Transition Commission - March Update

Transition Commission Begins Collaborative Consultation on Future Presbytery Staffing and Ministry Model

The Transition Commission has begun an important phase of consultation with Presbyteries as the Uniting Church continues shaping its future structures for leadership, mission and ministry.

On March 12 and 13, representatives from Presbyteries gathered with Uniting Mission and Education (UME) staff to reflect on the first draft of a proposed baseline staffing model. Rather than presenting a finished proposal for approval, the consultation marked the beginning of a co-design process, inviting shared discernment about how the Church can best organise its ministry in a changing context.

Participants described the conversations as warm, collaborative and deeply engaged, with differing perspectives welcomed as part of the Church’s shared commitment to faithful decision-making.

Co-design, Not Endorsement

A defining feature of the consultation was its emphasis on collaboration. Presbyteries were not asked to endorse a completed model but to test, critique and refine an early draft together.

Feedback from Presbyteries will play a significant role in shaping the next stage of the process. Insights gathered through these consultations, alongside input from Joint Standing Committees, will inform revisions before the proposal moves into broader church consultation and eventual consideration by the Synod Standing Committee and Synod in Session.

This approach reflects a commitment to shared governance and collective discernment across the life of the Church.

Naming Complexity Across the Church

Throughout the discussions, participants openly acknowledged the complexity facing Presbyteries as they seek to balance people, resources, geography and diverse local needs.

There was strong recognition that no single solution will fit every context. Instead, an emerging expectation is that while some roles may be common across all Presbyteries, many positions will remain locally shaped, allowing ministry to respond to particular community realities.

Central to this conversation was the idea of “geographic justice,” a concept first highlighted at Synod 2025 and now being explored more deeply which includes the diverse nature of the Church, particularly in the intercultural area.

Denise Wood from Macquarie Darling Presbytery noted that geography extends beyond physical distance. “We are talking about social and intercultural geography as well as actual geography,” she said. “Geography also means the socio-economic nature of the Church. Every congregation is different and diverse, and we need to be intentional about how we communicate across all these areas both intergenerationally and interculturally.”

Living as One Church

UME leaders reflected on how the staffing model might support a stronger sense of shared identity across the Synod’s three Presbyteries.

Glen Spencer emphasised the importance of organising ministry around the reality that the Church is one body. He highlighted opportunities for collaborative ministry and formation processes that serve people across the whole Synod rather than within isolated regions.

Lay leadership emerged as a key priority. Ben Gilmour noted the need for stronger on-the-ground resourcing and ongoing support, particularly for rural and remote communities. Ensuring equitable access to resources remains central to ongoing conversations about geographic justice.

Supporting Congregational Life

Transition Commission Chair Sharon Flynn outlined how feedback will shape the next stage of work. Participants will receive a detailed document capturing consolidated responses from the consultation.

Early themes include strengthening pastoral relations, supporting vital leadership, and encouraging congregations to share resources where possible. Rather than duplicating roles across Presbyteries, there was support for centralising specialist positions and investing in dedicated staff to support volunteers.

In discussions about congregational life, mission and enablement, participants affirmed the Synod’s role in developing and administering training resources grounded in the Gospel and shaped through relational collaboration with Presbyteries.

There was also a growing recognition that the Church must clarify foundational questions, including identifying minimum requirements for congregational sustainability and taking a holistic view of what makes a congregation viable and life-giving.

A Continuing Conversation

The March consultations represent only the first step in an ongoing process. Questions remain about how wider church consultation will unfold and how mission teams may be redeployed across the three Presbyteries.

What emerged clearly, however, was a shared commitment to discernment together — recognising both the challenges ahead and the opportunity to reshape ministry in ways that are collaborative, sustainable and responsive to local communities.

As the process continues, the Transition Commission hopes the Church will remain engaged in prayerful conversation, seeking structures that enable faithful mission and flourishing congregational life across the whole Synod.

More Information

Feedback and notes from the consultation will be available shortly on the Transition Commission website.

 

 

Throughout the discussions, participants openly acknowledged the complexity facing Presbyteries as they seek to balance people, resources, geography and diverse local needs.