Uniting Church Logo
17th ASSEMBLY
Donate

Reflection from the General Secretary on the WCRC General Council

General Secretary Andrew Johnson reflects on the World Communion of Reformed Churches General Council, which closed two weeks ago after 10 days in Chiang Mai

November 4, 2025

written by Andrew Johnson, Assembly General Secretary

The World Communion of Reformed Churches General Council is a once in seven year gathering of the ‘reformed’ family. This includes members of the Continental Reformed family (think John Calvin and Huldrych Zwingli), the Presbyterian family (think John Knox) and many of the United/Uniting family with Reformed roots. This communion particularly encompasses the Presbyterian and Congregational roots of the Uniting Church.
 
The Communion came into being fifteen years ago with the merger of two previous Reformed bodies, including the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (of which the Uniting Church was a member). We celebrated 150 years of this global reformed family at the General Council.
 
This year the General Council was held in Chiang Mai, Thailand. This is the third gathering since the Communion’s establishment and the first in the global south. The Communion has been a gathering point for the Reformed church to read the signs of the times. The Barmen Declaration, the Belhar Confession and the Accra Confession all resonate loudly down the years within the Communion. The theme for this gathering was "Persevere in your witness." As we read the signs of the times it was clear there was conflict and injustice in so many places across the Communion. For so many, faithful witness is an act of perseverance.

If you want to get the latest news from the Uniting Church in Australia then subscribe to our weekly newsletter delivered to your inbox.

We are reminded by statistics so often that the centre of gravity in the Church has moved to the Global South. In this gathering we saw it in the faces from across the globe. We also saw the growth in diversity in the leadership of the Church across the globe. So many of the Churches from Europe and particularly North America are led by people from diverse backgrounds. This diversity reshapes not only the face of the Church but also the concerns of the Church.

The gathering was a real time expression of when ordinary theology, scholarly theology and communally authorised theology come together. We heard first-hand accounts of the theological challenges of Christian Zionism in contexts of conflict and war. We listened to world class theologians stretch our minds and the boundaries of orthodoxy through thoughtful and rigorous scholarship. We discerned what we could say together about the great challenges facing our world today on issues of war and peace, sexuality and gender and the climate crisis.

We also found our own contribution to make as a Church. Consensus decision-making remains our most famous export. But there is more to the Uniting Church than blue and orange cards. We contributed to discussions about indigenous theology, second generation migrant experience, navigating theological difference and standing in solidarity with our Pacific siblings.

These opportunities to participate in gatherings of global Christianity are a rare privilege. I know only a few members of the Uniting Church will ever get to participate in a gathering like this. They certainly feed the soul of those who participate. However they can also feed our Church as we are nourished by the richness of the global witness of the Church.

The tyranny of distance and timezone are great, however they can be shortened by technology as we seek to grow and deepen the relationships we have established. As unique as each context is, the challenges and questions we are asking are often so common. Let’s work together to deepen the roots of those seeds sown in these kind of global gatherings so all may benefit from their wisdom.

Read reflections from Uniting Church President Rev Charissa Suli and President-elect Rev Dr Paul Goh.

More news from the Assembly

Celebrations and stories of healing in Alice Springs

Stories of Healing: Alice Springs marks 100 years of Adelaide House and 70 years of the John Flynn Memorial ChurchIn the red centre of Australia, members of the Uniting Church community gathered on 12–13 September to honour two milestones of faith, care and resilience: the centenary of Adelaide House and 70 years of the John…

Pacific women call for climate action that begins with their communities

Pacific women call for climate action that begins with their communities From Tuvalu, Pacific women are calling on world leaders to listen deeply, strengthen community leadership and pursue climate action grounded in local experience and wisdom.For the women who gathered in Tuvalu this September, climate justice reaches into the everyday work of keeping communities safe.…

Bearing witness to Palestinian Christian voices

Bearing witness to Palestinian Christian voicesAs World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel takes place this week, the Uniting Church is invited to listen, pray and stand in solidarity with communities longing for peace and justice. In July this year, the Uniting Church hosted two Palestinian Christians as part of the “Bearing Witness: Palestinian…

President’s Prayer for the UN International Day of Peace

President’s Prayer for the United Nations International Day of Peace   The United Nations International Day of Peace, commemorated on 21 September, brings people around the world together to reflect on the urgent work of building and sustaining peace. The 2026 theme, “Invest in Peace – For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day” highlights that peace is…

Come, Taste and See: Feast of Faith 2026

Come, Taste and See: Feast of Faith 2026 Young adults and emerging leaders gathered for this year’s Feast of Faith, discovering God’s goodness through worship, fellowship, storytelling and shared cultural experiencesEarlier this month, second-generation young adults and emerging leaders from intercultural communities across the Uniting Church gathered in Merricks, Victoria for Feast of Faith 2026.…

Lay Preachers gather to share in weaving Christ’s love

        Lay Preachers gather to share in weaving Christ’s loveMore than 40 Lay Preachers, worship leaders and church members from across Australia gathered in Naarm/Melbourne from 4–6 September for the National Lay Preachers’ Conference. Hosted by the Lay Preachers’ Association of Victoria and Tasmania with Pilgrim Theological College, the triennial conference was…

Pilgrims of Peace, Trust and Hope

Pilgrims of Peace, Trust and Hope Last week, President-elect Rev Dr Paul Goh gathered with the global ecumenical community to discuss the Church’s role in speaking for peace, justice and hope amid the wounds of divisionSubscribe to our newsletterIf you want to get the latest news from the Uniting Church in Australia then subscribe to…

Listening at the lingual frontier

Listening at the lingual frontier     Subscribe to our newsletter If you want to get the latest news from the Uniting Church in Australia then subscribe to our weekly newsletter delivered to your inbox. What does it mean to listen when the person we are seeking to relate to speaks a different first language,…