We operate with a fully lay leadership, and the active involvement of congregation members.

The primary body of spiritual care, overall responsibility, and stewardship of assets is the elected Church Council in 2024/2025:

Colin Robson (Chair), Liz Pearson, Linda Morgan (Secretary), Anne Taylor, Ray Wicks, Chris Dunkerley, Airlie Bell

Other elected Congregation Office Bearers for 2024/25:  Chair - Desley Morgan, Treasurer - Liz Pearson, Secretary - Nita Robson, Assistant Treasurer - Joy Dunkerley

Elected Presbytery PCR Representative/s: Ray Wicks/Linda Morgan

Appointed: Safe Church team (Desley Morgan (Interpersonal), Chris Dunkerley (Risk)

Assistant Treasurer: Joy Dunkerley

UFFIT Coordinator: Maureen Darby

Other participant volunteer roles and participant leadership are needed from time to time, for example: Lay presiders, sub-committees of Church council (eg. safe church), worship team, music team, activity or group leaders/coordinators, visiting Ministers or Lay Preachers, etc.

Our congregation is part of Mid North Coast Presbytery, within the NSW/ACT Synod area of the Uniting Church of Australia. The UCA was formed by the union of Methodist, Congregational, and some Presbyterian churches (such as St Paul's Sawtell) and was inaugurated on 22 June 1977.

ABN 16 378 691 821 Uniting Church in Australia - Sawtell

Assembly and Synod latest information:

NSW / ACT Synod Discernment Summit link: https://www.nswact.uca.org.au/blog/discernment-summit-4-towards-synod-2025/

The Act2 report pdf 'Gift of the Spirit' to our 17th Assembly is now available to the wider Uniting Church: HERE:  https://uniting.church/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/B3E-Act2-The-Gift-of-the-Spirit-1.pdf

UCA NSW/ACT Governance: https://www.nswact.uca.org.au/shared-services/risk-compliance/congregation-governance-toolkit/

Safe church information: https://sawtell.uca.org.au/safe-church/

Speak Out is a confidential reporting service, allowing you to raise any matter of concern. Matter of concerns about the safety, well being and security of the Church and its people with confidence that it will be taken seriously and addressed:  https://www.nswact.uca.org.au/about-us/raise-a-concern/

Lay Leadership Seminar - Sawtell UC - 28 Feb/1st Mar 2025: https://www.nswact.uca.org.au/calendar/incarnate-lay-leadership-for-renewal

All Church properties in the NSW and ACT Synod are owned by either The Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (NSW) or The Uniting Church in Australia (ACT) Property Trust. As a Congregation cannot own property, they are given beneficial use of the property to enable them to worship, witness and serve in their local community. With being the responsible body for the property comes certain responsibilities that need to be met by the congregation, including maintenance, fire certificates, hazard inspections and risk assessments, and payment of any utilities and insurances. 

A history behind the 'basis of union':  https://listeningtothebasisofunion.com/

Uniting Church structure: https://www.nswact.uca.org.au/about-us/