The 2026-31 Strategy: Third Strategic Goal explained

In this third article on the Assembly’s 2026–31 Strategy, Andrew Johnson reflects on Liberating Justice – renewing the Church’s long-held commitment to confronting injustice through faithful witness, collective action and hope-filled engagement in Australia and the world

February 11, 2026

by Andrew Johnson, Assembly General Secretary

This year, the National Assembly has commenced its new strategy for the period 2026–31, centred on the vision Uniting in Christ: Flourishing Faith – Thriving Communities – Liberating Justice.

This article is the third in a series of articles detailing the Strategic Goals of the new Strategy. Articles are also available on the first Strategic Goal, Flourishing Faith, and the second Strategic Goal, Thriving Communities.

The third Strategic Goal is Liberating Justice. It says, “We use our voice and our actions to confront injustice in Australia and the world”. Since 1977 we have been a Church committed to justice. In our Statement to the Nation we said ,“We pledge ourselves to seek the correction of injustices wherever they occur”. As a national Church we have sought to live out that commitment throughout our history. This new strategy renews that pledge.

Our Assembly agencies are at the forefront of justice and advocacy as they raise their voices to our national leaders – advocating for a more generous international development program, dignity for older Australians, increased economic support for the most vulnerable, justice for First Peoples and a fair go for those in remote Australia.

Alongside this, the National Assembly also partners with our ecumenical partners in Asia, the Pacific and globally as we seek to ensure matters of global significance are part of our prophetic ministry, matters of war and peace, the climate crisis and the legacies of colonisation are all part of the concerns of the universal church.

“Locating ourselves alongside the most vulnerable and marginalised is always where the Church should be. Further, working together as a Church can make our voice stronger and more impactful...”

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This must be joined with actions in our life as a Church – pursuing a carbon neutral future as a Church alongside global and national advocacy will be critical over the coming decade. The deep-seated roots of racism continue to plague our life as a Church despite our commitment to “the eradication of poverty and racism in our society and beyond” almost 50 years ago.

While our prophetic voice is likely to be coming from a more marginal place in this post-Christendom era it need not be any less impactful. Locating ourselves alongside the most vulnerable and marginalised is always where the Church should be. Further, working together as a Church can make our voice stronger and more impactful. The voice of our national Church should be joined with local communities of discipleship, active across the breadth of our country.

While we have a long legacy in justice and peace-making we need to build afresh a new generation of leaders. In collaboration with wider civil society, we need to learn and harness the new forms of activism and organising and wrestle with the theological and justice issues confronting our society.

VIEW THE 2026-31 STRATEGY SUMMARY

This is where this goal of the strategy links so closely to the other two goals – we need the theological depth and imagination to explore what God is calling us to say in our 50th year and beyond. We also know that the transforming power of God’s love will create communities of faith that want to give voice to their faith in our public life.

This new Assembly strategy imagines a more deeply connected Church which works together for the wellbeing of us all as we proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ across the length and breadth of this Church. It will absolutely guide and shape the work of the Assembly, its agencies, commissions, committees and staff – however it is also an invitation to all to be living out a shared vision of Uniting in Christ: Flourishing Faith – Thriving Communities - Liberating Justice.

Andrew Johnson
Assembly General Secretary
Uniting Church in Australia

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The 2026-31 Strategy: Third Strategic Goal explained