BasisBits
INTRODUCING: “BasisBits”!
In 1977 the Uniting Church in Australia was formed through the union of three previously separate traditions: Congregational, Methodist and Presbyterian.
The “Basis of Union” is a statement of common belief approved by The Congregational Union of Australia (1973), The Methodist Church of Australasia (1974) and The Presbyterian Church of Australia (1974). In 1992 the Basis of Union was revised to remove some of the gender-exclusive language present in the original; it is the text of this revision which is included in the these suggested snippets from the Basis of Union
BasisBits are snippets from the Basis of Union for occasional in Sunday pewsheets. They might serve simply as a means of reminding your congregation of the theological ground upon which our denomination was established, or as a reference point for some aspect of the preaching or liturgy. Like our LitBits, they are a copy-and-paste resource; we hope soon to be able to be provide them in a simple JPEG format.
The BasisBits do not cover the whole of the Basis; some of the more administrative commitments in the Basis have been omitted. The full text of the Basis (1977 and 1992 versions) can be found here. The full listing of available BasisBits is below.
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The Congregational Union of Australia, the Methodist Church of Australasia and the Presbyterian Church of Australia, in fellowship with the whole Church Catholic, and seeking to bear witness to that unity which is both Christ’s gift and will for the Church, hereby enter into union under the name of the Uniting Church in Australia. They pray that this act may be to the glory of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. They give praise for God’s gifts of grace to each of them in years past; they acknowledge that none of them has responded to God’s love with a full obedience; they look for a continuing renewal in which God will use their common worship, witness and service to set forth the word of salvation for all people. To this end they declare their readiness to go forward together in sole loyalty to Christ the living Head of the Church; they remain open to constant reform under his Word; and they seek a wider unity in the power of the Holy Spirit.