Rev David Jackson CSM
Moderator
Rev David Jackson was installed as Moderator of the Uniting Church WA on 25 October 2025, following his election at the 49th Annual Meeting of the Synod of WA in September 2025. The Moderator of the Uniting Church WA is the pastoral head of the church. Their role is to be a spokesperson for the church, and to guide the church throughout their three-year term.
The theme for David’s term as Moderator is ‘We are a Pilgrim People’.
David was born and raised in Smithton, Tasmania. He was ordained as a Minister of the Word in the Uniting Church in 1978. Following ordination David served in the Tasmanian Parishes of Georgetown and the West Coast Patrol. He then had placements in the Synod of Western Australia, serving in Karratha and Maylands-Mt Lawley congregations.
In 1992 David began military service as a military chaplain, first in the Army Reserve, and then in 1999 in full-time service. During his military career David was deployed to Timor-Leste, Bougainville, Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2007 David was awarded a Conspicuous Service Medal (CSM) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for ‘outstanding service as a Chaplain to the Australian Army while serving with the Special Air Service Regiment at Swanbourne and on Operations.’
After retiring from the Army, David went on to serve in the Synod of Western Australia as the Convenor of the Disaster Relief and Community Recovery Working Group. David also helped establish the WA Disaster Recovery Chaplaincy Network in partnership with the Council of Churches WA and the WA Synod.
In 2022 David came out of retirement and returned to a ministry role as a Disaster Recovery Chaplain for Frontier Services based in the Mid-West. After 18 months in that role he then moved further North to serve as Frontier Services Bush Chaplain in the Pilbara Patrol.
David describes his passion for the Uniting Church as being rooted in its commitment to addressing poverty, racism and advocating for the inclusion of all people in decision-making.
David shares life with his wife of 49 years, Diane and together they have three children and six grandchildren.
Rev Steve Francis
Presbytery of WA Chairperson
Rev Steve Francis was ordained in 1980 and has held various positions in the Uniting Church in WA, including Minister of the Word at Scarborough and Nedlands, Synod Youth Consultant, Moderator (2014-2020) and currently he is Chaplain at Tranby College.
Prior to ordination he worked in engineering at a chocolate factory, a mining company and with a European airline.
He is a graduate in History and Philosophy at UWA, and studied theology at Murdoch University.
He is married to Kim a Deacon and has two amazing children, Joel and Sarah.
Steve is a migrant and grew up in Merseyside England. He served two terms on the World Methodist Council.