CALD members gather ahead of 17th Assembly

Members of the 17^th Assembly from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds gathered together ahead of the meeting in a joyful celebration of God’s gracious gift of diversity in our Church.

Representing the diverse cultural communities which make up the Uniting Church, the 17^th Assembly members participated in a program led by the Assembly Resourcing Unit on Wednesday 10 July, with the support and hospitality of Mascot Wesley Uniting Church and their minister Rev Dr Jason Kioa.

Leading the welcome and worship, Assembly National Consultant Rev Dr Sunny Chen introduced the overarching theme of the day, the UCA’s journey as a multicultural church, acknowledging the feeling for many CALD members that there is still a long road ahead for the UCA to realise its vision of being a ‘Church for all God’s people’.

A panel of key CALD leaders in the Church explored the UCA’s multicultural journey, its key commitments to living its life cross culturally and the changes we have seen over the past 47 years.

Rev Dr Solmon Zwana, national chaplain to the Zimbabwean community in the Uniting Church said it was really important to new communities in the UCA for existing members church to take the time to understand their journey, where they have come from and where they want to go.

“One of challenges, is that I want to keep my identity but I also want to identify. That is a challenge for many.”

Panel members commented that authentic intercultural relationships require more than simply inviting CALD communities to sing, dance and share their food.

“It also requires taking the take time to develop ownership of the journey, even by those who are joining, so they don’t aways feel like guests, so they can also feel like they are part of the big family,” said Solomon.

Rev Dr Apwee Ting, former Assembly National Director of Multicultural and Cross Cultural Ministry and International Partnerships Manager with Uniting World, said the shape and identity of the Uniting Church has evolved as the multicultural church has grown.

“We are now intercultural, our identity is no longer dominated by a particular language or culture or even theological formation,” said Apwee.

He highlighted the important role played by Presbyteries in welcoming new communities of faith from diverse backgrounds and celebrated the emerging CALD leaders across the church who will be “changemakers” in many different contexts.

“In the past 39 years (since the Uniting Church has declared itself a Multicultural Church), we always look back, it is time we look forward in anticipation of God’s spirit. God invites us, challenges us, to move from our comfort zone, from who we are, and encourages us to be open, to be challenged and to be surprised by the spirit of God.”

Other panel members included Rev Dr Jason Kioa, Rev Amel Manyon and the facilitator Rev Dr Paul Goh, Assembly Advocate for the Being a Multicultural Church Circle. 

17^th Assembly member and participant Rev Roy Surjanegara from the Synod of WA said his sense of belonging in the Uniting Church was always a balance.

“As an Indonesian-speaking congregation and for me it’s unique. In a way you want to hold your identity but you also want to be part of this new identity, so you’re always living in this space in between. I like the term 'space for grace'.”

He said the Uniting Church needed to grow in its awareness of what it means to be a multilingual church, appreciating the privilege that comes from speaking English and to develop a greater willingness to move to “the space inbetween”.

Roy said he was looking forward to the Assembly meeting to learn more about the Uniting Church and see the different faces of people in the Uniting Church.

Another CALD member from WA, Rev Sophia Lizares, said she had found a home in the Uniting Church after being inspired by its advocacy of social justice while she was still living in the Philippines. She said she was excited to continue to grow connections at the 17th Assembly.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the way the church is changing across the country and hearing people’s deepest feelings about where the Spirit is calling them forward, for us to go as a Church.”

“We’ve seen a lot of difficult times and difficult decisions need to be made. I think this Assembly might be an opportunity to regroup and see where we are now.”

“And I’m looking forward to networking, finding your people and making those connections.”

In the afternoon, President Rev Sharon Hollis and Cyrus Kung from the Assembly’s Act2 team led a session on the Assembly's decison-making processes and the Act2 report, which will be a key matter for discussion across the days of the meeting.

President-elect Rev Charissa Suli joined the meeting in the afternoon, ahead of her installation tomorrow, offering a word of encouragement to the members and urging them to be unafraid and unapologetic to speak in their own language when it helps them across the meeting.