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News
October 16, 2025

Our new Everything in Common Gift Catalogue has arrived for Christmas and it’s full of gifts that fight poverty and build hope through the power of shared generosity.

Every card represents a real, practical way to help families overcome poverty and create a more secure future. Goats that grow into herds, seeds that become food gardens, small business support, clean water and more.

When you choose a gift for a loved one, you’re not just giving a card, you’re sharing love in action and helping our global neighbours build livelihoods, access clean water, and adapt to the changing climate.

Browse the full range and order physical cards, e-cards or print-at-home options today.

And if you’re part of a Uniting Church, you can take generosity even further by hosting an Everything in Common gift stall this Christmas. We’ll send you everything you need to make it simple and inspiring. Register to host a gift stall today!

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News, Uncategorized
September 10, 2025

Last week, UnitingWorld’s National Director Dr Sureka Goringe joined the Micah Australia Women Leaders Delegation at Parliament House for three days of meetings with Members of Parliament from across the political spectrum. Now in its seventh year, the delegation brought together 48 women leaders from 13 denominations and church-based agencies, united in calling for a stronger Australian aid program as a pathway to peace and stability.

The group met with more than 40 MPs, including Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Assistant Minister Anne Aly, to highlight the importance of restoring the aid budget to 1% of GNI and to draw attention to urgent needs such as the crisis in Myanmar. The reengagement with MPs was warm and substantive, with bipartisan support for the message that aid is prevention and an important expression of Australia’s global leadership.

For Dr Goringe, the experience was not only about speaking with decision-makers, but also about standing alongside a powerful and diverse network of Christian women committed to advocating for the vulnerable and marginalized.

“I don’t know which is more stimulating”, she said, “talking to politicians of every stripe about the importance of investing in peace and stability through aid, or hanging out with the incredible diversity of Christian women who come from such different kinds of traditions and theologies, but are equally committed to showing up for the vulnerable and poor.”

Micah Australia is a coalition of churches and Christian organisations raising a powerful voice for justice and a world free from poverty. UnitingWorld is a member of Micah Australia.

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News
August 12, 2025

The Pacific Conference of Churches has released a new resource for the Season of Creation 2025.

The Season of Creation (1 September to 4 October 2025) is an annual call to pray, reflect and act together in care for the Earth, our common home and God’s beloved creation.

The new downloadable resource contains liturgies, reflections and action suggestions for each week.

There’s also a Faith Leaders’ Invitation Video where you can hear prophetic voices calling us to action.

The theme for Season of Creation this year is “Peace with creation” with the symbol “the garden of peace”, inspired by Isaiah 32:14-18,

14 The fortress will be abandoned,
the noisy city deserted;
citadel and watchtower will become a wasteland forever,
the delight of donkeys, a pasture for flocks,

15 till the Spirit is poured on us from on high,
and the desert becomes a fertile field,
and the fertile field seems like a forest.

16 The Lord’s justice will dwell in the desert,
his righteousness live in the fertile field.

17 The fruit of that righteousness will be peace;
its effect will be quietness and confidence forever.

18 My people will live in peaceful dwelling places,
in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.

Isaiah paints a stark image of a world wounded by human injustice, a creation crying out for peace. This vision resonates deeply with us: our planet is suffering, and yet, we believe in the promise of renewal and restoration. Amidst the growing climate emergency, our call is to be active agents of change—praying, acting, and transforming our way of living in communion with creation and the Creator.

Mark your calendar. Spread the word. Together, let’s make peace with Creation!

Find out more about Season of Creation here.

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News, Partnering Women for Change (Pacific Region)
August 11, 2025

UnitingWorld launches regional initiative to support faith-led collaboration on gender justice

UnitingWorld and its church partners in the Pacific have launched the Oceania Faith Communities Advancing Safety and Equality project, with support from the Pacific Women Lead at the Pacific Community (PWL at SPC) program.

Each of our church partners brings unique strengths to efforts to end gender-based violence and promote equality and, by collaborating more closely, they can build on each other’s progress and create greater impact together.

The project meets the need expressed by the churches for stronger networks and opportunities to learn from one another by establishing a new Community of Practice (CoP) for Pacific churches working to advance gender equality, safeguarding and theological change.

