Strengthening Congregations – Listening, Learning, and Discerning Together

Across our Presbytery, in diverse settings, congregations and faith communities gather each week – large and small, busy and steady, full of energy and sometimes weary. There is faithful worship, deep care for one another, a commitment to outreach and service, and a strong sense of belonging.

Amid this, honest questions are emerging – some unspoken, others shared in conversation. Questions about leadership capacity and sustainability, connecting with a changing world, and the future of our church.

This is not unfamiliar ground for the people of God. Time and again, in Scripture and throughout the life of the Church, we see God meeting and guiding people and communities in moments exactly like this – in times of uncertainty, transition, and possibility. It reminds us that the story unfolding in our church today is not separate from God’s presence and work among us – it is part of it.

In recognising this moment in our shared life, four Key Strategic Priorities for the Synod and Presbytery have been shaped.

Strengthening Congregations

One of these priorities is Strengthening Congregations, which encompasses several interrelated areas: understanding the realities of congregational life; nurturing intercultural and intergenerational communities; exploring future forms of ministry; considering how properties can support mission; and providing leaders with fresh learning opportunities.

Last year, a Strategic Priorities Working Group, including the Chairs and staff of Presbytery Committees, was appointed to lead this work – to listen to congregations and faith communities, understand the present moment, and discern together where God is at work and may be calling us.

At its heart, the work of Strengthening Congregations holds a significant question: what does it look like to be a faithful and life-giving Christian community in this time and place, and into the future?

Over the past year, this listening has begun in practical ways. One expression of this has been the development of the Health and Vitality toolkit, which invites congregations and faith communities to reflect on key markers of church life, including faith development, younger generations, mission and outreach, and leadership. More than a tool to complete, it encourages leaders to name strengths and challenges, and to begin deeper conversations. In time, we will share what has been heard across the Presbytery.

The Working Group also initiated table discussions at recent Presbytery meetings, creating space for open conversations about the realities of congregational life, hopes and concerns people are holding, and possibilities for faithful change into the future.

Experiences of Ministry

In April, the Moderator held a ministry forum where Ministers and Pastors in active ministry shared openly about their experiences of leadership and ministry in this season.

Across these different conversations, we hear a deep love for the church and a strong commitment to ministry and mission, alongside a sincere recognition of the challenges facing many churches. There is a sense of hope and energy around new possibilities – especially new forms of ministry and developing leaders – as well as real concern about the ageing profile, fatigue, limited volunteers, and the impact of change on communities.

Within this, many Presbytery members expressed a need for more open and prayerful conversations with one another, and the courage to face questions about sustainability and legacy. Many members spoke about the importance of relationships and not navigating these challenges alone, as well as finding ways to share resources, leadership, and support across congregations and faith communities.

From Ministers and Pastors, there is a strong sense that the church is at a pivotal moment, and a call for clear conversations about decline and for prayerful, courageous decisions about how people, resources, and legacy are stewarded. They spoke of increasing pressure on leaders and the need to invest in leadership development and shared models of ministry, and the importance of an outward-facing, mission-focused culture.

Across both voices, there is a willingness to engage these realities, ask difficult questions, and explore new possibilities together. There is a recognition that God is already at work – often in unexpected places – and a desire to listen carefully and respond with faith and courage.

A Shared Journey

These conversations have been invaluable. They remind us there is no single path forward – our churches are in different places: some thriving, some steady, and some vulnerable. Yet across all of this, there is a growing openness – sometimes, tentative, sometimes bold – to exploring new ways of being church. The work of Strengthening Congregations is a shared journey and your experiences, insights, questions, and hopes are central. In the months ahead, the Working Group will continue to listen, learn, and explore what support and resourcing is needed, sharing updates and reflections as this unfolds.

Above all, we hold onto the promise that God is present and at work among us. In every conversation and every step of faith, the Spirit is moving. Together, we are discerning what it means to be a faithful and life-giving church in this time and place, and into the future—trusting that, as we do, God will meet and guide us.

Article by Rev Claire Pickering, Presbytery Minister (Strategic Priorities)
Contact Claire – [email protected] or phone the Uniting Church Centre – 08 9260 9800