A guide for Baptist ministers transitioning to the UCA (Part 12 of 12)
Rod Benson, 19 July 2026
For Baptist ministers discerning a call to ministry within the Uniting Church in Australia, practical questions soon follow theological reflection. Every minister’s journey is unique, but many of the same questions arise as people explore whether God is calling them into the ordered ministry of the Uniting Church.
The information below is unofficial and accurate to the best of my knowledge at the date of publication. Readers wishing for clarification or confirmation regarding any matters outlined here should contact the Uniting Church general office in their State or Territory or consult the latest edition of the Uniting Church Constitution and Regulations. Details of admission, recognition and placement are ultimately determined through the relevant Presbytery, Synod and Assembly processes.
1. Will I have to be re-ordained?
No. The Uniting Church does not usually require ministers from recognised Christian churches to undergo a second ordination (unless the ordination was congregational such as in the Churches of Christ). Instead, there is a process of admission through which your previous ordination, theological education and ministry experience are carefully assessed. The polity at the time of the ordination will also be scrutinised. This normally involves discernment with the Presbytery, assessment by the Synod’s Admission of Ministers process, and any additional formation needed to become familiar with the theology, polity and practice of the Uniting Church. The aim is not to repeat your ordination but to receive you into the ordered ministry of the Church with confidence and mutual trust.
2. Will my theological education be recognised?
In most cases, yes. The Uniting Church values the theological education and ministry experience that Baptist ministers bring. Previous qualifications are ordinarily recognised, although ministers will be asked to undertake additional study in areas such as the Basis of Union, church polity, worship, sacraments, and/or the life and mission of the Uniting Church. Such formation complements rather than replaces previous learning and helps ministers exercise their ministry confidently within their new ecclesial context.
3. Must I affirm everything in the Basis of Union?
The Basis of Union lies at the heart of the Church’s theological identity. Ministers are expected to receive it as the Church’s foundational theological statement and to exercise ministry within the faith and order it expresses. This does not require agreement on every theological question, but it does require a willingness to live and work within the Church’s understanding of the gospel, its worship, its ordered ministry and its covenant life under the lordship of Jesus Christ. The Basis itself recognises that faithful adherence allows room for differences of opinion on matters that do not touch the substance of the faith.
4. Will I lose my Baptist identity?
Not entirely, but it will be enriched. Your Baptist heritage will always remain part of your story. Your love of Scripture, commitment to evangelism, appreciation of congregational life and confidence in the ministry of all believers will continue to shape your ministry. At the same time, becoming a Minister of the Word in the Uniting Church means embracing a broader ecclesial identity, drawing upon Methodist, Presbyterian and Congregational traditions as well. Many ministers discover that their Baptist convictions are not abandoned but integrated into a wider understanding of the Church.
5. Can I still preach as an evangelical?
In many congregations, certainly. The Uniting Church includes ministers and congregations representing a wide range of theological traditions, including many who gladly identify as evangelical, although that term is in flux these days in some regions due to conflation with MAGA-style politics. Faithful biblical preaching centred on Jesus Christ and calling people to discipleship is welcomed throughout much of the Church. Ministers are also expected to preach pastorally and thoughtfully within congregations whose members often bring diverse theological backgrounds and spiritual experiences.
6. Will I be expected to hold progressive theological views?
No. The Uniting Church has always been a theologically diverse church. Evangelical, Reformed, liberal, charismatic, sacramental and other traditions all contribute to its life. Ministers are expected to exercise their own theological convictions with integrity while serving within the broad doctrine, polity and covenant life of the Church, and to treat colleagues whose convictions differ with respect and charity.
One example is the Church’s approach to marriage. In 2018, the Assembly determined that the Uniting Church would recognise two equal and distinct statements of belief concerning Christian marriage: one affirming marriage as the lifelong union of a man and a woman, and the other affirming marriage as the lifelong union of two people. Ministers are therefore free, according to conscience, either to conduct or to decline to conduct same-gender marriages.
