Justice News
JusticeNEWS 17 February 2010
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In this edition
Uniting Church President to visit Christmas Island
New resource - An Economy of Life booklet
Positions vacant in the Uniting Church in South Australia
Elenie's upcoming speeches
Christmas Island visit
President of the Uniting Church in Australia, Rev. Alistair Macrae will visit Christmas Island from 22-24 February. He will be joined by a delegation including the Anglican Archbishop of Perth, The Most Rev. Roger Herft, Rosemary Hudson Miller, Associate General Secretary Justice and Mission for the Synod of Western Australia, and Natalie Shymko, Communication Manager for the National Assembly.
At a time when public attention is high and the debate about asylum seekers arriving by boat is often ill-informed, the delegation is keen to see, first-hand, the conditions for asylum seekers on the island. They will assess people's wellbeing and the level of care and support they are offered. This visit continues the long-standing commitment of the Uniting Church in Australia to highlight the plight of asylum seekers and refugees and to work for justice and fair policies which uphold Australia's obligations under international law. This reflects our commitment to extending justice and compassion to those most in need.
Please continue to check the Assembly website as news from their visit will be posted in the coming weeks and months www.assembly.uca.org.au
New resource: An Economy of Life booklet
The Twelfth Assembly meeting of the Uniting Church adopted a statement which discusses how we understand human progress and our relationship with the natural world - An Economy of Life: Re-imagining human progress for a flourishing world.
UnitingJustice now has copies of the An Economy of Life statement in a colourful, bright booklet available for church members. They can be ordered (free of charge) by contacting UnitingJustice on 02 8267 4236 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
If you'd like to see a PDF version of the booklet, it's available here on our website.
Pamphlets and other resources to assist church members to engage with and use the statement will be available in the coming months.
This booklet is the latest in a suite of resources produced for church members, outlining the Assembly's main policies, which you can check out here on our website, with hard copes available from UnitingJustice free of charge.
Positions available in the Uniting Church in South Australia
The Mission Resourcing Network of the Presbytery and Synod of South Australia currently has three positions vacant:
Solidarity and Justice Officer (half time)
Mission Planner for Multicultural Ministeries (half time)
International Mission Officer (half time)
Two positions may be combined into a full time position for a suitable applicant. For more information on these positions, see the MRN website
Elenie's upcoming speeches
Our National Director, Elenie Poulos, has a number of speaking engagements coming up.
Elenie will speak at the Climate Action Network Australia annual conference, as part of a panel discussing climate change advocacy in the current domestic political landscape. This session is for CANA members only, however the first session of the conference 'Unpacking Copenhagen: What happened, what is means and where we're headed' on Wednesday 24 February is open to the public. For more information and to register, see the CANA website.
Elenie will also speak at Lane Cove Uniting Church in Sydney on the World Day of Prayer, Friday 5 March, and at an International Women's Day event hosted by Woollahra Council on the evening of Wednesday 10 March. More information on these events will be posted soon on our website.
Christmas Island chaplaincy: a light in the darkness
Christmas Island is a tiny speck in the Indian Ocean, yet it will seem vast compared to some of the tight spaces Rev Christine Senini worked in. And she won’t have to sleep in a bunk bed.
The President of the Uniting Church in Australia, Rev. Alistair Macrae has added his name to the list of prominent Australians calling for reform to our asylum seeker policies. UnitingJustice has continually advocated for a more compassionate approach to these vulnerable members of our society.
UnitingJustice and the Uniting Church in Australia Assembly has joined the chorus of voices calling for Constitutional recognition of the unique contribution that First Peoples have made to this country. Amendments to the Australian Constitution should also include removal of racist and discriminatory language and clauses. The open letter was accompanied by a submission to the Expert Panel on Constitutional Recognition made by UnitingJustice.
UJA Reference Committee member, Professor John Langmore, discusses the political momentum behind and the public benefits of introducing a financial transactions tax.
Rethink Refugees - watch UJA National Director, Rev. Elenie Poulos, reflecting on her work in refugee advocacy as part of Amnesty's information campaign
Preamble posters and Covenanting resources
Download or print your own here.
Position Vacant: Senior Media Officer
The Assembly of the Uniting Church in Australia seeks to appoint an experienced media professional to the role of Senior Media Officer. Read more...
Churches solid on poker machine reform
The major Christian churches in Australia have reaffirmed their commitment to the Government’s proposed poker machine reform this morning in the face of Catholic priest Father Chris Riley’s apparent support for the inaccurate, well-funded industry campaign. Read more...