Nov 2006

Uniting Church President, Rev. Gregor Henderson has challenged members of the church to embrace the leadership of migrant ethnic leaders in the church who are ready and willing to help us better live out our evangelistic mission.

In his report to the November Assembly Standing Committee Rev. Henderson said he had been impressed and challenged in his first four months as President by the vision and commitment of the church’s migrant leaders.

“I’d have to say that over recent months I’ve come to know the migrant ethnic section of our church better than any other in some senses.

“What I have discovered is that they have an incredible amount to teach us in the post-Christendom history of the church in Australia because many of them come out of a minority Christian setting.

“It is because of this that they know how to bear witness and to share the faith in a non-Christian country. In an society like Australia where fewer people are interested in the denominational trappings of church, but where people are still interested in exploring issues of faith and life, our migrant leaders have a great deal to teach us about how to be evangelists and missionaries in our own country. And the test for us is will we receive their contribution,” Rev. Henderson said.

The desire of migrant leaders to give leadership in not only their own communities but in the wider Uniting Church is extremely strong and Rev. Henderson said it was important the rest of the church took advantage of the gifts being offered to them.

“I think that one of the most testing questions for us in the future life of our Uniting church is, are we as Anglos, going to be willing and open enough to receive the leadership that will be offered by our migrant ethnic leaders into the Uniting Church?”

“Will the Anglo congregations, the Anglo presbytery members, the Anglo Synod and Assembly members, be willing to open ourselves to allow the contribution of leadership from our migrant ethnic people because they are ready to go.”