Likewise, Church Councils determine whether such marriages may be celebrated on their premises. Ministers who hold a traditional view of marriage are not required to solemnise same-gender marriages, while ministers who affirm same-gender marriage may do so where the local congregation has agreed. The Church’s intention is not to eliminate disagreement but to enable ministers and congregations holding differing convictions to continue serving together within the one covenant community. Baptist ministers considering transition should ask whether they are willing to serve faithfully within a Church that intentionally makes space for theological diversity on certain disputed questions while remaining united in its common confession of Jesus Christ and its shared mission in the world.
7. Can I still administer believer’s baptism?
Yes. The Uniting Church gladly celebrates believer’s baptism. The principal difference is that ministers are also expected to administer infant baptism according to the Church’s understanding of God’s covenant and the sacraments. Baptist ministers should therefore ask not whether believer’s baptism remains possible but whether they can also administer infant baptism with theological integrity and pastoral confidence.
8. Will I need to change how I lead worship?
Probably, to some degree. Many Baptist ministers find worship in the Uniting Church both familiar and broader than they have previously experienced. As well as encouragement to preach from the texts in the Revised Common Lectionary, greater attention is often given to celebrating the Christian year, regular celebration of Holy Communion, the use of authorised liturgical resources, integration of the arts in worship, and congregational participation in worship. Ministers generally enjoy considerable freedom while learning to appreciate rhythms and practices that reflect the Church’s rich theological heritage.
9. How long does the admission process usually take?
There is no standard timetable. The process depends upon your previous ministry experience, theological education, personal circumstances and the discernment of the relevant Presbytery and Synod. Some ministers proceed relatively quickly; others spend longer worshipping within a congregation, undertaking further formation or participating in supervised ministry. The emphasis is on careful vocational discernment rather than administrative efficiency.
10. How are ministry placements made?
Placements are collaboratively discerned. Unlike the Baptist practice in which congregations usually call ministers directly, the Uniting Church’s placement system involves the congregation, Presbytery, Synod and minister. This reflects the conviction that ministers exercise their vocation on behalf of the whole Church while serving in particular places. The aim is to discern where a minister’s gifts, experience and calling best serve Christ’s mission.
11. What role does the Presbytery play?
The Presbytery, similar in many ways to the Baptist Association and its annual gathering, is central to ordained ministry. Its responsibilities extend far beyond administration. The Presbytery exercises pastoral oversight, encourages mission, participates in placement decisions, supports continuing formation and nurtures collegial relationships among ministers. Lay leadership in Presbyteries is also an important feature. Many Baptist ministers initially regard the Presbytery as just another layer of governance but later discover it to be one of the greatest sources of encouragement, accountability and shared discernment throughout their ministry. Expect to fully engage with Presbytery as well as with your congregation.
12. How much diversity is there across the Uniting Church in different Australian States and Territories?
Quite a lot. The Uniting Church has always embraced considerable diversity in theology, worship, culture and ministry practice. While every Synod shares the same constitutional foundations, each has developed its own history, priorities and organisational culture. Ministers moving between States or Territories often notice differences in leadership, mission priorities and the expression of church life.
Theological diversity is evident across every Synod. Evangelical, Reformed, liberal, charismatic and sacramental traditions all have a place, although their relative influence varies. Worship likewise ranges from informal contemporary services to more liturgical celebrations, while congregational life reflects local communities, multicultural contexts, First Peoples’ ministries and longstanding traditions.
Although these differences should not be overstated, the experience of one Synod cannot be assumed to represent the whole Church. For Baptist ministers exploring transition, it is therefore important to become familiar with the particular Synod and Presbytery in which you hope to serve.
13. How important is collegiality?
Very important. Ordained ministry in the Uniting Church is intentionally collegial. Ministers belong not only to a local congregation but also to a community of ministers who pray together, learn together and share responsibility for the Church’s mission. Presbyteries, ministry gatherings and peer relationships help reduce isolation and encourage wisdom, resilience and mutual support. Many ministers who transfer from Baptist life describe this collegiality as one of the most rewarding aspects of their transition, although the degree of collegiality will differ from region to region.
