The Assembly Standing Committee (ASC) met from 15-17 March in Sydney. Although the ASC will meet once more online ahead of the triennial Assembly, this was the final ordinary and in-person meeting of the current triennium. The next ASC will be elected at the 17th Assembly in July.

The Assembly gives thanks for this dedicated and faithful national group which has worked over the last three years to progress the decisions of the 16th Assembly, offer guidance and good governance and in all things discern the will of God for the Assembly and Uniting Church. We praise God for their commitment, wisdom and servant leadership.

Below is a brief report on the March meeting.

Assembly Preparations

Preparations for the 17th Assembly were reported. The ASC considered a number of resolutions regarding membership, including approving the appointment of members by bodies who report to the Assembly and general co-options.

The ASC took a significant decision to allow a two-week extension of the deadline for nominations for President Elect. This means that the new deadline for any nominations for President Elect will be 26th April 2024. Nominations may be received from Presbyteries, Synods, regional or national committees of the UAICC, or by any two members of the 17th Assembly, using the nomination and profile forms which were sent to Assembly members in the first mailing.

Report of the Act2 Project

The ASC considered the report of the Act2 Project and proposals for the 17th Assembly. The Act2 Project Unit has been asked to undertake further work to finalise the report. The final form of the report and proposals will be sent to Assembly members with the first tranche of Assembly reports on 10 May, and made publicly available for the whole Church.

Other Assembly Reports

The ASC was pleased to receive reports and recommendations to the 17th Assembly from the Continuing Witness Task Group, the Assembly Net Zero Steering Committee and the Standards for Ministries Committee. It approved those reports and their recommendations for the 17th Assembly. These reports will be made available to 17th Assembly members and public for the whole Church on 10 May.

Discipline Regulations Review

The ASC heard from the Discipline Regulations Review Task Group and from the Assembly Legal Reference Committee and agreed to new regulations being brought into effect on 1 January 2025. The Assembly will shortly be in contact with Synods to enable a plan for training and implementation regarding the new regulations.

Climate Action Plan

The ASC considered the annual report on the Assembly's Climate Action Plan. It determined to request the Assembly Net Zero Steering Group to meet with the Secretariat and each of the Assembly Agencies to enable further development of individualised Climate Action plans, to be approved by Boards and using the best practice measurement and recording processes explored and developed by the Steering Group. The General Secretary was asked to report on this process to the November 2024 ASC meeting.

Proposal on the Holy Land

The ASC considered a proposal concerning the Israel-Palestine conflict and requested some specific communications arising from this. The Assembly will communicate further on this resolution once the communications requested by the ASC have been finalised.

Other Reports

As is usual, the ASC heard reports for information from the President, the Chair of Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress, the General Secretary (Interim) and the Assembly Finance, Audit and Risk Committee.