The 2023 Synod Meeting will be held from 18 – 21 November 2023 at Box Hill Town Hall, 1022 Whitehorse Rd, Box Hill.   Click here to watch a video message from the Moderator sharing details of the upcoming Synod meeting in November 2023. Further information for those interested can be found by viewing this booklet or visit the webpage –  Synod Meeting – Uniting Church in Australia. Synod of Victoria and Tasmania (uca.org.au).

The meeting of the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania occurs approximately every 18 months and consists of around 300 members appointed​ by presbyteries and reporting bodies. It meets over four days to worship, enjoy fellowship, receive reports and make decisions regarding the general oversight, direction and administration of the Church’s worship, witness and service. ​ Synod 2023 is coming! It may feel like a long way off, but November will be here before we know it, and of course there is a lot of preparation for Synod that needs to happen in advance.

The Seventeenth Meeting of the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania will commence at 10am on Saturday 18 November 2023 and conclude at 4pm on Tuesday 21 November 2023. The meeting will be held at Box Hill Town Hall, 1022 Whitehorse Road, Box Hill.

Rev Assoc Prof Robyn Whitaker, a Senior Lecturer in New Testament at Pilgrim Theological College will be leading the Bible studies throughout the meeting and Brooke Prentis, an Aboriginal Christian Leader, international speaker, writer, educator and poet will preach at the Opening Worship.

The Opening Worship for the 2023 Synod Meeting will take a different format this year and will be held either at Box Hill Town Hall or a nearby venue within walking distance of the Box Hill Town Hall. As this Opening Worship does not involve the installation of a new Moderator, Business Committee have taken the opportunity to change the time and format in an effort to reduce travel time for some members, be more accessible for Synod members to attend be being on the same day as the start of the Synod meeting, better incorporate the worship into the Synod meeting and reduce transport costs. Although no one times suits everyone, Business Committee also hope a change in time, day and venue will also provide an opportunity for those in the wider church to be present who have previously found it difficult to attend an evening service in the Melbourne CBD.

Any confirmed UCA member can nominate to attend.  Adults of all ages, cultural backgrounds, gender, ability, sexuality, lay or ordained are encouraged to attend.  Please note that:

  1. All confirmed members of Congregations can nominate to attend the Synod Meeting.
  2. Nomination forms to be emailed to: heather.loader@ppw.victas.uca.org.au
  3. Nominations must be submitted by 5.00pm on Friday 16 June 2023.
  4. Late nominations will not be accepted.

Our Presbytery can nominate a total of 56 Members, 28 ordained and 28 lay people, to attend this Synod meeting. In the election of lay members, we are encouraged to include, where practicable, at least one third men and at least one third women. We were also asked to encourage young adults and members from a culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) background to consider nomination. Persons who have not attended previous Synod meetings are also be encouraged to nominate.

All nominations will be reviewed at the June Presbytery Standing Committee Meeting. Successful nominees will be notified as soon as practicable following this meeting.

Another way that you might like to be involved is by being a volunteer at the meeting in our hospitality/welcoming team.  For further details regarding volunteering opportunities please contact Sarah Manase, Synod Meeting Logistics Coordinator.  Even just volunteering for a couple of hours is a rewarding and helpful way to contribute to this significant event in the life of the Church.

Please note that the information in this post is a combination of information from emails sent by Kathryn D’Alessandro, Synod Meeting Project Manager and Heather Loader, Presbytery Secretary.