Celebrating Bianca Manning as she takes a season of rest
Safina Stewart shares a message of thanks and prayer as Bianca Manning takes a sabbatical from her work with Common Grace.
It is with a deep sense of pride that I write to share Bianca’s decision to take a season of sabbatical from her important work here at Common Grace.
It can be difficult to describe the impact that one person has had on one's life, or the affection felt towards a kindred spirit. Bianca Manning has been more than a colleague or comrade in arms to me. She has been a sister. And her impact on leading and growing our work together at Common Grace calling for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander justice has been profound.
When I look at the ‘soil’ Bianca has tended over the past years, and the seeds that have taken root in the spaces of Christian involvement in Aboriginal justice, I am so thankful for her incredible work and leadership and the heartening allyship of so many friends in the movement. We are confident in the direction the movement of Common Grace has grown, thanks to her faithful and gracious leadership and deep heart for justice.
Bianca has been sowing into the work of Common Grace since 2019, starting out as our Communications Coordinator and stepping into the role of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Justice Coordinator in 2020. Throughout this time Bianca has deeply listened to the needs of others as she has led our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander justice work with remarkable compassion, insight and commitment.
One of the legacies of Bianca’s work is the strong networks of relationships within our diverse Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Christian Leadership community. In the remainder of 2025, our team at Common Grace will be continuing our dedicated work in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander justice. This work will be stewarded by me, Board Deputy Chair Adam Gowen, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Justice Officer Dr Felicity McCallam, along with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Christian Leadership circle. Together, we will continue to deeply listen, pray, and guide our Common Grace First Nations justice work - building resources for churches campaigning for safe, free, and flourishing communities in the upcoming election, National Reconciliation Week, NAIDOC Week, the Common Grace conference, Aboriginal Sunday and more. We are so grateful for the Mob who have helped lead and guide Bianca, and in doing so have guided you.
Here on Bunurong Country I look out to the landscape and see that the plants are changing in preparation for the next season of colder weather. They anchor in and down. Having worked hard in the warm seasons the burrowing animals create new dens in autumn to conserve their body energy during the winter rest. They follow the rhythms of each season, not fighting it, but listening to their needs and anticipating the season ahead.
Just as we read in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 'there is a time for everything under the sun' and a good steward of resources knows when to lay down their tools for a while to take rest. As our Elders have taught us, the season of renewal is essential in a journey of faith and justice that requires sustained commitment and deep wisdom. This is the practice of resilience and longevity. We also know that rest is resistance to the many unjust systems of colonial oppression and the heaviness of advocacy work for our First Nations peoples and land.
As the Common Grace movement, we bless and celebrate our precious sister, Bianca Manning, as she enters a time of sabbatical from her treasured work as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Justice Coordinator for Common Grace. During this season of rest, she is prioritising her physical, relational, and creative health by taking a season of rest with her Creator God and Saviour. We pray for what God will foster in her during this time of sabbath. We pray for nourishing, healing rest. And we are joyful knowing this season will also be a time of celebrating her marriage to Franz.
Please join us in giving thanks for the faithful work of Bianca and sharing your prayers as we send her into this season of rest, as a gift of love to her and our movement of Common Grace.
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If you would like to share your message and prayers with Bianca, please send these through to [email protected]
Bianca Manning's time of sabbatical leave is starting from May 2025. We look forward to welcoming her back to her work with Common Grace leading our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Justice team in 2026.
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Listen to Bianca's message for the Common Grace movement as she takes this time of leave.
Safina Stewart is a proud Wuthathi and Mabuiag Island woman who grew up cross culturally in New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Australia. Safina is Common Grace's Relationships and Storytelling Coordinator and is passionate about culture, education, the arts, justice and faith. Safina lives with her husband and three children in the Victorian coastal town of Wonthaggi on Bunurong Country.
Bianca Manning is a Gomeroi woman and emerging Aboriginal Christian Leader, and is Common Grace's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Justice Coordinator. Bianca currently lives in Logan, South-East Queensland on the lands of the Yugambeh peoples and works with Senior Aboriginal Christian Leader Aunty Jean Phillips in the Brisbane and Logan areas. Bianca is currently part of forming an intentional Christian community in Woodridge, Logan. Bianca has a Social Work (First Class Honours) degree from the University of Newcastle, has completed theological training at The Academy through Glory City Church, has previous ministry experience with Youth With A Mission (YWAM), and is passionate about asset-based community development, veganism, dance, and pursuing a genuine relationship with Jesus.
