Uniting Church in Australia - Governance, Resourcing & Administration Commission eyes new solutions 💭 Get the new video update 📹 & much more in National Update 5 November

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5 November 2025 National Update Your snapshot of the Uniting Church in Australia

Our Featured Story NATIONAL COMMISSIONS "We're quite clear there is an appetite for new solutions": an update from the Governance, Resourcing and Administration Commission In a new video released today, Chair of the Governance, Resourcing and Administration Commission Rev David Fotheringham gives an update on the work of the Commission which is now well underway. Drawing on decades of ministry across rural, suburban and synod settings, David speaks about how the Commission is progressing the work of the Act2 Project, and its role in reimagining how the Uniting Church can organise its common life and wealth to better enable ministry and mission. "We've got an amazing array of communities in such an incredible variety of situations, and we find that one style of governance does not fit all," says David. "So there's been a lot of discernment going into: do our structures serve us as well as they need to, 50 years on from when they were first set up?" "This is an opportunity, a once in a generation opportunity to have a good look at how we can best resource the Church, and enable the mission and ministry that congregations in all of their variety engage in." Working across the Church in this triennium, the Commission is investigating structural and resourcing models for the national Uniting Church and will bring a report and proposals to the 18th Assembly in 2027. Watch here GLOBAL CHURCH General Secretary reflects on WCRC General Council, global church family Read as Assembly General Secretary Andrew Johnson reflects on the World Communion of Reformed Churches General Council which closed two weeks ago after 10 days in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Andrew writes about the shift in the Church’s centre of gravity, the growing diversity of leadership - reshaping "not only the face of the Church but also the concerns of the Church" - and what the Uniting Church can still give and receive within these global famillies. GLOBAL CHURCH 'To stay is to love': mission as God's wounded love Following the World Communion of Reformed Churches General Council two weeks ago, and inspired by the powerful reflections of South African theologian and anti-apartheid activist Rev Dr Allan Boesak, Uniting Church President-elect Rev Dr Paul Goh reflects on the church's call to love, perseverance and solidarity. Image: Rev Dr Allan Boesak WALKING TOGETHER Kungan Kaldowinyeri: Listening to Creation  This past semester, Uniting College for Leadership & Theology ran its second Indigenous Studies unit, this time led by Uncle Rev Ken Sumner and Dr Rosemary Dewerse. Called Kungan Kaldowinyeri - 'Kungan' ('listen' in the language of Kukabrak Ngarrindjeri) and 'Kaldowinyeri' (a worldview catching up the whole of creation) - this immersive experience invited students on Country on the Kurangk (Coorong). WALKING TOGETHER Calling on the government: sign the Nuclear Weapons Treaty This week the Uniting Church Assembly joined with ICAN Australia and the Public Health Association of Australia for two days of advocacy meetings with Federal MPs, calling fror the government to urgently deliver on its long-held party platform to sign and ratify the UN Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. See some more photos on our Facebook page - story coming soon! MULTICULTURAL CHURCH Samoan National Conference a gathering of hospitality, fellowship, prayer and laughter Assembly National Consultant Rev Kath Behan reflects on her experience joining with the Samoan National Conference over the weekend, a joyful intercultural gathering of faith, hospitality, fellowship, singing, prayer and laughter! TREATY Welcoming Victoria's treaty bill History was made last week as a Treaty with Victoria's First Peoples became law. Moderator of the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania Rev Salesi Faupula has issued a statement on the historic milestone, calling it "a profound and hopeful moment, not only for First Peoples, but for all who call this land home." BIBLE Gender and bias: exploring the apostle Paul Assembly National Consultant Rev Dr Sunny Chen recently presented a paper on Paul’s striking statement in Galatians 3:28: “There is no male and female” (οὐκ ἔνι ἄρσεν καὶ θῆλυ), which aimed to defend Paul against claims that he was anti-women. Seeking a fresh perspective, Sunny compared Paul’s writings with those of his contemporary Philo, a Jewish philosopher, with some mind-blowing insights. This year marks 10 years since Pilgrim Theological College was founded. A celebratory dinner held last month reunited many familiar faces to honour the milestone. After more than eight years of faithful leadership, Rev Jane Fry has completed her time as General Secretary of the NSW-ACT Synod. A video of her Closure of Ministry Service is available to view here. UnitingWorld’s Rev Siera Bird was recently spoke with ABC’s Pacific Soul radio program about how opening the Bible in a new way confronts violence and reimagines equality across Pasifika nations. UnitingSA has announced an expansion of its aged care services into the Riverland region through the Support at Home program. On 15 November, the Uniting Church in Queensland is staging Axios: Praise Revival, a Synod-wide Praise and Worship night for Young Adults. Rev Dr Sharon Ruiz-Duremdes, former General Secretary of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines and renowned ecunenical leader, passed away last week, aged 78. ICYMI: The seventh national Uniting Church Day of Mourning will take place on Sunday 25 January 2026. Sign up now to receive forthcoming resources. November  23 Reign of Christ Sunday 25 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence begins (ends 10 Dec) 30 Advent begins (ends 24 Dec) December 25 Christmas Day January 25 Uniting Church Day of Mourning 26 Australia/Survival Day Click here for the Uniting Church Assembly 2026 calendar. Have a story to share? National Update is back as a weekly mailing every Wednesday. We gladly welcome contributions of stories, news and events from across the Uniting Church. Email comms@nat.uca.org.au Join us in prayer for... All those gathering for the President's Conference this week in Tonga. May deep reflection, immersion and talanoa (dialogue) enrich and inspire. The mission, ministry and witness of the Samoan National Conference. All those fighting for a world free from nuclear weapons. American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kanaky, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue and Palau as part of the WCC Ecumenical Prayer Cycle.

Jobs: National Manager - Media and Communications (The Assembly) Seeking an experienced leader to deliver media and communications strategy for the UCA, supporting leadership in governance, pastoral presence, and public representation. Jobs: Internal Auditor - Melbourne (Synod of Vic-Tas) Deliver end-to-end internal audits while promoting continuous improvement, compliance, efficiency and risk management practices. Jobs: Family & Young People’s Ministry Facilitator - Gungahlin UC (Synod of NSW-ACT) Help grow a vibrant and sustainable youth and family ministry within this energetic multigenerational and multicultural congregation. Jobs: Minister - Living Water UC (Northern Synod) A relational, part-time pastor is sought to build faith, lead relevant worship and support the community of a prayerful church.

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