The Faithful Futures Project continues to gather momentum, writes Moderator Rev David Fotheringham.
Jesus’ ministry is not static. As we see in the gospel readings of this season, Jesus moves from the wilderness near the Jordan River through both the cities and the more remote parts of Galilee and Judea. He speaks, ministers and prays in synagogues and homes, mountains and plains, and calls disciples to follow him.
As disciples following Jesus, the Uniting Church affirms that it “belongs to the people of God on the way to the promised end”.[1] We are a Church in motion, and a part of the wider plan that God has for the whole of creation.
At the Synod meeting in November 2023, working groups reflected on that theme of movement, considering the paths and obstacles currently before us. Those reflections have formed part of the discernment of values and goals for the Faithful Futures Project, about which I want to give a brief update here.
Over 2024, the project has been preparing goals to resource the ministry and mission of the Church across Victoria and Tasmania, working across the presbyteries and the Synod together including through Bible study, surveys and prayer.
Goals have been shaping up around four key areas: Coordinated Ministry, Respecting Country, Intercultural Leadership, and All-age Growth. All Church Councils and ministers in placement have been sent information about the draft goals. I won’t detail the goals here, but rather provide some broad comments.
Coordinated Ministry will help congregations, communities of faith, chaplains and agencies to encourage and coordinate new and existing ministries across regions, according to life and needs of those regions. Coordinating together recognises our common calling in Christ to share one another’s burdens and build each other up for the sake of gospel we seek to share.
Respecting Country acknowledges the importance of knowing something of the stories of the First Peoples of the Country on which we are located. This is a basic starting place for any relationship and response that God calls us into, including our covenantal relationship with the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress.
The equipping of Intercultural Leadership is important for the Church. There are growing communities in various cultural groups, with 20 main languages now being used among Uniting Church worshipping communities in Victoria and Tasmania.
All-aged Growth remains an essential priority area, to support communities for worship and sharing across generations in keeping with the Biblical patterns, grounded in the relational nature of God.
More details on the draft goals themselves have been shared with Church Councils, and a 10-minute video overview can be found at the link below (footnote 2).
The draft goals all fit with the vision of Following Christ, walking together as First and Second Peoples seeking community, compassion and justice for all creation; and with the values that emerged from the 2023 Synod discussions of being inclusive, diverse, seeking justice and journeying with Jesus.
In March 2025, a special project meeting will be held to finalise the goals, with members appointed from across the presbyteries and the Synod.
As we continue to pay attention to where God is calling the Church in ministry and mission, I pray that God will guide our next steps through the gift of the Spirit, following the active and wide ministry of Jesus.
[1] Basis of Union paragraph 18
Rev David Fotheringham
Moderator
