Assembly Standing Committee meets in July

Rev Will Pickett gave the report of the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress, reflecting on the covenantal relationship between Congress and the Uniting Church – with all its strength and the challenges. Currently serving as interim co-chair alongside Rev Ken Sumner, Rev Pickett reported on Congress’ recent activities and priorities, including the openings of Congress churches, participation in commemorations of the Myall Creek Massacre, and engagement with Synods and Presbyteries across the country.

Speakers from Congress regional committees also shared updates on local initiatives, the importance of building strong local relationships, and the need for ongoing support and leadership development. They emphasised the importance of truth-telling, healing, and the stories and wisdom of Elders.

The ASC spent significant time considering the ongoing process towards a new Assembly Strategic Plan. Members engaged with some potential strategic pillars to guide the Assembly in coming years, focused on the Covenant, our relationships with the global church, ordering our life for mission and being a voice in the public square. A final draft of the strategic plan will return to the November meeting.

The ASC made a number of decisions to progress the work of the Act2 Project. It approved Terms of Reference for a Communities of Faith Reference Group, which will support the Assembly Resourcing Unit in progressing the Stream A work of Act2 focussed on local communities of faith. Lynne Aird, Reuben Edmonds, Katie Watson, Trevor Bassett and Catherine Solomon were appointed to the Reference Group. The ASC also referred a number of matters outstanding from the 17^th Assembly to the Commission for Theology, Formation and Leadership.

Over the course of the weekend the ASC heard and engaged with other reports from Frontier Services, the Assembly Audit, Finance and Risk Committee and the Assembly Resourcing Unit. The Assembly agencies report to the ASC on a rotating basis.

On Saturday evening the President hosted a panel in honour of the 40^th anniversary of the Uniting Church statement, ‘We are a multicultural Church’ which was celebrated across the Church in July 2025. Rev Dr Paul Goh, Rev Alimoni Taumoepeau, Rev Kepueli Vaka and Rev Dr Jong Soo Park shared their reflections on the past, present and future of our commitment to being a multicultural church.

The ASC also made the following decisions:

• Approved Terms of Reference for the Covenant Revival Working Group. This group will have the following membership: Ken Sumner, Roberta Stanley, Sono Leone, Alison Overeem, Djawut Gondarra, Andrew Johnson, Bruce Moore, Rosemary Dewerse, Peter Hobson, Denise Savage and Esteban Liévano.
• Adopted the World Council of Churches Central Committee statement on Palestine and Israel as the official position of the Assembly.
• Authorised a review of the Uniting Church Code of Ethics and Ministry Practice, to be led by a qualified person with support from a reference group.
• Approved three co-advocates for the Pride Circle Panel: Greer Hudson, David Landis-Morse and James Ellis. It also approved nine members: Mikali Anagnostis, Vicki Aitken, Nicole Mugford, Chalise van Wyngaardt, Darce Lovely-Roelofs, Jen McLean, Juliette Zylstra and Susan Lord.
• Affirmed a principles-based approach to the Assembly’s public advocacy, with a framework for implementation to return to the November meeting.
• Authorised a review of the Assembly Logo Style Guide, which guides the use of the UCA emblem across the Church.

The ASC will next meet in person in late November, with a short online meeting to take place on 4 October.