The Uniting Church
Our Formation
The Uniting Church is the third largest Christian denomination in Australia and the first church to be created in and of Australia. It came into being on 22 June 1977, after three denominations - Congregational Union in Australia, the Methodist Church of Australasia, and the Presbyterian Church of Australia joined together under the Basis of Union
Ecumenism remains a vital aspect in all of the Church's life and work - in local congregations, national commitments to work together with other churches, and relationships and partnerships with churches of various denominations in Asia and the Pacific.
For further reading:
The Uniting Church Structure
Working together for the Common Good
The Church is made up of a series of inter-related councils — local churches, regional presbyteries, state synods, and the National Assembly. Each council has its distinct tasks, and each council recognises the limits of its responsibilities in relation to other councils. We don’t believe in working in silos. Instead, each council works together for the Common Good.
Congregation
Queanbeyan Uniting is a congregation of the Uniting Church. Congregations are communities that seek to follow Jesus, learn about God, share their faith, care for each other, serve the local community and to live faithfully with real joy. They usually meet in a Church building which symbolises Christian spirit. While they are vastly different, each Congregation aims to embrace all people and to unite them with each other and with God. This is demonstrated by having an “open table” for Holy Communion where all people are welcome to partake.
Each Congregation has an elected Church Council to provide governance at a local level. Church Council's main priority is to build the congregation up in faith and love.
The Presbytery is the regional council of the Uniting Church in Australia. Each presbytery is responsible for overseeing the Church’s life and work in their region. This includes:
settling ministers
establishing, amalgamating and disbanding congregations
developing mission strategy
supporting congregational life.
Ministers of the Word and Deacons are responsible to the presbytery and have a duty of care to ensure their work is carried out faithfully. Presbytery meetings include ordained ministers, lay pastors and elected lay persons from every congregation.
The Presbytery elects a Chairperson who is the authorised spokesperson for the Presbytery.
Queanbeyan Uniting is part of the Canberra Region Presbytery.
The Synod is the state council of the Uniting Church. The word ‘synod’ also describes the regular meeting of representatives of the state-wide Uniting Church.
The Synod is responsible for supporting and resourcing the Church in its geographical area. This covers:
community services
mission planning
theological and other education services
administration relating to ministers, property and financial services.
The elected head of each Synod is the Moderator, and a General Secretary is usually appointed as the chief executive officer.
Queanbeyan Uniting is part of the Synod of New South Wales and the ACT, whose head office is located in Pitt Street, Sydney.
The Assembly is the national council of the Uniting Church. It is headed by the President of the Uniting Church, with a General Secretary as chief executive officer.
The role of the Assembly is to determine matters of doctrine, worship, government and discipline. This involves:
promoting the Church’s mission
establishing standards of theological training
receiving ministers from other communions
being proactive towards the wider union of the Church.
While the Assembly does make guiding decisions about the tasks and authority of other councils, it must seek the agreement of the councils, and on occasion of the congregations of the Church, on matters of vital importance to the life of the Church.
The Assembly’s central offices are located in Pitt Street, Sydney.
In addition to our churches, the Uniting Church has three significant agencies:
Frontier Services is an agency of the Uniting Church providing a helping hand and a listening ear to people in remote and outback Australia.
The Uniting Church recognises that we live in a society where people are more isolated, especially people who live in the bush. Frontier Services plays an important role in providing a sense of connection between our urban cities and the bush.
Through its volunteer program Outback Links lends a helping hand to farmers and communities when it's needed most. They provide a lifeline for families impacted by the hardships of unprecedented drought across the country.
Frontier Services Bush Chaplains travel tens of thousands of kilometres every year visiting families and communities to provide practical, pastoral and spiritual support to those in need.
UnitingWorld is the international aid partnerships agency of the Uniting Church, connecting people and church communities to partner in God’s mission.
UnitingWorld’s vision is to see transformed communities where people honour God and experience hope and well-being as they live free of poverty and injustice.
UnitingWorld partners with local churches across the Pacific, Asia and Africa to bring about lasting change.
They collaborate on programs that bring about sustainable livelihoods, resilient communities and leaders who value equality and inclusion.
Their areas of focus intersecting across their work include disaster preparation, emergency response, gender equality, poverty alleviation and strong leadership.
Uniting is one of the largest not-for-profit organisations in Australia offering over 550 services across NSW and the ACT in the areas of aged care, retirement and independent living, early learning, disability, chaplaincy and community services.
Uniting celebrates diversity of ability, age, ethnicity, faith, sexual orientation, intersex variation or gender identity and welcomes everyone, exactly as they are.
Uniting's focus is always on the people they serve. Their range of supports and services is designed in partnership with you and around what you need.
Uniting runs some of its aged care programs from our church each week.
Learn more about the structure of the Uniting Church in Australia.
Governance Documents
The Uniting Church in Australia Basis of Union (1992 revision)
The Uniting Church in Australia Constitution
The Uniting Church in Australia Regulations
In 1982 at Crystal Creek, just north of Townsville, First Peoples came together, Christian leaders from across Australia. Guided by the Spirit they discerned a vision for a National Congress - a First Peoples movement, within the UCA.
In 1985, the Assembly of the Uniting Church in Australia unanimously welcomed and agreed to officially support the formation of the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC).