Bible is the “ultimate immigration handbook”
Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia preached at the worship service opening the “Churches against Racism” conference in Doorn. Photo: Jaap de Jager
In a worship service opening the “Churches against Racism” conference in Doorn, Netherlands, 14-17 June, World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia said the Bible was the “ultimate immigration handbook”.
Kobia asked Christians to apply the parable of the “good Samaritan” to the current context in which they live.
“It speaks to us in this week after virulently anti-immigrant parties made unprecedented gains in European elections”, he said. “This parable of Jesus calls us again to consider, ‘Who is my neighbour’ and how are we to live out that relationship? Christ calls us to be neighbours of immigrants, of oppressed minorities within our own nations, of all who are in need of a neighbour.”
The service was held to give thanks for the WCC Programme to Combat Racism. Launched 40 years ago the programme assisted the victims of racial discrimination in different parts of the world, most prominently in South Africa under the apartheid regime. Some fifty church leaders, activists and theologians are attending the international conference.
Expected outcomes of the conference are theologically founded strategies and networks to advocate against racism within society and the church. A message of commitment will be read during a closing worship service 17 June in the presence of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands.
The conference was organized by the WCC in cooperation with the Council of Churches in the Netherlands, the association of migrant churches in the Netherlands SKIN, the missionary and diaconal agency KerkinActie, the interchurch organization for development cooperation ICCO and the ecumenical advocacy group Oikos.
Media contact in the Netherlands:
Henk van IJken +31 (0)30 880 1791
Full text of the sermon by the WCC general secretary – http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/documents/general-secretary/sermons/14-06-09-and-who-is-my-neighbour.html
WCC work on just and inclusive communities – http://www.oikoumene.org/en/programmes/unity-mission-evangelism-and-spirituality/just-and-inclusive-communities.html
To Twitter or not to Twitter the Gospel
Examples for sharing spiritual resources on social media, such as the prayers on the website Sacred Space, were discussed at the ECIC 2009.
As social networks become more and more popular, churches still struggle to find the best ways of using these new features to communicate with their members and spread the gospel.
More than 40 representatives of churches and church-related organizations from a dozen different countries seized the opportunity of the 14th European Christian Internet Conference (ECIC) in Helsinki and Stockholm, 7-10 June 2009, to discuss their experiences and best practices in using these new tools, such as Twitter and Facebook, for their work.
Among the projects presented were a social networking platform used by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia to offer pastoral care to its church members, especially to Latvian migrants living in Ireland; a Church of Sweden fundraising campaign based on social media; as well as ideas for sharing spiritual resources. Examples are the prayers offered on the website Sacred Space, run by Irish Jesuits, and the World Council of Churches’ ecumenical prayer cycle.
As most young people nowadays use social media to keep in touch with friends and family, most ECIC participants agreed that the church should be present in these media if it wants to reach out to them.
However, as Terhi Paananen from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland said in her presentation of trainings for church workers and parishioners on how to use social media in their work and in church life, “it is not enough just to go where the people go. We need to have a mission and a purpose: to help, to encourage, to teach.”
European Christian Internet Conference (ECIC) – http://www.ecic.org/
WCC web office – http://www.oikoumene.org/en/programmes/communication/web-office-and-visual-arts.html
Share the ecumenical prayer cycle on your blog or your website! – http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/prayer-cycle/share.html
Negotiation, Not Coercion needed in the Northern Territory
17 June 2009
MEDIA STATEMENT
from the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ecumenical Commission
NEGOTIATION NOT COERCION NEEDED IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY
Mr Graeme Mundine, the Executive Secretary of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ecumenical Commission (NATSIEC), expressed concern that the ‘consultations’ the Federal Government are undertaking with Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory on the intervention are token gestures. Negotiation not coercion is needed in the Northern Territory.
“Following recent statements made by Minister Macklin, I am concerned that the Government has already decided about the future of the Intervention and these consultations are simply window dressing”, said Mr Graeme Mundine.
“At a recent NATSIEC forum on the NT Intervention, Indigenous Church leaders stressed the importance of governments negotiating proper agreements as distinct from ‘consulting’ on already determined policies.
“I am concerned that the Government is not committed to proper negotiations and will only ‘hear’ those opinions that support its predetermined position. I hope that the Government will respectfully listen to a diverse range of Northern Territory Aboriginal Community voices”.
Mr Mundine also expressed concern about Minister Macklin’s comments regarding the 125 million dollars which she says is ready to be spent if Indigenous communities sign agreements with the Government.
“That is not negotiation, that’s ‘whitemail’”, said Mr Mundine, “Aboriginal people should not have to trade their rights. As Australian citizens they have the right to adequate housing, health and education. Governments have a responsibility to provide these services.
“Using funding to coerce Aboriginal Peoples into agreements they don’t want is not much different to doling out flour and blankets while stealing our land. They said then that these things were for our own good and now they are again trampling over Aboriginal People’s rights under the guise that it is ‘good’ for us.
“Discrimination against Aboriginal Peoples is never ‘good’. The Federal Government should ensure that negotiations result in just and right outcomes for Aboriginal Peoples. The right of Aboriginal Peoples to take responsibility for achieving those negotiated outcomes must be respected.”
Media Comment: Graeme Mundine +61 (0) 419 238 788 – gmundine@ncca.org.au
Please note that Mr Mundine is currently in The Netherlands attending a World Council of Churches Conference on The Challenges of Racism and Related Forms of Discrimination and Exclusion. The Netherlands is 8 hours behind Sydney.
The Forum Statement is available at www.ncca.org.au/natsiec.
Events for the Heart and Mind – 24 June
In This Edition: Christian Meditation Weekend Retreat; 2009 Keith Roby Memorial Lecture; World Food Crisis; Living God’s Promises: The environment as a journey of Faith; Blueprint for a better world.
Christian Meditation Weekend Retreat: Creation and the Contemplative Vision
31 July-2 August
You are invited to this Christian Meditation Community guided silent Retreat.
Take time out to reconnect with the Creator and the Creation in the tranquil setting of Penola by the Sea. Meditation in the John Main tradition – instruction and support available. All are welcome. Suggested donation $170. Enquiries and registrations: Margaret Keane Phone 9334 0995 or CMC WA 9444 5810 Email: christianmeditation@iinet.net.au
2009 Keith Roby Memorial Lecture
Sustainability and Surviving the Perfect Storm: Will it be Convergence or Divergence? by Professor Jules Pretty OBE
The World and its cultures and environments face unprecedented challenges in the coming two to three decades. Consumption-driven stressed on food systems, nature, water and energy are likely to put many cultures and economies under serious threat. What, then, can be learned about divergent patterns of living that emphasise connections to land and nature?
Jules Pretty is Professor of Environment and Society in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Essex. He is a Fellow of the Institution of the Biology and the Royal Society of Arts, Deputy-Chair of the governments Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment
Date: Thursday 2nd July, 2009
Time: 6-8pm
Venue: Kim E Beazley Lecture Theatre
Murdoch University
90 South Street Murdoch
Parking in Car Park 3
RSVP: RSVP essential by Friday 26 June to rsvp@murdoch.edu.au or telephone 08 9360 6176
World Food Crisis
Join Andrew Hewett, the executive Director of Oxfam Australia and co-chair of Make Poverty History, at this exclusive event.
Find out how the converging impacts of the world food crisis, climate change and the financial crisis are affecting poor communities, an the impossible choices they face.
Date: 16 July
Time: 6pm
Venue: Alexander State Library, Perth Cultural Centre
RSVP to kirstens@oxfam.org.au
Living God’s Promises: The environment as a journey of Faith
Yaraandoo (part of Anglican EcoCare) invites Christian Youth leaders and others to a one day workshop on creation spirituality. The focus of the day will be to explore the biblical foundations of creation spirituality and its relevance in the 21st century. Presenters include Dr. Catherine Baudains, lecturer in Environmental Education for Sustainability at Murdoch University and Jeff Sturman, retired environmental scientist/engineer and former Senior Lecturer in Environmental Science at Murdoch University.
