Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of Victoria and Tasmania

The Synod of Victoria and Tasmania is the entity of the Uniting Church in Australia covering the states of Victoria and Tasmania. It is one of six geographically-based synods of the church. When the Uniting Church was created in 1977, the Synod of Victoria and Synod of Tasmania were independent, but subsequently merged on 22 June 2002.[1]

The leader of the synod is the moderator elected to the position for a period of three years. Rev Denise Liersch became Moderator of the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania on 5 July 2019.[2] She replaced Reverend Sharon Hollis who was announced as the president-elect of the Uniting Church, to become president in 2021, on 12 July 2018.[3]

Presbyteries

The Synod of Victoria and Tasmania now comprises eight presbyteries (regional councils):[4]

• Presbytery of Gippsland
• Presbytery of Loddon Mallee
• Presbytery of North East Victoria
• Presbytery of Port Phillip East
• Presbytery of Port Phillip West
• Presbytery of Tasmania
• Presbytery of Western Victoria
• Presbytery of Yarra Yarra

When the Uniting Church in Australia was created in 1977, there were 17 presbyteries: three in the Synod of Tasmania and fourteen in the Synod of Victoria.[5]

Moderators

Victoria and Tasmania

Date	Name
2019–present	Rev Denise Liersch[2]
2016–2019	Rev Sharon Hollis
2013-2016	Mr Dan Wootton
2009-2013	Ms Isabel Thomas Dobson
2006–2009	Rev Jason Kioa
2003-2006	Rev Sue Gormann
2000–2003	Rev Alistair Macrae

Victoria

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Date	Name
1979	Mrs. E. A. Mitchell[5]

Tasmania

Date	Name
2001–2002	Rev Colleen Grieve [6]
1999-2001	Rev Rob Brown
1997-1999	Mrs Isabel Thomas-Dobson
1995-1997	Mr Don Hall
1993-1995	Rev Peter Cotterell
1991-1993	Dr Peter Gunn
1989-1991	Rev John Pettman
1987-1989	Rev Brian Giddings
1986-1987	Rev Ron Upson
1985-1986	Rev John Minchin
1984-1985	Dr Jill Tabart
1983-1984	Rev Rob Kirwood
1982-1983	Rev Thomas Griffiths
1981–1982	Rev Robert Hazeldine
1980–1981	Rev Max Stansall
1979–1980	Mr Neville Marsh
1977–1979	Rev Christiaan Mostert

References

1. "Attachment D - Structures of the UCA" (PDF). Assembly Standing Committee Minutes. March 2014. p. 2. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
2. Acott, Stephen (5 July 2019). "New Moderator calls on Church to explore new ways of worship". Uniting Church in Australia Synod of Victoria and Tasmania. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
3. "Sharon Hollis named as UCA President-elect". Uniting Church in Australia. 12 July 2018. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
4. "Presbyteries". Uniting Church in Australia Synod of Victoria and Tasmania. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
5. "Second Assembly of the Uniting Church In Australia - Minutes" (PDF). 13 May 1979. p. 2. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
6. http://crosslight.org.au/2015/11/19/thank-you-colleen/

External links

• Official website