Editorial policy

How we maintain the directory, handle corrections, and write our editorial guides. Updated as the policy evolves.

Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.

Editorial principles

1. Cross-denominational and independent. The directory is not affiliated with any denomination, parish, network, or church. Categorisation, ordering, and presentation choices are made without input from denominational bodies.
2. No paid placement. No church can pay to appear, to appear higher in listings, or to remove competitor listings. All listings are equal.
3. No endorsement or ranking.We don't rate, rank, or endorse individual churches. Listings are ordered by suburb, denomination, and church name — never by editorial preference.
4. No doctrinal positions.Where denominations differ on doctrine, governance, or practice, our guides describe each tradition's position factually. We don't take a side.
5. Sourced claims. Factual claims in our editorial guides — dates, numbers, denominational positions — are sourced from official denominational publications, government data (e.g. ABS Census), or other primary sources. Sources are cited where used.
6. Plain English.Guides are written in plain English for a general Australian audience — not for theologians, denominational insiders, or church professionals.

How listings are updated

Listings are reviewed and updated when any of the following happens:

• A church administrator or representative reports a change
• A visitor reports an error via contact us
• A periodic batch review identifies stale records or new sources
• A denomination publishes a public schedule of mergers, closures, or new plantings

Reporting corrections

To report a correction (wrong address, wrong denomination, outdated service times, incorrect contact details), email hello@auschurches.com.au with:

• The church name and suburb
• The URL of the incorrect listing (if you have it)
• The correction
• A source we can verify the correction against (e.g. the church's own website, a denominational finder, a public announcement)

We aim to action verifiable corrections within a few weeks.

Requesting an addition

Christian congregations meeting publicly in Australia can request inclusion by emailing the church name, suburb, denomination (or independent), address, and a public link (church website or a denominational page) to hello@auschurches.com.au. We don't charge for inclusion.

Removing a listing

We remove listings when:

• A church has closed or merged with another congregation
• A church representative requests removal (we don't require a reason)
• A listing is duplicated and the duplicate is identified

For removal requests, email hello@auschurches.com.au from a verifiable church-associated address (e.g. the church's own domain or a denominational office). We aim to action removal requests within a few weeks.

Editorial guides

Our guides (denominational comparisons, how to find a church, life-event guides) are written in-house under the principles above. Factual claims are sourced; opinions are avoided. Each guide carries a “last verified” date and is reviewed when underlying facts change (e.g. when ABS Census data is updated, or when a denomination changes a public position).

If you spot a factual error in a guide, please use the correction process above.

Conflicts of interest

We disclose conflicts of interest where they apply. The directory is not funded by, owned by, or operationally connected to any denomination, church, parish, or church-adjacent commercial network.

Changes to this policy

This page is the current version of the editorial policy. Material changes are dated at the top of the page (“Last reviewed”). The directory's commitment to independence, no paid placement, and no doctrinal positioning will not be diluted by future revisions.