A call to public witness: why the Uniting Church supports the March for Humanity

Why the Uniting Church Assembly is supporting the March for Humanity across the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday 3 August

A statement from Rev Charissa Suli, President of the Uniting Church in Australia

This Sunday, many thousands will walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge in a peaceful and public act of solidarity now known as the March for Humanity. The Uniting Church in Australia Assembly has made the decision to officially support this event, which calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the end of occupation, and a just and lasting peace in Palestine and Israel.

This decision has not been made lightly. It comes from the deep well of our faith and the long-standing commitments of our Church to justice, peace and human dignity.

At its July meeting, the Assembly Standing Committee adopted the World Council of Churches (WCC) Central Committee Statement A Call to End Apartheid, Occupation and Impunity in Palestine and Israel as the formal position of the Uniting Church Assembly. This statement, forged through deep ecumenical discernment, names the urgent need for international accountability, the end of occupation and solidarity with those experiencing unbearable suffering.

As a Church, we know that solidarity cannot be limited to words. We are called to live out our prayers and convictions in public.  Supporting peaceful advocacy efforts like the March for Humanity is one way we give faithful expression to that call.

We recognise that the crisis in Gaza and the suffering of the Palestinian people weighs heavily on many hearts across our Church and community. The grief is immense; the injustice is profound and the longing for peace is urgent. We also know that this moment stirs deep emotions and difficult questions including how we engage in ways that honour our values, our relationships, and our Christian witness.

Let me be clear: our support for this event is not driven by political ideology. It is grounded in our discipleship - our call to follow the crucified and risen Christ who stands with the oppressed, weeps with the broken, and calls us to be peacemakers in a hurting world. 

As we march, we carry with us the voices of our Palestinian Christian partners who have asked us not to look away. We march with deep respect for our Jewish neighbours, rejecting all forms of antisemitism, islamophobia, and racism. We march with a longing for peace that embraces every person in the Holy Land.

We are mindful that this event is supported by a broad coalition of organisers and voices. The Uniting Church may not share every position, demand, or slogan present.  Still, we believe that there are moments when faithful solidarity calls us to walk with others whose approaches may differ, but whose longing for justice and peace is shared.

To Uniting Church members who choose to participate, I encourage you to march peacefully and with integrity. Be clear about the message you carry. If you walk under the banner of the Uniting Church, let it be a banner of justice, love and hope.

If you do not feel called to attend, we honour that too.  There are many ways to witness to peace.  And to those already participating in events across the country, thank you for your faithfulness.

As President, I stand with our Church in this public act of witness.  I do so with prayerful conviction, mindful of the suffering in Gaza, and grounded in our shared belief that peace cannot come without justice.  Let us raise our voice with courage, compassion and trust in God who calls us to walk humbly, love boldly, and pursue justice for all. 

With grace and peace,

Rev Charissa Suli

President, Uniting Church in Australia

Meet-up info

A Uniting Church contingent will be gathering with Palestinian Christians in Australia at Church Hill Anglican, Jamison St (between York and Clarence streets) at 12:45pm, and will leave for the march from there. Join the Uniting Church Working for Justice FB Group for updates.

Reading and past statements

• ASC decision to adopt the statement of the WCC Central Committee on Palestine and Israel as the official position of the Uniting Church Assembly (1 August 2025)
• Read the President's Easter Statement on Palestine and accompanying FAQ (Easter 2025)
• Download the President's Liturgy of Lament for Gaza
• Jews and Judaism: a statement by the UCA (2009)
• Statement on Palestine (2015)
• Statement on Palestine and Israel (2008)
• Minute by the World Council of Churches Executive Committee - 15 May 2025
• President's Call to Prayer: Week of Prayer for Peace in the Middle East - 24 September 2024
• President's Statement for the Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel - 16 September 2024
• ASC resolution on the Holy Land - 17 April 2024
• More than 100 religious leaders call for immediate ceasefire - 29 March 2024
• Uniting Church holds fresh concerns for Gaza and Rafah - 14 February 2024
• Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimages - 31 January 2024
• Uniting Church echoes WCC call for immediate ceasefire - 15 November 2023
• NCCA Statement on Hamas-Israel conflict on behalf of member churches - 24 October 2023
• Read the call for peace and call to prayer from ex-President Rev Sharon Hollis - 11 October 2023
• Read news and statements from the World Council of Churches
• Read news and statements from the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem
• A prayer for peace shared by the NCCA, 10 October 2023
• Donate to the Act for Peace appeal in support of health clinics run by the Near East Council of Churches in Gaza