Just as Colonel William Light, the designer of the city of Adelaide, had a grand vision for the city more than 170 years ago, our church also has a grand vision for mission and ministry throughout South Australia.

Our vision statement says: "we seek to be an innovative, growing church proclaiming Jesus Christ, empowered by the Spirit to transform God's world".

We are breathing life into that vision through our Strategic Plan which will serve as our blueprint for mission and ministry from 2007 to 2012.

The Uniting Church SA's new Associate General Secretary, Rev Russell Knight is the Strategic Plan project officer and General Secretary Rev Dr Graham Humphris chairs the Steering Group.

The 2007 - 2012 strategic plan is about you. Members of Uniting Church congregations. As a Church, the plan guides us and allows us to take steps to achieve the vision set before us.

If your church has been engaging with the strategic plan - we want to hear about it! When we share our stories (whether our action could be seen as successful or not) we building knowledge, encourage one another and inspire each other to action. 

Perhaps a specific key direction has been especially relevant for your church, or a few, and things have happened as a result - let us know and we can post your story in the news section of the website. 

If you'd like to learn more about how the strategic plan is useful for your congregation, take some time to look at the activities and goals of the key directions. Contact team leaders and express your interest.

We look forward to seeing where the plan has taken congregations so far, and where we could go in the future. 

Who to contact:

Sarah Urmston
Communications project officer
(08) 8236 4260
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Russell Knight
Project Manager
(08) 8236 4206
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Welcoming church - shoppers, church - hoppers and everyone in between

5 things you probably didn't realise about welcoming... (click to read more)

Have you ever thought seriously about how people are welcomed into your church?

Have you been at your congregation for so long you’ve forgotten what it’s like to feel new?

When was the last time you visited another congregation – and felt totally out of place or unfamiliar with its practices?

The truth is, when people decide to come to church – be it for the first time, or the annual Christmas visit – it’s a big step into the great unknown. I’m sure the questions haunting visitors range from what if people are watching me? Will I wear the right clothes? Will anyone talk to me after the service? What if they have communion, how will I know what to do? and more.

The profile raising team is turning the age-old adage of ‘practice what you preach’ on its head, as they create a campaign that encourages the church to ‘preach what you practice.’

Discipleship, according to Craig Mitchell, is more than just providing pastoral care and good worship.

Craig convenes the Growing Disciples team and lectures in Lay Ministry Studies at the Uniting College for Leadership & Theology. He firmly believes that discipleship and growing in faith are nurtured by being involved in a community which shares stories and learns from each other.

“Discipleship is about learning to follow Jesus among a community of disciples. You can't simply tell people how to be disciples. They must learn by living. That involves everyday conversations, living examples, as well as teaching and service.”

The following is an extract from General Secretary Graham Humphris' May report to Standing Committee

The Strategic Planning Steering Group continues to monitor the implementation of the Strategic Plan.

KD1 (Conversion) is continuing to work on forming a travelling “road show” to assist congregations with worship and workshops on conversion growth.

KD2 (Leadership) is focused on the Uniting College for Leadership and Theology (especially staffing) as well as looking at funding issues for the Australian Leadership magazine.

KD3 (Discipleship) has completed a Pathways Day and is working on website development and a discipleship study guide.

KD4 (New Expressions) continues to work on developing “muddy conversations” about what might be understood by “fresh expressions of church” and encouraging congregations to “have a go”.

KD5 (Raising our Profile) has engaged JamShop advertising and is working on some very exciting and creative ways to raise the church’s profile. A report on this will be coming to the next Presbytery and Synod meeting.

KD6 (Justice) is looking at a number of key projects to support marginalised groups.

If the Uniting Church SA was promoted as a welcoming and open place to explore a spiritual journey, could your congregation live up to the promise?

That’s the question troubling members of the team charged with raising the church’s profile.

The launch of the Uniting Church SA’s new centre for leadership development and theological training heralds a new era in ministry.

The new centre at Brooklyn Park will be called ‘Uniting College for Leadership & Theology’. It was launched during the March Presbytery and Synod meeting.