Uniting Church in Australia

What Uniting Church in Australia does

The Uniting Church in Australia (UCA) is a non-profit Christian denomination formed in 1977 through the union of the Methodist Church of Australasia, the Presbyterian Church of Australia, and the Congregational Union of Australia. It serves congregational members and the broader Australian public through 2,500+ local worshipping communities organized into seven synods (NSW/ACT, Victoria/Tasmania, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and Northern Synod), with its National Assembly headquartered in Sydney. The UCA provides spiritual community, worship, pastoral care, faith formation, ordination pathways, advocacy on social and climate justice, disaster recovery support, and community services through affiliated networks such as UnitingCare Australia and Frontier Services, including significant Indigenous ministry via the covenantal Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC) and remote outback chaplaincy.

The UCA's core product portfolio centers on liturgical and devotional resources distributed through a combination of digital and physical channels. Flagship offerings include the annual Uniting Church Lectionary (printed leaflet via MediaCom Education and free PDF download, following the Revised Common Lectionary three-year cycle), the 'With Love to the World' daily Bible reading resource (available as a $28/year app subscription on iOS and Android and a $28/year printed subscription, now including Narrative Lectionary commentaries), the authorized worship book 'Uniting in Worship 2' (second edition published 2005), and the online worship resource repository at ucaassembly.recollect.net.au. The Assembly also operates community engagement platforms including the Transforming Worship Circle (a 1,200+ member Facebook-based resource-sharing network) and editorial storytelling series ('Humans of the Uniting Church,' 'This is My Uniting Church'), along with a church finder tool, the new Wayzgoose online store, and educational initiatives like the Climate Pastoral Care Course on Thinkific and the Five Leaf Eco Awards program.

The UCA's revenue model is donation-driven and resource-sale-driven. The National Assembly accepts non-tax-deductible donations from individuals and congregations to fund national mission work, advocacy, worship resources, intercultural and intergenerational ministry, and ecumenical engagement, supplemented by modest commercial sales of liturgical resources through approved retailers and the new online store, and annual subscription revenue from the 'With Love to the World' app and print products. Operational management is handled by a staff of 830 across national and synod offices, under governance of the 17th Assembly, with the current President Rev Charissa Suli providing national spiritual leadership.

Name

Uniting Church in Australia

Legal name

Uniting Church in Australia

Website

https://uniting.church

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

The Uniting Church in Australia is a non-profit Christian denomination serving 2,500+ congregations across Australia through worship, pastoral care, faith formation, and advocacy, governed by a National Assembly in Sydney and six regional synods, with revenue from non-tax-deductible donations and resource sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Denomination / Faith Community Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious Organizations (813110), Religious Organizations (81311)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Denominational & Ecclesiastical Governance Bodies (Dioceses, Synods, Conferences) (BPAGAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD)

Keywords

• Christian denomination services
• Religious worship ministry
• Liturgical publications
• Congregational community programs
• Pastoral care resources

Headquarters

HQ city

Sydney

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: The National Assembly accepts donations from individuals and congregations to support the national work of the Uniting Church. Donations fund mission promotion, advocacy, worship resources, intercultural ministry, intergenerational life, and engagement with ecumenical and interfaith partners. Note: Donations to the Assembly are non-tax deductible.
2. Resource Sales: Sale of official UCA resources including lectionaries, worship books, Bible studies, and publications through approved retailers and the online store. Resources available in printed form and digital formats including apps.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Uniting Church in Australia is a national Christian denomination providing worship services, pastoral care, faith formation, and community programs through more than 2,500 local congregations organized across six synods. The National Assembly produces official liturgical and devotional resources including annual lectionaries, the 'Uniting in Worship' prayer book, and the 'With Love to the World' daily Bible reading subscription, distributed through an online store, approved retailers, mobile apps, and an online resource repository.

Product overview

The Uniting Church in Australia Assembly operates a portfolio of church ministry resources and digital platforms. Core publications include the annual Uniting Church Lectionary (printed/PDF) and the daily Bible reading resource 'With Love to the World' (app/print). Community engagement platforms include the Transforming Worship Circle (Facebook-based resource sharing) and editorial storytelling series 'Humans of the Uniting Church' and 'This is My Uniting Church'. The Assembly also provides a church finder tool linking to state-based directories, an online store for official resources via Wayzgoose, and educational initiatives like the Climate Pastoral Care Course on Thinkific and the Five Leaf Eco Awards program for environmental action.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Uniting Church Lectionary Annual liturgical calendar and lectionary readings published by the National Assembly, based on the Revised Common Lectionary three-year cycle. Distributed as a printed leaflet via MediaCom Education and as a free PDF download from the Assembly website. Used by ministers, worship planners, and lay preachers across Uniting Church congregations in Australia to plan worship services and preaching.
• With Love to the World Daily Bible reading resource produced within the Uniting Church for nearly 50 years, following the Revised Common Lectionary with Monday commentary on Narrative Lectionary readings. Available as an annual app subscription ($28/year) on iOS and Android and as an annual printed subscription ($28/year). Targeted at individual Uniting Church members and the broader Christian audience seeking structured daily devotional reading.
• Climate Pastoral Care Course Self-paced online course equipping church leaders and pastoral carers to assist communities with climate anxiety, grief, and distress. Hosted on the Thinkific learning platform with videos, podcasts, written materials, social media exercises, reflections, and journal exercises. Targeted at Uniting Church ministers, lay leaders, and other faith communities engaged in climate pastoral care.

