Editing Uniting Church in Australia

{{Short description|Australian Christian denomination}}
{{Use dmy dates|date= February 2014}}
{{Use Australian English|date=February 2013}}
{{Infobox Christian branch
|name = Uniting Church in Australia
|image = UCA-logo.svg
|imagewidth =
|caption = UCA logo
|main_classification = [[Protestantism]]
|orientation = Calvinism and [[Methodism]]
|polity = [[Presbyterianism]], [[Connexionalism]] and [[Congregationalism]]
|founder =
|founded_date = {{Start date and age|1977|df=yes}}
|founded_place =
|separated_from =
|leader_name = [[Charissa Suli]]
|leader_title = President of the Assembly
|parent =
|merger = {{ublist|[[Methodist Church of Australasia]]|Two-thirds of the [[Presbyterian Church of Australia]]|[[Congregational Union of Australia]]}}
|separations =
|fellowships = Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress
|associations = [[National Council of Churches in Australia|NCCA]], [[World Council of Churches|WCC]], [[Christian Conference of Asia|CCA]], [[World Communion of Reformed Churches|WCRC]], [[World Methodist Council]], [[Pacific Conference of Churches]]
|area = [[Australia]]
|hospitals =
|nursing_homes = UnitingCare
|aid = UnitingCare
[[UnitingWorld]] 
|congregations = 2,000<ref name=UCASubmission/>
|members = 243,000 (2016)<ref name=UCASubmission/>
|ministers =
|missionaries =
|primary_schools =
|secondary_schools = 
|tertiary =
|footnotes =
}}
[[File:Australian Census 2011 demographic map - Australia by SLA - BCP field 2763 Christianity Uniting Church Persons.svg|thumb|upright=1.4|alt=Colour-coded map of Australia|Uniting Church members as a percentage of the total population in the 2011 census, divided geographically by local area]]
The '''Uniting Church in Australia''' ('''UCA''') is a [[united church]] in Australia. The church was founded on 22 June 1977<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nswact.uca.org.au/about-us/our-history/|title = UCA - Our History}}</ref> when most [[Wiktionary:congregation|congregations]] of the [[Methodist Church of Australasia]], about two-thirds of the [[Presbyterian Church of Australia]] and almost all the churches of the [[Congregational Union of Australia]] united under the UCA's [[Basis of Union (Uniting Church in Australia)|Basis of Union]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://assembly.uca.org.au/about/uca|title=Uniting Church in Australia Assembly - About the Uniting Church in Australia|website=assembly.uca.org.au|date=10 September 2019 |language=en-gb|access-date=2019-11-19}}</ref> According to the church, it had 243,000 members in 2018.<ref name="UCASubmission">{{cite web |date=February 2018 |title=Submission to the Review of the ACNC Legislation |url=https://www.acnclegislationreview.com.au/uploads/content_d3eab0ab534294e74726216b2cc8ed3f.pdf |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306142534/https://www.acnclegislationreview.com.au/uploads/content_d3eab0ab534294e74726216b2cc8ed3f.pdf |archive-date=2018-03-06 |website=Review of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) legislation |publisher=Uniting Church in Australia}}</ref> In the {{CensusAU|2016}}, 870,183 Australians identified with the church, but that figure fell to 673,260 in the {{CensusAU|2021}}.<ref name=2021Census>{{cite web | website=www.abs.gov.au | access-date=2024-02-28 | date=2022-07-04 | title=Census of Population and Housing: Census article - Religious affiliation in Australia, 2021 | url=https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/people-and-communities/cultural-diversity-census/2021/Census%20article%20-%20Religious%20affiliation%20in%20Australia.xlsx}}</ref> In the {{CensusAU|2011}}, that figure was 1,065,796. The UCA is [[Religion in Australia|Australia's]] third-largest Christian denomination, behind the [[Roman Catholicism in Australia|Roman Catholic]] and [[Anglican Church of Australia|Anglican]] churches.<ref name="Census2011">{{cite web|title=Cultural Diversity in Australia|url=http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/2071.0main+features902012-2013|website=abs.gov.au|date=21 June 2012|publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics|access-date=May 14, 2016}}</ref> There are around 2,000 UCA congregations,<ref name=UCASubmission/> and 2001 [[National Church Life Survey]] (NCLS) research indicated that average weekly attendance was about 10 per cent of census figures.<ref name="ncls">[http://www.ncls.org.au/default.aspx?sitemapid=2261 "Census vs Attendance (2001)"] ''National Church Life Survey''</ref> The UCA is one of Australia's largest non-government providers of community and health services. Its service network consists of over 400 agencies, institutions, and parish missions, with its areas of service including aged care, hospitals, children, youth and family, disability, employment, emergency relief, drug and alcohol abuse, youth homelessness and suicide.<ref name=UCASubmission/> Affiliated agencies include UCA's community and health-service provider network, affiliated schools, the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress, Frontier Services and [[UnitingWorld]].

