Children are the church today, but they also have a vital interest in the church of the future.

"God loves us all," said two of the children attending the KUCA-A2000 program reporting as part of the strategic planning unit report. "And this makes us all equal".

In preparing to become president, James Haire sent a letter to all the children of the Uniting Church. Two things, which came through strongly from the children’s replies, were that all ages want to know what is happening in the UCA and the wider church. Therefore children and youth need to be involved in all aspects of church life.

The children also reiterated a plea for the church to be a place where they feel comfortable, safe, respected and a part of.

The children were at Assembly because they have hopes about the future of our church. And what are their hopes?

In one year’s time they would like the church to stop arguing, get to the point and get on with it.

They would also like the church to think, live and share the Word more creatively.

They ask the church to use courage and not be afraid to do things differently.

They want the church to reach out more into the community and be more inviting.

Lastly, the church should stop worrying about the past and think about the future.

In five year’s time they would like the UCA:

• To have grown bigger and better.

• To be moving on and encouraging lots of different people to join in.

• To organise new activities for younger people.

• To be offering different services in different languages.

• To be using modern music, and if it needs to use old hymns they will be modified so everyone can understand them.