Nobel Peace Prize winner and Foreign Minister of East Timor, Dr Jose Ramos-Horta, will speak about the challenges facing his country and about Australia’s relationship with its close neighbour at a Sydney dinner in April.

East Timor reaches its second birthday as a nation on May 20 and in the midst of celebrating its achievements, it also faces big challenges as a small democratic nation in the global economy, coming to terms with neighbouring Indonesia and asserting its rights to Timor Gap oil reserves.

The dinner, to be held on Friday April 30, is raising money for food projects in East Timor. In 1999, over 30% of the country’s homes, crops, livestock and tools were destroyed by pro-Indonesia militia groups – in some areas everything was lost – and five years later, East Timor still struggles to feed its people. Recent drought has only worsened the problem.

The dinner will raise money for locally-run community garden projects, which will make villages self-sufficient. Money raised will also help train farmers in sustainable agriculture.

His Excellency, Dr Ramos-Horta is a guest of forceten, an education and fundraising agency which supports Caritas Australia and Christian World Service. Dr Ramos-Horta won the Nobel Peace Prize with Bishop Carlos Belo, for his long years of campaigning on the international stage for justice for East Timor under 24 years of Indonesian occupation.

Photos: East Timor at the crossroads. (Robertson, 2003), Boy with Slingshot (Robertson, 2003)

If you would like to know more about the dinner and/or interview Dr Ramos-Horta, please contact Ms Amanda Jackson, 02 9299 2215, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Christian World Service, of the National Council of Churches in Australia, invites congregations to make an extra special offering for the people of Bam, on Sunday 22 February – please be generous for the Iran earthquake survivors.

An immediate response to the initial assessment of the emergency team from the Middle East

Council of Churches (MECC) of the needs of the people of Bam has already been made by Christian World Service.

“Thanks to the generosity of supporters of the Christmas Bowl, $20,000 was sent to Action by Churches Together International as soon as the relief specialists had met with church leaders and discussed post-crisis assistance. The rebuilding of houses, schools, dispensaries and hospitals especially is a major concern”, said Mr Caesar D’Mello, National Director of CWS.

According to His Excellency, Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian, Primate of the Armenian Prelacy of Tehran and a member of the MECC’s Executive Committee, the number of casualties is around 52 000 people dead and more than 60 000 injured (7 January 2004).

The MECC is closely monitoring developments in Bam, following the deadly earthquake in the midst of winter weather and temperatures that regularly drop below freezing – it is especially critical for people who have lost homes and those who fear to stay in damaged buildings which could tumble at any time.

Emergency relief food supplies, including 15,120 cans of tinned food, 13,664 cans of cooking oil and 3 812 cans of tinned fish were delivered, together with 830 tents, in the first week of January – $100 will support one person with shelter and food at this critical time.

There is a continuing urgent need for tents, blankets, water tanks, food, and cooking oil, all of which can be purchased in Teheran as soon as possible. Additional funds are urgently needed – all contributions are tax deductible.

Give via telephone 1800 025 101, our secure site www.ncca.org.au
or send to Locked Bag 199 Sydney 1230

_______________________
Information/ Colleen Hodge - Education and Communications Programs
Photographs: Christian World Service - The National Council of Churches in Australia
Telephones 02 9299 2215/0419 6852 48/1800 025 101
Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Despite devastation, hope still lives on street of dreams
From Hege Opseth in Iran (ACT International/Norwegian Church Aid) – January 2004

On a street where a row of houses once stood, tents are now lined up. The street used to house families and their dreams, many of which were destroyed by the earthquake on December 26. Yet the city lives on.

Before the earthquake levelled much of his city, Akhbar's guesthouse stood in the centre of the street and was a meeting place for neighbours. Now, all that remains of the life Akhbar and his family led is one remaining wall of their home and a mess of twisted beds.

"Running a guesthouse was my dream, to welcome guests from all over the world and show them our rich cultural heritage and our country."

Following the quake, Akhbar managed to dig out and save the lives of seven people. His son, Mohammed, was buried in the ruins of their house for hours. He survived, but his best friend, who was sleeping next to him, died.

"I was sleeping when the earthquake struck," Mohammed recalls. "And I still feel like I am sleeping, just having a nightmare that will be over soon. It is too unreal. Too many are dead - family members, my girlfriend and friends." He can't even find his girlfriend's grave.

Mohammed had a promising future ahead of him. He loved working at his father's guesthouse, which he was to take over one day. He describes it as "my whole life, my love and my future. "Now, I am not able to think of the future."

Near their ruined guesthouse, Akhbar and Mohammed have acquired tents in which to live. There is no shower, no toilet and nothing to keep them warm during the cold nights. Nevertheless, they are alive, and so are their dreams of running a guest house.

"Now I have put up a tent across the street," Akhbar said, "There I still wish guests welcome."

Outside is a makeshift memorial of flowers and pictures of neighbours who died in the quake. Many people stop, looking fearfully for faces they know. On what is left of the entrance, residents have painted a sign that says “Bam lives”.

