Synod Meeting

What is a Synod meeting?

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 our Moderator, Synod is also a chance to share stories, build community, gain new perspectives, and to discover new ways of supporting one another in faithful witness. 

Who can attend Synod meetings?

Each Presbytery nominates their attending Synod members. Any confirmed UCA member can be nominated and there must always be at least as many lay people from a Presbytery as there are ordained ministers. Adults of all ages, cultural backgrounds, gender, ability or sexuality are encouraged to attend.  Since 2021, Synod Meetings, including opening worship, have also been livestreamed. 

Typical agenda items at any Synod meeting include:

• REPORTS from governance committees, the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Congresses, our institutions (eg, Uniting, AgeWell and U-Ethical), task groups, senior leadership (including the Moderator and General Secretary), and from the Assembly President.
  

• PROPOSALS from our committees and from some of our working units are put to the meeting seeking guidance on the future of their work. Previous examples include our response to Voluntary Assisted Dying legislation, establishing the Money for Mission Fund, and our Social Justice priorities.
  

• ELECTIONS held at a Synod meeting may include Synod Standing Committee, Moderator-elect, members of our Governance Committees (eg, Ministry and Mission), Assembly representatives.
  

• 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. 
  
• Each Synod meeting also includes a Tributes Service which honours ministers who, since the previous Synod meeting, have been ordained, retired or been received from other denominations, who have celebrated milestones such as 50, 60, 65 and 70 years since ordination or commissioning, as well as those who have passed.

Synod 2025

The next Synod Meeting will be held in late August 2025, commencing with the installation of Rev Salesi Faupula as Moderator at the Opening Worship Service.  Further details will be published here from early 2025.