NCCA National Forum

Every three years, the National Council of Churches in Australia holds a National Forum. Delegations from the member churches and from State Ecumenical Councils attend to engage in dialogue and to discern the direction of the ecumenical movement in Australia. Western Australia was well represented by five  delegates. Mrs Dorothy Carey formed part of the Uniting Church delegation and The Venerable David Ingleson represented the Council of Churches WA. The Reverends Marie Wilson and Chris Bedding attended as observers and Mrs Loretta Wholley as part of the Christian World Service Commission. The theme of the forum was ‘Shaping our Ecumenical Footprint’. Continue reading ‘NCCA National Forum’

Around the Table – RSVP Now!

Around the table is on Monday! RSVP now for a great night of ecumenical Under 30′s Ministry discussion.

The Council of Churches is keen to facilitate dialogue and co-operation amongst people who minister with:

• Children
• Young People
• Young Adults

To get the ball rolling, we are planning a meal and ecumenical conversation for those in ministry with people under 30. The purpose of the evening is informal networking and discussion with the hopes of encouraging attentive listening and positive engagement across Christian traditions. Continue reading ‘Around the Table – RSVP Now!’

A Call for Justice, Security and Peace for Palestine and Israel

During its 7th triennial Forum last week, the National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA) announced it will continue to add its voice to the call for an end to Israel’s occupation of Palestine and condemning all acts of terrorism.

In solidarity with Palestinian Christians, the NCCA asks its member Churches and the wider Australian community to consider a boycott of goods produced by Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Rev Tara Curlewis, General Secretary of the NCCA said “We are asking the member Churches of the NCCA to consider boycotting particular goods produced in Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. It is hoped that such actions will liberate the people from an experience of injustice to one where a just and definitive peace may be reached.” Continue reading ‘A Call for Justice, Security and Peace for Palestine and Israel’

It’s Time for a Humane, Bipartisan Approach to the Treatment of Asylum Seekers: NCCA

Asylum seekers are people in need of care and not to be feared, say Australian Churches.

At the recent National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA) triennial Forum, the Churches affirmed the Australian Government’s right and responsibility to ensure legitimate border protection but also expressed grave concern over the treatment of asylum seekers.

The Churches believe that it is time for the major political parties to work toward a humane, bipartisan approach to the treatment of asylum seekers.  To look to an approach that fulfils our international obligations and enhances Australia’s reputation as a just and humane global citizen.

Reverend Tara Curlewis, NCCA General Secretary, said, “It is time that both political parties stop misleading our community by painting pictures of asylum seekers as people to be feared.  Asylum seekers are vulnerable, often traumatised people fleeing conflict and persecution.  As a safe and secure country we must treat asylum seekers with compassion rather than placing them in detention in enforced limbo. Continue reading ‘It’s Time for a Humane, Bipartisan Approach to the Treatment of Asylum Seekers: NCCA’

Resources for the Heart and Mind 22 July

Lifecycles: Clothing

workshop and clothing swap
18 August 2010, 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Edmund Rice Institute for Social Justice, 24 High Street, Fremantle, WA
Who makes the clothes you wear? What can you do to improve working conditions in the garment industry in Australia and overseas?
Many of the clothes sold in Australia are made in sweatshops in the developing world where workers are underpaid, ill treated and sometimes forced to work against their will. But what about clothing made in Australia?  Even workers in Australia earn as little as $2-$3 per hour producing clothing sold here.
If you’re interested in learning more about sweatshops and promoting more ethical practices in the industry, come to the next Lifecycles workshop.  The Bluestocking Institute’s Lifecycles workshops help participants develop action plans around the issues that they care about.
At the Lifecycles: Clothing workshop we’ll discuss working conditions in the garment industry and the role of consumers, governments and corporations in addressing widespread abuse in the industry.  We’ll also discuss the many active campaigns locally and internationally aimed at improving working conditions in the industry.
The workshop will also include a clothing swap, so if you have any clothes that you no longer need, bring them along to share with others and walk away with some new (to you) items.
Suggested donation $5
RSVP to bluestocking@bluestockinginstitute.org or visit the Lifecycle Clothing event page on Facebook.
Sponsored by the Bluestocking Institute for Global Peace and Justice www.bluestockinginstitute.org

