General Secretary Rev Dr Mark Lawrence is inviting Uniting Church Synod members to embrace the opportunity to contribute to the life of the Church at Synod 2025.
By Andrew Humphries
While all Synod Meetings are important, General Secretary, Rev Dr Mark Lawrence says there is something particularly special about any that include the installation of a new Moderator for the Church in Victoria and Tasmania.
Such an occasion will take place at Kingswood College in Box Hill on August 30, when Rev Salesi Faupula is installed as Moderator, accepting the ‘baton’ from Rev David Fotheringham.
The Opening Worship featuring Salesi’s installation ushers in Synod 2025, which will continue until September 2 at Box Hill Town Hall.
“This Synod Meeting provides a wonderful opportunity to welcome our new Moderator, and to also give thanks and express our deep appreciation for David’s three years as Moderator,” Mark says.
As David steps down, Mark says he can be proud of the huge contribution he has made to the Uniting Church in Victoria and Tasmania, and the crucial role he has played in shepherding the Faithful Futures Project.
“David has juggled some public, and internal Church matters that most of the Church won’t hear about, extremely well during his time as Moderator,” Mark says.
“He has become the ‘face’ of Faithful Futures and has worked tirelessly to engage across the presbyteries, with the Standing Committee and other Synod committees, to get us to this point at the Synod meeting where hopefully we can endorse Faithful Futures’ common directions.
“David’s leadership, understanding of strategy, and pastoral insight have all come together wonderfully well for all of this.
“He has been the right Moderator at the right time to support the whole Church in working through this process.”
Mark says there is a level of excitement building as Salesi prepares to step into the Moderator’s role.
“Every Moderator brings a particular set of gifts, and Salesi is a deeply respected minister who brings an incredibly diverse cultural background into the role,” he says.
Elective sessions were a popular part of the proceedings at Synod 2023 and will again be part of Synod 2025.
Mark says Synod members are preparing to meet from August 30-September 2 as the Church addresses a constantly changing landscape.
“The reality is that the Uniting Church, like all churches, is going through a significant time of change, both internally and externally,” he says.
“The attitudes of the wider community to religion and spirituality are changing, and the Synod and Standing Committee are addressing that reality very responsibly.
“It’s why we have supported and encouraged the Faithful Futures Project, because our missional sustainability centres around all of us across the Church working together, collaboratively and enthusiastically, and encouraging one another in our particular responsibilities.
“The Synod Meeting will engage with Faithful Futures in the hope of having shared strategic directions between all of the presbyteries and the Synod, so oversight responsibilities can be exercised with common goals.”
Mark encourages Synod members to embrace the opportunity to gather over the four days to contribute to shaping the Church in Victoria and Tasmania.
“Above all, this is a gathering of faithful people, offering an opportunity for the encouragement, inspiration and education that all happen within the life of the Synod meeting,” he says.
“It’s about getting involved, participating in working groups, joining in plenary discussions, going to the various activities, as well as praying and worshiping together, sharing in Bible study and theological reflection, which are part of the meeting.”
Synod 2025 includes worship, Bible studies, theological reflections, an elective program on the Sunday morning focused on the proposed Faithful Futures goals, and Deep Dive sessions – presenting an opportunity for members to engage deeply with various reports.
“We reflect on the life of the Church at the moment, how we can be resourced to undertake our personal and communal ministry and mission, and what the future might look like,” Mark says.
“Ahead of time, it’s really important that Synod Meeting members read all of the reports, which will be provided online, so they know what is being explored and are prepared and ready to engage.
“Many reports have video introductions, which will also be available online prior to the meeting.”
While there is a serious side to the business of a Synod Meeting, no less important is the opportunity for members to gather together in a sense of community and development of friendships.
“The social aspect of a Synod Meeting is really important and it’s a joy for me to see that embraced, as it is for many members who may only see each other at Synod Meetings,” Mark says.
“A temporary Christian community is formed at a Synod Meeting, and new friendships and new ways of sharing happen as we explore matters of life and faith.”
Uniting Church members from throughout Victoria and Tasmania will come together for Synod 2025 from August 30-September 2.
All set for Synod 2025
Synod meetings, which occur about every 18 months, are opportunities for members to discern the big-picture matters which make us the Uniting Church.
Chaired by Moderator Rev Salesi Faupula, Synod 2025 offers an opportunity to share stories, build community, gain new perspectives, and discover new ways of supporting one another in faithful witness.
Synod 2025 will begin on Saturday, August 30 and will conclude on Tuesday, September 2.
It will commence with an Opening Worship service from 10am at Kingswood College in Box Hill, which this year will include the installation of new Moderator Salesi.
The Synod Meeting itself will commence at 1.30pm at Box Hill Town Hall and conclude by 4pm on Tuesday, September 2.
For younger members attending, Synod’s Younger Generations team will be holding an in-person orientation session on August 29, the day before Synod commences.
This will be an opportunity for younger members to get to know each other, meet the new Moderator, and to familiarise themselves with Box Hill Town Hall, with a few fun surprises thrown in.
Typical agenda items at a Synod meeting include:
- Reports from governance committees, the Victorian and Tasmanian Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Congresses, Uniting Church in Victoria and Tasmania institutions such as Uniting AgeWell, Uniting Vic.Tas and U-Ethical, task groups, senior leadership (including the Moderator and General Secretary Rev Dr Mark Lawrence), and from the Assembly President Rev Charissa Suli.
- Proposals from committees, Synod institutions, presbyteries and some working units are put to the meeting seeking guidance on the future of their work. Previous examples include the Synod’s response to Voluntary Assisted Dying legislation, establishing the Money for Mission Fund, and social justice priorities.
- Elections to be held during Synod 2025 may include Synod Standing Committee, Chairperson of Placements Committee, and Synod Property Trusts (Victoria and Tasmania) members.
- Worship forms an important part of Synod meetings and includes opening and closing worship services. Each day usually commences with Bible studies and concludes with a theological reflection on the day’s business.
- Synod 2025 will also include a Tributes Service which honours ministers who, since the previous Synod meeting in 2023, have been ordained, retired or been received from other denominations, have celebrated milestones such as 50, 60, 65 and 70 years since ordination or commissioning, as well as those who have passed away.
Members will also have the opportunity to attend elective sessions, an educative opportunity providing knowledge and learnings to resource members for their role(s) within congregations, presbyteries and wider Church engagement.
Members will also be able to connect more deeply with the Synod reports by attending two deep dive reporting sessions which provide space to engage, explore and ask questions of reporting body achievements, future challenges and opportunities, in a creative and interactive environment.
Synod 2025 will be livestreamed, while Opening Worship and installation of Salesi as Moderator at Kingswood College is open to the public
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