Theology, Formation & Leadership Commission: February Update
The Uniting Church in Australia Commission for Theology, Formation and Leadership met in February to continue key work shaping ministry and leadership across the Church. p
March 9, 2026
Subscribe to our newsletter
If you want to get the latest news from the Uniting Church in Australia then subscribe to our weekly newsletter delivered to your inbox.
By Rev Dr Cathie Lambert, Chair for the Commission for Theology, Formation and Leadership
The Commission for Theology, Formation and Leadership met again on 18 February via Zoom. The Chair, Cathie Lambert, welcomed members and guided them in an Acknowledgement of Country. Kylie Crabbe, a member of the Executive, offered a prayer and reflection, grounding the Commissions work in shared discernment.
The Commission welcomed the appointment of Rev Ben Gilmour and Rev Valentina Satvedi-Leydon as two new members by the Assembly Standing Committee.
The Commission continued to work through the transition of the work of Standards for Ministries and authorised the Executive to receive nominations for membership of the newly formed Standards for Ministries Task Group. Rev Ben Gilmour was appointed to chair the first meeting, and the Task Group was asked to appoint a Convenor. Key areas of work include continuing consultations with MEB’s and Colleges of Synods; revision of the Commission’s Terms of Reference; and clarification of the Guidelines and Regulations regarding the Admission of Ministers from other Denominations.
The document, “Desirable Elements of a Common Higher Education Provider”, containing a list drafted at the Commission’s November meeting was approved to be distributed to Ministerial Education Boards. The Commission is seeking feedback from MEBs to inform the next stage of investigation towards aligning our Theological Colleges with a single higher education provider.
Another significant matter of discussion was the progress towards a Ministry of Pastor review. The Commission also received feedback from the gatherings of Communities of Practices for Phase 2, Phase 3 and Lay Education.
The Commission considered a resolution passed by the ASC in November 2025 to explore the Instruments of Unity in the Uniting Church. A working group was formed to begin framing this work guided by key discussion questions.
The Commission will meet again on the 30 April via Zoom. In June, the Commission will meet in person in Brisbane.
More news from the Assembly
Listening to the household of God
Listening to the Household of God Uniting Church President Rev Charissa Suli has written this reflection from Fiji on the Pacific Church’s witness – and the call to listen, be changed and walk togetherWritten by Rev Charissa Suli, President of the Uniting Church in Australia Last week, I had the privilege of gathering with church…
Liturgical Renewal Project gets underway
By Matthew Julius, Growing in Faith Circle Panel Member The National Assembly of the Uniting Church in Australia (UCA) is starting a new project of “Liturgical Renewal.” The word ‘liturgy’ refers to Christian worship, and is part of the “core business” of the Assembly (alongside doctrine and governance). This…
Easter Madness 2026: A place to belong
Easter Madness 2026: A place to belong At Easter Madness 2026, young people from across Queensland gathered to explore belonging through worship, community, and transformative encounters with God Earlier this month, around 170 young people gathered for four vibrant days at Easter Madness 2026, a Uniting Church youth event held on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.…
ANZAC Day 2026
As Australia pauses to mark ANZAC Day this Saturday, Army Chaplain and Uniting Church Minister Rev Matthew Stuart invites us into a space of remembrance shaped by honesty, lament and hope. In a video message recorded for ANZAC Day (see below), Rev Stuart names the reality many feel but…
Frontier Services announces its new National Director
Frontier Services announces its new National Director Dave Parker’s extensive executive experience and heart for the gospel make him an outstanding fit for the strategy and future of Frontier Services The Board of Frontier Services has announced the appointment of Mr Dave Parker as its new National Director, marking an important moment of renewal…
Remembering the Armenian Genocide
Remembering the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide mm Friday 24 April marks 111 years since the start of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire, where authorities carried out the systematic destruction of Armenian Christians resulting in the devastating deaths of approximately 1.5 million people between 1915 and 1923. This year is also 11…
Five young leaders attending AEYA-2026
Five young leaders attend AEYA-2026 Five young leaders of the UCA have travelled to Chiang Mai, in Thailand this week to participate in the Fifth Asian Ecumenical Youth Assembly. Five young leaders from the Uniting Church in Australia have travelled to Thailand this week to participate in the Fifth Asian Ecumenical Youth Assembly (AEYA-2026),…
Re-grounding the Household: Returning to our Story in Christ
Re-grounding the Household: Returning to Our Story in Christ Uniting Church President Rev Charissa Suli spoke at the opening session of Day 2 of the Pacific Church Leaders’ Meeting in Fiji, challenging delegates to be re-grounded in Christ As Day 2 of the Pacific Church Leaders’ Meeting gathered momentum in Suva, Fiji earlier today,…