==Organisation==
[[File:St-Michael's-at-Night.jpg|thumb|alt=Downtown church at night|[[St Michael's Uniting Church, Melbourne]] ''(pictured)'' was formerly the Congregational Union Australia Church.]]
[[File:Port Adelaide Uniting Church-2005.jpg|thumb|alt=Landscaped, Gothic-style church|[[Port Adelaide Uniting Church]]]]
[[File:Scots Uniting Church.jpg|thumb|alt=Another Gothic-style church|Scots Uniting Church in [[Albany, Western Australia]]]]
The UCA is a national, unincorporated association of councils, each of which has responsibility for functions in the church. The councils are [[Wiktionary:congregation|congregations]] (local), [[Presbytery (church polity)|presbyteries]] (regional), [[synod]]s (state) and an
assembly (national).<ref>{{cite web |title=Uniting Church in Australia Assembly |url=https://assembly.uca.org.au/ |access-date=18 January 2020 }}</ref> The membership of each council is established by the constitution. Each council includes Women and Men, [[Laity|lay]] and ordained. The offices of president of assembly, moderator of synod (who chair these councils) and other offices are open to all UCA members. The UCA is a non-[[episcopal polity|episcopal]] church, with no [[bishop]]s. Leadership and [[pastoral care|pastoral]] roles are nominally performed by [[Presbytery (church polity)|presbyteries]], but in reality by individuals.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}

===Assembly===
The UCA assembly meets every three years, and is chaired by the president.<ref name=UCASubmission/> The 14th Assembly met in [[Perth]] from 12 to 18 July 2015. The 15th Assembly, hosted by the [[Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of Victoria and Tasmania|Synod of Victoria and Tasmania]] in [[Box Hill, Victoria|Box Hill]], met in July 2018. Assembly business between meetings is conducted by the Assembly Standing Committee, which meets three times per year (usually in March, July and November). Membership is drawn from throughout Australia, with 18 members elected at each assembly.

