The Uniting Church in Australia
Synod of Victoria & Tasmania - Presbytery of Tasmania
Congregations of Kingston - Taroona - Channel
Tasmania - Australia

About Us

Who We Are 

The Uniting Church in Australia was formed on June 22, 1977, as a union of three churches which have been represented in Australia for nearly two centuries. The Congregational Union of Australia, The Methodist Church of Australia and The Presbyterian Church of Australia agreed to come together on the Basis of Union accepted by the three churches after some twenty-three years of negotiation.

Some Congregational and Presbyterian congregations decided not to enter this union, but all Methodist churches, working under a national constitution, became part of the Uniting Church.

In uniting, the members of those bodies testified to "that unity which is both Christ's gift and will for the Church"  Ecumenism remains a vital aspect in all of the church's life and work - in congregations, national commitments to work together with other churches, and relationships and partnerships with churches of various denominations in Asia and the Pacific. 

The Emblem

The emblem of the Uniting Church in Australia shows the cross of Jesus Christ, in its light and love, standing over a darkened world - redeeming it through grace and truth. By that cross people are bound to Christ and each other. The Holy Spirit, symbolised by the dove with wings of flame, empowers and guide us to be witnesses to Jesus Christ. The wide "U" at the bottom points to the fact that we are uniting; as a semicircle it also reminds us that the renewing of both church and world are as yet incomplete.

The emblem symbolises something of the vision we have glimpsed and the hopes we hold for the future. In particular it reminds us:

• that the gospel message is central in all we seek to do;

• of the need for constant reform and renewal;

• of our commitment to worship, witness and service.

About our Congregations

The congregations of Taroona, Kingston and the Channel were formerly known as the UCA Kingborough Parish until December 1997 and then the linked congregations from January 1998 to present.

The area covered by these congregations is the Municipality of Kingborough (except Bruny Island) (go to map),  which starts about 10 km south of Hobart, Tasmania's capital city and goes along the coast line of the lower part of the Derwent River estuary and the D'Entrecasteaux Channel which separates the mainland of Tasmania from Bruny Island, this is about 50 km south of Hobart (Woodbridge).

The 3 congregations are independent except for the sharing of the Minister of the Word, Minister-in-Association, and Lay Preachers'.  The congregations share in the wider mission of the church, but each congregation has its own Church Council which is responsible for oversight of the life and mission of the Congregation. We are part of the the Presbytery of Tasmania (Regional Council) and the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania (State Council). 

This page was up dated on 09/05/08