The CoP will serve as a regional hub for collaboration, joint learning and advocacy, connecting women leaders, theologians and safeguarding focal points to share and develop resources, strategies and training. There will also be mentoring by theology experts for key gender leaders in the region.

Women and girls will be the ultimate beneficiaries, as churches deepen their commitment to safety, inclusion and the promotion of women’s leadership.

When theology is life-giving and affirms the dignity of all people, it becomes a powerful force for change, says Reverend Siera Bird, UnitingWorld’s Manager for Gender Equality and Safeguarding:

“Churches are already deeply embedded in their communities. By building their capacity and connection across the region, we’re equipping them to lead efforts for gender equality, social justice and family safety in ways that are culturally grounded and sustainable.”

The project is driven by a steering committee made up of leaders from seven Pacific church denominations* as well as the Pacific Conference of Churches and the Pasifika Communities University. The broad collaboration has the potential to reach more than 989,000 people across the region.

The CoP will co-create theological and practical resources, including a new biblical-theological framework exploring gender, masculinity and femininity, and support joint campaigns for gender equality and social change. It builds on years of UnitingWorld’s partnership with Pacific churches and is one of the first regional initiatives of its kind to bring faith-based actors together around these goals.

The first online event, taking place this August, will explore the intersection of gender and climate. It is an opportunity to explore how climate change affects individuals differently depending on gender, and share experiences and practical solutions, helping build stronger collaboration around gender equality in climate resilience work.

*Denominations: Methodist Church in Fiji (MCiF), Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu (PCV), Kiribati Uniting Church (KUC), United Church in the Solomon Islands (UCSI), United Church in PNG (UCPNG), Ekalesia Kelisiano Tuvalu (EKT) & Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga (FWCT).

You can help make a difference for women and girls in the Pacific
through gender justice – donate now!

The Oceania Faith Communities Advancing Safety and Equality project is an initiative of UnitingWorld and its Pacific partner churches, with funding and technical assistance from the Pacific Women Lead at the Pacific Community programme.

The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the Australian Government, The Pacific Community (SPC), nor any affiliated organisations.

 

Pacific Women Lead (PWL) aims to promote women’s leadership, women’s rights and increase the effectiveness of regional gender equality efforts. The Pacific Community (SPC) is the key implementing partner of the regional Pacific Women Lead portfolio, through its PWL at SPC program.

 Pacific Women Lead is supported by the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

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News
July 29, 2025

Across rural Zimbabwe, families are facing long droughts, food insecurity and lack of clean water. Supported by UnitingWorld, the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe (MCZ) has begun working in schools to transform what is possible for children and families in poverty.

Rev Junior Paradza is one of the leaders championing the new project.

“It’s a difficult place,” Rev Junior says. “The problems are complex and cross over from the very practical, like hunger and disaster relief, to the fact that patriarchal and cultural beliefs mean women and girls have no voice and are vulnerable to high rates of abuse. All these things influence each other, and they don’t just impact the children but the adults too. People want change, but there’s a knowledge gap about how to make it happen.”

Through the schools, our partners found the ideal place to bring together resources, training, policy and communities in need. Selected schools are becoming hubs not only for climate resilience, giving students access to freshly grown food and clean water, but also for sharing knowledge that changes how women and girls are treated and how people with disabilities could be included in their communities.

Designed to impact not only students but their families and surrounding communities, Rev Junior believes the project will grow to reach more than 10,000 people.

“As soon as we began providing guidance and resources, and the school staff knew this was really possible, they have become zealous in planning! They know that this will transform life not just for the families at the school now, but for generations to come.”

Thank you for enabling our partners to lead change and transform lives. In rural Zimbabwe and beyond, your support is helping grow their impact and create lasting change. We’re so grateful. Find out more about the project at www.unitingworld.org.au/possibility

 

Read more good news from the frontlines of climate change.
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by
News
July 29, 2025

Across the Pacific, churches are central to family and community, but leadership is predominantly male. The voices and representation of women are often excluded in decision-making, teaching and leadership, which reinforces gender power-imbalances in society.

We support women to study theology and seek ordination, equipping them for leadership in the Church and community.

