Second Sunday in Advent - Lk 3: 1-6
Rev. Emily Hayes, minister at the Alice Springs Uniting Church (ASUC).The ASUC is a welcoming, growing and diverse community of people involved in many areas including prison ministry, youth services and hosting “spirit journeys” for visitors to come and listen and learn from first nations people and experience this extraordinary country
Emily is currently in the final year of her Master of Theology at the Adelaide College of Divinity. She has lived in Mparntwe (Alice Springs) on the lands of the Arrenrte people for 12 years. Emily loves living in the desert and walking alongside and learning from the Central Desert people who have cared for this land for 60 000 years.Emily’s undergraduate studies were in education and she taught literacy at a number of tertiary education institutions in Alice Springs before sensing a call to ministry within the church. She also worked at the Alice Springs Women’s Shelter and remains committed to addressing the issue of domestic violence in our society and challenging teachings within the church that encourage female submission to men and have been used to justify or enable violence against women.
Outside of work Emily, and her husband Martin, are passionate soccer players and lead a local club. Martin is from Peru and he and Emily met when she was living there 16 years ago. The club works hard to create a safe place for women, members of the LGBTQI community and people from diverse cultural backgrounds to get involved in the sport. They also have 2 children.
