Act2 report to the 17th Assembly released 

Cover image: Illustration commissioned by the Act2 Project for the cover of the report from Melbourne-based illustrator Cat MacInnes. See the image in full and read the illustration statement here.

The final report of the Act2 Project, Act2: The Gift of the Spirit, has now been released to 17^th Assembly members and the wider Church.

The final Act2 report in the current phase of the Project, it includes an integrated set of proposals to the 17^th Assembly across three streams:

1. The first is focused on a vision for life-giving communities of faith, discipleship and mission.
2. The second is focused on a vision for a flourishing theological culture and education.
3. The third is focused on a vision for sharing our life and common wealth.

This is the most significant piece of work on the life and future of the Uniting Church since union in 1977. It follows four years of work which began in March 2020 and included an intensive period of exploration and discernment over the past 18 months.

The report affirms that over the past 47 years of our life, God has been faithful, and there is so much to celebrate. It also acknowledges that the ways we currently order and go about our life are not working in many places.

However, there remains so much more opportunity for a life-giving future if we can find and commit together to pathways forward.

For each stream there is a vision, a set of principles, key changes and a proposed oversight mechanism. All the proposals come with the endorsement of the Act2 Steering Committee and the Assembly Standing Committee. Both have had opportunity to consider the implications, opportunities and risks of the proposals.

In the coming days the report will be released as an interactive website.

On Sunday 19 May we begin Uniting in Prayer 2024, a period of thirty-five days of prayer and reflection which will conclude on 22 June, the 47^th Anniversary of the Uniting Church.

As we join with the universal Church to celebrate Pentecost we recall again the story of the birth of the Church in the second chapter of Acts. We hear of the life of the earliest church community gathered for prayer and breaking bread together.

We hear about the radical, interwoven intimate community that not only shared their common life but also their common wealth, distributed on the basis of need.

We listen to the first sermon of the church from Peter as he proclaims God’s vision for the people following the way of Jesus with the Holy Spirit as their guide.

These images from the earliest church have continued to inspire our vision for the future.

Over 2000 years later, the 17^th Assembly in session will gather in Parramatta between 11-16 July to consider again how we as a Uniting Church live out the faith and unity of the one holy catholic and apostolic church, guided by the Basis of Union and the biblical witness.

The Act2 report can be read alongside other Assembly reports on the Assembly website. The Act2 Project Unit will be offering Assembly members opportunities to engage with the report ahead of the meeting. You can contact the Unit on uca.act2@nat.uca.org.au