that a participant will make every session.
Outline of Sessions:
- Intergenerational Patterns using the genogram and journaling.
- Attachment Patterns explaining the four patterns of attachment and using Miner’s attachment to God questionnaire.
- Early Memories using first memory, early religious memories
- The Five Senses. What is the preferred sense to experience God?
- Hidden learning using sentence completion for childhood experience and God.
- Spiritual Profile questionnaire. What does our individual profile look like? How has it influenced our adult spirituality?
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Wesley Wayfarers
Wesley Wayfarers try to meet on the second Sunday afternoon of each month to consider various matters of Christian faith from a progressive perspective. Progressive theology is an approach that seeks to understand the real, underlying meaning of scripture as distinct from what might appear to be its meaning from a simple literal reading of it. The group was established following the Common Dreams Conference held in Canberra in 2013.
Subjects that have so far been discussed by the group include "A 21st Century view of the Christmas story", the Creeds as Third Century statements of faith, the nature and meaning of the Resurrection of Jesus, the Atonement and "Did God create the Universe?"
The Wayfarers try to meet at 2pm at the church on the second Sunday, and all members of the parish are very welcome to attend. Contacts: Liz (6254 7641) or the Church office. All welcome.
Current Study Book TBA
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Wesley Faith Frontier Forums
The Wesley Faith Frontier Forums seek to reinvigorate our Christian faith with fresh meaning for today's world, and to deepen our individual spirituality. The group meets for periods of study and exploration on Sunday afternoons.
The sessions are open to everyone. You are especially encouraged to attend if you are thinking about confirmation. Enquiries can be made at the Church Office about our next series.
Our Faith Frontier Forums arise because at Wesley we are very proud of our Uniting Church's Basis of Union, and we see great significance in its paragraph 11, titled "Scholarly Interpreters", which reads:
"The Uniting Church acknowledges that God has never left the church without faithful and scholarly interpreters of Scripture, or those who have reflected deeply upon, and acted trustingly in obedience to, God's living Word. In particular, the Uniting Church enters into the inheritance of literary, historical and scientific enquiry which has characterised recent centuries, and gives thanks for the knowledge of God's ways with humanity which are open to an informed faith?. It prays that it may be ready when occasion demands to confess the Lord in fresh words and deeds."
In addition, Exploring the Christian Faith and Confirmation classes are held annually.
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Series held earlier:
Sessions will be led by Dr Bruce Stevens. He is a minister-in-association at Wesley, clinical psychologist and research professor at CSU. He is writing a book on our earliest spirituality tentatively called Before Belief.
Theology in Film Series (held in year 2015)
Theology has ‘escaped’ theological colleges and dry academic journals. While good books will continue to be written, theology now has a wider audience than even those who attend church on a regular basis. Serious theology is often done through film nowadays. This series will introduce controversial films that raise traditional theological questions and risk unexpected answers. We do this during Lent because many important Lenten themes are touched upon in these films.
A series of films will be played in a ‘Readers Digest’ abridged form of 45-60 minutes, one each week and then discussion to follow. You will be encouraged to watch the film before, perhaps through YouTube or other sources, but this is not necessary. Come to what interests you.
Discussion will be led by The Rev’d Dr Bruce Stevens, Wicking Professor of Ageing and Practical Theology (CSU), clinical psychologist and a member of Wesley.
1. The Nature of Evil Triumph of Will (1935) is the most famous propaganda movie of all time. Directed by Leni Riefenstahl, it sought to glorify Adolf Hitler, portrayed as the messiah, and justify the Nazi war machine. This raises questions about the nature of evil and how we respond as Christians. Does evil exist or is it ‘a parasite on the good’? See YouTube. 7.45pm on Wednesday 18th February in the Wesley Hall.
2. Miracles? Leap of Faith (1992) starring Steve Martin and Debra Winger, is about a corrupt evangelist Jonas Nightengale. There is a miracle which seems to come from God, a healing, but in response to an insincere prayer. This raises difficult theological questions about ‘the unexplained’. Do miracles exist in an age of rationality? Does a possible miracle nurture or distract from faith? Many church traditions emphasise the miraculous, how do we respond? See YouTube. 7.30pm on Wednesday 25th February in Wesley Hall.
3. Fundamentalism and Belief Ordet (1955) is a Danish film. In a rural setting, the second son of the generally devout Borgen family goes insane studying theologian Soren Kierkegaard, believes himself to be Jesus Christ, and prays for the dead Inger to come back to life. This raises questions about orthodoxy, inclusion and exclusion, and in practical terms: should a young couple marry across lines of sectarian belief? A dramatic and surprising ending. See YouTube. 7.30pm Wednesday 4th March in Wesley Hall.
4. Life in the Kingdom of God Babette’s Feast (1987) is literally a feast. This amazing story is one of abundance against a backdrop of poverty. It is about grace for the undeserving of the most extravagant kind. The best of wine and food - is this a foretaste of what we might expect in heaven? I would like to think so. Can we enjoy all the good that God offers, even in this age, as a sacrament of the World to Come? See YouTube. 7.30pm on Wednesday 11th March in Wesley Hall.