Click here to support this project.

Several of our Women in Ministry scholars have graduated recently. We were thrilled to get this note from Rev Toobora from Kiribati:

“I thank God for the gift of life and for our shared calling to serve in the various ministries He has entrusted to us. It is my constant prayer that God will continue to pour out His abundant blessings upon UnitingWorld as it continues to serve His people across the globe.

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to UnitingWorld for its significant role in making my academic journey a successful one. Without the love, support and generosity extended by UnitingWorld in so many ways, I would not have reached this important milestone.Your collective efforts have made a lasting impact.
As we say in Kiribati, Kam bati n rab’a (thank you from the depths of my heart).”

Thanks to the UnitingWorld supporters who have donated and the congregations that have sponsored women like Rev Toobora to pursue their calling to serve God and change lives through their leadership. Currently we have two scholars at Davuilevu Theological College, Fiji, and we will share their progress in future updates.

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News
July 22, 2025

UnitingWorld’s new-look Engagement Team is here to share stories about exciting change in difficult places and to help you get involved. They serve as a connection between UnitingWorld’s work and Uniting Church congregations throughout Australia.

Team leader Mardi Lumsden, with UnitingWorld since 2017, is inspired by the passion for justice of UnitingWorld supporters.
“I love to see how excited people get when they understand that what UnitingWorld does works – the key is working with local people who
understand the challenges their communities face. Their hope, courage and faith encourage those around them to realise that small
things, done intentionally, grow to make a big impact.”

Antony McMullen is based in Victoria and excited about seeing local congregations realise they can make a real difference in our region. “I think people respond well to the fact that UnitingWorld isn’t about fly-in-fly-out aid but collaborating with actual church communities in our region to support them in doing what they determine is needed in their local
context.”

Barry Higgins is based in NSW and previously worked in international development and the local community services sector. “Community-owned decision making is a bit of a buzz word, but it’s the most effective way to create change and it’s what our partners are doing in our projects around the world. People’s eyes light up when you talk about it because it works, and seeing that happen is what I enjoy most about sharing UnitingWorld stories.”

Rev Cyrus Kung in South Australia is energised by spending time with people to dream together of what’s possible for creating change in the world. “I like hearing stories that are not like my own; they challenge me to open myself a little wider. There’s so much we can learn from our partners when we hear of their stories, and what hopes, dreams and struggles are a reality in their part of the world.”

Long-term team member Jenny Guyatt is a regular on the rural circuit in Queensland, speaking at churches up and down the coast. “They really appreciate the visit, knowing they’re not forgotten, and love hearing about the work of the wider Church. I love to share the stories of our partners who, like our congregations here, really understand the needs of their local communities and want to do what’s best for them.”

Invite the UnitingWorld Engagement Team to speak at your church or group, or ask them how you can support a project – email info@unitingworld.org.au or call 1800 998 122.

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News
July 22, 2025

(Originally published in UnitingWorld Update Issue 2 2025.)
Read the full newsletter here.

There’s a lot happening in the world right now. Big, overwhelming things. It can feel like all we hear is noise, conflict and fear.

But when I spend time with our partners, in person or through their stories, I see something else. I see courage, determination and love.

I see communities standing firm in the face of poverty, injustice and the growing climate crisis. They’re finding ways to plant seeds for the future.

In the July newsletter, you’ve read about people like Rev Monim, Rev Oto and Rev Junior, leaders deeply rooted in their faith and their communities, doing the hard and hopeful work of change. They remind me that the best antidote to despair is action.

When we stand alongside our partners around the world, sharing resources, prayers and acts of solidarity with the poorest people, we bring God’s love to life.

I also see other reasons for hope.
Our government has made a conscious choice to stay committed to global partnerships and to the values of justice, generosity and cooperation, even as other world leaders turn to self-interest and cynicism.
It may not make headlines, but one of the reasons Australia has stayed this course is the faithful, persistent advocacy of Christians across the country.

Through the Micah Australia network of faith-based organisations, including us and many others, thousands have raised their voices to ensure our government remembers those most vulnerable to poverty and climate change, even with hard decisions to make. It’s a welcome reminder of the collective power we have. Our church partners are stepping up their work to address growing need with creativity and boldness.

