09/07/2026
As we mark NAIDOC Week across our nationโs history, I find myself giving thanks once again for the gift of Covenant.
The Covenant between the Uniting Church in Australia and the UAICC - Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress is one of the greatest gifts God has given our Church. It is far more than an agreement between councils. It is a living relationship that continues to shape who we are as the Body of Christ and calls us to deeper discipleship, humility and right relationship with one another.
During my masterโs research, I spent considerable time reflecting on our Covenant with Congress. I came to understand more deeply that the Covenant is not simply something we affirm. It is a way of being Church. It shapes how we listen, lead, discern Godโs future together, and understand what it means to belong to one another in Christ.
As someone shaped by my Pacific heritage and called to lead a multicultural Church, I have come to appreciate more deeply that Covenant has something to teach each of us. First Peoples are not merely part of our Church. Their wisdom, spirituality and leadership continue to shape who we are becoming together. As we walk together, we come to understand more fully what it means to be the Body of Christ.
Covenant reminds us that we cannot speak of being one Church while walking separate paths. God continually calls us back into relationship with one another because reconciliation is not merely our mission โ it is Godโs work, revealed in Jesus Christ and entrusted to the Church.
NAIDOC Week is an opportunity to give thanks for the enduring faith, wisdom and leadership of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. It is also an invitation to renew our commitment to walking together in Covenant โ with honesty, humility, courage and hope.
My prayer is that we will continue to learn from one another, deepen our relationships, and bear witness together to Christโs reconciling love. May God keep weaving us together into the Church we are called to be.
โ๐๐ฐ๐ณ ๐๐ฉ๐ณ๐ช๐ด๐ต ๐ฉ๐ช๐ฎ๐ด๐ฆ๐ญ๐ง ๐ช๐ด ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ณ ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ข๐ค๐ฆโฆ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ฉ๐ข๐ด ๐ฃ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ฌ๐ฆ๐ฏ ๐ฅ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฏ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ฅ๐ช๐ท๐ช๐ฅ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ธ๐ข๐ญ๐ญ ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ด๐ต๐ช๐ญ๐ช๐ต๐บ.โ (Ephesians 2:14)
๐ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ก๐๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ช๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ธ
Creator God,
We give you thanks for the First Peoples of this land, who have cared for Country for countless generations, and whose cultures, languages and wisdom continue to enrich the life of our nation and of your Church.
We thank you for the faithful witness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Christians, for their courage, resilience and enduring hope, and for how they continue to lead us to a deeper understanding of your love and justice.
As we mark NAIDOC Week, renew us in our Covenant together. Grant us hearts willing to listen, spirits open to learn, and the courage to walk alongside one another with humility and grace.
Strengthen the Elders who carry wisdom, the leaders who guide your people, the young people shaping the future, and the communities who continue to bear witness to your love in every part of this land.
Teach us to honour one another as members of one Body, to receive one anotherโs gifts with gratitude, and to seek your Kingdom together.
May your Holy Spirit continue to lead the Uniting Church as we walk together in faith, hope, and love. May our life together reflect Christ's reconciling love, so that all people may know they are welcomed, valued, and that they belong.
We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, who calls us to walk together in peace.
Amen.
๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐๐ฎ ๐ฆ๐๐น๐ถ
๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐, ๐จ๐ป๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ต ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐๐๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐น๐ถ๐ฎ
