ASC Appointed, new Chairs and Advocates
The 17th Assembly elects a new Assembly Standing Committee, New Circle Advocates and Committee Chairs
July 16, 2024
On the final day of the 17th Assembly, a new Assembly Standing Commitee was announced as well as Advocates for the Assembly Circles of Interest and Chairs for various Assembly Committees. Ballot convenor Scott Ballment presented the results of the elections.
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.
Assembly Standing Committee
Members of the Assembly Standing Committee were also elected to serve for the next three years.
The successful candidates were:
Jordan Sumner, Rachel Kronberger, Sandy Boyce, Alison Overeem, David Fortheringham, Jong Soo Park, Richard La’Brooy, Roberta Stanley, Joanna Palmer, Felicity Amery, Emily Evans, Alimoni Taumoepeau, Kepueli Vaka, Alison Xamon, Emelia Haskey, Justin Greenway, Rachel Hanson, John Berger
Assembly Circles of Interest
Six Advocates were appointed to the Assembly Circles of Interest.
Being A Multicultural Church Circle Advocate – Rev Dr Paul Goh
Discipling the Next Generation Circle Advocate – Ms Virginia Lavaki
Growing in Faith Circle Advocate – Rev Hee Won Chang
Transforming Worship Circle Advocate – Matthew Julius
Working for Justice Circle Advocate – Rev Alexandra Sangster
Walking Together as First and Second Peoples Circle Advocate – Alison Overeem
The role of Advocate for the Seeking Common Ground Circle is vacant.
Chairpersons
The following people were also appointed as Chairpersons of Assembly Agency Boards and National Committees.
UnitingCare Australia Chairperson – Heather Watson
UnitingWorld Chairperson – Rev Dr Steve Bevis
Frontier Services Chairperson – Rev Heather den Houting
Standards for Ministries Working Group Chairperson – Rev Dr Rob McFarlane
Defence Force Chaplaincy Chairperson – Rev Charles Vesely
Read more 17th Assembly news
Day of Mourning 2026
#UCADayofMourningSunday 25 January Since 1994, the Uniting Church has been in Covenant with the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC). Entered into with honesty about our past and hope for the future, this Covenant commits us to working together for a just Church and a just nation.…
Church responds to Bondi attack
Church responds to Bondi attack As the Uniting Church, we express our grief and call for solidarity and peaceThe Uniting Church in Australia expresses its deep sorrow following the attack at Bondi Beach, which NSW Police have identified as a terrorist act. The violence occurred while families and children were gathered to celebrate the start…
Bondi tragedy: Pastoral message from President Rev Suli
Bondi tragedy: Pastoral message from President President Rev Charissa Suli offers this pastoral mesage and prayer following the tragic events at Bondi Beach written by Rev Charissa Suli, President of the Uniting Church in Australia This morning, we wake with heavy hearts following the tragic events at Bondi. As the Uniting Church in Australia,…
President's Christmas Message 2025
This Christmas season, President Rev Charissa Suli offers two messages for our community – because the incarnation meets us wherever we are. A Christmas Message of Light and Action In her main Christmas message, President Rev Charissa reminds us of the profound mystery at the heart of our faith: God chose to draw near, entering…
President's reflection: Threads of love across our outback
President’s Reflection: Threads of Love in Griffith and Across the Outback Rev Charissa Suli recently travelled to the NSW Riverina town of Griffith to see first-hand the launch of a new pilot progam for Frontier Services by Rev Charissa Suli, President of the Uniting Church in Australia In late November I travelled to NSW…
Update from the Theology, Formation & Leadership Commission
Commission meets in person for first time It was yet another milestone moment for the Commission for Theology, Formation & Leadership written by Rev Dr Cathie Lambert, Chair for the Commission for Theology, Formation and Leadership On 10–11 November the Commission for Theology, Formation and Leadership met for the first time in person in…
Nextgen leaders head to the bush for new pilot program
Nextgen leaders head to the bush to engage in new pilot program A group of our young church leaders recently journeyed into the NSW Riverina, offering hands-on support to a farming family while discovering the power of service, community, and faith in actionwritten by Justin Ackland, Communications Manager at Frontier Services In late November, twelve…
National History Society Conference held
National History Society Conference meets Big questions were at the heart of the Uniting Church National History Society’s biennial conference held in Canberra earlier this monthby Margaret Reeson, member of the UC National History Society and former Moderator of Synod of NSW and ACT The fifth biennial conference of the Uniting Church National History Society…
