The Synod of South Australia (also known as Uniting Church SA and formerly Presbytery and Synod of South Australia from 2005 to 2019) is the entity of the Uniting Church in Australia covering most of the state of South Australia. It is one of six geographically-based Synods of the church. The leader of the Synod is the Moderator elected to the position for a period of three years. The legal entity for the South Australian branch of the Uniting Church is The Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (S.A.) The synod publishes a quarterly magazine, the New Times.
The Uniting Church has a series of inter-related councils, which do not strictly represent a hierarchy. The National Assembly is responsible for issues of doctrine. Each state has a Synod which is responsible for property. Presbyteries are regional councils responsible for the selection, training and oversight of ministers.
Presbyteries and mission networks A synod may relate to a number of Presbyteries within its bounds. From the beginning of July 2019, the single Presbytery of South Australia divided into a new Generate Presbytery and another Transitional Presbytery. Both presbyteries extend across the entire Synod geography and congregations had the opportunity to choose which presbytery they would belong to. The larger Transitional Presbytery was expected to further divide into two or three later in 2019 along geographical lines. It divided in November 2019 into two parts initially named Presbytery A (north of a line through the centre of Adelaide) and Presbytery B. In March 2020, these presbyteries adopted their new names of Wimala Presbytery and Presbytery of Southern SA.
The Synod of South Australia previously had seven presbyteries, but in 2005 the presbyteries merged, and the structure simplified so that there was one administration and series of meetings for both the Synod and the single Presbytery. As a consequence of the single presbytery having a quite large geographic extent, a series of "mission networks" were established giving congregations a way of relating to similarly-minded congregations and equipping congregations for mission and ministry.
The mission networks were: Community OutreachCommunity Outreach Network Grace Connections Gulf Hope NetworkHope Network Northern Rural UrbanUrban Network Western 3DNet3DNet
The original presbyteries in South Australia before 2005 were: Adelaide Northwest Eyre Peninsula Fleurieu Frome Mount Lofty South Eastern (later Presbytery of The Coorong) Wakefield
Education The Uniting College for Leadership and Theology is the theological college of the synod. It is a component of the Adelaide College of Divinity and draws its heritage from both Wesley Theological College and Parkin College.
There are a number of schools associated with the Uniting Church in South Australia. these are: Annesley College Pedare Christian College Prince Alfred College Scotch College, Adelaide Seymour College Westminster School, Adelaide
Lincoln College is a residential college for university students in North Adelaide close to the University of Adelaide.
Moderators years name 2023- Rev. Peter Morel 2019–2023 Mr. Bronte Wilson 2016–2019 Rev. Sue Ellis 2013–2016 Dr. Deidre Palmer 2010–2013 Rev. Rob Williams 2007–2010 Rev. Rod Dyson 2005–2007 Rev. Graham Vawser 2003–2005 Rev. Dr Graham Humphris 2001–2003 Mrs. Jan Trengove 1999–2001 Rev. Don Catford 1997–1999 Dr. Don Hopgood 1995–1997 Rev. Margaret Polkinghorne 1993–1995 Rev. Dr Dean Brookes 1991–1993 Rev. Neale Michael 1989–1991 Rev. John Maddern 1987–1989 Mrs. Elizabeth Finnegan 1985–1987 Rev. Dr. Charles Biggs 1983–1985 Rev. Michael Sawyer 1981–1983 Rev. Dr. D'Arcy Wood 1979–1981 Rev. Keith Smith 1977–1979 Rev. Ian B. Tanner
General Secretaries +yearsname2023–Rev. Philip Gardner2022–2023Rev. Philip Gardner and Rev. Sue Page (Interim co-General Secretary)2019–2022Rev. Felicity Amery2018–2019Rev Rob Brown (Interim General Secretary - Jan 2018 to Apr 2019)2014–2018Rev. Nigel Rogers2006–2014Rev. Dr. Graham Humphris 2000–2005Rev. Stu Cameron (Ordained part way through his term)1994–1999Dr. Marelle Harisun 1988–1993Rev. Don Catford1977–1988Rev. Kyle Waters
See also Deacon Denise Mary Champion, first ordained Aboriginal person in South Australia
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