Resources for school communities
Essential resources
Governance reflections
June 2026 reflection for boards
Director of Chaplaincy and Connections, Adrian Pyle, invites school boards to look beyond metrics and efficiency. This short reflection invites leaders to consider how they respond to pressure and whether they are cultivating a truly humane and attentive school community.
May 2026 reflection for boards
Director of Chaplaincy and Connections, Adrian Pyle, reflects on governance through the lens of attention, inviting boards to recognise the strengths, relationships, and practices already sustaining their communities. An invitation to notice what is quietly working well and to build on those foundations.
April 2026 reflection for school boards
Director of Chaplaincy and Connections, Adrian Pyle, reflects on leadership pace and discernment, encouraging boards to notice where they may be rushing decisions and to consider what might change if space, listening, and difference were more fully held.
March 2026 reflection for school boards
Director of Chaplaincy and Connections, Adrian Pyle, reflects on “blind spots”, encouraging boards to reflect on their own decision-making frameworks, and asking if we are protecting our own coherence or staying in discomfort of a new truth.
February 2026 reflection for school boards
Director of Chaplaincy and Connections, Adrian Pyle, reflects on how school boards shape culture not just through decision, but through small and repeated habits.
December reflection for school boards
The Synod’s Chaplaincy and Connections unit reflects on how newness often starts at the edges, and how boards can create room for possibilities that aren’t fully formed yet.
November reflection for school boards
The Synod’s Chaplaincy and Connections unit outlines a number of ways school councils and boards can connect with the characteristics of the Uniting Church.
October reflection for school boards
The Synod’s Chaplaincy and Connections unit explores the important role of humility in schools leadership.
September reflection for school boards
It’s important school councils and boards create a space in which every contribution counts.
Articles
Between care, justice and chaplaincy
Director of Chaplaincy and Connections, Adrian Pyle, reflects on the imperceptible movement from simple care toward systemic justice. Drawing on a traditional Sufi tale, he invites us to see advocacy as the quiet, persistent practice of noticing and listening.
Designing spaces where everyone belongs
The Centre for Theology and Ministry hosted a day of keynotes, workshops and honest conversation with over 75 young leaders about how belonging doesn’t happen by accident, it’s something you actively build.
Making room for complexity
Adrian Pyle, Director of Chaplaincy and Connections, explores how communities of learning and care can distinguish truth from distortion in a world of “compressed” narratives. It’s a guide to listening more carefully to the stories we surround ourselves with.
Chaplains and the school board
A reflection on how boards can keep listening to the school’s spiritual centre without confusing who leads, who governs and who serves. In this reflection, a question arises: should a school’s chaplain sit on the board?
Leading a school with soul
School leadership is often framed around responsibilities and outcomes, but in faith-influenced schools it also becomes a moral task.
Leading the way on climate action
Students from a number of Uniting Church-associated schools gathered recently at an event aimed at sustaining our environment through action.
Why UCA characteristics matter
Relationships and Connections Director with equipping Leadership for Mission, Adrian Pyle, outlines how ‘Uniting Church characteristics’ can work for schools, boards and communities.
Listening beyond agendas
Relationships and Connections Director with equipping Leadership for Mission, Adrian Pyle, outlines the importance of pausing for reflection ahead of meetings of school councils or boards.
New connections, big ideas
Leadership was the key theme as schools associated with the Uniting Church Synod gathered at Wesley Place recently for a day of powerful conversations, connection and reflection.
From inspiration to impact
Year 10 to 12 students from schools connected to the Uniting Church gathered at Wesley Place recently for an engaging day centred around leadership, learning and inspiration.
Newsletters
The School Bridge
A bi-monthly e-newsletter featuring news, events, and valuable resources for the Uniting Church-Associated Schools. Explore below the latest editions.
The Governance Bridge
A monthly e-newsletter featuring news and valuable resources to strengthen governance, mission and build community across UCA-associated schools. Coming soon!