===President===
[[File:Deidre Palmer UCA 2020-02-23.png|thumb|Deidre Palmer was UCA President from 2018 to 2021]]
The current president is Reverend [[Charissa Suli]] since she was installed as president in the meeting of the 17th Assembly on 11 July 2024. She replaced Reverend [[Sharon Hollis]], who had succeeded Dr [[Deidre Palmer]] at the start of the 16th Assembly in July 2021.<ref name="president">{{cite news |url=https://www.insights.uca.org.au/news/dr-deidre-palmer-gods-abundant-grace-shapes-and-reshapes-us |title=Dr Deidre Palmer: God's abundant grace shapes and reshapes us |newspaper=Insights Magazine |date=9 July 2018 |access-date=9 July 2018}}</ref> Palmer was the second woman in the role, following [[Jill Tabart]] (1994-1997).<ref name="p-e_2015">[http://assembly2015.uca.org.au/president-elect-announced/ President-Elect announced], Uniting Church in Australia, 16 July 2015</ref> Palmer was the moderator of the [[Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of South Australia|Presbytery and Synod of South Australia]] from November 2013 to November 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://assembly2015.uca.org.au/president-elect-announced/ |title=President-Elect announced |date=16 July 2015 |access-date=18 July 2015 |publisher=Uniting Church in Australia}}</ref> Hollis was moderator of the [[Synod of Victoria and Tasmania]] at the time of her election in 2018 as the president-elect and became president at the beginning of the sixteenth assembly, which was to be held in Queensland in 2021.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://uniting.church/sharon-hollis-named-as-uca-president-elect/ |title=Sharon Hollis named as UCA President-elect |publisher=Uniting Church in Australia |access-date=12 July 2018 |date=12 July 2018}}</ref> As a result of the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Australia|COVID-19 pandemic]], the meeting was moved to a shorter, online form.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.eternitynews.com.au/australia/is-the-uca-ready-for-a-president-of-colour/ |title=Is the UCA ready for a President of colour? |newspaper=[[Eternity News]] |first=Matt |last=Pulford |date=15 July 2021 |access-date=16 July 2021}}</ref>

===Synods===
Synods are UCA councils which roughly correspond to state boundaries. Each synod meets about once per year, with a standing committee to represent it between sessions. Synod responsibilities include the promotion and encouragement of the church's mission, theological and ministerial education, and overseeing property matters.<ref name="2015-regulations">{{cite web |url=https://assembly.uca.org.au/images/resources/Regulations_Policies/2015_Regulations-updatedSeptember2016.pdf |pages=75–78 |title=The Uniting Church in Australia Regulations |access-date=7 November 2016 }}</ref> There are six synods:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uca.org.au|title=Uniting Church in Australia Assembly - Home|website=uca.org.au}}</ref>
* [[Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of New South Wales and the ACT|Synod of New South Wales and the ACT]] (formerly the NSW Synod)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nswact.uca.org.au/ |title=Uniting for the common good. |publisher=Synod of NSW and the ACT}}</ref>
* [[Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of Queensland|Synod of Queensland]]<!--this seems to be the formal name, but [[Queensland Synod]] is also common--><ref>{{cite web |url=http://ucaqld.com.au/ |title=The Uniting Church in Australia Queensland Synod}}</ref>
* [[Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of South Australia|Synod of South Australia]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sa.uca.org.au/ |title=Uniting Church SA - Uniting Church. Uniting People.}}</ref>
* [[Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of Western Australia|Synod of Western Australia]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://unitingchurchwa.org.au/ |title=Uniting Church in Australia, Western Australia}}</ref>
* [[Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of Victoria and Tasmania|Synod of Victoria and Tasmania]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.victas.uca.org.au/ |title= Uniting Church in Australia. Synod of Victoria and Tasmania}}</ref>
* The [[Northern Synod]], which includes the [[Northern Territory]], north-west Western Australia and northern South Australia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ns.uca.org.au/ |title=Uniting Church in Australia Northern Synod}}</ref>

===Presbyteries===
Each synod generally consists of a number of presbyteries. Western Australia has a unitary presbytery-synod model. South Australia also had a single presbytery and synod for 15 years, until 2019. These large presbyteries enable groups of congregations to work together, based on geographic location or similar interests or characteristics. Selection of ministerial candidates and the placement of ministers are decided at the presbytery level.

===Congregations===
There are about 2,000 UCA congregations, with 243,000 members and adherents. Congregations range in size from a dozen to hundreds of members.<ref name=UCASubmission/> They are the local church, the setting for regular worship (generally on Sundays). Many churches also conduct [[Church service|worship services]] at other times, such as a monthly weekday service, a late-night service for day-shift workers, a "cafe church", or Friday- or Saturday-evening services.

A Meeting of the Congregation must be held at least twice each year. The meetings typically consider and approve the budget, local policy matters, property matters (ratified by the presbytery and synod) and the "call" (employment) of a new minister or other staff.

