Investing in solutions led by First Peoples key to Closing the Gap As communities across Australia mark National Close the Gap Day, leaders of the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC), the Uniting Church and UnitingCare Australia have come together to call for enduring reforms to support self-determination and tangible outcomes for First Peoples. […]
Truth-telling, lament and relationship Written by Stuart McMillan, Assembly Consultant Covenanting “Our stories and family lines entwine across seas, lands and skies ….” Grace Williams, Artist, Leprena Centre, UAICC Tasmania On 24 January 2021, Uniting Churches and agencies across the country marked the Uniting Church in Australia’s annual Day of Mourning in creative and meaningful […]
Take part in a Day of Mourning ServiceUniting Church communities across the country are preparing to mark a Day of Mourning on Sunday 24 January to stand with and affirm Australia’s First Peoples in their journey of survival.The Day of Mourning is an annual observance in the Uniting Church to reflect on the effects of […]
On the Sunday before Australia Day, Uniting Church congregations across the country hold worship services to reflect upon and lament the effect of the invasion and colonisation of this nation upon First Peoples.The observance of a Day of Mourning was endorsed by the 15th Assembly arising from a request of the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander […]
TALKING #ALWAYSWASALWAYSWILLBETwo NAIDOC Week conversations brought together Uniting Church members from across the country to hear from our First Peoples on the theme “Always Was, Always Will be”. Both provided opportunities to hear first-hand about the spiritual and cultural connection to country for First Peoples in our church and led to engaging conversation on what […]
Join the Assembly Resourcing Unit (ARU) for a time of conversation and listening, now taking place every month. Following on from our BYO Coffee invitation during COVID-19, the ARU team will continue to provide opportunities for conversation and to listen to people from across the Church on areas of particular focus. This month, as part of NAIDOC […]
STORIESINTRODUCTIONMark Kickett and Deidre PalmerSTORIES OF COUNTRYIn this video series called Yarta Wandatha Rev. Dr Aunty Denise Champion shares stories of the Adnyamathanha people and their connection to the land.Filmed on Adnyamathanha country in the Flinders Ranges of South Australia in 2016, Aunty Denise retells the stories she was told as a young girl. She […]
No room for racismA second webinar exploring the implications of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement for the Australian context will take place with Uniting Church members this Sunday 25 October. Register here. More than 100 people participated in the first webinar with UCA members from across the country taking time to reflect meaningfully on the […]
UAICC National Executive member Alison Overeem at the 2019 President’s Conference in Fiji. The Australian Government’s Pacific Step-Up initiative aims to change the way Australia engages in the Pacific region, strengthening partnerships and enhancing commitments to help address the challenges facing Pacific people. UnitingWorld has been consulting with Pacific partners and the Pacific Conference of Churches […]
National Reconcilation WeekThe Assembly Resourcing Unit has produced a National Reconciliation Week resource for 2020.The resource includes reflections from UCA President Dr Deidre Palmer and Interim National Chairperson of UAICC Pr Mark Kickett, and endorses the Reconciliation Sunday material produced by Tarlee Leondaris, Covenanting Officer at the Synod of South Australia.2020 is a year of significant […]