Sunnybank Uniting Church

Did the walls of Sunnybank Uniting Church ever echo with the joyous hymns of Pacific Islander worshippers? This very spot holds a story of faith, change, and ultimately, loss. Sunnybank Uniting Church, located in Brisbane’s south, once thrived with a vibrant, primarily Pacific Islander congregation. It saw weddings, baptisms, and countless Sunday services filled with music and prayer. In 1936, this building began its life as Sunnybank Methodist Church, a testament to the fundraising efforts of a determined community. Mrs. Sophia White generously donated the land at the corner of Mains and Beenleigh Roads. The church flourished for decades, becoming a cornerstone of the community. The Uniting Church’s 2018 decision to recognize same-sex marriage created a rift within the Sunnybank congregation. The church council voted to uphold traditional marriage and aligned itself with the Assembly of Confessing Congregations (ACC). This decision led to departures and complaints to the South Moreton Presbytery. The church’s minister, Lulu-OHa’angana Senituli, resigned in 2021 amidst the growing tension, later taking on a lay leadership role. The Presbytery ultimately dissolved the Sunnybank Uniting Church congregation in 2022, citing its inability to fulfill its responsibilities within the UCA framework. The building that once housed Sunnybank Uniting Church now has a new purpose, a new name – STG Live Theatre. The Sunnybank Variety Group, a local drama organization, relocated and renovated the structure. While the church no longer exists, its story remains. A story of community, faith, and division, forever etched in the history of Sunnybank. The echoes of hymns may be gone, but the legacy of Sunnybank Uniting Church continues to resonate within the community.