Posted in Culture
The Uniting Church in Australia has welcomed and advocated for refugees and asylum seekers in a variety of ways. In South Australia, many congregations have taken part in community action or are involved in specific asylum seeker and refugee projects. New Times asked three local congregations to reflect on how they have actively engaged with asylum seekers in their communities.
Lived justice
Brougham Place Uniting Church
Justice for all! It sounds a bit like a superhero catchcry, but in reality this has always been part of the fabric of the Christian faith.
Born of our mandate to welcome the stranger and love our neighbour, Brougham Place Uniting Church has been on a journey with refugees and asylum seekers for decades now.
Like many congregations, it began with open hearts and arms as we embraced the peoples coming to Australia from South Sudan. We built community together – a Circle of Friends. The richness of shared life and worship was only the first step. Sukulu na Bari, a Bari language and culture school took form. Over 50 children still gather along with teachers and helpers on alternate Saturdays to learn. It is an important part of understanding not only culture, but also identity.
In recent years our hearts have opened even further. As individuals, and as a community, we have heard the cries of the asylum seekers, and cannot help but remember cries once heard from out of Egypt. Our sisters and brothers are imprisoned and dying – Christ calls us to work for their freedom.
Some of our members have participated in Love Makes a Way; others have worked with Welcome to Australia and the Welcome Centre. We have held prayer vigils and forums, gathered resources for people in detention, written to politicians, signed campaigns, and welcomed people who are finally released.
This work for justice is not always easy. Sometimes the answers are difficult to find. The compassionate Christ, who welcomed friend and stranger, outcast and insider alike, longs for all to be seated at the table – we long for that too.
We don’t need to be superheros, just disciples of the One who will show us the way.
Life lessons and living examples
Unley Uniting Church
Fifteen years ago some members of the Unley Uniting Church community became concerned about Australia’s treatment of asylum seekers and the welfare of refugees in our midst.
Our interest was initially inspired by a chance encounter with Amir, an Iraqi professor. Amir fled Saddam Hussein’s regime under pressure to produce outcomes in his field of expertise that were incompatible with his Christian faith, and eventually reached Christmas Island by boat. After a period of incarceration at Woomera Detention Centre, he was released into the community.
When our church community first encountered him, six months after his release from Woomera, Amir was already working tirelessly as an advocate for compassionate government responses to asylum seekers and refugees. We offered Amir financial and emotional support, eventually helping him to bring his wife and two children to Adelaide – his children are now adults who have obtained degrees and achieved success in their respective professions.
Amir’s story was a highly motivating factor in our church’s involvement. His example of hope in the face of many obstacles made it impossible for Unley Uniting not to be involved at a deeper, long-term level.
The Refugee Support Fund was established in August 2001, with both congregations in the Unley/Malvern Uniting Parish contributing to the fund through monthly retiring offerings. This regular income, along with personal and group donations over the next five years, amounted to almost $40,000. The Refugee Support Fund has enabled the church to provide much needed help to several families and individuals in need.
The refugee families we have had contact with over the years have given us much more than we have given them. They have taught the members of our community about living with humility, gratitude and compassion.
Please note: The Uniting Church SA’s Refugee Support Fund is no longer in operation. To find out more about how you can support refugees and asylum seekers please email Turn on Javascript!
This church, this season, this issue
Coromandel Valley Uniting Church
For the last four years Coromandel Valley Uniting Church (known as “Coro Uniting”) has had the privilege of participating with many Iranian asylum seekers who have also been Jesus seekers. These years have seen frequent baptisms, Farsi Bible teaching and small groups, spontaneous Farsi prayer in worship, language classes, refugee advocacy, mentoring, walking together, and meals, meals, meals.
With time, many of these people have moved on to other places – but some have made Coro Uniting their permanent church from which they reach out to others as far away as Iran itself.
Coro Uniting has a strong history of work in cross-cultural life and ministry – over the past 30 years, 100 of the church members have had significant involvement in this area. In the current congregation, 93 members are or have been involved in cross-cultural spaces, here and overseas. Nine members currently work in the cross-cultural mission full time.
The presence of so many who have worked in cross-cultural areas cannot be coincidence – God has prepared this church for this season.
But the present ministry with Iranian asylum seekers all came about through God’s call to one person – Lesley Inauen.
For years, Lesley prepared for cross-cultural mission with her husband, Urs, thinking they would be working in Africa. But when the opportunity to work in Africa finally came their family situation rendered them unavailable.
It was Lesley who first met with local Iranian asylum seekers. Coro Uniting’s cross-cultural ministry with them grew from that initial meeting.
Prayer and letters of intercession
Since engaging in this ministry, members of Coro Uniting have twice sought to write to Australian political leaders on behalf of asylum seekers. They have interceded with God in prayer, then with political leaders in letters.
The first letter campaign sought to influence all political parties to adopt a more humane approach when addressing those appealing for asylum. The letters also sought recognition of asylum seekers’ human dignity.
The most recent letters appealed to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection on behalf of a family attending Coro Uniting. This family rejected Islam and have been baptised into Christ. They have been ordered to return to Iran, where they would be in danger of persecution.
In total, 108 people wrote separate letters on behalf of this family; one letter was signed by 50 people. These letters were also added to the case prepared by the family’s lawyer. Sadly, their claim remains rejected.
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It’s time for your voice to be heard!
Mission Resourcing and the Moderator are encouraging all congregations and individuals to share their thoughts on the treatment of asylum seekers and refugees by writing letters to political leaders on Sunday 19 June.
Need some help on figuring out how to do this? We’ve created a step-by-step guide!
If these dates don’t work for you or your congregation, you can still be involved! To find out more, please contact Transforming Justice Coordinator Adrian Nippress on (08) 8236 4203 or email Turn on Javascript!
This article was published in the June/July print edition of New Times.
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