By Stuart McMillan, Walking Together as First and Second Peoples Advocate I write this in the season we call Advent, meaning ‘coming’. A time according to the Church Fathers for people to fast, give and pray. A time of contemplation and reflection [1]. Gayle Boss [2] says: Beyond uncertainty, fear and darkness, know ‘the one […]
BOOK REVIEW Charles Harris: A Struggle for Justice by William W Emilsen, (Unley, SA: MediaCom, 2019) By Rev. Dr Jonathan Barker William Emilsen has done a great service in reminding us of the key role Charles Harris played in the founding of the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UIACC). Charles is not nearly as well […]
We’ve asked four UCA people, both First and Second Peoples, to reflect on what it means for them to share an Acknowlegement of Country. Here’s what they said. Alison Overeem, a Palawa woman from South East Tasmania, and manager of Leprena UAICC in Tasmania. To gather in a space and a place that holds stories […]
Dr Lilla Watson, a Gangulu woman, is often credited with the quote: ‘If you have come to help me you are wasting your time. If you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together’. Dr Watson has always said that she was not comfortable being credited for something […]
The Uniting Church has affirmed that the First Peoples of Australia, the Aboriginal and Islander Peoples, are sovereign peoples in Australia. On 13 July, 2018, the 15th Assembly meeting in Melbourne adopted a statement affirming sovereignty of First Peoples, as noted in the minutes below: 18.09 Recognition of First Peoples as Sovereign In the light […]
Alison Overeem reflects on the courage needed to walk together. What does it truly mean to walk together? What does “together” truly mean? How do we create spaces and places for this to happen? How do we immerse ourselves in each other’s stories? In a meaningful, reflective and sustainable way that allows us to do […]
Rev. Jennie Gordon is a Panel Member for the Walking Together as First and Second Peoples Circle. We asked Jennie to share some of her story. Together with my husband Rev. Arnie Wierenga, we’ve just moved ministry placements and are now working as Pastoral Resourcing Ministers across the glorious Gippsland Presbytery in the Synod of […]
Walk in the light together, First and Second Peoples By Stuart McMillan, Advocate, National Consultant Covenanting “Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground”. God addresses Cain about the death of his brother (Genesis 4:10b). Listen! The blood of the First Nations Peoples of this land cries out from the ground to […]
We are going on a malaga – buna limurr dharrwuṯthun rrambaŋi At the 15th Assembly in 2018 the UCA affirmed the sovereignty of First Peoples as described in our Preamble to the UCA Constitution and in the Statement from the Heart. The Assembly Standing Committee (ASC) has established a Task Group to look at the […]
This year, Uniting Church members were encouraged to hold a Day of Mourning on 20 January to reflect on the impact of invasion on First Peoples. Here are two stories of how people participated in this event. Tewantin Uniting Church in Queensland took a great deal of time in getting to know the stories of […]
