"The Gospel to the whole creation": Meet our President-elect Rev Dr Paul Goh
We share an interview filmed at the 17th Assembly following Paul Goh's election as the next President. He will serve in the Uniting Church's most senior leadership role from 2027-2030
October 9, 2024
The Assembly is delighted to release this new video introducing you to the President-elect of the Uniting Church in Australia, Rev Dr Paul Goh.
The 17th Assembly in July 2024 joyfully elected Paul the next President of the Uniting Church in Australia following a national nomination process. This interview was filmed following the announcement, which was received with acclamation. You can also watch a video with highlights of Paul's speech.
Ordained in the Presbyterian Church of Korea in 1999 and having migrated to Australia in 2010, Paul will be the first Korean to serve as President when he takes up the role in 2027.
In this interview, Paul shares about the journey that led him to ministry in the Uniting Church, his time in Korea and America, his training as a practical theologian, his family, and the things that feed his spirituality and restore his soul.
"I say half jokingly, I was predestined to be a Uniting Church minister," says Paul, "because I was ordained by the Presbyterian church, and I also studied my doctorate program with Methodist and Congregational associated churches."
"I read the Basis of Union, the foundational document for the Uniting Church when I was in New Jersey. I was quite impressed. And I felt the strong movement of the Holy Spirit."
"I felt a strong sense of calling, but that was not actually as an ordained minister. At that time, my calling was to go into the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation."
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.
"I love every congregation and faith community. I love Presbytery. I love every Synod. I love Assembly. To practice that love, I'd like to get to know more and more about our congregations, more about our faith communities, and more about other Presbyteries and Synods as our our national life."
Paul is currently Justice & CALD Multicultural and Cross-Cultural Officer in the Mission Resourcing team of the Synod of South Australia, offering leadership across the Synod. Paul is Advocate for the Assembly’s Being a Multicultural Church Circle and served on the Assembly Act2 Steering Committee from 2022-2024.
He brings a deep passion for and extensive experience in multicultural and cross-cultural ministry.
The video was filmed by The Signal Box on Burramattagal Land in Parramatta, Sydney.
Watch below, or watch and download it on Vimeo.
More 17th Assembly news
Meet Hannah Jackson
The National Assembly of the Uniting Church in Australia is delighted to welcome Hannah Jackson as Director, Advocacy & Justice. Hannah brings to the role almost two decades of experience across advocacy, public policy, communications and government affairs, alongside a lifelong commitment to the Uniting Church. Throughout her career she has sought to build coalitions,…
Becoming an Anti-racist Church: Building Thriving Communities Through Truth Telling
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. Becoming an Anti-racist Church: Building Thriving Communities Through Truth Telling The Assembly Standing Committee meeting in Sydney held in Sydney last weekend placed the…
Assembly Standing Committee charts a hopeful path for the Uniting Church
The Assembly Standing Committee met in Sydney from 17–19 July, bringing together members from across the country to guide the national work of the Uniting Church and continue implementing the priorities adopted by the 17th Assembly. Across three days, the Standing Committee focused on its governance responsibilities including hearing the annual report from Frontier Services,…
New leaders inducted and commissioned in Sydney
New leaders inducted and commissioned at Sydney ceremonySubscribe to our newsletterIf you want to get the latest news from the Uniting Church in Australia then subscribe to our weekly newsletter delivered to your inbox.Last Friday, the National Assembly celebrated the Induction and Commissioning of recently appointed Directors in a ceremony presided by the Uniting Church…
Tuvalu’s call: A partnership of faith, hope and action
Tuvalu’s call: A partnership of faith, hope and action The Uniting Church in Australia has renewed its partnership with the Ekalesia Kelisiano Tuvalu (EKT) this week, reaffirming a shared commitment to faith, solidarity and climate justice as Tuvalu faces an increasingly uncertain future. On the low-lying islands of Tuvalu, climate change is not a…
Broome UC: Celebrating 100 years and more in the Kimberley
Broome Uniting: Celebrating 100 years and more in the Kimberley Next month the Broome Uniting Church celebrates a centenary of worship in its current church building. Wendy Hendry from the Synod of WA recently travelled to the neighbouring Northern Synod to learn more about the church and its people This article was first published…
School of Discipleship 2026
School of Discipleship 2026 Participants from across Australia gathered for a weekend of worship, learning and community, exploring what it means to reclaim discipleship and deepen faith in following JesusBy Rev Adrian Sukumar-White, School of Discipleship Coordinator School of Discipleship (SOD) is an annual conference that has been running since 2004, creating a space and…
Act2's CTFL advances key priorities
Theology, Formation and Leadership Commission update At a recent meeting, the Commission progressed plans for a common theological education provider, developed new governance structures and strengthened its commitment to learning alongside Congress leadership Subscribe to our newsletter If you want to get the latest news from the Uniting Church in Australia then subscribe…