Open Hearts, Open House
We are a diverse group of people with one thing in common. We have different ethnicities, different backgrounds, different ideas about the ways things should be done, different ideas about who God is even – but we have all experienced God’s love in some way.
This diverse group of people forms a community of faith because we believe that God’s love is often experienced in relationships. We see God’s love as non-discriminatory, non-judgmental, forgiving, and selfless – and so we strive to live out that love in our relationships with others, both among ourselves and out into our neighbourhood and the world.
This is a church community that seeks to model God’s love through open hospitality, through welcoming all people, and by reflecting the same non-discriminatory, non-judgmental love that we ourselves have experienced. We don’t always succeed in this, and we recognise that as the church, we have caused hurt and pain for some people in the past. For that, we are sorry because we recognise that this is not the way of Jesus, but despite our inertia and stubbornness, we want God to continue to make us more loving and accepting.
We strive to be a community with open hearts and an open house.
Church Teams
The business and care of the church community are overseen by a number of teams working alongside the minister. Primary among these is the church council which oversees the Worship Team, Hub Management Team, and Communication Team.
A Place For Community
One way that Noranda Uniting seeks to build relationships with our neighbourhood is through offering to host community groups in our building. Check out more about our Place For Community.
A History of Joining Together
Noranda Uniting formed in 1994 when the Uniting Churches in Morley, Bassendean, Bayswater, and Bedford decided to join together to form one church community. In 2000, we built the church building in Camboon Rd. Since then, the Uniting Churches in Dianella and Girrawheen have joined in, as well as some from Yokine Uniting Church.
Meet our new Minister of the Word
Here’s a recent interview with our new Minister: Chris Crause has recently retired and moved back to WA from QLD. His last placement was as the Presbytery Minister for Mary Burnett Presbytery (the 300-400km radius around the Sunshine Coast). He’s done a number of supply periods since coming back to Perth.
Can you give us a short summary of your journey in ministry so far?
I’ve been in full time ministry for more than 30 years. Over time I’ve collected 6 degrees (including an Australian MBA). I’ve served in Molteno, Potchefstroom and Franschhoek in South Africa, and after 15 years, accepted a call to the UCIC in Perth. After more than 10 years in the City, Henriette and I took a leave of absence to move to Queensland where we managed a five star resort in Hervey Bay, took a year off to do the “big lap” (25000km with our caravan) and ended up accepting a call to Mary Burnett as Presbytery Minister.
Where is you sense of call present?
As Presbytery Minister I saw lots of ministers run down and burt-out. Some them were still of the belief that “hoarding” their Long Service Leave was a good idea as it enabled them to retire a few months earlier one day. The damage that belief often causes, is hard to remedy. So, I see part of my call to be someone who enables colleagues to take a break with the peace of mind that someone will take care of their responsibilities so they can come back refreshed and reenergised.
How do you switch off from work and get balance?
Oh, too many to list. Henriette and I are into serious bird-watching. We love travel (especially with our caravan to Australia’s national Parks) and I’m a keen amateur photographer. I want to get back into oil painting, do (even more) reading, and maybe even a bit more study. Braai and make good coffee (I’m a trained barista) with friends. We love spending time with our children and our newly arrived grandchild.
If you could have dinner with three inspiring people, who would they be?
- Archbishop Desmond Tutu. His life story, his compassion and leadership have inspired me.
- Leonard Cohen, in my mind the best poet I know of.
- The members of ABBA, because life is too short to not have music that changes our mood.
Your favourite quote or expression
“Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in.” – Leonard Cohen in Anthem.
In five words, can you describe Chris Crause?
What you see is what you get (oops, that’s 7 words).