Rev Carmel Sheraton elected President of the NSW Ecumenical Council (

Rev Carmel Sheraton elected President of the NSW Ecumenical Council

“Unity still matters; hope still matters; the gospel still calls us to stand together.”

These were the closing words shared by Rev Carmel Sheraton, Minister of Castle Hill Uniting Church, as she was elected President of the NSW Ecumenical Council at the recent Council AGM on 18 October.

Carmel reflected on the Spirit’s ongoing work in drawing churches together:

“The Spirit is still at work, weaving threads of grace and peace through our diversity, mending the torn places of our world, and calling us to be signs of God’s reconciling love. And when the work feels slow, as it sometimes does, may we remember that seeds of unity often grow in hidden soil. Every conversation held in love, every act of compassion across denominations, every shared meal, every quiet ‘yes’ to collaboration, is already a small resurrection.”

We give thanks for Carmel’s faithful leadership and the continuing ministry of the NSW Ecumenical Council. The Council also acknowledged Rev Dr Rod Benson, General Secretary, for his energy and vision, and welcomed the newly commissioned Executive Committee including Joyce Tangi and Rev Dr Helen Richmond as Synod-appointed members.

The work of Rev Dr Manas Ghosh, who chairs the Interfaith Commission, and members of the Uniting Church serving on the Peace and Justice and Theological Reflection Commissions was also recognised — including Rev Dr Clive Pearson, who is completing Belonging, a forthcoming resource on Baptism in the contemporary world.

“The Holy Spirit continues to whisper that our shared story is not finished,” Carmel said. “Ecumenism isn’t a project to manage but a way of living — a pilgrimage of love, truth, and courage.”

📸 Photos by Rev Dr Rod Benson