We open ourselves to the gift of the Spirit, given in order that we may not lose the way. With thanksgiving for the past 47 years of our life, and after taking a long, loving look at the reality of our present, and with hope in God’s faithfulness for our future, we commit to continue our journey together. We believe now is the time to reshape our life so we may better live into God’s call in our time and place. By centring life-giving communities of discipleship and mission, cultivating a flourishing theological culture and deeply sharing in our common life and wealth we will treasure Christ’s gift of abundant grace, share this gift with our world and pass it to future generations.

Act2 is a major transformational change project focussed on discerning and deciding on the future of the Uniting Church in Australia. It’s taking place across our whole Church, and we need your voice.

In March 2020, the Assembly Standing Committee – the Assembly’s national governance committee – recognised that the Uniting Church in Australia is living through a time of massive change, opportunity and challenge. Hearing the call of the Basis of Union to always consider our life afresh, and as a Church that continually seeks the leading of the Spirit, the Act2 Project was born.

Led by the national body of the Uniting Church, the Assembly, Act2 is an invitation to every Uniting Church member, council and community to discern together where God is calling us into the future. We are looking at our life and asking: we do we need to do, and what do we need to change, to fully live out our shared identity, unity and commitment to God’s mission?

Through this Project, we’re exploring how faithfully following Christ in our time and place shapes the life of the Uniting Church and our presence in the world. We’re celebrating our strengths and our identity shaped over many decades, and facing our challenges.

In two national surveys, consultation across the Church and many, many conversations over more than two years, we’ve heard what people across the country feel and think about their Church. We’ve listened to the Spirit and to each other.

We’ve heard how we’re proud of the unique identity and faithful witness we’ve grown over time within the one holy catholic and apostolic church in Australia.

We’re proud of our inclusiveness, commitment to justice and equality and Covenant with First Peoples. We’re a church of many nations following Christ, and all are welcome in our communities, where people of all cultures and ages share in faith, prayer, discipleship and service.

We also know we’re facing big challenges.

We know we’re not the Church we were at Union. We’ve heard we need to make our structures sustainable. We’ve heard we need to break down silos and increase collaboration. We’ve heard the desire to centre faith and discipleship in our life. We’ve heard that we need to be more flexible, agile and responsive. We’ve heard we need to change so that we may be a truly inclusive, multicultural and covenanting Church.

To work towards a faithful future, we must be honest about the past and present as we seek to follow Jesus in a radically changed context.

Act2 is here to support and enable the Uniting Church to embody its identity and be a vibrant and sustainable witness in 21st century Australia, and as the Church we are now.

The Spirit is calling the pilgrim people on the way!

We invite you to enter this time of self-examination and look ahead with us in faithfulness and openness, asking: what changes are needed so that we may flourish as a Church, continue to be a faithful witness, make disciples, and nurture local communities of faith, hope and love.

Following the discernment of the 16th Assembly in July 2022. Drawn from across the Church, a national Steering Committee and a dedicated Project Unit have guided this work with care, faithfulness and deep listening. Together with thousands of members, councils, leaders and communities, they have helped shape a shared understanding of who we are and where God is calling us.

Through prayer, conversation and discernment, the Church has been invited to celebrate its strengths, name its challenges, and listen for the movement of the Spirit among us. We give thanks for the generosity, wisdom and commitment of all who have contributed their voices, insights and prayers to this journey.

This work has led to a renewed vision for the life of the Church; one that centres vibrant communities of discipleship and mission, nurtures a flourishing theological culture, and strengthens how we share our common life and resources.

To bring this vision to life, two national Commissions have been established to guide the next steps of the journey. Together, they will support the Church to grow in faith, deepen its witness, and live more fully into God’s mission in the world.

Act2 continues to invite every member, council and community to walk together in hope—trusting in God’s faithfulness, responding to the Spirit’s leading, and shaping a Church that is life-giving, inclusive and ready for the future.