National UCAF committee (left to right) Barrie French, Dulcie French, Pam Grant, Margaret Pedler, Mary Dunnachie, Dot Teague, Rhonda Heather and Lenice Harding.
The synod of Victoria and Tasmania’s Uniting Church Adult Fellowship (UCAF) committee was recently commissioned in Perth to serve as the national UCAF committee for the next three years.
Each triennium a synod committee is nominated to take up the mantle at the national level. Margaret Pedler, committee chairwoman, said the group is hoping to broaden engagement with the UCAF throughout Australia.
“Historically there has been a perception that the UCAF is solely a women’s social group,” Mrs Pedler said.
“But the UCAF is and always has been a fellowship group for all adult Uniting Church members.
“It’s a cornerstone in the life of Church and has a long history stretching back through respective Union Churches.”
As well as social aspects, UCAF groups are engaged in fundraising, community action projects and educational scholarships.
Central to the UCAF is the ability to bring diverse groups of people together to support a range of worthy causes in local communities and further afield.
This triennium the national committee is focusing its fundraising efforts in line with their theme ‘Living water – come drink’.
The committee has selected UnitingWorld projects involving the provision of clean water in Papua New Guinea and a development project in Vanuatu run by North Ringwood Uniting Church.
The committee will also support the work of Frontier Services.
“Since Union the UCAF has been instrumental in bringing church members together and supporting projects close to the hearts of many Uniting Church members,” Mrs Pedler said.
The incoming committee hopes to renew the UCAF’s focus on encouraging Church members to be involved with the various activities of the fellowship group.
At the commissioning service in Perth, moderator of the Western Australia synod, Rev Steve Francis, highlighted the importance of fellowship within the life of the Church.
“From the New Testament we learn fellowship is more than what happens when Christians meet after worship for morning tea,” he said.
“Fellowship is more than simply enjoying each other’s company.
“Fellowship of New Testament calibre is about partnership, a common hope and vision, a mutual supportiveness, a mutual service of each other and of Christ.”
For more information on UnitingWorld projects please visit www.unitingworld.org.au.
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