Through 2018 a number of leaders from across the Uniting Church held prayerful conversations with the view of forming a new national network of evangelical leaders, congregations and agencies in the Uniting Church in Australia. For a considerable number of years many (not all) of us have been meeting together as part of the EL250 community (Evangelical Leaders of Congregations with average attendance over 250). EL250 was an informal and relational network. Propel Network will succeed and replace EL 250 as a broader based, still relational, as well as more formal network.
Propel Network seeks to be a positive renewal movement within, and for the life and mission of the church.
In light of the significant pastoral and mission disruptions experienced in many places leading up to and since the decisions of the 15th Assembly of the Uniting Church, we believe it is critical that congregations, agencies, and leaders within and beyond the Uniting Church who hold to the historic, orthodox faith and mission actively and positively network together for mutual encouragement and resourcing – prayerfully, strategically and passionately pursuing the great commission.
Vision
By God’s grace, and with confident humility, Propel has the faith to envisage that by 2030 the Uniting Church is known across the nation for:
Growth
Conversion growth in and through its congregations, agencies and faith communities
Church Planting
It’s flourishing church planting and revitalization movement
Young Leaders
A healthy pipeline of young leaders from many cultures being effectively developed for missional engagement
Confidence
Its confidence in the gospel of Jesus Christ to transform lives and communities.
Values
The Propel Network will be:
Leadership
The current Board Members of the Propel Network:
Adam Low (Chair)
Lead Pastor - Real Life Christian Church
Adam has served as the Lead Pastor of Real Life Christian Church (formerly Logan Uniting Church) in South East Queensland since 2015. With a background in business management, Adam has pastoral leadership experience in a variety of settings – both large suburban and rural contexts. He has served as a Youth and Young Adults Pastor, Executive Pastor and School Chaplain. As the Lead Pastor at Real Life Christian Church serves on the Council (Board) of the congregation’s College: Calvary Christian College. Adam began his vocational ministry life in 2001 in a large, thriving Baptist church and has been serving in the Uniting Church since 2009.
Adam is passionate about church planting, next generation ministry, leadership development and establishing mission-minded, disciple-making leaders who reproduce the same.
Adam married Clare in 1997 and they are the proud parents of two sons, Isaiah and Daniel.
Rev Dr Graham Humphris
Graham is part of a team of 6 who planted a new church from nothing in 2018. He has served as chairperson of Generate Presbytery in SA – a non-geographic presbytery focusing on making passionate disciples, courageous leaders and renewed congregations. He is currently on a number of boards including Global Leadership Network Australia, SA Resources Board, Property Trust and Eldercare.
Graham has a Doctorate from Fuller Seminary (church growth) and was Senior Minister at Seeds Church (formerly Aberfoyle Park) for 16 years. He has also served as Moderator, General Secretary and Church Planting Officer in SA.
Graham is married to Janis and they have 3 adult children who have all now left home!!!
Graham is passionate about seeing churches proclaim Jesus so that lives are changed and helping people grow to become mature disciples. Over the last few years his key emphases have been on church planting, leadership and coaching/mentoring.
Karen Schloss
Karen has been an active member of Real Life Christian Church (formerly Logan Uniting Church) for over 40 years, serving in a variety of ministries across the life of the church, including children’s, youth, church council, finances/resources and worship and creative arts.
After 10 years as President of Real Life’s soccer ministry, the baton was handed over at the end of 2017 and she is now leading a new season for Real Life Women (Women’s ministry).
During the week, Karen works in the profession of public sector Human Resources, leading a team and providing advice in complex HR matters to Executives and other HR professionals across the State. Karen’s current working life has been preceded by careers in private sector management, self-employment and serving in a paid capacity within the church.
Karen is passionate about inspiring others, speaking life and encouragement into people’s lives and circumstances and being open to whatever door God sets before her.
Karen is married to Evan, they have 5 children between them, three married and to date the grandchildren total sits at 3 granddaughters and 2 grandsons, which makes family get-togethers full of life and energy.
Rev Pablo Núñez
Minister - Ballina Uniting Church
Pablo is originally from Uruguay, South America. He was a missionary with YWAM (Youth With A Mission) for 22 years, 8 years in Brazil and 14 years in Australia. He led a creative arts ministry, discipleship and leadership schools with YWAM in South Australia, where he was also the Pastor of a Brazilian church. He was the Director of YWAM SA for 8 years before starting studies and work with the Uniting Church. Since 2017 Pablo is the minister of Ballina Uniting Church, in the Far North Coast Presbytery in NSW.
Pablo is passionate about missional and missionary work, especially in reaching out to youth and young adults, and connecting the Latino community with the broader Australian church while maintaining and honouring their cultural roots.
Pablo and Fernanda have been married for 20 years, and they have two very beautiful and very different children: the introvert, thoughtful and artistic Isabella (11) and the little ball of energy, extrovert and expressive Santiago (6).
Rev Peter Chapman
Minister - Church in the Marketplace
Rev. Peter Chapman, together with his wife Carlie, and his children (Bethany, Sebastian, Elijah & Ethan) Peter has been involved in church leadership since his youth in both urban and rural settings. In 2021 Peter was called to proclaim the abundant life that is found in Christ alongside all the saints at ‘Church in the Marketplace' in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs. As well as being a minister of a busy city-based church and father of four, Peter is a keen observer of popular culture, a sporting tragic, as well as a one-eyed Dragons fan.
Ps Steph Hogarth
Co Senior Pastor of the Journey Uniting Church
Step is the Co Senior Pastor of the Journey Uniting Church.
Steph has served as part of the Uniting Church since her teen years and has co-led Journey Uniting Church in Adelaide with her husband since 2005.
Steph has served as part of Generate Presbytery Standing Committee and has regularly been called upon to coach and review ministry agents and congregations.
Married to Rev Andy Hogarth with three adult children (and a grandson!) all serving in ministry, Steph is passionately committed to making the church feel like home for every person. Steph has an unrelenting focus on releasing emerging generations into ministry and fostering a healthy intergenerational culture within the church broadly.
Stu Cameron
CEO & Superintendent Minister - Wesley Mission
Stu was inducted as the CEO and Superintendent for Wesley Mission in 2021. Wesley Mission is a church comprising nine congregations based in Sydney, and an extensive community organisation comprising around 2000 staff serving Sydney, regional NSW, and the nation. With a storied history spanning over 211 years, Wesley Mission annually impacts the lives of more than 160,000 people as it continues the work of Jesus Christ in Word and deed.
Prior to leading Wesley Mission, Stu served for fifteen as the Lead Minister of Newlife Church in south-east Queensland, a large, church-planting church.
Stu's journey has seen him assume a variety of leadership roles within the Uniting Church, such as General Secretary of the SA Synod, chairperson of Uniting World, and as a member of the Assembly Standing Committee. He is deeply committed to church planting, leadership development, and evangelism. Stu has cultivated, and is involved in extensive cross-denominational networks.
Driven by a passion for making a difference, Stu integrates business principles into his leadership approach, guided by biblical values. Notably, he is a leading advocate for gambling reform and currently holds a position on the NSW Government's Independent Panel on Gaming Reform.
Stu has been happily married to Sue for over three decades, and they are proud parents of two young adult children, Joel and Emily and parents in-law to Andy. They recently welcomed a new family member, a granddaughter named Rosie.
Featured Members
Membership is open to any congregation or ministry agent of the Uniting Church in Australia.
