Walking Together in Faith and Hope
The Uniting Church in Australia has renewed its partnership with the Ekalesia Kelisiano Tuvalu (EKT) this week, reaffirming a shared commitment to faith, solidarity and climate justice as Tuvalu faces an increasingly uncertain future.
May 27, 2026
As rising seas continue to threaten the future of Tuvalu, the Uniting Church in Australia has renewed its partnership with the Ekalesia Kelisiano Tuvalu (EKT), standing alongside the Tuvaluan people in faith, advocacy and hope.
For the people of the small Polynesian nation, land is far more than territory. Its chain of nine coral islands shapes culture and tradition, anchors ancestry and forms a living expression of their relationship with God. The loss of land through climate change is not only an environmental crisis, but a profound threat to identity, belonging and spiritual life.
This week, a Uniting Church delegation attended the EKT’s 29th General Assembly in Tuvalu, where a renewed Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the two churches. The delegation included UCA President Rev Charissa Suli, NSW & ACT Moderator Rev Faaimata Havea Hiliau, Queensland Moderator Rev Bruce Moore, Queensland Synod Associate General Secretary Rev Linda Hanson, Uniting Church Minister Rev Malcolm Scanlan and UnitingWorld International Partnerships Manager Rev Dr Apwee Ting.
“As the Basis of Union reminds us, Christians in Australia are called to bear witness to a unity of faith and life in Christ which transcends cultural and economic, national and racial boundaries,”
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Alongside the signing of the partnership agreement, the delegation met with Tuvalu Prime Minister Feleti Penitala Teo, Governor-General Reverend Sir Tofiga Vaevalu Falani, and Australian High Commissioner David Charlton.
The renewed agreement reflects a commitment not only to partnership in faith, but to advocacy for communities facing the devastating impacts of climate change.
President Suli said the partnership embodied the Uniting Church’s calling to stand in solidarity across borders and cultures.
“As the Basis of Union reminds us, Christians in Australia are called to bear witness to a unity of faith and life in Christ which transcends cultural and economic, national and racial boundaries,” Rev Suli said.
“To this end the Uniting Church commits itself to seek special relationships with Churches in Asia and the Pacific.
“This partnership with the people and Church of Tuvalu is an expression of that calling — walking together in faith, solidarity, justice and hope.”
The Uniting Church says its commitment to climate justice is grounded in relationships with Pacific communities already living with the realities of a warming world, pledging to continue advocating, praying and acting alongside its Pacific neighbours.
Click here to watch a recent story on the challenges facing Tuvalu on ABC’s The Pacific program.
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