Samoan National Conference a gathering of hospitality, fellowship, prayer and laughter
Assembly National Consultant joined for day 1 of the conference and reflects on the gifts of our intercultural church
November 4, 2025
by Rev Kath Behan, Assembly National Consultant
It was a delight to attend Day 1 of the Samoan National Conference in Melbourne recently, on behalf of the Assembly.
Gathering with others from Qld, NSW, and Victoria, hospitality was shared through singing, conversation, prayer, laughter, and lots of amazing food as is the way with Pacifica communities!
The blessing of seeing babies and children, young people and elders, worshipping and sharing together, was an encouragement and a reminder of how the UCA’s commitment to being an intergenerational church can look.
"This commitment to being an intercultural church brings a diversity of faith, culture, life and worship to all of us by stretching, enriching, widening and deepening our shared experience of God."
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This commitment to intentionally connecting across generations was taken further when in the conference’s wisdom it was agreed wholeheartedly that for each of the officer roles, of Secretary and Treasurer, an older person together with a younger person as an assistant was embraced.
This approach was seen as a practical way to encourage the 2nd and 3rd generations of Samoan young people to develop in their leadership capability and be guided by the wisdom of their elders. At the same time for the older generations this was understood as a way for them to be guided by the wonder and curiosity of the younger generations, particularly so that the relational bond across Samoan generations could be strengthened. Such a great example of how life-giving it is to be intergenerational as a community in the name of Christ.
The Uniting Church is also committed to being in partnership with cultural groups coming from the same heritage as our Methodist, Congregational and Presbyterian background. This commitment to being an intercultural church brings a diversity of faith, culture, life and worship to all of us by stretching, enriching, widening and deepening our shared experience of God.
The Samoan National Conference is leaning into this intercultural opportunity that goes beyond simply partnering with the UCA and other National Conferences but also looking for ways to connect and work together in collaborative ways to see themselves as part of a larger family of God.
This included conversations about how to learn from our First Peoples through the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress, and how to acknowledge that as Second Peoples they come to this land with respect for those who have been custodians since time immemorial.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to spend time with some truly humble and passionate leaders in the Uniting Church!
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