Rev Peter McDonald writes….
I have a passion for making the community a safer place to
live. All people should be treated with respect and compassion
regardless of their age, their beliefs, their gender or their
origins. For some people our society does this well. For others
our communities are lonely places. When people are isolated
they suffer from a loss of hope and purpose.
When individuals suffer - our whole nation suffers.
It is in our relationship with others that we encounter community
values. Our relationship with friends, neighbours, school teachers
and work mates shape our values. These values are critical.
Will they be values of hope or hopelessness? Will our families
promote trust or suspicion? Will our community be places of
safety or violence? No child deserves to grow up in an environment
without trust. No adult deserves to live in an environment
affected by violence.
Our community should be a place which is safe for children
to grow up and discover what they can do and who they might
become. Our community should be a place where the young discover
that they are important not because of what they do, but because
of who they are.
UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide is an expression of the Christian
belief that all people are of innate worth because of the divine
presence which resides inside of them.
I am privileged to be part of an organisation which works
at making our community a safer place to live, work and play
for us all.
GLBT people
The Christian gospel calls the community to recognise the innate
worth of people created by God. UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide
lives this gospel imperative out by valuing all people regardless
of gender orientation.
If you are a GLBT person of faith and have felt isolated
or victimised by the church then you might like to talk to
Bfriend (http://www.ucwesleyadelaide.org.au/bfriend/default.htm)
or myself.
While I believe that our church does not fully appreciate the
gifts of all its members, I pray and work for a time when we
shall properly recognise the God given gifts of all our people
Ambassador for White Ribbon Day
According to Ban Ki-Moon violence against women is the most
prevalent human rights abuse in the world.
"Violence against women and girls continues unabated in
every continent, country and culture. It takes a devastating
toll on women’s lives, on their families, and on
society as a whole. Most societies prohibit such violence – yet
the reality is that too often, it is covered up or tacitly
condoned."
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, 8 March 2007
The White Ribbon Day challenges the level of violence against
women and girls in our community. As an Ambassador for the
day, I invite you to join the campaign.
About Peter....
Before coming to UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide Rev Peter
McDonald was the Minister of Renmark Parish in the Riverland
and Houghton Paracombe Parish in the Adelaide Hills.
Peter has completed his Masters of Business and Administration
at the Adelaide Graduate School of Business (Adelaide University).
He received the Fundamentals of Leadership Prize in 2003.
Peter has chaired a variety of committees for the Uniting
Church in South Australia. Peter is a member of Morialta
Trust and Associate Minister Maughan Church.
Peter is married to Kathryn and has two energetic children,
Miranda & Emilia
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Minister of UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide