Come join us

Rev Deacon Peter Batten

“Synod is an opportunity for the whole church to come together and discuss important issues of faith, mission, ministry and governance, and to recognise that although times are tough God has not left the church. Through the Bible studies, the daily gatherings, and opening and closing worships we come together as a people of faith to deeply listen to each other, especially the more marginalised groups in the church, to sing and to dance (should be more dancing) and to celebrate our life together. My hope for Synod 2023 is that we as the gathered church can acknowledge our grief at what the church has been, listen to each other and discuss what the Spirt of God is calling us into as we face the uncertainty of the future together. I think these are critical times for our Uniting Church, and in our tears and laughter we can open our hearts, minds, bodies and spirits to allow a freshness to feed us.

Rev Deacon Marian Bissett

I have been to two in-person Synods and one online Synod at which I was on the facilitation group. All three have been wonderful experiences and all three have been really different. I enjoy seeing the wider church work through business, and some complex and some straightforward matters, as well as looking at itself and having conversations around what the future of the UCA might look like. Apart from the work of mission and business, Synod is also an opportunity to connect with colleagues and friends, and to make new connections and share stories of life in the UCA and what that looks like in our own communities.