Congress report shares joys and sorrows

In the first business session of Day 2, the 17th Assembly meeting received a report from the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC).

In presenting the report, Rev Mark Kickett, National Chair of UAICC, described Congress’ purpose “for First Peoples to be autonomous and live freely in decision making as we minister with First Peoples and engage all peoples in theological, culturally safe, and holistic ways.” 

Rev Kickett acknowledged the sorrows experienced by Congress across the triennium.

“It’s been an incredibly long time since we last met. A lot has happened in our life.”

“We’ve had a lot of grief and loss, particularly at a national level for Congress. It’s impacted the life and ministries of each of our member states.”

This hardship included the deaths of key leaders, including Rev Dr Gondarra, the first Indigenous Moderator within the Uniting Church, just last month. Rev Djawanydjawany Gondarra, son of the late Rev Dr Gondarra, is present as a 17th Assembly member. Acknowledging his presence, Rev Kickett led the Assembly in prayer for his family. 

“At the beginnings of the UAICC, [the Rev Dr] was one of the pillars of the Church and the pillars of Congress. I want to pay our respects as an Assembly to [the Gondarra] family.”

Rev Kickett outlined both the challenges of COVID-19 for Congress and the joys of new opportunities and reconnection following restrictions easing.

“We learned so many things with the challenges of COVID-19, but we also learned to recommunicate and to listen. We finally got our National Conference up and running and off the ground. That was an incredible time for all of us.”

Following the conference, a ballot process was put in place for the role of National Chairperson, with the ballot closing in mid-October 2023. As a result of this process, Rev Kickett was formally commissioned as National Chair in March 2024, having served in the role in an Interim capacity for four years.

Despite the disappointment for many Congress members with the ‘No’ referendum result, Rev Kickett acknowledged the opportunities that lie ahead as First and Second Peoples seek to continue to work together.

“For us, it’s a new direction. It’s not the end of the story, it’s not the end of the world, but it’s a new beginning, and we go with 40 percent of Australians behind us,” Rev Kickett shared. “The Uluru Statement continues to encourage, continues to invite us.”

This triennium has culminated in the 30th anniversary of the Covenant, marked on Wednesday. In the report, Rev Kickett outlined three key elements of the Covenant:

1. Central to the Covenant is self-determination, the right for the UAICC to live freely in decision-making as we minister with First Peoples and engage all peoples in theological, cultural and holistic ways.
2. Living Justly or Doing what’s Right: the Church acknowledges the ‘sins of the past’ and seeks to do the right thing in acknowledging and making amends.
3. Reparation or Paying the Rent: recognising the wealth of the Church has been built upon stolen lands that were never ceded and were taken by brutality and force.

Looking forward, Rev Kickett identified self-determination as a crucial requirement in the future of Congress.

“The Covenant promises so much to the life of Congress, but the question remains, how much have we gone from here? The task is simple: that the good news is taken by the Congress to Aboriginal people, by Aboriginal people. What is the task of the church? To resource the Covenant, but what’s happened with the resourcing, they’ve wrapped themselves around us and stopped allowing us to be ourselves. It is evident there is a disconnect or disinterest. Ministers are not living out their agreement (to the Covenant).”

“Our story is reconnecting again. We have to reinvent ourselves. We have to determine a new beginning, a new direction which is really sustainable for all of us.”

Rev Kickett outlined his future vision for self-determination, including developing consistent frameworks and understandings with Congress across the country. He reminded the Assembly gathering that “Jesus equals justice” and asserted the need for Congress to continue to be resourced by the church into the future.

Another key aspect of Rev Kickett’s work as National Chair has been representing Congress internationally, including participating in the World Council of Churches. 

“Hearing the voices of the world and being on the world stage as people shared their excitement to be in Jesus, it was really an incredible time. I’m also part of the Pacific Church Partnership Advisory Network. It’s an honour to be on there with Rev James Bhagwan (the Pacific Conference of Churches General Secretary).”

After time was extended for Rev Kickett to continue the report, he talked about plans to develop a two-year leadership program in partnership with Nungalinga College and Uniting College.

One question offered from the floor from Northern Synod Moderator Rev Tony Goodluck, asked what support might be needed to strengthen structural relationships with key UCA leaders. 

In his response, Rev Kickett affirmed the need for ongoing partnership in the Covenant relationship to prevent a loss of momentum upon changes in leadership.

“If they journey with us and they’ve been a keeper of the story with us, that’s been a tremendous story and a tremendous journey, but if the next person who comes along doesn’t value that story, it gets dropped. We all need to be keepers of the story and carry this story with us, this Covenant that we have.

After the presentation, Rev Suli reaffirmed the significance of the Covenant relationship and prayed for Congress.

“Mark has reminded us as members of the Assembly to remember our Covenant with congress and the importance of that relationship.” 

Read the full report here and proposals to be discussed later in the meeting here. 

To learn more about the history of the Covenant and Congress leaders’ hopes for the future, access Covenant anniversary resources and news here.