Who are Fairfield Uniting Church?
We are diverse. We are diverse in nearly every way.
We are aged all the way from less than one year old and all the way to 94 years young.
We are people, all genders, all attractions, and we all have different abilities.
We are people on spectrums: some unnoticeable and all celebrated. We enjoy the pets who visit us and join in our community.
We are at home, at work, at kinder, at school or University.
We are learning together: we are seeking work, working or retired from work.
Some of us are caring for family and friends in need. Others are in the midst of family building. Some have empty nests and are learning a new way to adjust.
We all gather together around the Jesus Story. We are listening to the Good News in Jesus of Nazareth. We are seeking to follow the Jesus Way.
We are active and interested in care for the planet.
We are active and committed to walk together as First and Second peoples.
We are actively seeking to live into our Grace, rather than doctrines.
- We run an OpShop
- We run 'Coracle' for Creative Arts and Community practice
- We have a community garden & Street Library
- We spend a lot of time in local cafes!
Our Church Council
Our Church Council are the people who help make our community safe.
We are members nominated by the congregation, to share their gifts and skills.
We oversea the administration, pastoral care, missional activities of the congregation and our Sunday Services. Actually, all our services!
Our Minister
Our minister, Ian David Turnnidge joined our community in July 2023.
Ian has a wide career in unlikely professions, including Retail, Beauty Therapy, Chartered Accounting, Theatre Making, and teaching. He was ordained in the Uniting Church in 2016.
Weekly Reflections
Ian's weekly reflections are all here to inspire you.
Progressive Christianity
Progressive Christianity represents an integration of Academic Theological study, the lived experience of faith and the current knowledge of Science, Arts and Philosophy.
Progressive theology takes the insights of post-modernism and reclaims the truth beyond the verifiable historicity and factuality of the passages in the Bible, by affirming the truths within the stories.
Progressive Christianity, is characterized by a willingness to question tradition and embrace fresh expressions of faith. It embraces our human diversity as a reflection of who God is for us; it has a strong emphasis on social justice and care for the poor and the oppressed. It places a priority on the environmental stewardship of the earth.
In many ways, Progressive Christianity is not new: but rather takes what is known in Theological Colleges and seeks to express that in lived experience and creative worship services.
Progressive Christians have a deep belief in the centrality of Jesus message to love one another (John 15:17) as love is known in the stories and teachings and life of Jesus of Nazareth.
Progressive Christianity focuses on promoting values such as compassion, justice, mercy, and tolerance, often through political activism.
Victorian Treaty with First Peoples
We, the Fairfield Uniting Church, are proud to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the lands where we do our ministry and mission across Victoria. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and remember that sovereignty was never ceded.
As a congregation firmly committed to advancing social justice and equality, we want to play our part in righting the wrongs of the past and be part of creating a better future together.
With profound respect for the sovereignty, culture, and rights of First Peoples, we are pleased to announce that we will walk with the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria on the journey to Treaty.
We recognise that when it comes to First Peoples communities, cultures and lands, the experts are of course First Peoples.
The past cannot be changed, but we can choose to take steps today that will help heal the ongoing pain caused by the injustices of yesterday.
We believe a better tomorrow is possible and our congregation pledges our unwavering support to the First Peoples’ Treaty process in Victoria.
To help build support for the shared journey to Treaty, we will:
- Keep up to date about the Treaty negotiations in Victoria
- Continue to respect and acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung First Nations people on whose land our church building is situated
By making this pledge, we affirm our commitment to the self-determination of First Peoples in Victoria as they assert their rights, tell their truths, and chart a path towards, and healing through, Treaty-making.
Together, we will create a future where First Peoples’ voices are heard, rights are respected, and justice is realised for generations to come.