Molonglo Church Plant: Building Community in Canberra

The Molonglo Church Plant in Canberra is led by a dedicated team of three: Team Leader Rev Andrew Smith, and team members Pastor Hilary Berthon and Pastor Kate Smith. Each brings unique gifts and passions to the mission of connecting with the local community and nurturing spaces where God’s presence can be noticed and celebrated.

Rev Andrew Smith enjoys walking his Border Collie, composting in the garden, mountain biking, and running. Through these activities, Andrew builds meaningful connections in the community. He loves accompanying people as they notice and respond to the light of God in themselves and in the world around them.

Pastor Kate Smith is passionate about journeying alongside others to create inclusive, compassionate communities. She believes in supporting one another to grow amid the messiness of everyday life, while exploring what it means to love each other fully and live life in God’s abundance.

Pastor Hilary Berthon values deep conversations and listening to the diverse stories, experiences, and wisdom of others. She enjoys accompanying people as they discern the presence of the Holy One in everyday life. Hilary thrives in inclusive, hospitable communities and engages in mindful creative practices.

Molonglo Valley: A Sacred Place

Molonglo Valley, named after the river that flows through it, comes from the Ngunnawal First People’s word meaning “Sound of Thunder.” This thunder has flowed through the land since time immemorial. In Christian tradition, the voice of God is also likened to thunder.

For the Molonglo Church Plant team, this connection inspires hope and conviction in God’s enduring presence in the valley. The Uniting Church affirms in its Constitution that long before colonisation, the Spirit was already active in the land, revealing God to the First Peoples through law, custom, and ceremony. The same love and grace ultimately revealed in Jesus Christ sustained the First Peoples and gave them profound insights into God’s ways.

As the Church Plant begins, the team is inspired to notice and respond to the presence of God that has always been here. Their vision is to cultivate a sense of “homefulness,” where people feel connected—to themselves, the community, and God.

Connecting with the Community

The team has been warmly welcomed by community groups and individuals throughout Molonglo. Invitations to local events and connections with like-minded groups have opened many doors. The Evelyn Scott School has invited the team to participate in school life, including playing basketball with high school students during lunch, reading buddies with primary school children.

The team has also engaged with a community-building group in new housing areas, participating in activities such as early morning platypus walks, trivia nights and potluck meals, music on the Green, Father’s Day craft afternoons, playgroups, community gardening, and kite flying.

Partnerships with Other Churches

The Lutheran Church plant in Molonglo has also welcomed the team. Their pastor attended the commissioning and induction service and expressed that the arrival of the Molonglo Church Plant was an answer to their prayers for more Christian workers. Invitations to join their community connection events have strengthened inter-church relationships.

Other ways of connecting with the local community include joining running groups, volunteering at events of school P&C, driveway basketball and always holy loitering. This holy loitering happens in many contexts – like in street gutters while collecting autumn leaves for composting, at cafes, parks and community events.

These interactions have inspired initiatives like twice-monthly informal worship and a regular group Bible reading through the Gospel of John.

Looking Ahead

As we keep on turning up to be with our local community, our hope is that together we will discern the movements of God for communities of church that notice and respond to the presence of God.

We hope for emerging Uniting Church communities in the Molonglo Valley join together in experiencing, walking in, trusting and shining God’s light present in all creation, and most clearly seen in Jesus Christ.

Bugang Event Terrace, Ngunnawal Land in the Molonglo River Reserve

Creative representation of the Molonglo Valley as part of a worship gathering