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The churches of Christ in NSW & ACT is a network of churches across two states passionate about Unity, Restoration, and Life in Jesus! Come and explore the origins, distinctives, and ethos of our network. Our prayer is that as you are amongst us, you will be empowered by God’s love to bring unity, restoration, and life to our world.

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Our ethos

The story of our network of churches of Christ in NSW & ACT has been shaped by people and communities who sought to be faithful to the Lordship of Jesus and to the practice of New Testament Christianity. Our ethos re-articulates those things we can say together and reflect the formative influences that have remained at the core of who we are.

We are

Sent
with Kingdom Priorities
Anchored
in the Scriptures
Empowered
by The Spirit
Welcomed
into Family
Engaged
in Transformation
Adventurous
in Restoration
Alongside
in Service
View Leadership Resources

Our name

The name “Churches of Christ” was not introduced as a denominational title, instead being a simple description of who these groups were, along with other terms, like ‘Christian Church’, ‘Disciples of Christ’ or ‘Community Church’. There were many, many groups like this around the world, such as a group of believers led by James O’Kelly in Surry County, Virginia in 1794. This group rejected the religious traditions they grew up with, forming a new group of believers and writing down what they considered as the ‘cardinal principles’ of the Christian faith:

  • The Lord Jesus is the only head of the church
  • We will call ourselves simply “Christians“
  • The Bible is our only creed and guide
  • The only test of church fellowship and membership is Christian character
  • We respect the right of every individual to make their own private judgements
  • We pray that Christians will be united so that the world may believe in God.

 

Our history

Our historic roots call each community of believers to start with a ‘blank piece of paper’, returning to the Word and Spirit and rediscovering simple Christianity in their context, proclaiming: “We just want to follow the Bible – and not be afraid of where God leads us!” In Australia, our churches reflect the influence of this freedom, comprising of churches who claim heritage from British and American, European and Aboriginal, Middle Eastern and Asian cultural communities, to name a few. However, it was the Scottish settlers arriving in Adelaide in the 1830s who planted the seeds of the churches of Christ movement on the Australian frontier by proclaiming: “We just want to be simply Christians!”

Discover Our History

Transforming communities

Our network of churches is committed to investing in communities locally, nationally and internationally. We do this through theological education, the provision of aged care services, camping venues & experiences and affordable housing. We are also involved in international mission, aid and development.

Fresh Hope Communities exists to create spaces that cultivate belonging and places that feel like home.

For almost 90 years, Fresh Hope Communities has been providing quality support and lifestyle choices across retirement, residential and respite settings, as well as conference and outdoor adventure experiences for school and community groups, and more recently, affordable housing.

For more information, please visit freshhope.org.au

The Australian College of Ministries (ACOM) offers flexible online studies to equip Christians in their local church and workplace context. Our approach is holistic: developing head, heart, and hands to engage students in a truly life-changing experience.

For more information visit our website
acom.edu.au

Global Mission Partners (GMP) is a Christian international mission, aid and development organisation committed to facilitating life-changing partnerships.

For more information visit our website
gmp.org.au

Our leadership team

Anne Simpson

Executive Leader (Interim)
Anne Simpson - Executive Leader (Interim)

Mike McGarrity

Conference President
Mike McGarrity - Conference President Mike McGarrity has been a passionate follower of Jesus since coming to faith in Christ in 1989. He has been married for 30 years with two daughters who are passionate about their faith. Mike has been in church leadership for over 25 years. Mike has a collaborative approach to leadership, which included working as a team pastor in a large church, being part of church-planting teams, and leading a team to plant a church in Engadine in 2000. In 2015, Mike was part of the leadership of a successful merger with Engadine Church of Christ, rebirthing the church as Connect Church, and continues to lead the church today. Mike has a Masters in Missional Leadership (SCD), B.A Hons in Creative Arts (Reading University). B.Min (Tabor) and a qualified facilitator for Dynamic Church Planting International and Evangelism Shift. He joined the Conference Executive board last year. “I believe I can continue to contribute positively. I’d love to see churches of Christ churches reaching out and connecting people to Jesus, fostering a culture that leads to disciples who make disciples.”

Allan Vincent

Board Member
Allan Vincent - Board Member Allan Vincent has been on quite a journey through life – starting out as a mechanic and farmer, then moving into roles as a business manager and franchise owner. Allan has also worked as a road train driver, a trainer and assessor for an RTO, and served on various boards, including as deputy chair and chair for childcare centres. Ministry has been a part of Allan's life since he was 18 years old, and for the past eleven years, he has been serving full-time in Dubbo. Allan is deeply passionate about his family, the people in his fellowship, the town of Dubbo, and the wider body of Christ – His Church.

Cathy Kleemann

Board Member
Cathy Kleemann - Board Member Cathy Kleeman has been in ministry for 30 years engaging in pastoral, church planting, welfare, and education work. As senior pastor at Pendle Hill Church of Christ, she led Pathways Community Care for almost a decade. Cathy continues as a teaching elder, endorsed minister and director in this community today. As Cathy says, 'I try, albeit poorly, to live Micah 6:8 – practicing justice, mercy and humility.' Cathy lives in Bilpin with her husband, Dieter, their two young-adult sons, dogs and a cat.

