The future of the Uniting Church

Second, "Secular Welfare" examines how the Uniting Church could let the parishes just continue to fade away and instead focus on the provision of social welfare (albeit derived from a Christian tradition). Most of the Uniting Church's finances are already focussed on that work, such as in aged care and child care.

Third, "Return to the Early Church", examines how the Uniting Church could react against the corporate managerialism required by government to run social welfare programmes, and instead decide to stop accepting government contracts. The church could reinvent itself as per the first three centuries of the Christian church and so base itself on the "emerging church" movement. Australians may not like the "church" but there is still an interest in Jesus. Indeed more books are now being written about Jesus than ever before. Jesus is not the problem – the church is.

Finally, "Recessional" examines the scenario in which the Uniting Church is wound up and its assets dispersed. The Uniting Church would need an explicit exit strategy, which would allow the thriving parts of the organization to create new identities.

The dissertation has reaffirmed that the Uniting Church has fundamental organizational problems, not least in lacking a clear line of command. For example, in my commercial scenario planning work, I send the final report to the CEO/ board. There is no clear equivalent in the Uniting Church.

The challenge for the Uniting Church, then, is to recognize the seriousness of its plight and take explicit action. If it just drifts along, then it will gradually fade away.