Rev. Faaimata Havea Hiliau Calls Synod 2025 to Boldly Transform Our Communities

At the 2025 Synod meeting, Rev. Faaimata Havea Hiliau invited members of the Uniting Church in NSW and the ACT to look outward and embrace the theme of “Transforming Communities.” 

Rev. Hilau addressed the Synod following a bible reading of John 6:1-14 (NRSC) - Feeding of the 5000 by former Moderator Rev. Simon Hansford. 

Building on the previous Synod’s focus on the “Transforming Spirit,” Rev. Hiliau spoke about how faith is meant to shape shared life and become a gift to the world. Drawing on the biblical story of the loaves and fishes, she reflected that transformation often begins in small acts of generosity, which God can turn into something far greater. 

Rev. Hiliau highlighted how transformation grows when individuals and communities bring what they have - whether it’s students across Sydney striking for climate justice, or diverse faith communities coming together to mark Ramadan. She shared stories from across the Synod: from youth at PULSE camps openly sharing their perspectives, to congregations reimagining worship outside traditional church buildings, in community halls, kitchens, and verandahs. 

Her experiences as Moderator, from standing alongside world leaders as a daughter of the Pacific advocating for creation care, to witnessing quiet moments of kindness in flood-affected regions, underscored the many ways transformation takes root. Rev. Hiliau described how even a small act, like a conversation with a security guard worried about supporting his family after Cyclone Alfred, can carry seeds of hope. 

The Moderator also reflected on her most recent trip to Tonga for the Free Wesleyan Conference where she literally felt the effects of climate change as she commuted to the venue each day through precarious flood waters.  

Turning to the Presbytery Project led by Rev. Dr Robert McFarlane, she acknowledged its bold proposal to dissolve and reshape presbytery structures. Rev. Hiliau encouraged Synod to see this not merely as an administrative change, but as a spiritual invitation to live and lead with collaboration, courage, and trust in the Spirit. 

Quoting the example of Joshua, she reminded the gathering that faith means stepping forward without knowing every detail, trusting the God who calls and equips. 

Rev. Hiliau closed her address by sharing that the Spirit’s work can be seen everywhere - from rural congregations to urban streets, from interfaith gatherings to climate summits and flood recovery efforts. 

She reflected on her recent trip to Tonga and the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga Conference where she experienced the effects of climate change on our pacific partners first hand. 

Her message was clear: transformation often starts quietly, with open hands and hearts willing to trust that God is already at work among us.