Congregations manage themselves through a council. All elders are members, as are ministers with pastoral responsibility for the congregation; there may also be other members. The council meets regularly, and is responsible for approving worship times and other matters.

[[File:NaroomaUnitingChurch.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|alt=White clapboard church behind a white picket fence|[[Narooma, New South Wales|Narooma]] Uniting Church, a 1914 example of [[Australian non-residential architectural styles#Federation Carpenter Gothic|Federation Carpenter Gothic]] architecture]]
Some united congregations exist. The UCA has joined with other churches, such as the Baptist Union and the [[Churches of Christ in Australia|Churches of Christ]], in some locations. There are also cooperative arrangements where supplying ministry to congregations is impossible, particularly in remote areas. This includes arrangements with the [[Anglican Church of Australia|Anglican Church]], where ministry and (sometimes) property resources are shared.

Faith communities are less structured than congregations. They are groups of people who gather together for worship, witness or service and choose to be recognised by the presbytery. Local churches are sometimes also used by congregations of other denominations; for example, a [[Tonga]]n [[Seventh-day Adventist Church|Seventh-day Adventist]] congregation may make arrangements to meet in the building on a Saturday. The UCA is committed to inclusivity, and there are a number of multicultural ministry (MCM) arrangements in which [[Korea]]n, [[Tonga]]n and other groups form congregations of the church.

====Co-operating congregations====
Co-operating congregations, typically in rural areas, have several denominations worshiping as one congregation and rotate the denomination appointing its next minister. They are known as union churches in some places, with several denominations using the building at different times.

====Frontier Services====
A Frontier Services ministry is available to residents of the [[outback]], with ministers and pastors visiting families by air or [[four-wheel drive]] vehicles. Visits are normally arranged in advance so adjacent families can travel for significant events, such as [[baptism]]s. These "padres" are based in a major town or city, and the local synod is normally their organisational and funding body.

==Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress==
The Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC, sometimes known simply as the Congress), is constitutionally recognised  as having responsibility for oversight of church ministry to the [[Indigenous Australians|Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people]]:

<blockquote>A Synod may at the request of a Regional Committee of the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress prescribe that the Regional Committee may have and exercise all or specific rights, powers, duties and responsibilities of a Presbytery under this Constitution and the Regulations (including ordination and other rights, powers and responsibilities relating to Ministers) for the purpose of fulfilling any responsibility of the Regional Committee for Uniting Church work with Aboriginal and Islander people
within the bounds of the Synod.<ref name="ministries">[http://assembly.uca.org.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/26939/Constitution.pdf "Constitution of the Uniting Church in Australia (2004)"] ''Uniting Church Assembly Website''</ref></blockquote>

==Agencies==
[[File:WaysideChapel.JPG|thumb|alt=City house, converted into a small church|upright=1.3|[[Wayside Chapel]], [[Potts Point]]]]
[[UnitingCare Australia]], one of the country's largest providers of social care,{{citation needed|date=January 2020}} is its largest operator of aged-care facilities. Other activities include shelters and emergency housing for men, women and children; family-relationships support; disability services, and food kitchens.

===Education===
The UCA provides theological training through a number of theological colleges:
*New South Wales: United Theological College, Parramatta a member of the School of Theology at [[Charles Sturt University]].
*Queensland: Trinity College (with [[Australian Catholic University]]){{citation needed|date=January 2020}}
*South Australia: [[Uniting College for Leadership and Theology]], [[University of Divinity]] 
*Victoria and Tasmania: [[Pilgrim Theological College]], part of the [[University of Divinity]]
*Western Australia: Perth Theological Hall<ref>[https://unitingchurchwa-startdigital.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/2.-Committee-CEDAL.pdf Commission for Education for Discipleship and Leadership, Annual Report 2018]</ref>

Training generally takes five years, and includes supervised practical experience.

