A New Season of Unity and Mission for Carlingford–West Epping Uniting Church

Recently the congregations of Carlingford and West Epping Uniting Churches became the new entity of Carlingford-West Epping Uniting Church and on March 29, we celebrated at our Inauguration Service with the Rev. Pablo Nunez, Moderator elect, as our guest preacher.

As neighbours, we came together in 1988 and signed a covenant between the two congregations pledging communication, support, friendship and prayer. The intervening years saw us flourish in our joined neighbourhoods embracing the many young families who called church their other family and were actively involved in all activities.

As time went on and our communities changed we realised we needed a higher level of involvement with each other in order to stay connected, and share our activities and our ministry. After many years of prayer, careful discernment and conversations, our journey intensified. This meant that with the full support of Presbytery and Synod, and even more meetings, submission papers, and engagement with amazing leaders, our communities agreed that it was time to get serious.

The two congregations met again in June 2022 with the support of Rev. Geoff Stevenson and Rev. Ben Gilmore to seek a way forward. The Mission Strategy Plan included calling a Ministry Team Leader (based at the West Epping site) and establishing a Church Plant at the Carlingford site. Our prayers were answered by the arrival of The Ministry Team Leader, Rev Oto V. Faiva, who commenced in September 2023, and Rev. Tennyson Chan as Church Planter commencing in November 2024 at the Carlingford site.

We were indebted for the time and expertise of the Rev. Dr Graham Hill who guided us through the process of compiling our Mission Strategy which is summarised in four keys words; connection, community, commitment and Christ. Draft key missional themes and goals for 2025 were prepared by the Interim Strategic Mission Planning Team. The congregations agreed on a vision statement (for the Ministry Team Leader and the congregation to develop into a mission strategy) and began working toward joining as one new entity.

It was a busy few years, but in 2025 both congregations voted by majority to form the new entity, Carlingford-West Epping Uniting Church. ‘Interim’ and ‘joint’ have now been eliminated from our vocabulary!

As we celebrated the birth of the Carlingford–West Epping Uniting Church at our Inauguration Service, the Rev, Pablo Nunez titled his sermon ‘Crossing the river, welcoming the King’ and spoke of moments in the life of God’s people when you realise you are standing on the edge of something new. He said, “ this is not just a calendar change or a new program - it is something deeper. A turning point, and a threshold”. He likened the words from Joshua 3 and Matthew 21, as being those kind of moments.

Rev. Nunez recognised that God was asking us to take the next step in faith, love, hospitality and courage, to be part of what God will do next in shaping our unity even though we don’t know what that will look like.

We are very aware of that threshold where we have been invited to wholeheartedly step forward in faith into a new time, a new season, learning and listening to each other with respect and deepening friendship.

As we gave thanks for the faith, dedication, and vision that brought us together from two congregations with a shared desire to serve Christ, we are growing into one community, united in mission and purpose. With our leadership team, Church Council, and so many walking alongside us, we look forward with joy to serving, connecting, and growing together in Jesus’s love for many years to come.

Thank you to everyone for walking with us on this journey. Your love, wisdom, patience and prayers have been so important. Thank you for continuing to be our mentors as we continue together in Christ’s name.

To God be the glory!

Alison Anderson, Secretary,

Carlingford-West Epping Uniting Church Council

We are very aware of that threshold where we have been invited to wholeheartedly step forward in faith into a new time, a new season, learning and listening to each other with respect and deepening friendship.

Left to Right: Rev. Nunez holding a cake presented with thanks: Neil Menger former chairperson of Carlingford UC, Rev. Oto Faiva, Team Leader C-WEUC, Phil Chapple former chairperson WEUC.

Left to right: Rev. Oto Faiva, TL, C-WEUC: Rev. Pablo Nunez: Pastor Family Community Jeane Finnegan: Rev. Tennyson Chan, Church Plant Carlingford site.