Day 3 Wrap - Abiding in prayer: Staying grounded amid change

Day 3 Wrap - Sunday 251026

39th Synod - Daily Summary: Sunday 25th October | Abiding in prayer: Staying grounded amid change

Renewal is not only about recognising what needs to change. It is also about knowing what sustains the Church through change.

That was the invitation for the third day of the 39th Synod, which gathered under the theme Renewal – Abiding in Prayer.

The day began with worship and Bible study led by Ps. Mandy Smith (Jeremiah 17, 5-8), followed by the Moderator’s report from Rev. Bruce Moore and a report from the President and National General Secretary of the Uniting Church Assembly.

God’s Commissioned People

The Moderator noted in his address to accompany the report that: “I want to acknowledge you as being God’s agent, God’s commissioned people to be the ministry of Christ in the midst of that.”

The President, Rev. Charissa Suli, noted in her message to accompany the Assembly Report that: “One of the privileges of serving as President is seeing the life of the Uniting Church across Australia and beyond. And being here with you has reminded me of the faithfulness of people who continue to serve Christ, often in challenging times.”

General Proposal Deliberations

Members returned to the four general proposals that have shaped much of the Synod’s business. Discussion focused on presbytery capacity, presbytery resourcing, appointments and elections, and artificial intelligence in ministry and mission.

Deliberations on General Proposals 1- Presbytery Capacity and 2 – Presbytery Resourcing (GP1 and GP2) at Synod 39 reflected a willingness among members to consider structural change, while acknowledging the questions and concerns that need further attention.

Feedback from the Yarning Circles on GP1 showed a warm-leaning response, with 18 of 23 circles (78 per cent) selecting one of the two warm options. However, members raised concerns about Toowoomba’s placement and presbytery boundaries, regional capacity and support, communication, and the impact of change on existing ministry relationships.

The deliberations highlighted the importance of ensuring that any new arrangements strengthen the Church’s capacity for mission while responding to local contexts and regional needs. The overall mood was constructive, but warmth towards the proposals did not mean that all concerns had been resolved. Further clarity and careful discernment will be important as Synod considers the proposals and the practical steps needed to implement them.

Members also heard an Intercultural Report from Malcolm Scanlan and Scott Guyatt, with questions and discussion inviting reflection on the Church’s life across intercultural and multicultural communities.

The feedback from the floor of Synod was both positive and made with a posture of lament as members recognised what they will lose in the new Presbytery structure and what they will need to let go.

Balloting Results

For more information about balloting results, visit the website article here.

Reports from Agencies

Reports from the Board for Christian Formation, UnitingCare, Wesley Mission Queensland and the Queensland Region of the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress brought attention to the breadth of the Church’s work.

Together, these reports reflected the many ways the Church participates in community life, including formation and education, social services, ministry with First Peoples and support for people experiencing disadvantage. They also offered an opportunity to recognise the people and partnerships that sustain this work.

The day concluded with a Night of Prayer featuring youth voices, bringing the focus back to worship and the spiritual life of the Church amid a demanding programme of reports and deliberation.

To abide is to remain present: to stay attentive to God, to one another and to the communities the Church is called to serve. As members continue to work through significant questions about the Church’s future, prayer provides space to reflect on the purpose behind the decisions being made.

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Watch all the sessions here: