1.1 The Assembly Standing Committee decided to establish a new mission agency for the area of Multicultural Ministry in March 1997. This decision was another historic and faithful step in the multicultural ministry of the UCA since the 4^th Assembly declared that the UCA is a multicultural church in 1985. This was an action taken seriously in order to be a truly multicultural church, responding to the new mission calling and to the changes happening in our time.

1.1.1 Ten members of the Reference Committee on Multicultural Ministry were appointed by the ASC in August 1997:

1.1.2 Two members were later co-opted.

Rev Dr Robert Bos (Dutch)

Mrs Sophia Vaitkus (Chinese, later ordained)

1.1.3 The committee members reflect the cultural and racial diversity of our church. Half of them were nominated through the national confer-ences of migrant-ethnic communities as their representatives. We tried to find young members but it was very difficult as they cannot make a full commitment due to their jobs or study. Also we tried to have one Aboriginal member, unfortunately without success in the first term. It is essential to have one Aboriginal member as a resource person, in view of the multiracial nature of the Church. Two theologians, Rev. Dr. Clive Pearson and Rev. Dr. Robert Bos, were appointed as theological resource persons, also representing members of western cultures.

1.1.4 The Reference Committee on Multicultural Ministry meets once a year in June. A Support Group was formed with Sydney-based members. The Support Group meets quarterly.

1.2 Mandate

1.2.1 The Mission Statement in the Mandate of Multicultural Ministry sums up the major task of this agency. It is to educate the Church in living as people from different cultures together in worship, witness and service.

1.2.2 One of the Committee’s major responsibilities is to facilitate the development of policies on multicultural life with members of different cultural traditions, and to reflect on the implications of the multicultural and multi-ethnic nature of the Church and of pluralistic Australian society for the ordering of the Church’s life.

1.2.3 The prime concern of Multicultural Ministry is to establish a true unity in diversity - a unity without uniformity, that is a harmonious sharing of life with people from different cultural traditions in one church/community:

1.3.1 The term Multicultural Ministry immediately reminds us of newly arrived migrant members. But this Ministry has a scope beyond ministry to newly arrived migrant members.

1.3.2 Multicultural Ministry is to all members across the boundaries of their various cultures. The interaction and mutual impact between members/congregations of different cultures has been getting deeper and wider, creating a new dimension in the life and mission of the Church. It is not a marginalised ministry only to newly arrived migrant members. It is not an extension of overseas mission. It is an integral part of the life of the whole church, enriching every aspect of it and including every member – Aboriginal, Anglo-Celtic and newly arrived migrant members. It is a new frontier of mission and an issue for the whole Church.

2.1 Since Multicultural Ministry became an independent mission agency in 1997, the first three years have been an establishing period for this ministry, particularly in terms of structure and budget. During this period, ongoing work within the UCA, such as Biennial National Conference, One Great Sunday of Sharing, and publication of resource materials, has continued. For the first time, two ecumenical gatherings on multicultural ministry were organised during this period: one was held among churches in Australia (Victoria) and the second one was an international meeting sponsored by the WCC.

2.1.1 Area of inter-relationship and co-operation between culturally different congregations including Aborigines

Education on multicultural life is an important part of this ministry. Gradual improvement has been achieved through educational programs such as One Great Sunday of Sharing and visits to congregations by the National Director.

Multicultural Ministry cannot be successful or meaningful without the presence of Aboriginal members. Inviting and welcoming their participation is an area to which we must give more deliberate effort.

The Victorian Council of Christian Education organised an interdenominational gathering in Victoria with the topic of multicultural ministry in September 1999. Seven denominations participated. The National Director, Multicultural Ministry of the UCA, was invited as a speaker.

This was the second interdenominational event organised, affirming where each church stands in this re-emerging ministry. It was an opportunity for mutual encouragement and sharing.

2.1.9 International Networking in Multicultural Ministry

The National Director approached the World Council of Churches with the recommendation that WCC arrange a meeting of multicultural ministry workers. In response, the WCC Mission Team invited her to present the challenges of multicultural ministry in "Padare" Sessions for visitors at the Eighth Assembly in Harare, Zimbabwe, December 1998. Representatives of two other churches, the United Church of Canada and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, joined in present-ing their work, policies and ethos in life with people of different cultures in one church.

Through this first international presentation, participants unanimously expressed the need to organise an international network for the area of multicultural ministry. With support from the WCC, the First International Network Forum on Multicultural Ministry was hosted by the Uniting Church in November 1999.

Sixty people from thirteen churches participated from Europe, Africa, South and North America and Australia. The meeting confirmed multicultural ministry’s place at the core of future ministry and mission.

23 UCA participants challenged the Church, saying "we believe the Christian Gospel calls us to regard multicultural ministry as ‘core business’ of the UCA".

It was decided to set up an international multicultural ministry network. This meeting sowed a tiny seed, which will be watered by the new International Network in co-operation with the WCC, and we believe "God makes the plant grow".

3.1 Multicultural Ministry believes that during the past fifteen years since the Fourth Assembly declared that the UCA is a multicultural church, its foundation as a multicultural church has been established. The statement adopted by the Fourth Assembly, The Uniting Church is a Multicultural Church", laid a firm first corner stone of the multicultural ministry in 1985. The basic ethos and policies for life with people from different cultural traditions in one church were summed up in this short statement.

