Our Mission

 

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1.0 Introduction: Our Vision for the Future

This strategic plan is a forward-looking document designed to guide Boronia Park Uniting Church (BPUC) over the next five years. It builds upon our established strengths as a caring, intergenerational, and family-oriented congregation to deepen our community impact and foster sustainable growth. Grounded in a clear understanding of our context, this plan outlines a focused path to becoming an even more vibrant and vital presence in our local area.

Mission Statement

To be a welcoming church family that nurtures spiritual growth across all generations, actively serves our local community with compassion, and provides a supportive hub for meaningful connection.

Vision Statement

By 2030, Boronia Park Uniting Church will be a thriving, intergenerational faith community, recognized as a key spiritual and social hub in Boronia Park. Our worship will be so enlivened and enriched that it draws in new families and deepens the faith of all. We will be known for our deep engagement with local families through dynamic youth and children's ministries, our proactive partnerships that provide practical care, and our unwavering commitment to being a place of genuine belonging for everyone in our community.

To achieve this vision, we must first begin with a clear-eyed assessment of our church's current context and capabilities.

2.0 Situational Analysis: Understanding Our Current Landscape

To build a successful strategy, we must first build it on a foundation of reality. This situational analysis provides a candid and clear-eyed assessment of our strategic landscape, detailing Boronia Park Uniting Church’s internal strengths and weaknesses, as well as the external opportunities and threats present in our community. This understanding directly informs the strategic priorities that follow, ensuring our efforts are targeted, realistic, and impactful.

Strengths (Internal Positives)

• Cohesive "Church Family" Culture: A strong sense of identity as a caring, close-knit family, where a smaller size is valued for ensuring every member feels known and supported.
• Empowered Lay Leadership in Worship: High levels of lay participation in all aspects of worship, supported by a core group of three effective Lay Preachers who provide regular, scheduled leadership.
• Established Foundation of Missional Activities: Proven success in valued ministries, including the "Growing Young" program, consistent support for community aid services, aged care ministry, and active ecumenical engagement.
• Authentic Multicultural Community: A congregation that reflects genuine diversity, with members from Korean, Indonesian, Filipino, and Chinese backgrounds integrated into one English-speaking church family.

Weaknesses (Internal Challenges)

• Generational Mismatch with Community: A significant age gap between our congregation (average 65) and the local community (average 42), presenting a critical challenge to long-term relevance and growth.
• Gap in Dedicated Corporate Prayer: While individual prayer is present in services, the absence of a dedicated, regular prayer group represents a missed opportunity for focused spiritual formation.
• Inability to Fulfill a Key Local School Ministry Role: A current lack of personnel to serve as a Special Religious Education (SRE) teacher for local schools limits our direct engagement with children in the community.

Opportunities (External Factors)

• Catalyst for Family Ministry: Approved funding for a part-time Family Worker provides the single greatest opportunity to bridge our generational gap and actively engage the young families in our community.
• Presbytery-Endorsed Pathway for Collaborative Growth: Active encouragement from the Presbytery to collaborate with North Ryde Uniting Church creates a strategic opening for shared ministry, expanded reach, and mutual support.
• Emerging Ministry Opportunity with a New Aged Care Facility: The recent construction of a dementia care home just one street away presents a new, hyperlocal opportunity for compassionate outreach and community connection.
• Organic Touchpoints for Community Engagement: Regular use of our facilities by hall hirers, combined with the on-site presence of the Minister, creates natural, low-pressure points of contact for building trust with the wider community.

Threats (External Challenges)

• Declining Community Interest in Organized Religion: Census data indicates a broad societal trend of waning interest in church attendance and spiritual matters, requiring a more creative approach to outreach.
• Intense Competition for Family Time: The heavy commitment of local families to weekend children's sports creates a significant barrier to engagement with traditional Sunday morning worship models.
• Pervasive Economic and Social Stress: Widespread economic pressure on households and increasing rates of loneliness and isolation create a community context of significant pastoral need.

To navigate this landscape effectively and capitalize on our opportunities, Boronia Park Uniting Church will adopt a focused, persona-driven approach to its ministry.

3.0 Our Strategic Framework: A Persona-Driven Approach to Ministry

To ensure our ministry remains people-centric and impactful, we will adopt the strategic use of personas, a methodology successfully employed by the Uniting Church in Australia. Personas are data-informed, representative profiles that help us understand the diverse needs, motivations, and challenges of our congregation and the wider community. By focusing on these key profiles, we can design initiatives that genuinely connect with and serve the real people we aim to reach.

The Loyal Core: "Eleanor"

• Profile: Eleanor is an active, retired member who has a long history with BPUC. She represents the significant number of older and retired members who form the backbone of our church family.
• Needs & Values: She deeply values the "church family" atmosphere, traditional worship elements, pastoral care, and fellowship activities like the "Mystery" bus trips. Her primary needs are to remain connected, combat potential loneliness, and deepen her spiritual understanding in a way that feels relevant to the contemporary world.