Quantifiable outcome

• On any Sunday more than 2,500 congregations worship at a Uniting Church
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Lutheran Church of AustraliaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 February 2026Ongoing Dialogue between UCA and LCA examining the Eucharist and developing areas of cooperation in mission and ministry. Have developed an agreed statement called 'At the Table' received and affirmed by both churches. Working toward potential 'pulpit and table fellowship.'
• Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1977The Uniting Church maintains a foundational Covenant relationship with UAICC, representing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Christians. At the heart of the Uniting Church is a commitment to walking together as First and Second Peoples, seeking justice and reconciliation. This covenant shapes the church's identity and national priorities.
• Ekalesia Kelisiano Tuvalu (EKT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe UCA has renewed its partnership with EKT, reaffirming shared commitment to faith, solidarity and climate justice as Tuvalu faces an increasingly uncertain future due to rising seas and climate change.
• Pacific Conference of ChurchescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCA participates in the Pacific Conference of Churches with young people representing at Regional Ecumenical Youth Council. Partnership focuses on ecumenical engagement, climate justice advocacy, and walking together with Pacific churches on issues affecting the region.
• World Council of Churches (WCC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCA President Rev Charissa Suli participated in WCC Beijing 30+ Consultation on gender justice in Jakarta, Indonesia. The WCC is a global ecumenical fellowship of churches working for Christian unity and shared witness.
• Methodist Church of New ZealandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrans-Tasman partnership with annual General Secretaries' gatherings. Shares Reformed and Methodist traditions with UCA. Current gathering hosted by Northern Synod at Yulara focusing on shared discernment and strategic collaboration.
• Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New ZealandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrans-Tasman partnership through annual General Secretaries' gatherings with Methodist Church of New Zealand and Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand. Forum allows leaders to look beyond domestic horizons and share challenges of contemporary church life.
• Frontier ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOutback ministry agency of the Uniting Church commissioning Bush Chaplains to serve remote communities. Recently commissioned Pastor Kirsty Burgu as Bush Chaplain for West Kimberley region. Historical roots in Australian Inland Mission.
• UnitingCare AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor community services network of the Uniting Church providing aged care, disability services, children's services, and community support across Australia through Uniting, Wesley Mission, and other affiliated organizations.
• Nungalinya CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTheological college in Darwin providing training for Indigenous church leaders including Pastor Kirsty Burgu who was trained at Nungalinya. Partners with UCA for indigenous theological education.
• HopestreetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNot-for-profit in Davoren Park supporting local young people through urban mission. Playford UC church members serve at Hopestreet throughout the week, demonstrating partnership between congregation and community organization.
• Five Leaf Eco AwardsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcumenical environmental awards program founded by Jessica Morthorpe encouraging churches to put faith into practical climate and environmental action. Many Uniting Churches are key participants and early leaders.
• Australian Religious Response to Climate Change (ARRCC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterfaith organization working on climate action. Rev Ken Devereux is involved representing UCA commitment to ecotheology and climate justice advocacy.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Australian Catholic Bishops Conference: National governance body for the Catholic Church in Australia, the largest Christian denomination in the country. Comparable as a national religious coordinating body with synod/diocesan structure, education, social services (Catholic Health/CatholicCare), and advocacy work.
• Anglican Church of Australia: Australia's largest non-Catholic Christian denomination with a parallel national Assembly/synod/diocese structure, providing worship, formation, and community services across Australia. Directly comparable as a mainline Australian denomination facing similar secularization and ecumenical dynamics.
• Methodist Church of New Zealand: Trans-Tasman Methodist counterpart sharing Reformed-Wesleyan theological tradition with UCA; participates in annual General Secretaries' gatherings. Directly comparable in polity, liturgical publishing, and multicultural congregation composition.
• Baptist Union of Australia: National Baptist denomination with state unions and congregational autonomy, comparable in Protestant identity, mission publishing, and cross-state coordination. Provides contrast on congregational governance (autonomous vs. presbyterian polity).
• Churches of Christ in Australia: Australian denomination with historic ecumenical cooperation with UCA (e.g., Greensborough merger 2006). Comparable in congregational polity, aged care/social services operation (ACM), and Victorian/Queensland footprint.
• Lutheran Church of Australia: Smaller Protestant denomination in Australia currently in formal dialogue with UCA on Eucharist and 'pulpit and table fellowship'. Closely comparable in governance (national assembly, districts), worship publishing, and rural/regional congregational footprint.
• Presbyterian Church of Australia: One of UCA's three predecessor denominations; maintains Reformed theological tradition with state assemblies and congregational network. Highly comparable in liturgical publishing, governance, and demographic profile (aging mainline Protestant base).

Broad incumbents

• Salvation Army Australia: Major Protestant denomination with significant social services footprint (Salvos Stores, aged care, homelessness services) comparable to UCA's UnitingCare/Frontier Services arms. Operates nationally with similar advocacy and disaster recovery capabilities but more centralized military-style governance.

Others

• National Council of Churches in Australia: Ecumenical body in which UCA is a member, convening mainline Protestant and Orthodox churches in Australia. Included as ecosystem/peer relationship rather than competitor — represents the shared advocacy and interfaith engagement infrastructure.
• UnitingCare Australia: Major community services network affiliated with the Uniting Church providing aged care, disability services, children's services, and community support. Included as ecosystem affiliate rather than competitor; demonstrates the social-services arm of UCA's mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/groups/613169362356191
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/uniting-church-in-australia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Uniting Church in Australia