Deidre Palmer

Deidre Palmer is the President of the Uniting Church in Australia since 8 July 2018. She is a counsellor, theologian, and social worker. She was the Moderator of the Uniting Church's Synod of South Australia from 2013 to 2016.

Deidre Palmer
President of the Assembly, Uniting Church in Australia
In office 2015–2018
Preceded by	Stuart McMillan
Succeeded by	Rev Sharon Hollis (President-elect)
Moderator, Synod of South Australia UCA
In office 2013–2016
Preceded by	Rev. Rob Williams
Succeeded by	Rev. Sue Ellis
Personal details
Born	1955/1956 (age 64–65)[1]
Nationality	Australian
Spouse(s)	Lawrie Palmer
Children	2
Residence	Adelaide, South Australia
Alma mater	Duke University, Boston College, Flinders University
Occupation	Lecturer, counsellor, theologian, social worker
Website	Flinders University

Education

Palmer has a Master of Religious Education from Duke University, a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Religious Education and Theology from Boston College and a Master of Social Work from Flinders University.[2]

Palmer is on the academic faculty at the Uniting College for Leadership and Theology (Parkin-Wesley) in the Adelaide College of Divinity of Flinders University (South Australia).[3] She has previously had a teaching role at the Perkins School of Theology of Southern Methodist University, (Dallas, Texas, USA).[2]

Uniting Church in Australia

Palmer’s roles within the Uniting Church in Australia have included:

• counsellor with the Uniting Communities childhood sexual abuse counselling team
• serving on Assembly Committees including the Uniting Education Reference Group, the Board of Coolamon College, the Assembly Commission for Mission, National Mission and Evangelism, and the Assembly Commission for Liturgy
• member of the Assembly Standing Committee, the Formation, Education and Discipleship Working Group, the UCA's National Task Group responding to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, the Church Polity Reference Committee, and the Assembly Business Committee
• Moderator of the Synod of South Australia (2013–2016)[4]

President of the Assembly

Palmer was elected at the 14th Triennial Assembly on 16 July 2015 to become President-elect to commence her term as president in 2018.[4] She was installed as President at the opening of the 15th Assembly, at a worship service at St Michael's Uniting Church, Melbourne.[1] Palmer is the second woman to be appointed to the role of President, following Dr Jill Tabart who served in the role from 1994 to 1997.[4]

A few days after her installation as President, Palmer presided over the election of her successor. Reverend Sharon Hollis, the moderator of the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania, was elected to take on the role of President from the beginning of the sixteenth assembly to be held in Queensland in 2021.[5]

Personal

Palmer is married to Lawrie Palmer and they have two adult daughters. They attend Rosefield Uniting Church in Adelaide.[4]

References

1. "Dr Deidre Palmer: God's abundant grace shapes and reshapes us". Insights Magazine. 9 July 2018. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
2. Deidre Palmer, Uniting Women 2016 website, accessed 16 July 2015
3. "Dr Deidre Palmer". Uniting College for Leadership and Theology. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
4. President-Elect announced, Uniting Church in Australia, 16 July 2015
5. "Sharon Hollis named as UCA President-elect". Uniting Church in Australia. 12 July 2018. Retrieved 12 July 2018.

Religious titles
Preceded by Stuart McMillan	President of the Assembly, Uniting Church in Australia July 2018 - July 2021	Incumbent