Save the date: 40 years of multicultural Church declaration

'We are a multicultural Church' 40 years on

Save the dates: 10-15 June 2025

In 1985, during its fourth national Assembly meeting, the Uniting Church proudly declared: 'The Uniting Church is a Multicultural Church'. As the 40th anniversary of this declaration approaches, the Uniting Church Assembly is inviting Uniting Church communities to mark 15 June 2025 as the date to commemorate, celebrate and reflect on this commitment. There will also be two national events in the lead up to 15 June.

National Celebration: Sunday 15 June

The Assembly will release a worship resource to help communities celebrate the anniversary locally. The resource will be available online closer to the date.

National Theological Consultation: 10–12 June

From 10–12 June, the Assembly together with the United Theological College and the NSW/ACT Synod Intercultural Ministry Team, are co-organising and co-hosting a National Theological Consultation on the theme Being a Multicultural Church: 40 Years On.

The 3-day program will be available online via the following Zoom link: https://uca-nswact.zoom.us/j/95579232232 (Meeting ID: 955 7923 2232).

• Being a Multicultural Church: 40 Years On — Reflection on the Declaration (10 June)

More than 20 speakers from across the country, from those present at the original declaration to individuals who have continued this journey, will share their stories and insights. This full-day event will be available to attend in person at a local hub or online. This gathering offers an opportunity for UCA members to connect both in person and virtually, celebrating our shared commitment to this historic declaration.

• “Living cross-culturally as a multicultural, intercultural Church” — A theological reflection for the present (11 June)

At the last NSWACT Synod meeting, the Synod moved to adopt a sixth direction, “Living cross-culturally as a multicultural, intercultural church.” To engage a deeper theological reflection, papers contributed by scholars and practitioners will be presented. The presentation will then be followed by in-depth discussion. The papers and the discussions would also enrich the reflection of the Church at the national level. The event will be held at the UTC with online streaming.

• Being a Multicultural Church: Forty Years On and Beyond! (12 June)

The Assembly is calling for papers nationally on the topics including cross-cultural, intercultural theology and education; intentional multicultural ministry and intercultural ecclesiology; second generation youth and young adults; anti-racism and reconciliation; CALD engagement with the First Peoples; multiculturalism and interculturalism.

Any members of the Church, including theologians, ministry practitioners, diverse members of the Church, including the second generation, are encouraged to tell stories, share experiences, insights, learnings, hopes and dreams. Selected papers will be presented. The event will be held at UTC with online streaming.

Please send your paper to Rev Cyrus Kung ckung@sa.uca.org.au.

Further details of events and resources will be available in the coming months. For enquiries in the meantime please contact: enquiries@nat.uca.org.au