===<span id="Recent history"></span>Youth===
The [[National Christian Youth Convention]] is a national UCA activity during school and university holidays, every two or three years in a different city. NCYC 2007, "Agents of Change", was held in Perth.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.agentsofchange.org.au |title=NCYC 2007: Agents of Change |access-date=2007-01-09}}</ref> The 2009 "Converge" was held in [[Melbourne]]. NCYC 2011 was held from 29 December 2010 to 4 January 2011 at [[the Southport School]] on [[Queensland]]'s [[Gold Coast, Queensland|Gold Coast]]. Yuróra NCYC 2014 was held in North Parramatta, Sydney from 7 to 10 January 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ncyc.com.au/ |title=NCYC 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150226031134/http://ncyc.com.au/ |archive-date=2015-02-26}}</ref> Yuróra NCYC 2017, "Uniting Culture", was also held in Sydney in January 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://yurora.com/ |title=Yurora 2017 |work=National Christian Youth Convention |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170205001620/http://yurora.com/ |archive-date=2017-02-05}}</ref>

===<span id="International"></span>International aid===
[[UnitingWorld]] is the church's international-aid agency.<ref name="UnitingWorld">{{Cite web|url=http://www.unitingworld.org.au/wp-content/uploads/UnitingWorld-Annual-Report-2017-18_FINAL-LOW-RES.pdf|title=UnitingWorld Annual Report 2018|website=UnitingWorld Governance and Structure}}</ref> It receives funding from the [[government of Australia]] to implement development and poverty-alleviation programs in the Pacific, Asia and Africa.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://dfat.gov.au/aid/who-we-work-with/ngos/Pages/list-of-australian-accredited-non-government-organisations.aspx|title=List of Australian accredited non-government organisations (NGOs)|website=Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade|language=en-us|access-date=2019-07-19}}</ref> UnitingWorld works in partnership with 18 overseas denominations to support over 180,000 people annually through sustainable [[community development]] projects.<ref name="UnitingWorld"/>

==Ministry==
The role of the laity is valued in the UCA, which recognises that ministry is a function of the entire church. However, "specified ministries" are defined.<ref name="ministries"/> Of these, the roles of [[Elder (Christianity)|elder]] and [[pastor]] are open to [[laity|lay members]]. The church has two [[Holy orders|orders]] of [[Minister (Christianity)|ordained ministry]]: minister and [[deacon]].

When it is not possible (or desirable) to have an ordained minister, a [[lay preacher]] or lay ministry team may act in their place (similar to a [[Methodist local preacher]]). Lay preachers are required to participate in training and examinations conducted by each synod, and must be approved by the presbytery.<ref name="2015-regulations" />

==Culture==
[[File:Uniting church mundijong gnangarra.JPG|thumb|upright=1.1|alt=Simple country church|Church in [[Mundijong, Western Australia|Mundijong]] (built 1905)]]
The UCA was one of the first Australian churches to grant [[self-determination]] to its indigenous members through the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress. Partnerships exist with South Pacific and Asian churches, especially those which share a Congregational, Presbyterian or Methodist heritage. An increasing number of ethnic churches worship in their own languages as well as in English. Five to seven per cent of the membership worship in languages other than English, including [[Australian Aboriginal languages|Aboriginal languages]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wesleymission.org.au/about-us/history/christian-foundations/the-uniting-church/|title=Wesley Mission - The Uniting Church|website=www.wesleymission.org.au|access-date=2019-07-19}}</ref>

