Humans of the Uniting Church

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.

This week we meet Rev Deacon Wendy Elson, minister at Wonthaggi and Inverloch Uniting Churches on the beautiful Bass Coast in Victoria.

What’s your Uniting Church story?

My dad was a Methodist Pastor and so I was there when we came into Union and was confirmed into it that first year. However it made little difference to our congregation and I probably wasn’t aware of the real implications of it and the miracle that it truly was. When I decided (as a chaplain) to take the next step toward Ordination I was excited by the possibilities in being a Deacon. I am much more aware of all that now and am ‘gobsmacked’ by the enormity of what was achieved. And very grateful.

What enlivens your faith?

I am a Deacon so interacting in very real ways with the community is big for me. When that big question “Where are you God?” arises, I look into the face of those on the edges, and of our community’s wonderful kids. The answer is right there looking out through their eyes.

What’s one thing you’d like to change, or something you hope for?

What I really hope for, is about letting go. So many of our people have lived such dedicated service for the God and the church. The next step is for us to allow the church to become what she can be. The only way to do this is to Let Go and allow God to guide and form us freely.

What's one thing you would like the rest of the Uniting Church to pray for?

Let’s pray for courage and for discernment. As we let go we need to know where the parameters of our faith are. To be able to say Yes to the opportunities which guide what is ours to do.