Hiroshima Day

This year marks the 65th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which occurred in 1945 on August 6th and 9th respectively. We need your help now to eliminate once and for the all the unthinkable threat that a nuclear weapon will ever again be detonated.
After 65 years, its time we retired the bomb!
The horrific nuclear detonations on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, now estimated to have killed up to 250,000 people, are the only two deployments of nuclear weapons in war. It has been estimated that 60% of the casualties died from flash or flame burns, 30% from falling debris and 10% from other causes.
The 23000 nuclear weapons in existence today are a much more powerful variety than those used in 1945.
Today, although a growing number of governments around the world are now talking about abolishing nuclear weapons through a nuclear weapons convention, we still need to show world leaders that people all around the world care enough about this issue to make it a real political issue.
All too many of the nuclear weapon states seem content in seeking only the most modest action on disarmament. The tired old mantra of arms control and incremental steps still dominated discussions at the recent NPT Review Conference, despite the growing push for a Nuclear Weapons Convention.
This year events are being planned all over the world for Hiroshima Day, August 6th. In Melbourne Australia a screening of the recently produced film ‘Flashes of Hope: Hibakusha Traveling the World’ will take place, as well as a peace vigil and memorial concert. In Perth, there will be a vigil held starting at 12 noon on the corner of Hay and William Streets (Outside Wesley Church).
If there is no event planned in your area, please consider organizing one. If you know of other events that are not listed here please let us know. It will only be through the concentrated efforts of people like us all over the world that we can ensure the horror inflicted on the people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki is never, ever repeated.
To find out more, visit the ICANW website.

Dayspring Quiet Day

Hello Everyone,
PLEASE NOTE that the usual QUIET DAY will be on offer in JULY – TUESDAY JULY 13th @ Nathanael’s Rest in Mundaring – 9:30-3:30pm.
Enjoy the space around the fire for inspiration or relaxation – walks in the bush – or just quiet contemplation in God’s realm.
Join Brian and Patricia as they host the day!
Dayspring Centre for Christian Spirituality

The Writings of Paul

Monday, 2 August 2010
Venue: The Friends’ Room, Lower Burt Memorial Hall, 38A St Georges Terrace, Perth
Time: 5.15-6.15pm
Dr Paula Gooder – author, lecturer, and specialist in the writings of Paul – will be visiting Perth for a series of events.
On 2 August, she will present and lead a discussion at the Cathedral, based on two recent books: What Did Paul Really Say?, by Bishop Tom Wright, and The First Paul – Reclaiming the Radical Visionary Behind the Church’s Conservative Icon, by Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan.Dr Gooder is Canon Theologian of Birmingham Cathedral, Visiting Lecturer at King’s College, London, Associate Lecturer at St Mellitus College, London, an Honorary Lecturer at the University of Birmingham, and Senior Research Scholar at the Queen’s Foundation, Birmingham.
This event will appeal to both preachers and laypeople.
Entry: $10.00 at the door
Further information: info@perthcathedral.org This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or (08) 9325 5766

Sustainable September

Sustainable September is fast approaching. Resources will soon be available, but in the meantime, let us know if you (or your church) is doing anything to be greener. Continue reading ‘Sustainable September’

His Kingdom Conference

The Bible Society is partnering with World Vision to launch the Poverty and Justice bible at the His Kingdom Ignite Young Adults Conference to be held on July 30 and 31. The bibles will be available at the conference with a journal and CD for the low price of only $20.00. Continue reading ‘His Kingdom Conference’

Rifat Kassis Visit

Rifat Kassis arrived in Perth for a very short speaking engagement as part of a tour organised by Act for Peace. The Uniting Church of Australia WA Church Office was the location for an afternoon discussion and evening lecture. The Uniting Church have written a fantastic report on the evening, with some great photos. Check it out! Continue reading ‘Rifat Kassis Visit’

Around the Table

The Council of Churches is keen to facilitate dialogue and co-operation amongst people who minister with:

• Children
• Young People
• Young Adults

To get the ball rolling, we are planning a meal and ecumenical conversation for those in ministry with people under 30. The purpose of the evening is informal networking and discussion with the hopes of encouraging attentive listening and positive engagement across Christian traditions. Continue reading ‘Around the Table’

WCC chief commends Methodists for ‘daring more than words’ on Israel Palestine

World Council of Churches General Secretary, the Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, has congratulated the British Methodist Conference’s “important and forward looking resolutions by your church around the question of a just peace for Palestine and Israel.”

The conference, which met from 24 June to 1 July 2010 in Portsmouth, England, has received a report entitled “Justice for Palestine and Israel” and voted on 11 resolutions pertaining to it. These include a request to the Methodist Faith and Order Committee to “undertake further work on the theological issues, including Christian Zionism, raised in the report that are needed to guide and support the approach of the Methodist Church to the Israeli/Palestinian situation”.

On a more practical ground, the Conference called on the Methodist people “to support and engage with [the] boycott of Israeli goods” emanating from illegal settlements as their response to a call of the WCC in 2009 supported by Palestinian Christians in their recent Kairos document, and a growing number of Jewish organisations, both inside Israel and worldwide.

The Conference also called for a full arms embargo as an important step towards a just peace in the region. Continue reading ‘WCC chief commends Methodists for ‘daring more than words’ on Israel Palestine’

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