News, Notices & Prayer points - 26th March 2024
This week's news, notices & prayer points from congregations, the SA Synod, and the wider Uniting Church.
Posted in News
The Uniting Church in Australia Assembly released the following statement from President Stuart McMillan as a response to recent discussions of Section 18C in the Federal Racial Discrimination Act:
The Uniting Church in Australia does not support the watering down of existing legal protections in the Federal Racial Discrimination Act.
I reaffirm our Church’s commitment to confront racism wherever it emerges in Australian society.
Every Australian should be able to live in our society free from the threat of racial discrimination and vilification.
Without effective protection, the Uniting Church is most concerned for the individuals subject to discrimination who would remain silent.
The Uniting Church is concerned the proposed changes section 18c of the Act, replacing the words “insult”, “offend” and “humiliate” in section 18C with “harass” could lead to more public expression of overt prejudice.
In a recent submission to the Federal Government, the Uniting Church in Australia argued for the retention in full of sections 18C and 18D of the Racial Discrimination Act to protect the dignity and rights of vulnerable minority groups in Australia.
As representatives from Indigenous and culturally diverse backgrounds have pointed out, this change is being advocated predominantly by people who have no idea what it’s like to endure racial discrimination in Australia.
I believe the changes proposed by the Federal Government present a serious threat to social cohesion in our multicultural society.
I urge all politicians of good conscience to do the right thing, and refuse to pass the proposed changes to the Racial Discrimination Act.
Update 03/04/17: Since publishing the above, the Senate has made the decision not to change the Racial Discrimination Act. Read Assembly's statement on this update here.
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This week's news, notices & prayer points from congregations, the SA Synod, and the wider Uniting Church.
This week's news, notices & prayer points from congregations, the SA Synod, and the wider Uniting Church.
This week's news, notices & prayer points from congregations, the SA Synod, and the wider Uniting Church.
But I am a member of the Uniting Church and hold a well considered contrary view. On this issue he does not speak for me.
No vote has ever been taken from our members on this matter. Therefore the President is presumptuous at best, when he expresses this as «our view».
We all know what it means to be unfairly treated regardless of our skin colour or ethnic background. Some more than others.
We should also try to treat each other with respect, regardless of our differences. Abusing people for „offending“ us only makes the situation worse.
As 18c stands it is a very real threat to social cohesion in our multicultural society because it highlights accusations and divisions.
As christians we should also remember the words of Christ to „forgive those who unfairly treat or offend you. Do good to those who despitefully use you.“ And see what God can do when we give it all to Him.
Or do we think we know better than the teachings of our Lord?
The UC's stand on this issue does not represent me or many others members.