Two important roles have been filled as part of ongoing support for the work of the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress in Victoria.
UAICC Victoria Regional Committee (UAICC Vic/Congress) was reformed in 2024, and the two placements have been created to support the ministry and mission of Congress in Victoria, with their office located at the Centre for Theology and Ministry in Parkville.
Sean Weetra fills one of those placements as a lay person and began ministry in the role on Monday (May 4).
Former Weeroona Uniting Church minister Uncle Rev Will Pickett will fill the other placement and commences in the role on Monday (May 11).
Sean is a Ngarrindjeri, Kaurna and Narungga man from Raukkan in South Australia.
He was Chair of UAICC South Australia and was also on the Standing Committee of the South Australian Synod.
“I see this as an important opportunity to turn a new page for Congress Victoria, working closely with Uncle Will and the regional committee to reimagine what Congress can be into the future,” Sean said.
“This includes strengthening relationships across the Church, deepening understanding of the Covenant, and encouraging presbyteries and congregations to walk more meaningfully alongside First Nations peoples.”
Uncle Will is a Noongar from the Wilomen, Gorenge and Menang people of the Central Great Southern area of Western Australia, and was born in Albany, WA.
He steps down as UAICC Victoria Chairperson to take up this new placement, with Rev Duncan Turuva to take over as the new Chair of UAICC Victoria.
Uncle Will said one of the first tasks will be helping the wider Uniting Church, such as presbyteries and congregations, to better understand the ethos of Congress, through Covenanting, while rewriting a new story for Congress Victoria.
“(We want) to build stronger relations with those who support the Congress, while searching out new connections with First Nations groups and Second Nations as well,” he said.