Posted in Culture
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Participants of the Common Dreams Conference held in July asked all governments and churches to support the Uluru Statement from the Heart. A media release has been distributed, asking organisations for their support.
Rev Sue Ellis, Moderator of the Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of SA responded to the media release (listed below), "The Uniting Church deeply values our Covenantal relationship with the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress and has already endorsed a commitment to the Uluru Statement. We are pleased that more emphasis is being made to support action."
The Covenanting Committee of the UCA Synod SA, also commends this ecumenical conference’s media release (below) and believes this is a good opportunity for congregational discussions around justice for First Peoples and their connection to the land.
Further resources:
"Participants of the Common Dreams Conference, held in Sydney on 11-14 July, have made a call on all governments and churches to support the Uluru Statement of the Heart.
The Common Dreams Conference draws together people from Australia, New Zealand and other parts of the world, and is inclusive of Christianity and other religious and spiritual traditions. The Conference explored ways that progressive spirituality and religion can contribute positively to the common good, with common dreams for a better future.
The 2019 conference participants endorsed a Statement in support of the Uluru Statement of the Heart.
We the participants in the Common Dreams Conference, from diverse places and faith traditions, in 2019 hereby
and
We call upon Federal, State and Local Governments and all people of Australia to drastic action
Dr Anne Pattel-Gray, a keynote speaker at the conference, welcomed the support of the Common Dreams conference participants ‘to walk beside’ the First Nation peoples of Australia in seeking restorative justice. Dr Pattel-Gray said that restorative justice involved steps of acknowledgement, apology and restitution.
Distinguished international guest speaker Matthew Fox, an internationally acclaimed proponent of Creation Spirituality and eco-justice activist, said that it was important to listen closely to the voice of Australian First Peoples. Fox stated that Western societies had much to learn from indigenous people about the care of Earth and their deep spiritual connections with the cosmos, and it was important to listen and respond to their suffering, saying ‘the treatment of indigenous people around the world parallels our treatment of Mother Earth’.
The participants of the Common Dreams Conference also challenged and called all faith communities of Australia to action. The Conference Statement challenges the churches of Australia
Dr Norm Habel, a keynote speaker, renowned biblical scholar and Professorial Fellow at Flinders University, says there is a strong biblical basis for churches to support restorative justice for Australian First Peoples. This includes the Genesis account of Abraham, who recognised and swore by the God of the indigenous people of Canaan, made allies with the Canaanite peoples, and made a treaty with one Canaanite community.
Dr Habel said that the Statement recognises the Aboriginal people as custodians of this land, and their rich spiritual awareness. He said the Conference Statement recognises the historical collusion of governments and churches that has led to the dispossession and cultural and physical destruction of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ culture and requires urgent rectifying through the steps of restorative justice and the treaty process.
For further information, contact
Dr Anne Pattel-Gray (email – Turn on Javascript! )
Dr Norm Habel, (email – Turn on Javascript! )
Dr Margaret Mayman, Pitt St Uniting Church"
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A couple of years ago I was participating in a course which had a smattering of people from a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) background. I would have said that they were good participants in class discussions but not the most active ones, and I gave little thought to it.
The new 'normal’ that we have entered into can certainly bring changes to how we as a church undertake international mission. However, despite this challenge we encourage reflection on the importance of partnerships, solidarity for social justice issues and ecumenical sharing.
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A UnitingCare Emergency Relief Centre was needed in the Port Adelaide-Enfield area of Adelaide. And that's when Lefevre UC and volunteers from Port Adelaide UC stepped up.
All citizens in this land have equal rights and access to parliament. there is no place for one group of any ethnicity to have to special privileges. That is Racism.
Parliament has already apologised for the sins of the past.
There will be no reconciliation without heartfelt forgiveness. a letting go of bitterness and resentment.
An acceptance that 200 years ago the old order in Australia changed. There were many injustices then amongst settlers, convicts and indigenous. It was a different world. and there was much grief in all strata of societies of that time.
The «owners» of that day lost their sovereign rights. Their descendants did not inherit them. The old order passed and a new one evolved.
There is no going back.
We now need to work together to build an inclusive society. No Whites, no blacks, just Australians all.
I understand the sorrow of the present day indigenous people whose ancestors lost sole inhabitation of this land over 200 years ago, but this is a different time and we newer arrivals should not be second class citizens in modern Australia.
History cannot be altered. We have apologised for our ancestors actions, Now is the time for forgiveness to be actioned so we can all go forward together.
It is NOT fair to all to try and set up an alternative «sovereign' nation. And the church should not be party to this injustice.