Our 50th Synod Begins in Worship!

September 14, 2026
Category: News & Announcements, Stories & Feature Articles

The 50th Annual Meeting of the Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of Western Australia began with a joyful opening worship service on Friday 11 September 2026 at All Saints Floreat Uniting Church led by the Uniting Church WA Moderator, Rev David Jackson CSM.

The 50th Annual Meeting of the Synod of WA began with a joyful opening worship service on Friday 11 September 2026 at All Saints Floreat Uniting Church, led by the Moderator, Rev David Jackson.

The opening service constitutes the annual Synod of Western Australia meeting which took place over the weekend of 11 to 13 September 2026. At the annual Synod meeting, lay and ordained members appointed by reporting bodies meet to worship together, share experiences, receive reports and make decisions about the direction and administration of the Church.

The Moderator’s theme for his 2025-2027 triennium is ‘We are a Pilgrim People’ and tonight’s service continued to expand on this theme as we mark our 50th Synod milestone as a Uniting Church in Western Australia. Uniting Church community gathered in worship to recognise this important time in the life of the church, leading into the weekend of listening, discussion and prayerful discernment as a community of faith.

The service began with an Acknowledgement of Country by Rev Reuben Edmonds, Minister at All Saints Floreat Uniting Church, acknowledging the Wadjuk people of the Nyungar nation as the original custodians of the land on which we gathered, and affirming our Covenant with the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress.

In recognition of this special service, five representatives from across our Uniting Church in WA agencies, churches, cultures and schools were then invited to light a candle each to represent the five decades in the life of our church leading up to our 50th Synod of Western Australia.

In a change from previous years, our opening worship included a celebration and recognition of ordained ministry – ‘Celebration of Ministry’. Early in the service Rev David Jackson led the gathered people in a time to pause and remember the names of the ordained ministers who had died since we last met as a Synod. We remember the lives and ministry of Rev Margaret Greenhill, Rev Harold Sampson, Rev Phil Hulbert, Rev Alan Pederick and Rev Don Pederick.

David reflected on 2 Timothy 4:7, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” Noting that “this passage of Paul while facing martyrdom symbolises the completion of life wholly dedicated to God. For ministers who have died, these words represent the culmination of their life’s calling and the assurance of eternal rest.”

Later in the service Rev Ken Devereux, in his role as Chairperson of the Presbytery of WA gave recognition and thanks to retired ministers Rev Dr Ian Tozer, Rev Dr Anne Wright and Rev Mitch Fialkowski.

He then led a celebration of ordained ministry, presenting certificates to ministers who had reached ordination milestones, with recognition spanning from 10 years for Rev Judy Sanderson, to 70 years for Rev Harry Lucas. Congratulations to all of the ministers who reached these milestones this year!

L-R – Rev Ken Devereux, Rev Bev Fabb, Rev Gemmel Sherwood, Rev Judy Sanderson, Rev Geoffrey Lilburne, Rev Ray Foster.

We heard from scripture, with readings from Jude 17-25 and from Micah 6:6-8, and were then delighted to welcome our guest preacher Dr Ali Robinson, who has joined us for this Synod weekend from United Theological College in Sydney where she is a Lecturer in the New Testament.

In her sermon Dr Robinson reflected on the selected passage from Jude, expanding on the text in light of our Synod theme, and what it means to be ‘pilgrim people on the way’, encouraging the church to remain faithful as it journeys towards God’s promised future as a people of faith, and a community of grace.

“This is what it looks like to be pilgrims on the way: a people of faith, a community of grace. We will build one another up, we will pray in the Spirit, we will remain in God’s enveloping love, and we will show mercy as we look forward to the day when we will reach the promised goal, standing as one people before God’s glorious presence with great rejoicing. Amen.”

The service concluded with the Constitution of the 2026 Synod, by the Moderator and the Uniting Church WA General Secretary, David Beards.

In the Moderator’s Charge that followed, to the members of the 50th Synod Rev David Jackson said,

“We are called to commit ourselves, under God, to be on the way together. May we meet in the Spirit of Christ. This landmark meeting marks a profound moment of transition for the church as members engage in deep discernment, prayer and governance.”
“As you step into this sacred space of deep change and holy listening, remember that you do not walk the pilgrim path alone. Trust the process, lean into the shared wisdom, around your tables, and let your heart be anchored in bold hope – for the same Spirit leading you into this new chapter is already there waiting to guide you.”

On Saturday 11 September and Sunday 12 September the Synod gathered at The Hub, Bentley Technology Park for the business sessions.

Thank you to everyone involved in the opening service, to the congregation of All Saints Floreat Uniting Church for hosting, to Pastor Lindsay Ginn for sharing his gifts of music, and to everyone who joined the service both in person and on the livestream.

The recording of our opening service is now available on the All Saints Floreat Uniting Church Youtube channel here.