Greetings …

Last Sunday, during the Community News, I mentioned that on 24 February the Uniting Church in Australia (UCA) Assembly and the United Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC) had welcomed the launch of the #Yes23 campaign for a constitutionally enshrined First Nations Voice.

Together UCA President Rev Sharon Hollis and UAICC Interim National Chair Rev Mark Kickett both affirmed their strong support for a Voice to Parliament as a critical step toward honouring the sovereignty of First Nations Australians in this land, and furthering the work of truth-telling and treaty.

Sharon explained that “this is an historic opportunity for Australia to acknowledge and honour First Nations people and their deep spiritual ties to this land and to walk together as a nation toward a better future.”

Mark reminded us that “like Jesus, we are called to be bearers of justice, not just in our words, but in our actions and by changing systems which continue to deny the place and rights of the first Australians.”

They both encouraged UCA members to learn more about the Uluru Statement from the Heart and what it asks of our nation, and to create respectful places for yarning about the impact a First Nations Voice will make.

One such place you could learn more, is by attending an online forum hosted by Initiatives of Change.  This forum will offer opportunities to explore ways to advance support for the Voice to Parliament in local communities.  For more information, or to sign up to attend the Steps to the Referendum forum , click on the following link:  https://au.iofc.org/steps-referendum-online-event

Blessings – Heather (she/her).

PS: Yarning is an informal conversation that is culturally friendly and recognised by Aboriginal people as meaning to talk about something, someone or provide and receive information. Yarning Circles are designed to allow all to have their say in a safe space without judgement.