The Busy Professional Family: "The Chen Family"

• Profile: The Chens are a family with school-aged children. As busy professionals, they intentionally travel from outside the immediate area because they feel at home and valued at BPUC.
• Needs & Values: They are drawn to the "Growing Young" focus and appreciate opportunities for their children to participate meaningfully in church life. They are time-poor due to work and their children's weekend sporting commitments, so they seek genuine connection through flexible engagement opportunities that extend beyond the Sunday morning service.

The Community Seeker: "David"

• Profile: David is a younger resident of Boronia Park who is not a church member. He is aware of BPUC through its prominent electronic notice board or because he attends an activity run by a hall hirer on the church premises.
• Needs & Values: He is seeking a sense of community and connection but may be cautious about organized religion. He is concerned with pressing social issues like loneliness and mental health. He would be attracted to practical, non-pressured events like community information sessions or opportunities to contribute to a local cause.

These personas will serve as our guide, shaping the specific strategic priorities we will pursue over the next five years.

4.0 Strategic Priorities (2026-2030)

This section forms the core of our plan, outlining three interconnected priorities where Boronia Park Uniting Church will focus its energy and resources. These priorities are intentionally designed to leverage our core strengths, address our internal weaknesses, seize key community opportunities, and mitigate external threats. Each priority is tailored to meet the specific needs of our key personas, ensuring our actions are purposeful and aligned with our vision.

Priority 1: Become a Visible and Accessible Community Hub

Goal: To transform BPUC into a recognized and trusted center for connection, conversation, and care within the wider Boronia Park community.

• Key Initiatives:
  • Phase 1 Digital Refresh: Conduct a comprehensive audit and update of the church website to spotlight key ministries like "Growing Young." Systematize the use of the electronic notice board for community-focused messaging and event promotion. (Serves: The Chen Family, David)
  • Establish a Local Partnership Initiative: Proactively build a relationship with the new dementia care home, strengthen support for the Hunters Hill High School Chaplaincy, and deepen connections with hall hirers through the Minister's intentional interactions. (Serves: David, Eleanor)
  • Launch a Community Forum Series: In rotation with ecumenical partners, design and host public forums on relevant community issues such as managing loneliness, mental health awareness, and parenting support. (Serves: David, The Chen Family)

Priority 2: Deepen Faith and Belonging Across Generations

Goal: To intentionally cultivate spiritual growth, meaningful participation, and a strong sense of belonging for all age groups within the church family.

• Key Initiatives:
  • Recruit and Launch the Family Worker Ministry: Utilize approved funding to hire a dedicated Family Worker tasked with expanding the weekly Playgroup and developing new, accessible connection points for young families and their children. (Serves: The Chen Family)
  • Enhance the "Growing Young" Mentorship Pathway: Continue to mentor and empower young people to lead worship and participate in SYNC zone youth gatherings, strengthening their faith and their connection to the wider church. (Serves: The Chen Family)
  • Develop a Contemporary Bible Study Series: Design and launch a new, stimulating Bible study program, informed by the Minister's expertise, that directly addresses the congregation's desire for deeper spiritual understanding in a contemporary world. (Serves: Eleanor)

Priority 3: Amplify Missional Impact Through Strategic Partnerships

Goal: To leverage collaborative relationships with Uniting Church and ecumenical partners to expand our missional impact and ensure long-term sustainability.

• Key Initiatives:
  • Formalize the North Ryde UC Mission Partnership: Establish an Intentional Combined Mission Team with North Ryde Uniting Church, as encouraged by the Presbytery, to plan joint services, cross-promote programs, and organize combined youth events. (Serves: All Personas)
  • Champion Local Ecumenical 'Churches Together' Initiatives: Continue active leadership and participation in joint activities, including the Way of the Cross walk, the Unity Lunch, and leading prayer at Council meetings, to present a united and impactful Christian presence in the community. (Serves: Eleanor)

Successfully implementing these priorities will require clear and committed leadership.

5.0 Implementation and Leadership

A successful strategy requires clear leadership, defined roles, and a collective commitment to action. This final section outlines the key leadership responsibilities for bringing this plan to life and ensuring its success over the next five years.

Leadership Role	Key Responsibilities in This Plan
New Minister	Spearhead creative and engaging worship experiences that align with the plan's intergenerational goals; mentor young people; drive community engagement initiatives; and provide informed strategic counsel to the Church Council.
Church Council & Lay Leaders	Oversee the implementation of this strategic plan, ensuring accountability and providing steadfast governance; assist the Minister with pastoral care; and champion key initiatives such as the new Bible Study and community aid programs.
Proposed Family Worker	Strategically expand the Playgroup to its full potential and develop new programs and connection points that engage and support young families from both the church and the wider community.
Presbytery	Actively guide and resource the collaboration with North Ryde Uniting Church and provide ongoing support for the congregation's mission directions and future growth potential.

This plan is more than a document; it is a covenant with our community and our future. By focusing our efforts on the needs of Eleanor, the Chen Family, and David, we are stepping out in faith to become the church God is calling us to be. Boronia Park Uniting Church is a community with a rich history and a strong heart. This plan provides the roadmap for our next chapter, and we move forward with confidence, ready to embrace the future God has in store for our church and our neighborhood.