Emily Drough

Board Member
Emily Drough - Board Member Emily Drough is an experienced governance and ministry leader, and is the Executive Director: People, Culture & Enablement at Open Doors Australia & New Zealand. With over 20 years in church leadership, senior HR and executive leadership roles; Emily brings strategic insight, relational depth, and a passion for seeing the local and global church flourish. She has expertise in governance, people strategy, and organisational culture. Emily has served in churches of Christ leadership for over two decades, including her current roles as Elder at Mayfield Church of Christ. Emily previously served as a Conference Executive member and President, Fresh Hope Mission & Ministry Board member and Grants Assessment Committee member.

Jenni Gainer

Board Member
Jenni Gainer - Board Member Jenni Gainer treasures her rich Christian heritage and is a longstanding and active member at Epping Church of Christ. Jenni is deeply passionate about our movement, having served on our Department of Christian Education (DCE) Committee and Women’s Ministry Team, helping to organise ANEW Day conferences and Pastors’ Wives Retreats and recently completed a three-year term on Conference Executive. Jenni taught mathematics in both public and private schools and hold an MA in Pastoral Care (ACOM), pioneered the ICU Pastoral Care Role at RPA where she ministered for ten years. Now retired, Jenni is currently a Probus Club President, a volunteer DRCN Chaplain and a devoted Grandma of nine. As a trained Spiritual Mentor, Jenni also enjoys mentoring seven younger women.

Peter Chi

Board Member
Peter Chi - Board Member Peter Chi has been serving in leadership roles within churches for over 15 years and is deeply connected to Epping Church of Christ, where he and his family worship, serve, and find community. With a career spanning commercial banking and consulting at firms such as Macquarie Bank and McCrindle Research, Peter now serves as the State Relationship Manager for NSW, QLD, and ACT at Baptist Financial Services. In recent years, Peter has held board positions for several Christian ministries, bringing governance and financial expertise to his service. Peter’s passion is to support and strengthen churches within the network—both now and for future generations—so that more people across Australia will come to know Jesus and make disciples.

Rebecca Lee

Board Member
Rebecca Lee - Board Member Rebecca Lee is a qualified lawyer and chartered accountant with nearly two decades of compliance experience in the finance industry. As the Chief Compliance Officer for the Australian business of a global investment management company, she navigates complex governance challenges with expertise. Rebecca’s faith is deeply rooted in her family history—her father founded the first Korean Church of Christ in Sydney. Over the years, she has served in ministries such as Sunday school, youth, choir, and administration. Today, Rebecca and her husband serve as shepherds in house church ministry and actively support Sydney Crystal Church’s All Nations congregation. Passionate about strengthening church leaders, Rebecca uses her professional skills to empower the Churches of Christ network. “I want to help all churches in our network be strengthened in Christ so we can keep running this race.”

Steed Leonard

Board Member
Steed Leonard - Board Member Steed Leonard is a compassionate leader with over 30 years of service at Restore Church in Castle Hill, where he has guided transitions, strategic planning, and leadership development as a church elder and chairperson. Steed's professional background includes senior leadership roles in NSW government corporations and directing his own business. Steed’s passion for ministry stems from his personal faith journey, which began with friendship evangelism and baptism in the mid-90s. He has led young adult ministries, small groups, and mission trips, both locally and abroad. His heart for consulting and mentoring drives his commitment to fostering growth, building community, and supporting churches of Christ communities. “God has placed a passion in my heart to cultivate growth, deepen community engagement, and strengthen relationships within our network.”

Stephen Smith

Board Member
Stephen Smith - Board Member Steve Smith is the Dean/CEO of the Australian University College of Divinity and a Partner at The Colloquium Group, specialising in leadership development, not-for-profit governance, and organisational development. Professor Smith holds doctorates in Management, and also Community and Behavioural Health. His career includes roles such as church planter, Director of Ministry Health for churches of Christ in NSW & ACT, CEO of Bedford College, and Principal/CEO of the Australian College of Ministries. He is a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia and a Graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is passionate about supporting local churches of Christ to make a positive impact in their communities – in the name of Jesus.

Victor Tee

Board Member
Victor Tee - Board Member Victor Tee is the senior pastor at Kingsford Church of Christ. He has previously worked as a finance and banking professional for more than a decade for Canon Finance Australia, CommBank and HSBC. He has held numerous ministry roles including senior pastor (volunteer) at Harvest Indonesian Church for 15 years and lecturer at the Indonesian Mission Institute. Victor holds an M.A. in Christian Leadership from ACOM, a B.Sc from Sydney University, and has completed a Cert IV in Christian Leadership Coaching. Victor was the Conference President between 2020-2023, has been a member of Conference Executive since 2009 and was a Mission & Ministry board member. “My desire is to serve the current generation and prepare the next generation in this movement.”