Presbyterian Church of Australia - Church Union

Church Union

See also: Basis of Union (Uniting Church in Australia)

In 1977 two-thirds of the Presbyterian Church of Australia, the Congregational Union of Australia, and the Methodist Church of Australasia joined to form the Uniting Church in Australia. Much of the third that did not join the Uniting Church did not agree with its liberal views, although a number remained because of cultural connections.

Before the union the Presbyterian Church of Australia was liberal, but the continuing Presbyterian Church become increasingly conservative.The resurgence of the traditional Reformed theology took place. In 1982 the denomination withdrew from the World Communion of Reformed Churches. In 1987 a new hymnbook was introduced. In 1991 the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Australia repealed the approval of the ordination of women. Women elders continue in some states. Th church is active in missions with about 130 missionaries working around the world, including Korea, the Pacific, Myanmar.

The Presbyterian Church of Australia’s official web site stated that the church has over 50,000 adults and children within its communion, more than 600 ministers, deaconesses and theological students, and 740 congregations.

At the last Commonwealth Census (2011) nearly 600,000 people identified as Presbyterian/Reformed, representing 2.8% of the population. This makes Presbyterianism Australia’s fourth largest Christian denomination, although not all Presbyterians are members of the Presbyterian Church of Australia. See also List of Presbyterian Denominations in Australia.