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Humans of the Uniting Church

Rev Kath Behan

November 8, 2023

This year, we’re excited to be featuring some of the inspirational people who make up the Uniting Church. Check out the growing hub of stories here. If you know of someone with a great story to tell, contact us and nominate them to be featured.

We catch up with Rev Dr Sunny Chen who has just commenced as National Consultant with the Uniting Church Assembly, along with Rev Kath Behan. Meet them both this week!

"As a person who became a Christian in my university days, the Bible remains the source that inspires, challenges, and transforms my faith."

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I grew up in Hong Kong and worked as a high school teacher before studying theology in the United States. After my graduation, I migrated to Melbourne to join my brother. He used to worship at a Uniting Church congregation that was looking for a youth worker. That was where I started my journey with the Church - as a youth worker.

Some years later, I was ordained as a Minister of the Word, taking up various roles, including being a congregation minister, a university chaplaincy, and a presbytery minister.

As a person who became a Christian in my university days, the Bible remains the source that inspires, challenges, and transforms my faith. During my study at my seminary in the United States, I fell in love with New Testament Greek. I have been teaching the subject for many years after finishing my doctorate.

I am exceptionally passionate about education and Star Wars. At my last service as a chaplain to a university college, I ‘merged’ my two passions together, dressing in full Darth Vader costume, presiding and preaching inside the chapel of an educational institution. (Proof is below).

I love the Uniting Church for its diversity: it is a broad church with people of very diverse backgrounds. I hope that the Uniting Church will continue its commitment to be a diverse Church.

As I start my new role as a National Consultant, I look forward to building relationships with various people, gaining a deeper understanding of the Church that I love, and contributing to this wonderful community. I hope that people will keep me in their prayers, praying for wisdom and perseverance.