Justice News
Indigenous Justice
The Uniting Church hopes for a nation which acknowledges the rights of Indigenous Australians as the first people of this land, respects the land on which we live, and is commited to empowering Indigenous people to take control of their own lives and destinies.
Indigenous communities, both remote and urban, experience heightened levels of disadvantage. Indigenous Australians have worse health, education and employment outcomes across the board than the non-Indigenous population. Justice for Indigenous people will depend on policies which ensure resourcing in areas of health, housing, education, employment and welfare support.
At its 7th Assembly, the Uniting Church formally entered into a relationship of Covenant with its Indigenous members, recognising and repenting for the Church's complicity in the injustices perpetrated on Australia's Indigenous community, and pledging to move forward with a shared future. Congress' generous response to this statement, among other messages, called upon the broader Church to take up the mission of reconciliation.
The ongoing and continually renewing nature of the Covenant calls the Uniting Church to continually act to remove the systems and structures of discrimination and oppression in Australia.
What's new
Media release from the National Assembly and the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (6 May 2010)
The Uniting Church in Australia has warned that Tony Abbott’s denial of Australia’s discriminatory past promotes a disturbing and socially divisive doctrine which could erode historical facts of national importance.
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President of the Uniting Church in Australia, Rev. Alistair Macrae has condemned the recent comments by Opposition Leader Tony Abbott and other Opposition members concerning the acknowledgement of traditional Indigenous ownership of land as ignorant and destructive (16 March 2010). Click here to read more.
The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ecumenical Commission (NATSIEC) has produced a collection of prayer resources for Sorry Day and the Week of Prayer for Reconciliation (26 May - 3 June). These are available here on the NATSIEC website.
From the NCCA: The NCCA welcomes the decision by the World Council of Churches (WCC) to send an international ecumenical delegation to visit the Indigenous Peoples of Australia from 12-17 September 2010.
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From the World Council of Churches: 65 years after Hiroshima bomb, churches call for elimination of nuclear arms (5 August 2010)
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Positions vacant at the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress: the UAICC is currently recruiting for a Ministry Resource Worker (Mornington Island location) and a National Resource Officer (Townsville location)
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From the National Council of Churches: It’s Time for a Humane, Bipartisan Approach to the Treatment of Asylum Seekers
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Who's illegal? The great big refugee debate: An Amnesty International event to be held at Pitt Street Uniting Church, Tues 14 September 6:30pm
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From UnitingWorld: Take Action Locally for Global Justice this Federal Election
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From UnitingCare Australia: Major church groups seek action on community mental health
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