Reflection: Steadfast Love – God’s Story, Our Story

by Rev Bruce Moore, Moderator, Queensland Synod, Uniting Church in Australia

“The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.” — Psalm 33:5

As we approach the anniversary of the Uniting Church in Australia on 22 June, I find myself reflecting on the courage and faith of those who came together nearly fifty years ago to form the Uniting Church in Australia. Their decision was not simply organisational; it was a response to God’s call and a trust in God’s steadfast love.

The Basis of Union reminds us that Christ “rules and renews” the Church through the Holy Spirit. Our forebears believed that what united them in Christ was greater than what had previously divided them. That conviction continues to shape who we are today. Psalm 33 tells us that God’s love is revealed through righteousness and justice. It is not an abstract idea but something we see and experience in the life of God’s people - in acts of compassion, in the pursuit of fairness, in communities that welcome others, and wherever hope is chosen over fear.

As I travel across Queensland, I see signs of that steadfast love in many places. I see it in congregations faithfully serving their local communities, in chaplains walking alongside people during life’s most difficult moments, and in our intercultural and multicultural ministries as we learn what it means to be one Church enriched by many cultures.

I also see it in the journey of Muth arrak - the re-establishment of the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress within our Synod. This has been a significant and hopeful step, affirming the leadership, wisdom and voice of First Nations peoples. It reminds us that unity is not about sameness but about listening deeply, walking respectfully together, and receiving the gifts God has given each other. In many ways, it reflects the same spirit of courage and trust that helped bring the Uniting Church into being.

The anniversary of the Uniting Church is more than an opportunity to look back with gratitude. It is also an invitation to look forward with confidence. The same God whose love inspired union continues to lead and renew us today. In a world often marked by uncertainty and division, Psalm 33 reminds us that the earth is still full of God’s unfailing love. Our calling is to recognise it, participate in it, and bear witness to it.

As we celebrate this anniversary, may we give thanks for those who have gone before us and recommit ourselves to living out Christ’s love through justice, compassion, reconciliation and service. In doing so, we become part of God’s ongoing story - a story shaped by steadfast love.