Change to Code of Ethics for Uniting Church Ministers

The Assembly Standing Committee for the UCA has approved a change in the CoE, effective 1 July 2025

June 12, 2025

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The Assembly Standing Committee (ASC) has made a change to the Code of Ethics and Ministry Practice for Ministers in the Uniting Church in Australia.

At the recent online meeting of ASC, the ASC approved a proposal to make a change to the Code of Ethics. This arose from a resolution of the Synod of South Australia addressing the issue of Ministers retiring and continuing to worship in congregations in which they had previously been in pastoral ministry, and the decision of the ASC in March of this year that it would be helpful for the Code of Ethics (CoE) to give some more explicit guidance regarding the normal expectation of a retiring Minister in terms of their ongoing congregational membership.

The change to the CoE (3.1 (h) & (i)) makes it clear that retired Ministers and Ministers who are in a non-congregational placement should not normally worship in a congregation in which they have previously served in a ministry placement. Recognising that there may some cases where this expectation causes undue hardship to the Minister or their family, the updated CoE allows for a Minister to consult with the Presbytery and any Minister currently in placement within the congregation in question regarding their ongoing worship attendance.

Ministers, Church Councils and Presbyteries should take note of this change to the CoE and if you have any questions, please contact the Assembly Secretariat (enquiries@nat.uca.org.au).

The ASC resolution provides for this change to come into effect as at 1 July 2025.

The updated CoE is available for download here.

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