with Rev Dr Chris Walker
National Conferences in the Uniting Church in Australia
2014 Multicultural Cross-cultural National Conferences
The Uniting Church declared itself to be a multicultural church at its national Assembly in 1985. It was a recognition of the changing nature of the Uniting Church and an affirmation of what it wanted to become. Since that time an increasing number of congregations made up of people from various cultural backgrounds have become an important component of the Uniting Church. Many are predominantly mono-cultural with Koreans and Tongans forming the largest groups. Others include Chinese, Indonesian, Filipino, Fijian, Samoan, Niuean, Vietnamese, Tamil and South Sudanese. Most congregations have people from more than one culture. Then there are the indigenous groups. The Uniting Aboriginal and islander Christian Congress is a vital part of the Uniting Church. The Uniting Church worships in over 40 languages including a dozen indigenous ones.
Recently there was a conference in Sydney of the chairpersons of the various National Conferences along with other people involved in multicultural and cross cultural ministry. I was privileged to be one of them. We heard from the different groups and had the opportunity to consider together how best to move ahead. Challenges and opportunities facing one group were usually found to be common among other groups also. For example many are concerned about the next generations both in terms of family life and church involvement. Property issues have been an issue for a long time as new groups want to be more than just tenants. Communication in the Uniting Church when English is a second language for many was commented on. Translation is important as is taking into account that it is harder for some to catch what is going on and being said.
As part of the gathering we met with Rob Floyd, the new national director of UnitingWorld, as it is the agency that connects with partner churches for the Uniting Church. There was a useful discussion on connections with the home country and church and those who now are part of Australian society. We also had an extended conversation on the Marriage discussion paper that the Uniting Church is currently considering. It is a theological commentary on the Marriage Service and also raises contemporary issues in relation to marriage, especially the issue of same gender marriage. Responses to the paper are being gathered. A report will then be written and considered by the Assembly Standing Committee. Comment was made that this discussion needs to be given sufficient time particularly in ethnic communities where such matters are not readily discussed.
National conferences were established to enable the different ethnic groups to meet together and discuss matters in their own language. As indicated above there are now about a dozen such groups. The largest gathering is the Tongan national conference which has been held for a number of years. I have had the privilege of attending some of them. This year over 1,000 Tongans of all ages came to the Merroo Christian Centre at Kurrajong over the long weekend in June. Other conferences are much smaller and consist of key leaders rather than be a large gathering. The Koreans have their own presbytery in the NSW/ACT Synod. They also have a national conference. I met the new chairperson and secretary, Rev Paul Cho who is minister to a Korean congregation on the Gold Coast and Rev David Won Kim who is in a Korean congregation in Brisbane.
It is worth noting that the pattern of migration to Australia has greatly influenced the development of the churches in Australia. In the 19th century with the coming of Anglo-Celtic people the church essetupre flected where people came from. Hence English people tended to be Church of England, Irish people were mostly Roman Catholic, Scots were Presbyterian, and Methodists had many Welsh and English. They became somewhat more mixed with the passage of time and intermarriage. After the Second World War with migrants coming from Europe and the Middle East there was an influx of non-Irish Catholics and different forms of Orthodox churches were established.
Migrant ethnic people typically appreciate coming together for worship and fellowship to share in their own language and culture. The next generations have to deal with two cultures and their first language is English having grown up in Australia. They relate readily to people from various ethnicities as the bonds are based more on age and interest than race and culture. They necessarily relate to their parents who communicate best in their heart language and still tend to look to their country of origin as their homeland. The differences between the generations is compounded by these cultural and language differences.
It is also the case that many people from different ethnic backgrounds are involved in their churches and are candidating for ministry. At present approximately half the candidates across the nation in Uniting Church theological colleges come from non-Anglo backgrounds. On completing their course of study and preparation for ministry, many will serve in ministries that may or may not involve people from their own cultural background. Their passion for the Christian faith and pastoral activity mean they are effective in ministry.
The National Conferences have become an important way the different groups gather and share their common interests and concerns. This gathering highlighted that many issues are similar and that one cultural group can learn from others. At the Tongan national conference for example next generations are not only encouraged to attend but to participate and take leadership. This has been an effective way of both incorporating them into the life of the Conference and also provides opportunities to develop and exercise leadership.
There is no official place in the Uniting Church’s polity for National Conferences, yet they have become an important feature of the life of the Uniting Church. It is important that they are recognised and utilized for the benefit of both those involved directly and for the Uniting Church as a whole as it becomes increasingly multicultural – reflecting God’s multicultural kingdom (Revelation 7:9).
Chris Walker
(National Consultant Christian Unity, Doctrine & Worship)