14. Is ministry supervision expected?
Yes. Healthy ministry in the Uniting Church requires formal reflective practice. Ministry supervision is regarded as a normal and valuable part of ordained ministry rather than a response to problems or poor performance. Through regular conversations with an accredited supervisor, ministers reflect on leadership, relationships, pastoral challenges, wellbeing and vocational growth. Many ministers come to regard supervision as one of the most significant supports for sustaining joyful and effective ministry over many years.
15. How are ministers supported?
The Church seeks to sustain ministers throughout their vocation. Support commonly includes ministry supervision, continuing education, professional development, pastoral care, collegial networks, study leave, standardised stipend and leave arrangements, and assistance during significant life transitions. Although ministry remains demanding, the Uniting Church intentionally provides structures that encourage resilience, lifelong learning and healthy ministry.
16. What opportunities are there for continuing education?
Lifelong learning is regarded as an essential part of ministry. Ministers are encouraged to continue growing through formal study, conferences, retreats, reading, peer learning and professional development. The Church recognises that effective ministry requires ongoing theological reflection and continual growth in leadership, pastoral care and mission throughout a minister’s life.
17. Can I serve beyond the local congregation?
Yes. While many Ministers of the Word serve in congregations, others are called to chaplaincy, theological education, presbytery or synod leadership, cross-cultural ministry, new faith communities, mission, social justice, community development and specialised pastoral ministries. Many ministers find that their vocation develops in different directions over the course of their ministry.
18. What happens if I disagree with decisions of the Assembly?
You almost certainly will at some point. When this happens, swallow your pride, acknowledge that the decision was made, and “toe the line.” The Uniting Church has always contained theological diversity, and respectful disagreement is neither unusual nor unhealthy. Ministers are expected to participate faithfully in the councils of the Church, contribute thoughtfully to theological discussion and honour the Church’s constitutional processes. The key question is not whether you agree with every decision, but whether you can continue serving Christ faithfully within the covenant life of the Church while engaging disagreement with humility, integrity and charity.
19. Could I ever return to Baptist ministry?
Possibly. Many Baptist Associations recognise ministry exercised in other Christian traditions, although any future return would occur according to the requirements in place at that time. More importantly, ministers should avoid approaching discernment with one eye on an exit strategy. If you believe that Jesus is calling you into ministry within the Uniting Church, trust him with the future as well as the present. Be willing to make a whole-hearted commitment.
20. Where can I participate most fruitfully in God’s mission?
Every practical question ultimately leads back to this one. Whether God calls you to remain within the Baptist movement or to become a Minister of the Word in the Uniting Church, your deepest vocation remains unchanged: to love Jesus, proclaim the gospel, make disciples, care for God’s people, and participate in announcing and embodying the in-breaking kingdom of God. If that remains your settled purpose, the practical questions will find their proper place within the larger journey of faithful obedience.
Conclusion
If these 12 online articles have encouraged you to explore ministry within the Uniting Church, allow yourself time for prayer, worship, conversation and careful discernment. Read the Church’s foundational documents. Spend time in Uniting Church congregations. Listen carefully to those who have made the journey before you. Check out the list of “Duties of Ministers” in the UCA Regulations (pp. 79f).
Above all, prayerfully seek the place where God is calling you to serve with faithfulness, humility and joy. Wherever that call leads, may the Holy Spirit guide you into all truth and equip you for every good work.
Rev Dr Rod Benson is General Secretary of the NSW Ecumenical Council and a minister of the Uniting Church in Australia serving at North Rocks Community Church in Sydney.
For other articles in this series, click on the links: Part 1 * Part 2 * Part 3 * Part 4 * Part 5 * Part 6 * Part 7 * Part 8 * Part 9 * Part 10 * Part 11* Part 12
Image source: Yarralumla Uniting Church
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