The UCA advocates for [[social justice]]. It has taken stances on issues such as [[Native title in Australia|native title]] for indigenous people; the environment; [[apartheid]]; refugee status, and safe injection facilities for drug users. The church is similar to other [[united and uniting churches]], which maintain a cultural identity in their own country and practise [[ecumenical]] fellowship with other [[Christian denomination]]s worldwide.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Crossing borders : shaping faith, ministry and identity in multicultural Australia|editor1=Helen Richmond |editor2=Myong Duk Yang|date=2006|publisher=Openbook Australia|isbn=1864072474|location=Sydney|pages=138–146|oclc=224450283}}</ref> Between 1991 and 2013, UCA attendance declined by 41 per cent. In 2013, about 97,200 people attended weekly worship services throughout Australia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://assembly.uca.org.au/images/13C003_UCA_Census_Headline_Summary_FINAL.pdf|title=2013 Uniting Church Census of congregations and ministers - Headline Report|publisher=National Church Life Survey Research|page=4|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411034716/https://assembly.uca.org.au/images/13C003_UCA_Census_Headline_Summary_FINAL.pdf|access-date=9 February 2016|archive-date=11 April 2021}}</ref>

===Liturgy===
The church is [[Liturgy|liturgically]] varied. Practices range from experimental liturgies, informal worship reminiscent of the [[Jesus movement]] to conventional [[Calvinism|Reformed]] services. Music also varies from traditional and contemporary hymns in the ''[[Australian Hymn Book]]'' and ''[[Together in Song]]'', through [[Hillsong Music (label)|Hillsong]] and [[contemporary Christian music]] to hard [[Christian alternative rock|alternative]] and [[Christian metal|metal]].

[[Liturgical dress]] in the UCA is generally lenient, and is optional for ministers and other leaders of worship.<ref name="lit-dress">{{cite web |title=Liturgical Dress in the Uniting Church |last1=Gribben |first1=Robert |url=https://www.assembly.uca.org.au/images/stories/Theology_Discipleship/pdf/Liturgical_Dress_in_the_Uniting_Church-2.pdf}}</ref> When liturgical dress is worn, it most commonly consists of a white [[alb]] and a [[stole (vestment)|stole]] (for ministers and deacons) or scarf (for lay preachers). The colour of the scarf or stole is often related to the liturgical calendar, such as purple for [[Lent]] or red for [[Pentecost]].

===<span id="Decision making"></span><span id="Commitment to ecumenism"></span>Decision-making===
[[File:Haberfield St Davids Uniting Church.JPG|thumb|alt=Larger stone church against a blue sky|St David's Uniting Church, [[Haberfield, New South Wales|Haberfield]] ]]
Since 1997, most councils and agencies have used the [[consensus decision-making]] procedures outlined in the church's ''[[#External links|Manual for Meetings]]''. The procedures may use orange ("support") and blue ("do not support") cards, which may also be displayed times other than voting.

==Theology==
The UCA's theological range is broad, reflecting its [[Methodist]], [[Presbyterian]] and [[Congregational church|Congregational]] origins and its commitment to ecumenism. Its theology may be described as [[Mainline (Protestant)|mainline Protestantism]], with a commitment to [[social justice]]. The church's perspectives are [[Evangelicalism|evangelical]], [[Christian left|left]] (or progressive), and [[Liberal Christianity|liberal]]. Morality, faith, and (in particular) sexuality have been debated. Concerns focus on biblical understanding and accommodation to the broad culture.

Uniting Network Australia is "the national network for lesbian, gay, bisexual, intersex and transgender people, their families, friends and supporters within the Uniting Church in Australia."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.unitingnetworkaustralia.org.au/ |title=Uniting Network Australia |access-date=18 November 2018}}</ref> The establishment of Evangelical Members within the Uniting Church in Australia (EMU), the Reforming Alliance and their merger with the [[Assembly of Confessing Congregations (Uniting Church in Australia)|Assembly of Confessing Congregations]] (ACC) illustrate conservative opposition to the ordination of gay and lesbian candidates and the influence of the [[Confessing Movement]] (not to be confused with the anti-[[Religion in Nazi Germany|Nazi]] [[Confessing Church]]).