When: Saturday 11 July, 2009
Time: 9.30am-4.45pm
Where: Yaraandoo, Toodyay, WA
Places are limited, so if interested contact Karin Strehlow by the 5th of July on 9360 1244 (office hours), 9443 1545 (after hours) or k.strehlow@murdoch.edu.au
Blueprint for a better world
An interactive exhibition Blueprint for a Better World that highlights the Millennium Development Goals and the promise of Governments throughout the world to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger by 2015. The exhibition is supported by Caritas Australia and AusAID and will be arriving in WA later in June. It will be travelling to Bunbury, Fremantle and Geraldton. Great resources can be located at www.blueprintforabetterworld.org Teachers may be interested in taking their students to this exhibition.
The exhibition will be at The University of Notre Dame from the 2nd of July- 20th July.
Bible Society Job Vacancy – Admin Officer
The bible Society of WA is looking for a person to fill the Admin Officer position. This is a Part Time position, at 20 hours a week working in the mornings Monday to Friday.
The Administrative Officer will carry out general administrative and reception functions within the Bible Society Office, be the first contact within the Bible Society Office, be the first contact with out supporters and donors in the Bible Society office (when present), and assist the EO and support other Staff in their roles. The person will be very organised and have excellent time management skills, being able to relate and engage with all levels of donors or supporters.
To Receive an application pack e-mail directorwa(at)bible(dot)org(dot)au or go online to www.biblesocietywa.com.au/Employment.html
National Refugee Week 2009
Refugee Week 2009 will be held from Sunday 14 June to Saturday 20 June, with this year’s theme being “Freedom from Fear”.
Refugee Week has been celebrated in Australia since the 1980s. It provides a platform where positive images of refugees can be promoted in order to create a culture of welcome throughout the country. Our ultimate aim is to create better understanding between different communities and to encourage successful integration enabling refugees to live in safety and to continue making a valuable contribution to Australia. Continue reading ‘National Refugee Week 2009′
Randy Harris
Dayspring has been offered two workshops with Randy Harris
One of the most sought after speakers in the USA for the Churches of Christ. Randy teaches Bible majors and courses in theology, philosophy and preaching at Abilene University in Texas, a private institution of higher education integrating faith and learning throughout the curriculum, reflecting the theological perspective of the broad mainstream of Churches of Christ. Continue reading ‘Randy Harris’
Ecumenism is a Way of Life
By Sara Speicher (*)
Free photos available, see below
Sister Pina Sandu says that in her Orthodox monastery, in the mountains of Romania, they practise “touristic spirituality”. With a resort built up around the monastery, “like it or not” the tourists “hear the bells, hear the services three times a day… They hear, they feel, they know that something is happening.” As a result, their curiosity leads them into the yard and into the church – “small, sure steps towards something beautiful.”
Sister Pina and five other sisters – two each from Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestant orders – are providing a similar subtle but radical witness at the Ecumenical Institute Bossey outside of Geneva, Switzerland, for students and visitors alike. Continue reading ‘Ecumenism is a Way of Life’
Dying to Live: Living to Die
Are we living, or at least trying to live at our peak? If so, we are in the process of preparing to die. This sounds like a paradox and yet the great philosopher, Seneca said, “[The person] will live badly who does not know how to die well.”
This Reflection Day will explore how living well can enable us to die well and how accepting death will help us to embrace life. Of course, as Christians, in Jesus we have the perfect model for living, but can we comfortably say that He died well? What does His death tell us about how to die? He gave us “Comfortable Words” about what happens to us after death, but the dying itself? Woody Alan said, “I don’t mind dying. I just don’t want to be there when it happens.” Continue reading ‘Dying to Live: Living to Die’
Events for the Heart and Mind: 10th June
In this issue: Wasting Time with God: Coffee, Prayers and Spirituality at St. George’s Cathedral; Enneagram Workshop; The Ebb and Flow of Creativity and Contemplation; Living God’s Promises; Dayspring Men’s Spirituality retreat; Blue Print for a Better World. Continue reading ‘Events for the Heart and Mind: 10th June’
