Middle East conflict: UCA President urges Political Leaders to back peace and immediate ceasefire
March 11, 2026
President of the Uniting Church in Australia, Rev Charissa Suli, has written to the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, the Leader of the Australian Greens and other Australian political party leaders, urging multi-partisan support for the Australian Government to call for peace and an immediate ceasefire across Iran and the wider Middle East.
The call follows escalating conflict that has spread across the region since the US–Israel strikes on 28 February 2026.
“The pursuit of security through escalating force risks drawing entire regions – and potentially the world – into deeper suffering,” Rev Suli said.
“Political leaders carry a profound moral responsibility to choose the hard work of restraint and peacebuilding over more killing and destruction.”
The Uniting Church’s call for bipartisan political support for a ceasefire echoes appeals from global Christian leaders and bodies, including Pope Leo XIV, the World Council of Churches and World Communion of Reformed Churches.
Earlier this week, the Uniting Church gathered people from across the country for a National Online Service of Prayer for Peace in the Middle East, led by Rev Suli.
More than 140 people joined the service, including members of the Uniting Church, ecumenical partners from Catholic and Anglican communities, and people of other faiths. Together they prayed for peace, compassion and wisdom in the face of escalating violence.
The service began with an Acknowledgement of Country and an opening prayer from Rev Ken Sumner of the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress. A reading from Psalm 46 reminded participants that “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble”.
Those online also heard from Pastor Jirair Ghazarian, a minister currently in Lebanon, who shared the reality facing communities in Beirut and across the Middle East, where many families have been displaced by violence.
Four Synod Moderators, along with Rev Dr Gaby Kobrossi, Rev Dr Krikor Youmshajekian and Australian Defence Force chaplains, helped lead prayers for civilians, displaced families, humanitarian workers and political leaders. Pastor Ghazarian, who will soon serve at the Armenian Uniting Church in Willoughby, also joined in the prayers.
As followers of Jesus Christ, the Uniting Church continues to pray for justice, reconciliation and lasting peace.
Subscribe to our newsletter
If you want to get the latest news from the Uniting Church in Australia then subscribe to our weekly newsletter delivered to your inbox.
More news from the Assembly
Prayer & Pacific leadership for Climate Justice at COP31
Prayer & Pacific leadership for climate justice at COP31Following visits to Tuvalu and Fiji, Uniting Church President Rev Charissa Suli led morning prayers with Pacific partners at the Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion as COP31 opened in Antalya.“Are we genuinely listening to First Peoples, respecting their leadership and supporting their right to determine their own futures?”…
Defence chaplains find space for reflection, renewal and fellowship
Defence Force Chaplains retreat 2026Finding time to pause, reflect and reconnect is important in any ministry, particularly one shaped by the demands and complexities of military life. For Uniting Church Defence Force chaplains, the annual Faith Group Spiritual Conference held at Holsworthy Barracks’ All Saints’ Chapel last week provided such an opportunity, bringing colleagues together…
CFTL prepares for discernment on theological education
CFTL prepares for discernment on theological educationSubscribe to our newsletterIf you want to get the latest news from the Uniting Church in Australia then subscribe to our weekly newsletter delivered to your inbox.The Commission for Theology, Formation and Leadership (CFTL) met online on 29 October. Since its previous meeting, the Admission of Ministers Working Group…
New book on the life of Walter Lawry
New book on Walter Lawry, pioneer Wesleyan missionary to TongaA new book exploring the life and legacy of the first Wesleyan missionary to Tonga has been released, bringing fresh insight into an important chapter of the Uniting Church’s shared Methodist heritage and its enduring relationships with the Pacific. Walter Lawry: The First Wesleyan Missionary to…
2027 Calendar of Dates
2027 Assembly Calendar of Dates Official Uniting Church commemorations, key liturgical dates, ecumenical dates and events, social and cultural celebrations On this page you will find the 2027 dates for the key days we mark together as a national Uniting Church, events held around the Uniting Church that are open to all, key liturgical dates,…
2026-2027 Uniting Church Lectionary
2026-2027 Uniting Church Lectionary available now The Assembly has released the 2026-2027 Uniting Church Lectionary (Year B), a key resource for preaching and worship leading in the ‘Year of Mark’ The 2026-2027 Uniting Church Lectionary is now available to download from the Assembly. This year’s Year B lectionary continues with the new-look poster format…
Filipino National Conference 2026: Weaving a future together
Filipino National Conference 2026: Weaving a future Generations of Filipino Uniting Church members gathered to celebrate faith, culture and community, while weaving a shared vision for an intercultural future Three days of worship, storytelling, cultural celebration and discernment have brought together generations of Filipino members of the Uniting Church, as the Filipino National Conference…
Giving form to the movement of the Spirit
Giving form to the movement of the Spirit The Uniting Church, our ordering and the gift of our common life by Andrew Johnson, Assembly General Secretary There is a story we sometimes tell about the Uniting Church: that we began as a movement and somehow became an institution. It speaks to something important about…