Since we began in 1977, we have been following Jesus, working for justice, growing as disciples and serving communities in these lands now called Australia.

From our capital cities to the heart of the outback, you will find around 1600 congregations and faith communities joyfully worshipping in more than 45 languages, including First Nations languages. In Australia’s 2021 Census, more than 670,000 people identified themselves as having an affiliation with the Uniting Church. In the work of our agencies we serve alongside local communities and our Church Partners across the Pacific, Asia and Africa to inspire a better world.

We believe all people are made in the image of God and deeply loved. As members of the Church, we make up the one body of Christ. We encourage one another to learn more about and grow with God, to care for each other and God's creation, to seek justice and to live lovingly in the world.

Our Beginning

In 1977, three Australian Christian denominations joined to form the Uniting Church in Australia. After many years of prayerful discernment, the Congregational Union in Australia, the Methodist Church of Australasia and the Presbyterian Church of Australia came together in the hope that they would “bear witness to that unity which is both Christ’s gift and will for the Church”.

The Basis of Union - Our founding document The Basis of Union sets out a way of living and being as a church open to constant reform under Christ and seeking a wider unity in the power of the Spirit. Uniting Church members are encouraged to participate in God’s mission in the world because:

“God in Christ has given to all people in the Church the Holy Spirit as a pledge and foretaste of the coming reconciliation and renewal which is the end in view for the whole creation.”
(Basis of Union, paragraph 3)

Our Structure

The Uniting Church in Australia takes seriously our belief that every member has a part in the ministry of Christ - each of us contributes our gifts to participating in God's mission.
That is why we use a model of consensus-decision making when our councils meet. The focus is on listening to the Spirit before we speak and discerning the will of God for the Church together. The Church is made up of a series of interrelated non-hierarchical councils.

Congregations  

are the local expression of faith. This can look like many different things – from meeting each Sunday in a church building to café style churches, groups who worship on Wednesdays rather than Sundays, or who minister across a region rather than a local area. Each Congregation has an elected Church Council to provide governance at a local level.

Presbyteries

are our regional councils which have oversight of congregations, ministry and programs. Presbytery meetings involve ordained ministers, lay pastors and elected lay persons from every congregation.

Synods 

are our state-based councils represented by a Moderator and General Secretary. Six synods are responsible for overall support and resourcing of the church in their area.

Assembly 

is the national council of the Uniting Church in Australia, led by the President and General Secretary. The Assembly promotes the Church's mission and has responsibility in matters of doctrine and worship, government and discipline, establishes standards of theological training and the admission of ministers from other Christian traditions. The Assembly Standing Committee is elected at the Triennial Assembly meeting. The Committee has the charge of providing governance to the Church during the Triennium.