3.2 A National Workshop on Multicultural Ministry was held on 28^th February 2000. The future direction of multicultural ministry of the UCA was focused in this meeting by fourteen participants. The new concept and direction of multicultural ministry have been expressed as a vision for the future mission of the Church.

3.3 Three recommendations from this meeting were presented and supported by the Assembly Standing Committee March 2000. Multicultural Ministry was acknowledged as an up-coming new frontier mission area.

3.4 The future work of Multicultural Ministry will strive to:

3.4.1 Develop education strategies for use in congregations on the multicultural nature of the gospel.

Multicultural ministry is an issue for the whole church Strategies for education must be established in order to help all members to see that this is a new frontier of mission and to learn how they must live on the frontier.

The core of Christian belief, the gospel, should be emphasised. In preaching , teaching and shared Bible study, the message becomes clear: to follow Jesus means breaking through the barriers of race, culture and religious prejudice that separate the brothers and sisters whom God calls into one family.

3.4.2 Establish orientation courses for leaders of presbyteries, synods and the Assembly on racism and cultures.

Assimilation attitudes of many people in our Church and society have been reinforced by some politicians. Racism comes from every direction. Nationalistic attitudes and isola-tionism of some minority groups are also issues we have to tackle. The existence of racial discriminatory attitude in the UCA is part of our reality.

3.4.3 Continue to publish education resource materials to back up these projects.

Translation of UCA major documents such as the Constitution and Regulations in community languages has been an ongoing task. The Basis of Union and "Understanding UCA" need to be rewritten in easy English.

Publication of creative resource materials to educate the whole church, e.g. Bible study, multilingual worship book, prayers for multicultural life, story book, is an essential part of the future multicultural ministry.

4.1 As multicultural ministry is being recognised as a new frontier in mission nationally and internationally, the job description of the National Director is also expanding. In the past, the National Director was mainly engaged in establishing basic foundation and in liaison work between culturally different communities. We can observe that some practical responsibilities are now shifting to synods and presbyteries.

4.2 The National Workshop on Multicultural Ministry meeting recommended that the future National Director must play key roles in education about the vision of multicultural ministry at the grass roots of the Church with all members. As an affirmative leader with this vision, and as an excellent communicator to all different language groups, the future National Director should be a theologically well trained co-ordinator, who is able to take the initiative in establishing theology and education strategies in multiculturalism nationally and inter-nationally, within the Uniting Church and inter-denominationally.

5.1 It has been a great honour and grace for me to work for the Uniting Church for seventeen years. At first in 1984 I started my career in the Assembly of the Uniting Church as a co-ordinator to publish an information booklet, "Handbook for New Arrivals" in several community languages. In 1986, I was appointed as Ethnic Affairs Officer to look after migrant-ethnic congregations. In 1991, my job title was changed to Secretary for Ethnic Affairs. In 1997, I was appointed as Secretary for Multicultural Ministry when Multicultural Ministry was established as an independent mission agency. And later the title of the position changed to National Director.

5.2 I am an Asian, lay person, migrant and woman. I have every reason to be treated as a marginalised person in the Church and in the society. To make it worse, English is my second language, which has been always a difficult barrier in carrying out my work.

5.3 But God’s Grace has been overflowing and the Uniting Church has been generous to me. You gave me every opportunity to explore my full capacity. You have been patient with my shortcomings. You have been a good listener to my persistent challenge and you have opened your eyes wide to the new vision about multicultural life.

5.4 Now I am certain that it is time for me to move. I can see that multicultural ministry is now becoming a core of the future mission. I can see that all ministry is in the multicultural setting. I can see that multicultural ministry of the Uniting Church now becomes part of the international network.

5.5 I have done what I could do with all my prayers, with all my heart and with all I have. I did my best. I have no regrets. I am leaving with thankful and happy heart. I keep praying that the Uniting Church is given a more faithful and able servant for this expanded ministry after me.

5.6 There are many friends and leaders to whom I would like to express my personal appreciation. They have been great supporters and mentors.

5.7 Rev Dr John P. Brown, Rev John Mavor, Dr Jill Tabart, Rev Gregor Henderson, Rev Dr Dean Drayton, Rev Norman McDonald, Rev Dr Dorothy McRae-McMahon, Rev Rex Fisher, Rev Dr Geof Lilburne, Rev John Rickard, Rev Dr Myong Duk Yang, Rev Inoke Nabulivou, Rev Dr Clive Pearson, Rev Dr Robert Bos, Rev Bui Chi Ai, Mrs Margaret Farrell, Rev Sione Eli, the Late Rev Kotoni Fihaki, Rev Kil Bock Hong, Mrs Fefiloi Reid, Rev Dr Benyamin Susilo, Rev James Latu, Rev Sophia Vaitkus, Rev John Jegasothy, Rev Andrew Williams, Mrs Katalina Williams, Mr Scott Litchfield, Mr Robert Underhill and all my Korean friends who have been praying for me and my work.

5.8 Especially there is still one person to whom I would like to express my deepest appreciation. My husband, Rev. Colville Crowe. I could not have done my job without him. He has been my consultant, editor, language teacher and encourager.

5.9 I give thanks and glory to God, believing that God has been leading me, with strength and wisdom all the way until now.