On Sunday 27th November 2016, church leaders, parishes and Indigenous communities gathered together to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the visit to Alice Springs of Saint John Paul II (JPII) on 29th November 1986. The Bishops Commission for Relations with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples (BCRATSIP) and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council (NATSICC) worked together to prepare this day of celebration.

‘Walk Tall and Command Respect. The time for this rebirth is now’ was the theme of the commemorations.

The Uniting Church in Australia was recently honoured with the Armenian National Committee of Australia’s Freedom Award at the Annual Banquet of the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia) in Sydney.

On Friday 4 November 2016, Stuart McMillan, president of The Uniting Church in Australia Assembly and Rev. Dr Krikor Youmshajekian, President of the Armenian Missionary Association of Australia and Minister of St. Andrew’s Uniting Church, Longueville, accepted the Award for the Church. The Award, one of several honours to be handed out on the night, was presented by ANC Australia Honorary Chairman, Greg Soghomonian and ANC America Chairman, Raffi Hamparian.

25 November – 10 December

‘From peace in the home to peace in the world: make education safe for all!’

ACRATH'S campaign is 16 days of activism against gender-based violence which began on November 25 and ends on December 10 – Human Rights Day. During this time we are encouraged to work together to stop trafficking of girls and women.

Millions of women and girls are forced to work for little pay in terrible conditions with no chance of an education. Human trafficking is a growing, $150 billion global industry.

Dear friends

As I write this last message for 2016,the words of Dag Hammarskjold, come to my mind, For all that has been, Thanks, for all that will be, Yes!  There is so much for which to be thankful.  2016 has been a very significant year in the life of the national Council of Churches in Australia. Our forum took place giving us a new President, a new constitution, a new Board of Directors, and a new Assembly. Our commissions and networks continue to commit to ensuring our churches work together and grow in understanding of each other. The NCCA staff is beavering along – with generosity and commitment. Act for peace are completing the requirements for accreditation. These few sentences completely understate what we are doing together. To each person who is involved, who has gone the extra mile, Thank you. 

Just recently I witnessed the value of good friends. About 150 people turned up for lunch on Saturday last in Teasdale. The Revd Tim Smith and the Belmont parishioners were absolutely wonderful hosts, so well organised, gracious and kindly, opening their doors and hearts to a number of recently arrived Iraqi Christians.

It was truly beautiful to see the happiness surrounding our Iraqi friends. They had come from such desolation and misery and shared with us what ISIS has done to their former homes and Church.

The pictures below show so vividly the destruction meted out. 

Christian Perspectives on Treaty, Sovereignty and Constitutional Recognition

This Ecumenical Forum is hosted by the Victorian Council of Churches.

Keynote speakers for the evening are:

Stuart McMillan, President UCA and Ken Sumner, a Ngarrindjeri man and Victorian Director of Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Congress

The panellists include a range of indigenous and Church leaders 

The Jewish Christian Muslim Association of Australian is holding the 2016 Friendship Walk in East Melbourne. You are invited to walk together in friendship and goodwill between church, synagogue and mosque.

Questions Women ask about Domestic Violence and Christian Beliefs -Revised booklet now available.

This booklet was originally published in 2010 by the Joint Churches Domestic Violence Prevention Project (JCDVPP), a commission of Queensland Churches Together as a resource for victims or survivors of domestic and family violence. Since then it has proven a useful resource for clergy and pastoral carers who support victims in their congregations.

Bethel Mar Thoma Church Sydney celebrates its Silver Jubilee

A member of National Council of Churches in Australia and the NSW Ecumenical Council, The Sydney Mar Thoma Church celebrates 25 years  on November 5, 2016 at the Parkside Baptist Church, 717 Smithfield Road, Edensor Park, NSW, Sydney at 4pm. All are cordially welcome to this occasion.

The Bethel Mar Thoma Church, Sydney, is a parish in the diocese of Malaysia, Singapore and Australia. The Diocesan Bishop is Rt. Rev. Joseph Mar Barnabas.