Implementation Timeline
A. Life-giving Communities of Discipleship and Mission
| Jul-Dec 24 | Jan-Jun 25 | Jul-Dec 25 | Jan-Jun 26 | Jul 26-Jun 27 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ongoing work of orienting resources towards supporting local communities of discipleship and mission. | ||||
| Establish a staff-supported task group to review Regulations and guidance on governance for local communities of faith. Seek approval from Synods and Presbyteries to amendments to the Constitution. | Develop revised Regulations and guidance. | Test and approve Regulations. | New Regs Commence. | Monitor implementation and revise Regulations and guidance as necessary. |
| Establish task group to review church membership. | Review existing work on church membership. | Develop revised proposals on church membership. | Prepare constitutional and regulatory changes on church membership for consideration by the 18th Assembly. | |
B. A Network for a Flourishing Theological Culture
| Jul-Dec 24 | Jan-Jun 25 | Jul 25-Jun 26 | Jul 26-Jun 27 | 18th Assembly (July 2027) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Develop terms of reference and appoint Commission. | Scope and prioritise opportunities for deep and productive collaboration. | Design National Network for Theology, Formation and Leadership. | Commence transition to National Network for Theology, Formation and Leadership. | Establish ongoing Network for Theology, Formation and Leadership including ongoing governance. |
| Establish mandate and resourcing structure for Assembly theological culture work. | Develop terms of reference for further work on ‘mission’, ‘evangelism’, ‘discipleship’ and ‘diaconal communities’. | Develop and engage with the Church theological guidance and reflection in relation to ‘mission’, ‘evangelism’, ‘discipleship’ and ‘diaconal communities’. | Proposals regarding theological guidance and reflection on ‘mission’, ‘evangelism’ and ‘discipleship’. Proposal regarding theological guidance and reflection on ‘diaconal communities’ including any implications for structures and practices. | |
C. Sharing Our Life and Our Common Wealth
| Stage 1: Transition | Stage 2: Assess and Prepare | Stage 3: Decide and Approve | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul-Dec 24 | Jan-Jun 25 | Jul 25-Jun 26 | Jul 26- Jun 27 | 18th Assembly (July 2027) on | Jul 2027 onwards |
| Develop terms of reference for the Commission, including size, scope and appointment mechanism.Appoint the Commission. Continue work to document an understanding of the current state of governance, resourcing and administration in the wider Uniting Church. | Define the models in more detail consistent with the Vision and Principles. Identify which areas in the proposed models require feasibility assessment. | Assess the feasibility of the three-council model and the four-council model including consequences, risks and opportunities. This assessment includes assessing both future models as well as the impact and resourcing implications of the transition to both models. | Commission to prepare a report including proposals and any roadmap for implementation for the 18th Assembly. The proposed roadmap for implementation should include an assessment of the resourcing implications of the proposed model and the resourcing required to pastorally and effectively transition. | Decision on model, roadmap for implementation (inc. any Constitutional changes, if required) | If required, approval by other councils of the Church (i.e., Synods and Presbyteries) |
| Identify other actions consistent with the Vision and Principles that can be progressed in parallel with the feasibility assessment of the two models. | Work in collaboration with leaders from across the Church to implement actions consistent with the Vision and Principles between the 17th and 18th Assembly. | ||||
