MS 5902

Records of the Uniting Church in Australia



Scope and Content Note

Records

1969-78

1.12 metres (8 boxes) + 1 folio

Restricted access

The records were donated to the Library in August 1978 and January 1982

Records of the Uniting Church in Australia relating to preparations for the merger of the Methodist, Presbyterian and Congregational Churches. The records include correspondence, reports and minutes of meetings, draft papers of regulations concerning administrative matters (including presbyteries, travelling, and ministerial settlements), legislation for setting up Trusts for property, records of the Joint Planning Committees and the Joint Constitution Council and Commission. Also included are minutes and agenda for the Inaugural Assembly.

In June 1977 the Methodist, Presbyterian and Congregational Churches in Australia joined together to form the Uniting Church in Australia. A Commission was set up in 1956 to draft the basis of Union, and in 1972 a vote was held on the merger.

In the Uniting church a number of Parishes form a Presbytery, and the Presbyteries in each State form Synods. The national body of the Church is the Assembly.

Box List

Box 1

Folders

1	Assembly structures correspondence, 1974-75

2	Basis of Union pamphlet correspondence, 1975-77

3	Congregational documents including various minutes of meetings of 
	Congregational Union of Australia, 1974-77, and correspondence, 1974-
	76

4-5	Inauguration, including correspondence, 1974-77 

6	Publicity for inaugural service, 1976-77 

7	Inaugural assembly: agenda, 1977 

8-9	Draft of the regulations concerning ministry and the Synod, 1974-77 

Box 2

Folders

10-14	Draft of the regulations concerning the Presbytery,congregations,
	parishes, councils, membership, discipline, property, standing orders, 
	rules of debate, lay preachers, finance and budgeting, ministerial 
	residences and settlements, co-operative parishes, extended service leave, 
	ministerial moves and transfers, and travelling, 1974-76.

15-20	Working groups on public worship, properties and services, publicity, 
	visitors, transport, accomommodation, paraphernalia, titles, 
	agenda/business committee, ministerial education and beneficiary funds, 
	1975-77.

Box 3

Folders

21	General Assembly of Australia Commission, 1974-75

22-29	Joint Planning Committee minutes and correspondence for Western 
	Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Northern 
	Australia, 1975-77.

Box 4

Folders

30-32	Joint Planning Committee minutes and correspondence for New South 
	Wales, 1975-77

33 	Joint Planning Committee correspondence and circular letters sent to all 
	states, 1975

34	Copies of correspondence sent to administrative officers, 1974-75

35-38 	Joint Constitution Council and Joint Constitution Commission 
	correspondence, circulars and notes, 1969-77

Box 5

Folders

39-40	Joint Constitution Council and Joint Constitution Commission 
	correspondence, circulars and notes, 1969-77

41	J.C.C. reports and resolutions, 1974-77

42-43 	Joint Board of Christian Education, 1975-77

44 	Commission on Social Responsibilities

45-47 	Various drafts and other papers, including drafts of the constitution,
	1969-74

Box 6

Folders

48	Miscellaneous, including general correspondence on union, 1974-77

49 	General Conference ballot papers, 1974-77

50 	Special General Conference, June 1977

51 	Uniting Church in Australia : Constitution and Regulations (Interim)

Box 7

Folders

52 	Voting on Church Union, 1972

53-54	Preparations for Union correspondence, and recognition of Ministers, 
	1974-77

55-58 	Joint Constitution Council - correspondence and minutes, 1969-77

59 	Property - correspondence and drafts of property regulations, 1974-77

60-61 	Legislation - setting up Trusts for property, divesting from former Trusts, 
	1975-76

Box 8

Folders

62-67 	Legislation - setting up Trusts for property, divesting from former Trusts, 
	1975-76

68 	Insurance, 1974-77

69-70 	Presbyterian documents, 1971-77

Folio

1	Minutes of meetings of the Joint Constitution Council, 1974-77, with 
	index; minutes of meetings of the Joint Constitution Commission, 1969-
	76, with index
Guide prepared May 1997. Last revised 11 July 1997