General Secretary (Interim) delivers two reports

Assembly General Secretary (Interim) Rev Lindsay Cullen delivered two reports to 17th Assembly members, the General Secretary and Assembly Standing Commitee (ASC) report.

Rev Cullen reported on a busy triennium period for the ASC, emerging from the COVID-19 period. Experimenting with both online and face-to-face meetings, ASC attended to the issues of the church in a different way.

The ASC has progressed several specific pieces of advocacy on behalf of the church, in particular the advocacy around the Voice Referendum and more recently advocacy directed towards the Israel/Gaza conflict.

A number of task groups were appointed by the ASC, some have completed their work, while others are ongoing. In particular, Rev Cullen mentioned the Preventing Harm from Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Change Efforts (SOGICE) resource, commending it to all communities of faith.

Work continues around the Church in the Digital Age, as it continues to grapple with what it is to be the church in virtual settings. What is it to think of theology and sacraments in this context?

Other ASC items that will be addressed separately during the 17th Assembly Meeting include the Net Zero Emissions Steering Group; Continuing Witness; Act2 Report; recruitment of the General Secretary; and the Finances of Assembly.

Rev Cullen has also handed down his report to the 17th Assembly as General Secretary (Interim).  

In a brief address, he highlighted the work of the ARU, Assembly Comms team, and the Assembly Agencies. 

Rev Cullen referred to the strategic directions set by the previous General Secretary.

He said the Assembly’s priorities during the triennium included recognising and encouraging the Uniting Church to be an intergenerational church, being an intercultural church, and innovation, noting that the Uniting Church itself, “began with innovation.” 

He paid tribute to “the wonderful Secretariat staff as well as the many members and Chairs of Committees and Boards who give time and energy to contribute to the work of the Assembly.”

“It also includes our Assembly Agency staff who are so ably led by the National Directors, Claerwen Little, Sureka Goringe and Rob Floyd. They, along with Leo Iosifides form the Executive team which has been such a helpful backstop and sounding board for me as I have navigated this period.”

“It has been a particular pleasure to work with the President, Rev Sharon Hollis over past months. Sharon’s wisdom, insight and incredible commitment to the life and mission of the Uniting Church have been a blessing to me and she has been a key person resourcing and supporting me in my current role. I have also greatly appreciated working with our President-elect, Rev Charissa Suli in the preparation for this Assembly.”

“This Assembly will make decisions which will reverberate through the years to come, and my prayer is that we will be courageous and wise as we consider those decisions, always looking to the gift of the Spirit given that we may not lose our way,” Rev Cullen said.