This is my Uniting Church

Could you share a little bit about your church community?

We are Engadine Uniting, an energetic faith community in the far south of the Sutherland Shire. We practise social inclusion, support theological diversity, and challenge unjust systems, seeking to live God’s love and compassion, acting for the common good to build a peaceful, inclusive and just society where everyone belongs and finds purpose. We strive to serve and journey alongside our community and the wider world by following Jesus’ example of love in service, encouragement and empowerment. 

What does worship look like at your church?

Our Sunday 9am worship service is a mix of the traditional (four-hymn sandwich followed by morning tea) and contemporary (new words to old tunes, use of degendered language, embrace justice and social inclusion; sermon content that explains important theological scholarship since the 1980s). We are led by a team of eight lay worship leaders, most of whom are women.

What makes your church unique?
Our church is a rarity, and possibly unique, in the Sutherland Shire. Many of our new members doubted they could find a socially inclusive and theologically progressive church in the Shire, but they have found us!

Our church sign and banners are also a community focal point used to promote Uniting Church identity on topics such as First Nations people, climate change action, fossil fuels, Palestine, drug law reform, domestic violence. We have attracted new members on the strength of our sign along as well as receiving positive recognition from people in the wider community who are pleased to see a religious institution that shares their values and priorities on issues of justice. 

What energises the faith of your church community?

New people showing up! Over the years, we’ve had people come to us in all sorts of ways.

A lady joined our church after hearing an interview about our Knit for Climate project on ABC radio. Some others attended our ecumenical Day of Mourning service and later became members and active contributors. Another new member was intrigued by our message board to come to church – she now attends every week.

We have people who were searching for an LGBTIQA+ affirming congregation and we are now a deeper, richer community for their presence.

What are some of the exciting activities at Engadine Uniting?

There’s SO MUCH that is exciting!

The two Book Clubs that were formed a year before the 2023 referendum by older church members to better educate themselves about First Nations justice. They attracted members from the local community and still meet together monthly, studying Aboriginal spirituality, the history of Gaza since 1948, and world religions through the lens of immigration to Australia.

The pop-up community choir that comes together every year to sing for Reconciliation Week, rehearsing in the church hall and filming ourselves for the national production. We’re run sold-out candidate forums for federal and local government elections, a Voice to Parliament Q&A evening prior to the referendum with local experts, and one on affordable rental housing where we hauled local, state and federal government politicians into the same room to be accountable - and we've partnered with the social justice group at the local Catholic church to do this.

We have a community sewing hub, a creative space where fabric waste gets a second life. Church and community volunteers give their time to pass on their skills; school holiday workshops coach children in recycling and upcycling unwanted fabric; and we have partnered with Marine Rescue NSW to repurpose surplus uniforms into children’s clothing and textile items for distribution by the SES to families impacted by natural disasters. Our creative community Christmas project brought together diverse groups from across the Shire, and we have recently been included in a film project by the Australian Museum as part of their Future Now touring exhibition.

Every November we support Amnesty International’s Sutherland branch by organising and hosting the annual Write for Rights session. We provide core donation funding to Uniting World for child protection and leadership training in Timor Leste, and hold a service and an annual fundraiser in addition to our core promise. Throughout the year, we collect groceries and other items for the local youth homelessness service. Our premises offer a ‘rest & reflect’ garden with seating, a street library, and we have a very popular street stall with craft and preserves that is eagerly anticipated by the wider community.

How does your church engage with the local community, and what partnerships or outreach programs are you most proud of?

Members of the Social Justice group at the local Catholic church join with us to host community events and come along to special services we hold for events such as Reconciliation or NAIDOC week and Refugee Sunday. We have also marched together on the Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimage walk, co-hosted Nature NSW’s local Picnic for Nature, staged Seasons of Creation bushwalks and even presented Common Grace climate scarves to our local Federal MPs, David Moncrieff and Simon Kennedy.

In addition, we are the only church in the suburb who hires out our halls and rooms. For over 30 years, our premises have been a hub for women’s small businesses and not-for-profit community groups. We currently have groups offering dance, pilates and a medieval choir.

How do you include intergenerational aspects into the life of your church?

We’ve gone from no children to five in a very short time, and have scrambled to find and deploy appropriate resources and programs that are within our capabilities. It’s still very early days, but there’s a lot of goodwill with worship leaders, other volunteers, and the parents and children themselves, who appear to appreciate that we are doing what we can with what we have, and consulting with the parents along the way. We are very grateful for the resources supplied with the L3 liturgical resources and by the Pulse team.

Is there a challenge your church is currently facing?

We’re on the hunt for a lay ministry worker (position description here). This is the biggest challenge we are facing!

What can the rest of the Uniting Church be praying for you and your community?
Finding the right person to join our committed, skilled, and visionary team of church councillors, worship leaders and pastoral carers will take us to the next level and ensure an even bigger impact on our local community.

If you could share one message with the wider Uniting Church community, what would it be?

Lean into the Uniting Church ‘brand’! In Australia today, there is no other church that is so much in touch with the values and passions of modern caring Australians of all ages. We have embraced the values and positions of the UCA as those of our congregation – if it’s part of the Uniting Church brand, it’s part of us, it’s what goes on our website and message board and social media. We don’t waste valuable congregation time arguing the toss over every single issue, although we do choose to highlight the ones that we feel are most relevant to our local community. Maybe nobody in the congregation agrees 100% with every single practice and position of the UCA, but everyone is obviously willing to go along with the general package, and accepts that the total is greater than the sum of the parts. Plus, it’s bringing in new people – win/win!

- with thanks to Sue McKinnon, Chair, Engadine Uniting Church Council