UCA National History Society

The Uniting Church National History Society (UCNHS) was formed to preserve and promote the historical journey of the Uniting Church in Australia and its predecessor churches.

We are a nation-wide community of people passionate about the past, present and future of our uniquely Australian church.

Join us for just $25/yr.

What will I get with my membership?

Access to our Biennial Conference Publications and Resources

A voice in planning the future direction and priorities of the UCNHS at our Annual General Meetings

UCNHS National Conference: Truth Telling: From Colonising to Covenanting

The fourth biennial UCNHS conference will be held on Larrakia country, hosted by the Northern Synod and will include 150th anniversary celebrations at Darwin Memorial Church and the Centenary of Milingimbi Methodist Mission. More information is now available and registrations are now open.

Darwin 24-27 August 2023

Meet our UCNHS President

UCA National History Society, Uniting Church Australia

Rev Associate Professor Glen O’Brien

BTh (Kingsley), MA Biblical Studies (Kingsley), MA Theological Studies (Asbury), PhD (La Trobe)

Rev. Dr Glen O’Brien has been on the staff of Eva Burrows College, Melbourne, since 2009, having formerly served at Booth College, Sydney, as Head of Humanities and Head of Theology. He is a Uniting Church minister in the Yarra Yarra Presbytery with a placement to full time theological education in the Salvation Army. He is a member of the Salvation Army / Uniting Church Dialogue.

As Research Coordinator at Eva Burrows College Glen administers the University of Divinity’s Higher Degrees by Research offered through the College as well as lecturing in Christian History and Theology, specialising in Wesleyan studies. He also has administrative roles in the University of Divinity, is Vice-President of the Religious History Association, a Research Fellow of the Australasian Centre for Wesleyan Research (ACWR) and an Honorary Fellow of the Manchester (UK) Wesley Research Centre. He has published widely on Wesleyan and Methodist themes, and supervises doctoral research in various aspects of Methodist history and theology, Australian religious history, and eighteenth century studies.

National Board

UCA National History Society, Uniting Church Australia

President

Rev. Associate Professor Dr Glen O’Brien

glenaobrien@gmail.com
Victoria

UCA National History Society, Uniting Church Australia

Secretary

Dr Judith Raftery

judith.raftery@gmail.com
South Australia

UCA National History Society, Uniting Church Australia

Treasurer

Mr Bob Coote

bandybc@gmail.com
New South Wales

UCA National History Society, Uniting Church Australia
UCA National History Society, Uniting Church Australia
UCA National History Society, Uniting Church Australia
UCA National History Society, Uniting Church Australia
UCA National History Society, Uniting Church Australia

New South Wales

Pastor Richard La’Brooy
rlabrooy@newington.nsw.edu.au

Western Australia

Rev. Dr Alison Longworth
longw@iinet.net.au

Queensland

Rev. Dr Julia Pitman
JPitman@csu.edu.au

Northern Territory

Rev. Steve Orme
ormes@bigpond.com

Northern Territory

Pastor Lauren Merritt
dmucpeace@bigpond.com

UCA National History Society, Uniting Church Australia

Victoria 

Rev. Robert Renton
robert.renton@bigpond.com

Newsletter


A decision was taken at the AGM, held as part of the 2019 conference, to establish an electronic newsletter.

  • This will provide members with an opportunity to keep up with all sorts of events and developments relating to UCA history and archival matters, and religious history more generally.
  • It will also be a forum for you to promote local and regional events, new publications and any other matters relavent to the aims and interests of the UCNHS.
  • Your state/regional representative on the UCNHS Board will be your link to this activity. Contact him or her with your news, questions, ideas.