Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of Queensland

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The Synod of Queensland or Queensland Synod is a state council of the Uniting Church in Australia. The word 'synod' also describes the regular meeting (every 18 months) of representatives of the state-wide church known as Synod in Session. The next Synod in Session will be the 36th Synod in 2022.

The Assembly is the national council of the church, headed by the President of the Uniting Church, with a general secretary as chief executive officer. The six geographically-based synods are responsible for overall support and resourcing of the church in their area—especially in community services, mission planning, theological education and other educational services, administration relating to ministers, and property and financial services. The elected head of each synod is the moderator, and a general secretary is usually appointed as the chief executive officer. The moderator is the spiritual head and the main spokesperson for the Uniting Church in Queensland. The current moderator is The Reverend Andrew Gunton and he was inducted at the 35th Synod on the 22 October 2020.

Presbyteries[]

A synod may relate to a number of presbyteries within its bounds. A presbytery is a council of the Uniting Church which has oversight of congregations, ministry and programs within a region. Ministers of the Word and deacons are responsible to their presbytery, which has the duty of caring for them and ensuring their work is carried out faithfully. Presbytery meetings include ordained ministers, lay pastors and elected lay persons from every congregation.

The Synod of Queensland has seven presbyteries.[1]

  • Bremer Brisbane Presbytery [1]
  • Carpentaria Presbytery [2] (formerly Calvary Presbytery and North Queensland Presbytery)
  • Central Queensland Presbytery [3]
  • Mary Burnett Presbytery [4]
  • Moreton Rivers Presbytery [5]
  • South Moreton Presbytery [6]
  • The Downs Presbytery [7]

Education[]

Trinity College Queensland provides theological education for ministers and lay people. Degree courses are accredited by the Australian College of Theology.[2]

Raymont Residential College is a residential college for tertiary students. It is co-located at the Uniting Church Centre in Auchenflower, Brisbane with Trinity College Queensland. Grace College is at the St Lucia campus of the University of Queensland, and caters only for women.


Moderators[]

date name
2020-present Rev Andrew Gunton[3][4]
2014–2020 Rev David Baker[5]
2011–2014 Rev Kaye Ronalds (first female moderator in Queensland)[6]
2008–2011 Rev Bruce Johnson[6]
2005-2008 Rev Dr David Pitman
2002-2005 Rev Allan Kuchler
1999-2002 Rev Dr Ray Reddicliffe
1996-1999 Rev Dr David Pitman
1993-1996 Rev Don Whebell (first full time moderator in Queensland)
1992-1993 Rev Cecil Schloss
1991-1992 Rev Bryan Gilmour
1990-1991 Dr John Roulston (first lay person to be Moderator of Queensland)
1989-1990 Rev Don Whebell
1988–1989 Rev John Mavor[7]
1987-1988 Rev Ray Thompson
1986-1987 Rev Barry Dangerfield (recognition withdrawn 2019)[8]
1985-1986 Rev Ray Hunt OBE
1984-1985 Rev Eric Moore
1983-1984 Rev Alan Kidd
1982-1983 Rev Dr Lewis Born
1981-1982 Rev Dr Douglas Brandon
1980-1981 Rev Duncan Harrison
1979-1980 Rev Ronald Elvery
1977–1979 Rev Prof Rolland Busch

References[]

  1. ^ "Presbyteries". Uniting Church in Australia Queensland Synod. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  2. ^ "About". Trinity College Queensland. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  3. ^ Rogers, Ben (18 May 2019). "34th Synod in Session: Day two – Now is the time to sow". Journey. Queensland Synod of the Uniting Church in Australia. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  4. ^ O'Callaghan, James (23 October 2020). "Rev Andrew Gunton inducted as new Queensland Synod Moderator". Journey. Queensland Synod of the Uniting Church in Australia. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  5. ^ "The Uniting Church in Australia Queensland Synod". Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  6. ^ a b "Synod of Queensland". 13th Assembly reports. Uniting Church in Australia. 2012. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
  7. ^ "John Mavor finally retires". Journey. Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of Queensland. 5 April 2007. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  8. ^ "Minutes of the 34th Synod, 2019" (PDF). The Uniting Church in Australia in Queensland. p. 25. Retrieved 18 July 2021.

External links[]

  • Official website
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