1 September 2026

National Update

Your snapshot of the Uniting Church in Australia

Featured Story

President releases video message for the start of Season of Creation

The 2026 Season of Creation begins today, 1 September, inviting Christians around the world to pray, reflect and act in celebration of God’s gift of creation and our shared responsibility to care for our common home.

To mark the beginning of the season, Uniting Church President Rev Charissa Suli has released a video message reflecting on this year’s theme, ‘Living Water’, inspired by Ezekiel 47:9 and 12.

In Ezekiel’s vision, a river flows from God’s sanctuary, bringing healing, restoration and new life. Rev Suli connects this vision with communities experiencing environmental degradation, climate change and displacement, including people in Nepal and Tibet following devastating floods.

She also reflects on the Uniting Church’s responsibility to care for creation and stand alongside First Nations peoples and Pacific communities.

The Season of Creation runs until 4 October. Rev Suli invites the Church to “pray, learn, act, and advocate”, allowing Christ’s living water to flow through us with healing and hope.

View her message

TRAGEDY

A pastoral prayer for the people of Nepal

Our hearts are with the people of Nepal following the devastating floods that struck the Bhote Koshi River area last week, bringing loss of life, destruction and uncertainty to communities already facing immense hardship.

In this time of grief, Uniting Church President Rev Charissa Suli has offered a pastoral prayer for the people of Nepal, praying for those who have lost loved ones, those still waiting for news, and those working to bring help and comfort.

We join in this prayer, entrusting the people of Nepal to God’s loving care. May those who are grieving know God’s presence, those who are afraid find courage, and those responding to the disaster be strengthened for the work ahead.

APPEAL

How you can practically support the people of Nepal

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 approximately 1,000 affected families.

Please consider giving to this emergency appeal and continue hold the people of Nepal in prayer as they face grief, displacement and a long road to recovery.

Image: Navesh Chitrakar, Reuters

PRESIDENT

A renewed call for the Church to shine

What might it mean for the Church to arise and shine today?

President Rev Suli has been reflecting on this question following her attendance at the recent World Assembly of Methodist and Uniting Church Women. She invites the Church to see our hope not as something we create ourselves, but as a response to the light God has already given us in Christ. She has written a reflection reminding us that we are woven together through relationships, generations and cultures, and that our faith is called to become action.

A MULTICULTURAL CHURCH

Key Uniting Church documents now available in translation

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, 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.

ASSEMBLY

Opportunity to contribute to the life of the Uniting Church

The National Assembly is seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified people to join its Finance, Audit and Risk Committee (AFARC). This voluntary role provides independent oversight of financial stewardship, risk management, governance, compliance and assurance across the National Assembly and its agencies.

Applications are welcome from UCA members and non-members with relevant governance, financial or risk experience. The initial appointment is for three years. Applications close next Monday, 7 September.

EVENTS

Gather your young adults for Held Together Conference

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!

FRONTIER SERVICES

Stand with people in the bush in this key role

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.

Rev Will Pickett and Sean Weetra were recently inducted and commissioned as State Development Officers for UAICC Victoria at a ceremony in Melbourne.
At Terrigal Uniting Church, ministry doesn’t just happen on Sundays. Their Repair Café brings volunteers together to mend household items, reduce waste, care for creation and build community over a cuppa.
The 2026 Sugden Lecture explores John Wesley’s letters to Methodist leaders, offering a fascinating insight into pastoral leadership, shared practices and spiritual discipline. The lecture is free to attend or view online with registration required.
GEM School 2026 has wrapped up in Panama, marking a decade of equipping church leaders to challenge unjust economic systems. The gathering highlighted the Church’s role in pursuing an Economy of Life grounded in justice, sustainability and the common good.

Join us in prayer for...

The nation of Nepal as they deal with the aftermath of the devastating floods last week. You may like to use the President’s pastoral prayer.
Season of Creation celebrations as they begin today. May Christians across the world find joy, challenge and inspiration in praying and working together to care for creation.
Liberia, Sierra Leone, Cape Verde, The Gambia and Guinea as part of the WCC Ecumenical Prayer Cycle.

September
1 Season of Creation (until 4 Oct)
4-6 National Lay Preachers’ Conference

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.