National Assembly opens on Saturday

The Uniting Church in Australia will hold its 10th national Assembly in Melbourne from 12- 19 July, 2003.

The Assembly is the national policy making body of the Uniting Church.

Meeting at Wilson Hall, Melbourne University, the 10th Assembly will draw together about 500 delegates and church representatives from across Australia.

As the overall policy making body for Australia’s third largest denomination and the nation’s biggest independent provider of community services, the Assembly will:

• Install a new President, Rev. Dr Dean Drayton, for a three year term;
• Consider proposals on matters of sexuality, including the issue of ordination of homosexual people;
• Debate recommendations on Uniting Church/ Anglican Church mutual recognition of ministry;
• Meet church leaders from Indonesia, East Timor and many Pacific Island nations including Solomon Islands and Fiji and Tuvalu;
• Focus on Australia’s changing religious landscape, living in a multi-faith society;
• Host a meeting of Australia’s religious leaders and a special night of Come and Meet the Neighbours’
• Discuss proposals of tourism support for Bali and the future directions of membership in the church.

The Opening service will be a special event, including a 20-piece youth percussion band (playing 44 gallon drums), a dance and drama troop and Tongan choir.

The newly installed President, the Rev. Dr Dean Drayton, will preach.
July 8, 2003