In late September 2025, a group of 11 participants from Australian churches and wider society gathered together for an online Roundtable to answer what, at first glance, appears to be a relatively simple question:
What would a thriving Church in Australia look like in 2035?
The initiative was instigated by Ian Bunston, the host of weekly podcast Monday Matters. In his podcasts, Ian sits down with influential and prominent Australians to discuss the benefits of community and interconnectedness, and most of the Roundtable participants have been guests on his show. These included:
Kylie Butler, Sharon Callister, Livia Carusi, Roxan Fabiano, Philip Hughes, Aaron Kelly, Hugh Mackay, Mark McCrindle, Virginia McDonald, Anne Pattel-Gray and George Savvides.
Will you serve the future church?
We invite you to use this tool in your discernment, strategic planning and community and congregational conversations as a framework to orientate your mission, vision and practice priorities in ways that will build and embed a thriving church in Australia in 2035.
