21 July 2026

National Update

Your snapshot of the Uniting Church in Australia

Featured Story

Vale Rev Dr John Brown AM: a faithful pioneer of the Uniting Church

It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the passing of Rev Dr John Brown AM, one of the Uniting Church in Australia’s most influential leaders, who died last Friday at the age of 92.

For more than four decades, John helped shape the Church’s theology, mission and public witness through faithful leadership, humility and commitment to justice, partnership and reconciliation.

President Rev Charissa Suli described him as “one of the Church’s significant leaders, and a pioneer of multicultural and covenant ministry,” remembering his gracious spirit and lifelong love for the Korean Church.

Ordained in 1958, John and his wife Norma served as missionaries in Korea for 12 years before returning to Australia to help establish the mission structures of the emerging Uniting Church.

He later led the development of the Church’s 1985 multicultural statement and played a pivotal role in advancing Covenanting with the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress.

Read our tribute

ASSEMBLY NEWS

Assembly Standing Committee charts a hopeful path for the Uniting Church

The Assembly Standing Committee met in Sydney last week, bringing together members from across the country to guide the national work of the Uniting Church and continue implementing the priorities adopted by the 17th Assembly.

Across three days, the Standing Committee focused on its governance responsibilities including hearing the annual report from Frontier Services, implementation of the Assembly Strategy, and reports from all three streams of the Act2 Project.

LEADERSHIP

New Assembly leaders officially welcomed

Last Friday, the National Assembly celebrated the induction of Rev Dr Sunny Chen as Director, Faith and Theology of the Uniting Church in Australia Assembly.

Joining Sunny were Catherine Pepper and Dave Parker who were commissioned following their recent appointments as Associate General Secretary, Strategy and Governance, and National Director of Frontier Services respectively.

We pray that God will strengthen and equip Sunny, Catherine and David with the wisdom, grace and love of Christ in their service in their new roles.

Pictured above: UAICC National Co-Chair Rev Will Pickett, President Rev Charissa Suli, Dave Parker, Catherine Pepper, Rev Dr Sunny Chen and Assembly General Secretary Andrew Johnson.

JUSTICE

Becoming an anti-racist Church: Building thriving communities through truth telling

The Assembly Standing Committee placed the Uniting Church’s commitment to becoming an anti-racist church at the centre of its recent gathering, hearing reflections from Rev Michael Blair, UAICC Co-Chairs Rev Ken Sumner and Rev Will Pickett, as well as Rev Cyrus Kung and Tina Rendell-Thornton.

Speakers challenged the Church to move beyond celebrating diversity towards truth-telling, deep listening and structural change. Drawing on the United Church of Canada's experience, Rev Blair emphasised that lasting transformation requires changes to systems, leadership and culture.

AROUND THE CHURCH

Inaugural Rev Dr Michelle Cook Lecture and Workshops

The Northern Synod is staging the inaugural Rev Dr Michelle Cook Lecture and Workshops this October as it honours the legacy of the gifted theologian, educator and leader.

Focusing on the theme, ‘Covenant – our lived experience and renewal of the UCA–UAICC Covenant’, the event will feature a keynote conversation with Rev Ken Sumner and Dr Rosemary Dewerse as well as workshops giving focus to First Peoples justice-based theology, theological education, discipleship and women in ministry.

This event will be held at Nungalinya College and online on 1 October. Register today!

Bearing Witness: Palestinian Christian Voices is a series of upcoming events inviting churches and the wider public into a conversation about faith, justice and peacebuilding in the Holy Land. Click here for full details.
Creative Retreat 2026, presented by Uniting Creative, will be held from 31 July to 2 August in the NSW Hunter Valley. Writers, musicians and artists are invited to connect, create and grow together!
Leprena UAICC is inviting families and community to come together to celebrate National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day on 4 August.
For more than 20 years, Pine Rivers Uniting has quietly supported hundreds of people facing hardship each month. Read how their dedicated volunteers provide hope and practical care to their local community.
Across Australia, more than 120 Indigenous languages are still spoken, yet only one has a complete Bible. Nungalinya College in partnership with the Bible Society Australia is helping equip First Peoples translate God’s Word into the language of their communities.
Join lay preachers, worship leaders and church leaders from across Australia for the National Lay Preachers’ Conference this September in Melbourne. Click here for more info and to book!
As AI capabilities advance and its use becomes more widespread, should we wait for harm to occur before holding AI accountable, or embed accountability from the outset? Philip Lee argues that effective AI governance must be proactive rather than reactive.

Join us in prayer for...

the family of the late Rev Dr John Brown. May God’s comfort and peace abound them as they grieve his death.
members of the Assembly Standing Committee. We give thanks for their skills and contribution to the wellbeing and growth of the Uniting Church.
the many upcoming events in the life of the Church. May they inspire, grow people in their Christian faith, and show the love of Christ to the wider community.
Djibouti and Somalia as part of the WCC Ecumenical Prayer Cycle.