About FACE is a Faith And Cultural Exchange for anyone over 18 years of age. About FACE involves briefing, time living in Congress Aboriginal communities and debriefing. The program aims to create an ‘about face’ in the attitudes and lifestyles of participants, and to build relationships and bridges of understanding.
Churches Together Indigenous Peoples Partnership (CTIPP) helps churches work together for reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. CTIPP have organised workshops to help churches create a place that is inclusive and Indigenous-friendly and have collaborated with community organisations and other churches to host reconciliation events.
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ecumenical Commission (NATSIEC) is the peak Indigenous ecumenical body and commission of the National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA). Stay in touch with NATSIEC and keep up to date with current Indigenous affairs and receive information on matters such as Indigenous theology and prayer and worship resources by subscribing to NATSIEC’s blog.
Currently there are three issues which have significant implications for Indigenous congregations within the Northern Synod. The Synod has prepared a number of submissions and responses to the following issues; Northern Territory Intervention, homelands/outstations policy and Indigenous languages/bilingual education.
Recognise
The Uniting Church has officially partnered with the Recognise campaign. The campaign aims to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Australian Constitution, and to remove racial discrimination from it. You can also read the Assembly resolution and submission on Constitutional Recognition prepared by Uniting Justice and the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress.
A national network of Aboriginal churches and community services sharing in ministry in outstations, remote communities, regional towns and major urban centres. The network is committed to develop self-determining Aboriginal Christian leadership and holistic ministry addressing spiritual, cultural, social, economic and political aspects of life.
The Assembly booklet Building Partnerships is for congregations, agencies, groups, individuals and organisations who wish to relate more closely to Indigenous people in Australia from a Christian perspective. The Assembly also has worship resources such as Sorry Day & National Reconciliation Week: Liturgical Resources. During the week 17-23 March 2014, the Uniting Church engaged in a week of prayer and fasting called A Destiny Together: Justice for First Peoples.
UnitingCare Queensland launched their Reconciliation Action plan (RAP) in February 2012 with a commitment to take positive action towards repairing the harm caused to many generations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. UnitingCare Queensland Service Groups are also conducting a range of reconciliation initiatives in addition to work arising from the UnitingCare Queensland RAP for 2012 and 2013, including developing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Cultural Calendar 2014
UnitingJustice Australia has produced papers and submissions on issues such as the Northern Territory Intervention, Stronger Futures legislation and constitutional recognition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Their website has fact sheets and briefs on issues such as Indigenous health and policy.
