Septmeber 2005

What is the Uniting Church?

When did you last read and reflect on the powerful constitutional documents of the Uniting Church in Australia and pray for the Holy Spirit to lead us, energise and challenge us to be a more effective, dynamic and impacting group of ministry agents?

The Basis of Union of the Uniting Church in Australia declares we are “look(ing) for a continuing renewal in which God will use (our) common worship, witness and service to set forth the word of salvation for all mankind ... To this end (we) declare (our) readiness to go forward together in sole loyalty to Christ the living Head of the Church; (we) remain open to constant reform under his Word.”

In paragraph 13 (“Gifts and Ministries”), the Uniting Church “affirms that every member of the Church is engaged to confess the faith of Christ crucified and to be his faithful servant.”

There is no doubt that the emerging church of the 21st century will be built around relationships which do not need a historically institutional church of fine and peculiarly distinctive buildings, of traditional styled bishops, cardinals and moderators, and structures and regulations which create inflexible organisations and unusual decision making bodies.

In other words, we should be an organic church of flexible networks of people building up relationships through both faith sharing (worship and witness) and works (service and advocacy).

In past months I have shared many comments on worship and faith sharing emanating from the Vision Development Workshops. Now I want to challenge each of you about the vexing question: Is the Uniting Church to be known for its faith and works, or just its works?

In Basis of Union terminology, we are talking about witness and service through utilising our gifts in our ministry.

Some workshop comments have envisaged the Uniting Church of 2025 as:

• being a diverse network of faithful, vibrant expressions of missional activities;
• leading the community with a servanthood model of leadership;
• connected with the world, ecumenically and through community services;
• congregations connected with UnitingCare, schools and programs educating for life so the community’s holistic needs are met;
• balanced between practice and faith sharing.

Many members have opined that the Uniting Church is more comfortable serving the community through its community services and social justice than it is with faith sharing. Yet others are uncomfortable with our social advocacy, particularly when directed at governments.

I am proud to be a leader in a church which does as Jesus commands: loving one another, unconditionally. The pride is even greater when governments change directions as a result of prodding. Or even when the Federal Treasurer says that left-wing leaders in the Anglican and Uniting Churches are given more credence on social issues than conservatives, such as Hillsong.

In a back handed way, we are being complimented for our advocacy for the marginalised.

So the challenge to us as a church is to be intentionally active in the community — in faith, through worship and the nurture of relationships, and through works (advocacy and delivery of community services and education). Then we, the Uniting Church in Australia, can be the relating church, highly visible in introducing Jesus Christ to all people and in its servant works, caring for people’s whole being.

Many newcomers to the organised institutional church do not think organisationally or traditionally, for Jesus is a new relationship. It is personal, not a structured relationship.

We must think similarly if we are to “emerge” as a Spirit-led, loving, caring, inviting, praying, missional church — a relating church.

We cannot relate from behind the walls of gated church communities. We must connect with the world community through active ministry, developing life-long relationships with Jesus Christ.