“God has broken down the dividing walls”

This is the theme for 2016’s World Week of Peace in Palestine Israel, a week of advocacy and action in support of an end to the illegal occupation of Palestine and a just peace for all in Palestine and Israel.

Join together with Congregations and individuals around the globe who share the hope of justice shall unite during the week to take peaceful actions, together, to create a common international public witness. 

NCCA ASSEMBLY

Following the NCCA Forum’s approval of the adoption of a new Constitution for NCCA, NCCA has a slightly changed structure. In the past two representatives of each church met three times a year. This group, the Executive addressed matters of concern, received reports from the various NCCA commissions and networks and made decisions that enabled the work of ecumenism to progress.

Jess comes to Act for Peace from a professional background in digital media and video production. In her role as Media and Communications Officer she helps to inspire and engage Act for Peace supporters by creating content for their social media channels, website and print publications, as well as organise story gathering trips for their overseas programs, and implementation of Act for Peace’s media strategy. 

National Child Protection Week 2016

This awareness week enables all of us to build on the national child protection framework “Protecting Children is Everyone’s Business: Play Your Part” by focussing on the theme ‘Stronger Communities, Safer Children’. This theme emphasises the importance and value of connected communities in keeping children and young people safe and well. 

Saving lives in India

Shanti* and her son Hari* were born in Sri Lanka but for the last 25 years she and her family I have lived in a refugee camp assisted by Act for Peace’s partner, the Organisation for Eelam Refugees Rehabilitation (OfERR), in the state of Tamil Nadu in south-east India.

Your ongoing support to Act for Peace has helped to save Hari’s life. 

NCCA is pleased to announce that Janet Cousens has been appointed as Interim Executive Director of Act for Peace for a period of twelve months from 1 July 2016. Janet joined Act for Peace in 2008, and has been serving as the Programs and Policy Director since December 2010. Janet has excellent credentials to serve in her new position and we are very appreciative of the skills and talents that she will bring to this role during this interim period. 

Catholic religious orders from across Australia call for Amnesty for the people in detention camps: saying #BringThemHere!

Sisters from Catholic religious orders across Australia today signed a statement calling on the Prime Minister to issue an amnesty for those suffering cruelty in Australia’s offshore detention camps, and backed a call for a Summit on Solutions to take the politics out of refugee policy.

As we move into Spring we frequently experience the delight of new life. Blossoms abound, shoots break through the soil, fresh leaves appear on branches. Many years ago, some friends and I drove into the Flinders Ranges about this time of the year.

Two memories stay with me: As we drover further into the ranges, I turned and looked through the rear window of the car. The hills were covered in purple! It was as though Salvation Jane (known in other states as Patterson’s Curse) garmented the land! When we stopped the car and walked on the dry red soil, in amongst the grey-greens of the salt bush, once or twice we were delighted by the sight of the blood-red Sturt Desert Pea, with its shiny red-black petals. These were special moments. 

Following their 2nd meeting on Wednesday 24 August, the President and the Board of National Council of Churches in Australia have released a statement to the media urging the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition and the Governor General to “…sort out a solution to the issue of Nauru and Manus Island Detention Centres”, and asking them to consider convening a Consultation on Peace-making in Australia.