2026 Uniting Church Anniversary message
UCA President marks Uniting Church’s 49th Anniversary with message of hope and Jubilee
June 19, 2026
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Uniting Church President Rev Charissa Suli has released a special video message to mark the 49th anniversary of the Uniting Church in Australia on 22 June, reflecting on the Church’s journey and inviting members to look ahead with hope toward its Jubilee year in 2027.
Drawing on the image of a fala (Tongan woven mat) shared at her installation, Rev Suli describes the Church as a community still being woven together through the love of Christ. “A mat still on the loom is not a lack, but a promise that there is more love still to weave,” she says.
In her message, Rev Suli gives thanks for the faith, courage and vision of those who formed the Uniting Church in 1977 and acknowledges the enduring Covenant relationship with the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress. She also recognises the challenges many congregations and leaders are facing, encouraging the Church to remain grounded in prayer, worship and service.
Reflecting on the recent season of Uniting in Prayer, Rev Suli says the Spirit is calling the Church “back to depth, back to prayer, and back to a people shaped not by fear or scarcity, but by trust in the abundance of God.”
Looking toward the Church’s 50th anniversary next year, she invites members to embrace the biblical vision of Jubilee as a time of renewal, reconciliation and justice.
“The threads of God’s love are still being woven through our life together,” Rev Suli says. “May God weave us together in love.”
The anniversary video message is now available to download and share in worship services, along with a PDF transcript.
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