===<span id="Homosexuality issues"></span><span id="Development"></span><span id="Current situation"></span>Homosexuality===
{{Christianity and LGBT topics}}
Issues debated since early in UCA history are the role of gay and lesbian people in the church, their possibility of being ordained and the blessing of same-sex unions. The church permits local presbyteries to ordain gay and lesbian ministers,<ref>{{cite web|title=Global Trend: World's oldest Protestant churches now ordain gays and lesbians|url=http://www.ucc.org/global-trend-worlds-oldest|website=ucc.org|publisher=United Church of Christ|access-date=April 21, 2016|archive-date=10 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170710184632/http://www.ucc.org/global-trend-worlds-oldest|url-status=dead}}</ref> and extends the local option to marriage; a minister may bless a same-sex marriage.

The fairly broad consensus has been that a person's [[sexual orientation]] should not be a bar to attendance, membership or participation in the church. More controversial has been the issue of sexual activity by gay and lesbian people and the sexual behaviour of ordination candidates. In 2003, the church voted to allow local presbyteries to decide whether to ordain gay and lesbian people as ministers.<ref>{{cite web|last1=O'brien|first1=Kerry|title=Nile quits church over gay ordination decision|url=http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2003/s906981.htm|website=abc.net.au|publisher=ABC|access-date=April 21, 2016}}</ref> Ministers were permitted to bless same-sex couples entering civil unions even before same-sex marriage was legalised in Australia in late 2017.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Hiatt|first1=Bethany|title=Uniting Church may overhaul rules of marriage|url=https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/wa/a/28769619/uniting-church-may-overhaul-rules-of-marriage/|website=au.news.yahoo.com|publisher=AU News|access-date=April 21, 2016|archive-date=1 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401170740/https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/wa/a/28769619/uniting-church-may-overhaul-rules-of-marriage/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In July 2018, the national assembly approved the creation of marriage rites for same-sex couples.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sandeman |first=John |date=13 July 2018 |title=Uniting Church to hold same sex marriages |url=https://www.eternitynews.com.au/australia/uniting-church-to-hold-same-sex-marriage/ |work=Eternity |location=Australia |access-date=13 July 2018 }}</ref>

Since 1997, some ministers living in same-sex relationships have [[Coming out|come out]] without their ordination (or ministry) being challenged. In 2011, the church approved the [[blessing of same-sex unions]].<ref>[http://www.unitingnetworkaustralia.org.au/resources/UN%20NSW%20Gay%20and%20Lesbian%20Couples.pdf UnitingNetworkAustralia] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218235427/http://www.unitingnetworkaustralia.org.au/resources/UN%20NSW%20Gay%20and%20Lesbian%20Couples.pdf |date=2011-02-18 }}</ref> Seven years later it allowed local congregations and ministers to decide whether to perform same-sex marriages, and ministers may now do so.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/uniting-church-to-allow-same-sex-marriages|title=Uniting Church to allow same-sex marriages|work=SBS News|access-date=2018-07-13|language=en-GB}}</ref>

In March 2021, the UCA became the first mainstream Australian church to induct a transgender minister, when [[Jo Inkpin]] was installed at [[Pitt Street Uniting Church]] in Sydney.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Joesphine Inkpin to serve as new minister at Pitt Street Uniting Church|language=en-us|work=Insights Magazine|url=https://www.insights.uca.org.au/joesphine-inkpin-to-serve-as-new-minister-at-pitt-street-uniting-church/|access-date=2021-07-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-03-30|title='Tears of joy' as trans priest becomes Uniting Church minister|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-31/reverend-jo-inkpin-making-history-in-uniting-church-role/13282256|access-date=2021-07-09|newspaper=ABC News|language=en-AU}}</ref>

===Theologians===
* [[Alan Walker (theologian)|Alan Walker]]
* [[James Haire]]
* [[Bill Loader]]
* [[Wesley Wildman]]
* [[Benjamin Myers]]

