"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."
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"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.
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