And here at UnitingWorld, we’re thinking big about the future, seeking new opportunities to scale up our impact and reach more people with practical, faith-led solutions to poverty and climate change.We can’t do any of it without you.

Your prayers, generosity and partnership are what make this all possible.

Please keep walking with us. Keep sharing the stories. Keep believing, giving and acting.

Because yes, the world is changing and breaking in many ways. But what we do together in these critical times is how we are part of God’s restoration of all things.

Thanks for being with us.

 

Dr Sureka Goringe

National Director

UnitingWorld

 

Read more good news from the frontlines of climate change.

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News
July 22, 2025

Thank you so much for your support during Lent Event this year! We shared inspiring stories of faith, courage and resilience from Tonga in the aftermath of the 2022 volcanic eruption and tsunami. Stories of people like Mr Folau, who miraculously survived more than 27 hours at sea after being swept offshore by the tsunami.

As we took 40 days of faith-filled action for God’s creation, we raised funds to help communities in the Pacific, Africa and Asia fight poverty, build food security and safeguard lives in the face of climate change and disasters.

Thanks to the generosity of supporters like you, we have raised more than $200,000!
If you missed it, you can still see the videos from Tonga at www.lentevent.com.au
And it’s not too late to donate.

Also as part of Lent Event we launched a great new initiative 40 for the Future, enabling individuals and church groups to take on a 40-day challenge to help build a fairer future.

Participants transformed the way they ate, shopped, travelled or used energy for 40 days to reduce their carbon footprint, and set a fundraising goal so their family and friends could sponsor their efforts. Uniting Church President Rev Charissa Suli was one of the people who took up a personal challenge to help make change.

She shared, “Lent is a season of reflection, sacrifice, and renewal and a time to draw closer to God and align our hearts with Christ’s call to love and serve. Lent reminds us that transformation is not just about giving something up, but about making space for something greater God’s justice, peace, and love in our lives and in the world. Through prayer, fasting, and acts of generosity, I hope to not only deepen my own faith but also contribute to the flourishing of others, particularly those in need.”

Thank you to everyone who took part!

Find out more at www.40forthefuture.com.au

 

by
News
July 21, 2025

Dr Sureka Goringe, National Director of UnitingWorld, recently joined around 60 civil society leaders from across the Pacific, Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand at the Civil Society Climate Summit in Suva, Fiji.

Convened by the Pacific Islands Association of NGOs (PIANGO) and the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID), with support from WWF, the gathering brought together diverse voices to coordinate regional advocacy ahead of COP30 and COP31— the latter set to be hosted by Australia.

“Everyone agrees on the high-level demands,” said Dr Goringe. “We’re all calling for strong mitigation, an exit from fossil fuels, a just transition and investment in loss and damage, adaptation and climate migration. The real challenge lies in how this advocacy happens, and who gets heard.”

Pacific civil society organisations have long collaborated to raise a united voice on climate justice. Their key call is for a COP31 presidency that ensures real influence and access for Indigenous and grassroots leaders, not symbolic participation.

“What Pacific and Indigenous leaders want is a seat at the table, not the side show,” said Dr Goringe. “They’re seeking a COP process that makes space for civil society to help shape decisions, not just respond to them.”

Meanwhile, Australian civil society acknowledged significant gaps in First Nations representation, raising difficult but necessary questions.

“Many First Nations communities are sensing yet another vital conversation happening without them,” Dr Goringe shared. “Everyone wants to centre First Nations voices, but the path to doing that well is complex. It requires time, trust and tangible support. There’s a real commitment to try, but no easy answers.”

“Justice is about the ‘how’ as much as it is about the ‘what,’” she reflected. “Relationships, trust and good process are what build lasting change.”

Australian delegates made two key commitments:

  1. To support the Pacific’s climate justice agenda through their own advocacy, and

  2. To work actively to remove barriers that prevent Pacific civil society from participating meaningfully in COP31, through lobbying, funding and platform-sharing.

“This is where solidarity becomes real,” said Dr Goringe. “It’s about sharing resources, stepping back, and making space for others to lead.”

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