Who are WE?
Central to the work of creating a new entity comprising Carlingford and West Epping congregations operating under a single Church Council, the Vision and Mission Working Group developed a common Vision Statement for the new entity.
Likewise, a new Mission Statement was prepared.
The Inauguration of the combined Carlingford – West Epping congregations was held on Sunday 29th March 2026.
Our Mission, Vision and Values
Our Mission
We serve our neighbours as a welcoming and diverse community, growing spiritually and caring for all people.
Our Vision
We strive to be a diverse community transformed by God’s love, living fully in the power of the Spirit, with Jesus’s teachings at our core.
Four Key Words (4C)
- Connection
- Community
- Commitment
- Christ
How do these four key words relate to our vision and mission statements, and to the three core values above?
Our “Reshaping for Growth” continues to reflect the call Jesus gave His disciples in Matthew 28:18–20, and it is now being lived out through the mission and ministry of Carlingford–West Epping Uniting Church:
“We strive to be a diverse community transformed by God’s love, living fully in the power of the Spirit, with Jesus’ teachings at our core.”
Now in our second year of implementation, our mission and strategic plan are more than just aspirations on paper. They are being expressed in the life of our church as we seek to embody the mission of Jesus and the shared commitment of our congregation across both sites:
“We serve our neighbours as a welcoming and diverse community, growing spiritually and caring for all people.”
We continue to value love, diversity, and welcome. These are not just ideals, but priorities shaping our worship, spiritual growth, witness, and service, as we build meaningful connections in light of our mission strategy.
While we have made good progress in connecting with our local community, we also recognise that there is more to be done. We remain committed to growing a diverse community, transformed by God’s love and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
We are strengthening and expanding our small groups and communities—such as Bible study groups, playgroups, and mainly music-related missional activities under the leadership of our Pastor for Family and Community, Jeane Finnegan, as well as other faithful volunteers (based at the West Epping site). We have also recently appointed a part-time community worker, Mr Chao Zhou, to work with Rev Tennyson Chan, Church Planter, in developing our mission with local communities (based at the Carlingford site). Within these spaces, we are nurturing commitment—both to Jesus Christ and to the work of God in the congregation—and encouraging people to use their spiritual gifts and skills in meaningful ways.
There are also increasing opportunities, both individually and within these groups, to participate in discovering and sharing God’s amazing love through missional activities that engage, educate, inspire, and lead people to know and follow Jesus Christ.
These priorities are captured in our four key words (the 4Cs):
Connection. Community. Commitment. Christ.