New leaders inducted and commissioned at Sydney ceremony
July 19, 2026
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Last Friday, the National Assembly celebrated the Induction and Commissioning of recently appointed Directors in a ceremony presided by the Uniting Church President, Rev Charissa Suli.
Inducted on the evening was Rev Dr Sunny Chen who stepped into the role of Director, Faith & Theology at the beginning of the month.
Sunny joins the Executive Team after serving as National Consultant with the Assembly, where he has supported the Church's national work in a broad range of ministry and mission priorities.
An ordained Minister of the Word, Sunny has also served as Presbytery Minister in the Presbytery of Yarra Yarra and as the Synod's equipping Leadership for Mission Presbytery Minister, supporting congregations, ministers and leaders across Victoria and Tasmania.
Earlier ministry roles include university chaplaincy at the University of Melbourne and Queen's College, parish ministry, youth ministry, and secondary school teaching in Hong Kong.
Joining Sunny were Catherine Pepper and Dave Parker who were Commissioned following their recent appointments as Associate General Secretary, Strategy & Governance, and National Director of Frontier Services respectively.
Catherine was appointed Associate General Secretary, Strategy & Governance, at the beginning of July bringing experience from a career spanning local government, environmental consulting and the technology sector. Her previous role was Manager, Environment and Sustainability, at Maitland City Council.
A lifelong member of the Church, Catherine served for eight years on the Assembly Standing Committee and has made significant contributions to the Act2 process, the Assembly Net Zero Working Group and other national governance bodies.
Dave joined Frontier Services in April as National Director from Scripture Union Australia, where he held a broad portfolio spanning public advocacy, donor relations, fundraising, marketing and communications, as well as coordinating chaplaincy services and supporting volunteers.
In his role at Frontier Services, he will be leading the organisation to build new and innovative ways to serve rural and remote communities across the life of the Uniting Church – offering compassionate care, working for justice, and nurturing the spirit.
We pray that God may strengthen and equip Sunny, Catherine and Dave Chen with the wisdom, grace and love of Christ in their service in their new roles.
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