| | More than 40 Lay Preachers, worship leaders and church members from across Australia gathered in Naarm/Melbourne last week for the National Lay Preachers’ Conference. The triennial conference explored what it means to proclaim Christ’s love in a changing church, and held sessions on preaching, Scripture, First Peoples’ wisdom, intercultural ministry, inclusion, social justice and mission. Uniting Church President Rev Charissa Suli delivered the keynote, reflecting on the conference theme, Weaving Christ’s Love as a Lay Preacher. She described Lay Preachers as carrying a “sacred ministry within the whole people of God”, serving communities across the Church, including rural and remote areas. The conference encouraged participants to listen deeply to God, Scripture, First Nations peoples and the diverse experiences of the Church. |
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| | | | | Uniting Church President-elect Rev Dr Paul Goh has reflected on the Church’s vocation to peace and reconciliation after attending the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation in Seoul last week. The gathering – organised by the World Council of Churches, Christian Conference of Asia and National Council of Churches in Korea – brought together Christians from around the world to consider the Church’s role in peacebuilding amid war, division and growing geopolitical conflict, with particular focus on the Korean Peninsula. |
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| | | | What does it mean to listen when the person we are seeking to relate to speaks a different first language, and also understands the world through a different linguistic and cultural framework? It is a question Howard Amery has been exploring for more than four decades, and one he will bring to the inaugural Rev Dr Michelle Cook Lecture and Workshops on 1 October. |
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| | | | Translated versions of several key foundational and governance documents are now available, helping more people participate fully in the life, leadership and decision-making of the Church. The translated resources include the Basis of Union, Manual for Meetings, Statement to the Nation and Church Council Responsibilities Guide. Translations are available in Arabic, Armenian, Dinka, Fijian, Filipino, Indonesian, Korean, Nuer, Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Swahili, Tongan, Traditional Chinese and Vietnamese, reflecting the rich cultural and linguistic diversity of the Uniting Church. These documents play an important role in shaping the Uniting Church’s faith, governance and mission. The Basis of Union is the Church’s foundational document, while the Manual for Meetings guides discernment and decision-making across councils of the Church. The Statement to the Nation expresses the Church’s commitment to justice, reconciliation and public witness. The translated documents are available on uHub. They can also be accessed through the Intercultural Church Hub or the Founding and Governance Documents Hub on the front page of the Uniting Church Australia website, making these important resources more accessible to culturally diverse communities across the Church. |
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| | | | As the Pre-COP Summit in Fiji approaches, Australian faith communities are preparing to stand with Pacific neighbours calling for a global transition away from fossil fuels. On Sunday 4 October, ARRCC (Australian Religious Response to Climate Change) are inviting faith communities to join a moment of prayer and spiritual solidarity, followed by nationwide public actions on Tuesday 6 October. ARRCC is calling on people to participate, volunteer, promote local events and sign the international multifaith petition for a Fossil Fuel Treaty. Find out more here. |
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| | | | UnitingWorld National Director Dr Sureka Goringe was in Canberra last week, joining Christian women leaders from across Australia to advocate for the importance of Australia’s international aid Through the Micah Women’s Network, Sureka joined leaders from churches and Christian aid agencies in meeting representatives from across the political spectrum, including Government ministers Penny Wong, Pat Conroy and Anne Aly, as well as leaders from the Liberals, Labor, Greens and Teals. Australian aid currently accounts for just 0.63 per cent of the Federal Budget. Yet this small investment makes a significant difference, helping prevent conflict and displacement, strengthen health systems, support communities to prosper and build stronger relationships with Australia’s neighbours. As Sureka reflected: “I spent the day in Canberra with Christian women leaders from every kind of church and every state and territory in Australia, to make this point to our elected leaders.” UnitingWorld’s advocacy is an important part of the Uniting Church’s commitment to justice and to standing with communities around the world. |
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| | | | What can solar panels, compostable communion cups and a community garden say about faith? At St Stephen’s Uniting Church in Toowoomba, they are all part of a growing commitment to care for creation. Led by their minister Rev Dylan Miegel, the congregation is discovering that practical sustainability can be both good stewardship and an expression of discipleship – reducing environmental impact, strengthening the church’s finances and reaffirming their understanding of our place within God’s creation. |
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| | | | Registrations are now open for Held Together – a four-day gathering of young adults aged 18–35 from across Australia and around the world, taking place from 21–24 January 2027 at Merroo Christian Centre in Kurrajong, NSW. Co-led by Uniting Church President Rev Charissa Suli and the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress, Held Together will bring diverse cultures, communities and stories together through faith, worship, learning and connection. The gathering will create space for spiritual renewal, intercultural engagement, and First Nations leadership and perspectives – offering young adults an opportunity to listen, learn, grow and build relationships across cultures. An early bird price is available until 30 September. Gather your group and register today! |
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| | | | “All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.” (Acts 2:44–45) This Advent, inspire generosity by hosting an Everything in Common gift stall or including UnitingWorld in a retiring offering. Everything in Common gift cards represent donations to many of UnitingWorld’s vital projects. In recent years, thanks to Uniting Churches across Australia, families in Asia, Africa and the Pacific gained better access to food, clean water, small business support, and hope in the face of poverty and a changing climate. Let’s do it again! Stallholder packs and cards will be available from mid October. Register your gift stall here. This year UnitingWorld also has new Everything in Common retiring offering envelopes. If you can’t run a stall or if some people in your congregation would prefer to give in this way, let UnitingWorld know and they’ll send as many as you need – email or call 1800 998 122. |
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| | | | Frontier Services is seeking a strategic and experienced National Fundraising Manager to lead fundraising growth, strengthen supporter relationships and help sustain our work alongside people in rural and remote Australia. This is a full-time, Sydney-based role. Learn more and apply here. |
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| | | The 50th Annual Meeting of the Synod of Western Australia was held in Perth last weekend. Read more here. There is still time to register for the inaugural Rev Dr Michelle Cook Lecture and Workshops on 1 October. You can attend sessions in person or stream live. Frontier Services is seeking volunteers for an Outback Links trip to Walbundrie, NSW from 28 September to 2 October. They’re looking to restore the historic community showgrounds through painting, cleaning, repairs and more. For details, contact Therese on 0488 709 010 or via email. Season of Creation is a wonderful time to bring your faith community together in caring for God’s creation. The Synod of NSW & ACT have collated a range of resources for children, youth and intergenerational communities. ICYMI: As rescue and retrieval efforts continue across devastated communities in Nepal, UnitingWorld is supporting United Mission to Nepal to provide essential food and relief supplies to affected families. Please consider what you can give.
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| | Join us in prayer for... our Lay Preachers; that God will strengthen, nourish and equip them to proclaim Christ’s love faithfully and for the Church hear the good news of Christ afresh. for the upcoming inaugural Rev Dr Michelle Cook Lecture and Workshops. May all who attend grow in their our understanding of Covenant, First and Second Peoples justice, and the call to walk together. the Synod of Western Australia following their 50th Annual Meeting. May God grant wisdom to their Synod leaders and ministers as they continue in the work of proclaiming the gospel. Ivory Coast, Togo and Ghana as part of the WCC Ecumenical Prayer Cycle.
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| | | September
1 Season of Creation (until 4 Oct)
October
1-4 Fijian National Conference
4 Older Persons Sunday
22 Anniversary of National Apology to Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse
30 Filipino National Conference (until 1 Nov)
November
1 All Saints Day
22 Reign of Christ Sunday
25 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence (until 10 Dec)
Click here for the Uniting Church Assembly 2026 calendar. |
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