Supporting a First Nations Voice: UC National Update 22-28 March

22-28 March 2023 National Update Your weekly snapshot of the Uniting Church in Australia

Our Featured Story Supporting a First Nations Voice  At the heart of the Uniting Church is a commitment to walk together with First Nations people in seeking justice.  Inspired by this commitment and our deep covenant relationship with the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC), we support a constitutionally enshrined First Nations Voice to Parliament as an historic opportunity to recognise and honour First Nations people and to walk together as a nation toward a better future. Today the Assembly published a new page on our website dedicated to supporting Uniting Church members to stay informed about the Voice and resourcing you to join and lead respectful conversations around the upcoming Referendum. Bookmark this page as we will keep updating with information and resources as they are developed! Informed by our covenant commitment, the Assembly Standing Committee (ASC) resolved at its recent meeting to declare the support of the Uniting Church in Australia for the proposed change in the Australian Constitution to recognise a First Nations Voice. Importantly, the ASC acknowledged the challenge in the Referendum to think more deeply about and reflect upon our own practices in our relationships with First Peoples as a priority of the Covenant with UAICC.  Go to the website AUKUS STATEMENT Nuclear submarines not a path to peace The Uniting Church Assembly has expressed its grave concerns with the $368 billion AUKUS security agreement and the plan by Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarines. "True security and peace come from seeking to build relationships of trust and understanding, not through bigger military spending,” said Uniting Church in Australia President Rev Sharon Hollis in our statement. RESOURCE #FightRacism: International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2023 Yesterday marked the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (IDERD) and the beginning of Harmony Week in Australia. Rev Dr Paul Goh, Panel Member of the Being a Multicultural Church Circle, has offered an editable PowerPoint template to help communities mark the day in prayer. The Queensland Synod shared this Harmony Day reflection by Rev Stanley Tuilovoni from Kangaroo Point Uniting Church, who ministers in one of the most multicultural communities in Queensland.  HUMANS OF THE UNTING CHURCH Meet Lilliani Tahaafe-Williams In this special Harmony Week edition of Humans of the Uniting Church, we meet Lilliani Tahaafe-Williams, member of Darwin Memorial Uniting Church and PhD Candidate. Lilliani reflects on her own experiences of cultural diversity and the biggest challenges we face in overcoming racism in our Church and communities. In coming weeks, we'll begin a new series profiling congregations. You can nominate your or another community! Email us. PODCAST R&R with Radhika Sukumar-White The podcast R&R with the ARU is back for Season 2. First up, Rev Lindsay Cullen speaks to Rev Radhika Sukumar-White from Leichhardt Uniting Church. Radhika reflects on what it means to lead a justice-focused congregation, what justice looks like, and why doing justice is a vital part of Christian discipleship. ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE March ASC Update Read the wrap from the Assembly Standing Committee meeting in Sydney from 10-12 March. The ASC discussed the Uniting Church's position on a Voice to Parliament, heard reports from the Circles of Interest, received the final report from the Church in the Digital Age Task Group and discussed how this work will continue.  EVENTS You're invited! 2023 President's Conference President Rev Sharon Hollis is delighted to invite you to the 2023 President's Conference, to take place from the 26-30 July at Redcliffe Uniting Church in Queensland. The conference will take place in two parts: 26-28 July for ministry agents and 28-30 July for the whole Uniting Church. Don't miss this great opportunity to gather, connect and reflect with others across the Uniting Church! Registrations open on Wednesday 29 April. RESOURCES Lenten reflection #5: Diverse Community In this week's Lenten reflection, Levon Kardashian from the Being a Multicultural Church Circle reflects on the blessings and responsibilities of belonging to diverse community and what it means "to be a part of Christ's wonder-full body". Rev Dr Matagi Vilitama has recorded a spoken version of the reflection for you to listen to and share.

UnitingCare Australia Pre-Budget Submission In a pre-Budget submission, UnitingCare Australia has urged the Albanese Labor Government to fund what matters to improve the wellbeing of millions of Australians in the May Federal Budget.   Read more Event National History Conference Registrations are now open for the fourth biennal conference of the Uniting Church National History Society, to be hosted by the Northern Synod in Darwin from 24-27 August.   Register now From across the Church Lifeline celebrates 60 years Lifeline is celebrating 60 years of service this week. Established by the late Rev Sir Alan Walker, the former Superintendent of Wesley Mission, Lifeline was established in Sydney’s Darlinghurst on March 16, 1963, the world’s first telephone counselling service. Read more UnitingWorld An Update from India Discover how the Diocese of Durgapur in India is supporting girls to pursue careers that defy gender norms and stereotypes. Thanks to UnitingWorld supporters, the project impacted the lives of more than 4,000 people in the last financial year.   Get the Update Ecumenical news Stewards wanted  The Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) invites applications from young Asians belonging to the CCA member churches to serve as stewards for its 15th General Assembly in Kottayam, India, from 27 September to 4 October 2023.   Find out more Act2 Project Calling Greater Brisbane! The Act2 Project has shared an open invitation to an evening with the Act2 team for all in Brisbane, on either: Wednesday 29 March, 7:30pm at Chermside Kedron UC, or Thursday 30 March, 7:30pm at Indooroopilly UC. To express interest email the Act2 team. Express Interest

Positions Intergenerational worker - Mt Barker Uniting Church Facilitate innovative and dynamic ministry to children, youth, young adults, families and older people within the congregation. Minister - Wagin Group of Congregations, Wagin, WA The Wagin Group of Congregations comprises three small rural congregations in the Wheatbelt area of Western Australia. Join us in prayer for The peace of Jesus to prevail, in our world, in our nation and in our neighbourhoods. Those who feel unsafe or unwelcome in our communities. We give thanks for God's gift of diversity and pray we can confront the racism and discrimination that continue to fracture and divide us. The Muslim community as they enter the time of Ramadan. May it be a time of blessing for those who observe the month and an opportunity to foster interfaith friendship and understanding.   Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania as part of the WCC Ecumenical Prayer Cycle. Do you have a story to share? Email us! Our weekly PowerPoint with stories, resources and prayer points for use in your weekly worship. Share Tweet Forward Copyright © 2023 Uniting Church in Australia, All rights reserved. We're sending you weekly updates because you opted into news from the Uniting Church in Australia. Our mailing address is: Uniting Church in Australia Lvl 4 262 Pitt St Sydney, NSW 2000 Australia