== Assemblies ==

{| class="wikitable"
!No.!!Date!!President!!General secretary!!Location
|-
|1|| June 1977 || [[Davis McCaughey]]|| [[Winston O'Reilly]]||Sydney
|-
|2|| May 1979 || Winston O'Reilly|| O'Reilly (until December 1979)||Melbourne
|-
|3|| May 1982 || [[Rolland Busch]]|| David Gill (from January 1980)|| Adelaide
|-
|4|| May 1985 || [[Ian B. Tanner]]|| David Gill|| Sydney
|-
|5|| May 1988 || [[Ronald Wilson]]|| David Gill (until July 1988)|| Melbourne
|-
|6|| July 1991 || [[D'Arcy Wood (minister)|D'Arcy Wood]]||[[Gregor Henderson]] (from January 1989)|| Brisbane
|-
|7|| July 1994 || [[Jill Tabart]]|| Gregor Henderson|| Sydney
|-
|8|| July 1997 || [[John Mavor (Australia)|John Mavor]]|| Gregor Henderson||Perth
|-
|9|| July 2000 || [[James Haire]]|| Gregor Henderson||Adelaide
|-
|10|| July 2003 || [[Dean Drayton]]|| Terence Corkin (from January 2001)|| Melbourne
|-
|11|| July 2006 || Gregor Henderson|| Terence Corkin|| Brisbane
|-
|12|| July 2009 || [[Alistair Macrae]]|| Terence Corkin|| Sydney
|-
|13|| July 2012 || [[Andrew Dutney]]|| Terence Corkin|| Adelaide
|-
|14|| July 2015 || [[Stuart McMillan (church leader)|Stuart McMillan]]|| [[Colleen Geyer]] (from January 2016)|| Perth
|-
|15|| July 2018 || [[Deidre Palmer]]|| Colleen Geyer|| [[Box Hill, Victoria]] (Melbourne)
|-
|16 || July 2021 || [[Sharon Hollis]] || Colleen Geyer || online
|-
|17 ||July 2024 || [[Charissa Suli]] || Lindsay Cullen (interim)
Andrew Johnson (from October 2024)
|[[Parramatta]]
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|Christianity|Reformed Christianity}}
{{div col}}
* [[Christian Conference of Asia]]
* [[Confessing Movement]]
* [[Congregational Federation of Australia]]
* [[Fellowship of Congregational Churches]]
* [[Homosexuality and Christianity]]
* [[Presbyterian Church of Australia]]
* [[Progressive Christianity]]
* [[Rupert Grove]]
* [[United and uniting churches]]
* [[United Church of Canada]]
* [[Wesleyan Methodist Church of Australia]]
* [[World Alliance of Reformed Churches]]
* [[World Methodist Council]]
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Uniting Church in Australia}}

===Official websites===
*[https://uniting.church/ National Assembly website]
*[https://www.unitingworld.org.au/ UnitingWorld website]
*[https://unitingcare.org.au UnitingCare Australia]
*[http://www.assembly.uca.org.au/rof Relations with Other Faiths website]
*[http://www.assembly.uca.org.au/mcm Multicultural and Cross Cultural website]
*[http://www.unitingjustice.org.au UnitingJustice website]
*[http://www.journeyonline.com.au Journey magazine website]
*[http://www.confessingcongregations.com Assembly of Confessing Congregations within the UCA]

===Other websites===
*[https://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/permalink/61SLQ_INST/tqqf2h/alma99208773402061 Uniting Church in Australia Oral History 1992-1994], [[State Library of Queensland]]

{{Christianity in Australia}}
{{Religion in Australia}}
{{UCA Churches|state=autocollapse}}
{{Methodism footer}}
{{UCA Schools}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Uniting Church In Australia}}
[[Category:Uniting Church in Australia| ]]
[[Category:United and uniting churches]]
[[Category:Methodist denominations]]
[[Category:Presbyterian denominations in Australia]]
[[Category:Congregationalist denominations]]
[[Category:Members of the World Communion of Reformed Churches]]
[[Category:Members of the World Council of Churches]]
[[Category:Christian organizations established in 1977]]
[[Category:1977 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:Christian denominations in Australia]]
[[Category:Affirming Christian denominations in Oceania]]