Gathered for the Generations
May 19, 2026
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By Rev. Sandy Brodine
VicTas Younger Generation Education and Strategy Coordinator
Last week, children, families, youth, and young adult workers from across the Uniting Church came together in Melbourne for a meeting of the National Children & Families and Youth & Young Adult Coalition (NYCC). Hosted at the Centre for Theology and Ministry, the gathering brought representatives from every Synod together with Rev. Sunny Chen from the Assembly — a room full of people who share a deep commitment to nurturing faith in younger generations.
The conversations were rich and wide-ranging. Participants enthusiastically shared stories and strategies from their own Synods, with a number reporting that they have moved to team-based models that centre missional priorities — growing new communities of faith and renewing existing ones with a sharper focus on intergenerational faith formation.
Discussions also explored the intersections between intercultural and intergenerational discipleship, approaches to working with neurodiverse young people and adults, and the possibilities and challenges of digital and online faith communities. The group gave attention to education and training for those working with children, youth, and young adults, as well as the importance of creating intentional discipleship pathways for young adults in particular.
More than a working meeting, NYCC was a time of genuine collaboration and relationship-building — with a little bit of fun alongside the serious work. As the church continues to ask how it might walk faithfully with the next generations, gatherings like this remind us that we do not walk alone.
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