A hundred metres away, another family is searching the ruins of their home. Several families sit in their tents along the street. Some families lost five children. Others lost three.

Masomee, a young girl, lost her parents. On the morning of the quake, she was sleeping in the room next to the kitchen with the rest of her family. "I got buried up to my waist. It took three and a half hours before they managed to get me out. Next to me were my dead parents," Masomee said.

Only rubble remains of Masool's home. His parents and four other family members were killed. The refrigerator still contains eggs, untouched by the earthquake. They are a reminder of the randomness of the destruction the quake caused.

Miriam, was saved by her brother-in-law. "I came here as soon as I could after the earthquake. We were digging in the ruins for hours. We managed to save Miriam," he said.

Miriam wears a mask to keep out the dust. She is shaking, and the tears stream down her cheeks when she speaks of what happened. She is sitting in the ruins, feeding baby Hedyeh, which means gift. Her other daughter, Hadis, plays with an old camera she found in the ruins, blissfully ignorant of what has taken place.

"In one way I was lucky," Miriam said. "I have lost many, but all my children survived."

The family has attended funeral after funeral during the past week. Together with more than 30,000 others, relatives who were killed are buried in a mass grave outside the city centre.

Young Christians and Muslims will this Sunday join their Jewish brothers and sisters at the Great Synagogue in Sydney as part of the Jewish celebrations of Chanukah.  This is part of an exciting new inter-faith project, the ‘Journey of Promise’, aimed at addressing religious and racial disharmony and walking together in peace.  The current festival period, beginning with the Muslim Eid Ul-Fitr (end of Ramadan) celebration, was chosen deliberately for this reason.   ‘Each of our faiths proclaims peace to all at the heart of our festivals, said the Revd.Dr.Jon Inkpin, coordinator  of the project, ‘and in sharing these special occasions together, we therefore wish to affirm all that unites us and to light candles together to dispel the darkness and ignorance of our world.’

These visits to religious festivals mark the first steps in the Journey of Promise project, which is supported by the Australian Government’s Living in Harmony initiative.  This project has been developed jointly by the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry and the National Council of Churches in Australia.   The centre-piece of the project will be a six-day intensive at the end of January, when 30 young Christians, Muslims and Jews will live together residentially.  During this period they will visit and meet a variety of different religious and secular places and people in Sydney, and reflect together on how best to develop religious and cultural understanding.  A further celebration will be held to mark Harmony Day on March 21 next year, and the experience is also being professionally recorded by Karl McPhee Productions in a video which will be used to enable others to make their own journeys of promise together. 

Already the results of meeting one another across religious divides have been striking.  As one  young Christian observed after attending the Eid Ul-Fitr prayers at Zetland mosque: ‘the experience was new, amazing and revealing.  New and amazing because it was so foreign for one coming from a Pentecostal Christian background, revealing because we were given the opportunity to see a community of faith celebrating one of their happiest and holiest festivals.’

For further information: 
Contact the Revd Dr Jon Inkpin OR Emily Ninnes at the NCCA
Tel: (02) 9299 2215 or 0410 583 013

Journey of Promise webpage:
http://www.ncca.org.au/dov/journey_of_promise
Living in Harmony website:
http://www.immi.gov.au/harmony/index.htm

Emele Duituturaga, Christmas Bowl visitor in Australia this month, has expressed gratitude and thanks for the love and giving during the 54 years of the Christmas Bowl program.

Speaking at launches in NSW, ACT, Tasmania, South Australia and Queensland, Emele, a development specialist, who has recently facilitated a Training Program for Solomon Island leaders in association with the Australian Council for Overseas Aid, said that the short-term achievements of the Australian Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands would only be sustainable if assistance was provided to the government and people to address the underlying causes of the crisis, particularly through a long-term process of deep engagement with Solomon Islands civil society.  

“No amount of government and military intervention and removal of weapons can give people dignity – the message of Jesus to find more meaningful ways of overcoming violence, to give love and hope, in the way the Christmas Bowl does, is a very powerful message,” Emele said.

In Fiji, where Emele lives, the challenges are enormous.  The Ecumenical Centre for Research, Education and Advocacy is responding to racial, social, economic and political situations in its programs – and is grateful for the A$ 50 000 grant from the Christmas Bowl.

The Social Empowerment Education Program, which Emele chairs, is working on a Fiji model of community development.  It brings together traditional village leaders to reflect on cultural ideas and to bridge issues of race, politics and conflicts – to challenge hierarchical concepts and to introduce servant and non-violent leadership.

“The churches have a major role in working with the local people, in offering prayerful support to help the people of the Pacific to be the idyllic paradise portrayed in the glossy tourist brochures.  There is so much poverty – so little water, so little food, so little love.” 

“Your gift given through the Christmas Bowl, is like you being there with us – it brings you to the Pacific – and Australia is part of the Pacific.  It is in giving and reaching out that you really take the gospel values to the people.”

“Thank you to the Christmas Bowl and to the people of Australia from your colleagues in the Pacific.” 

Give a little HOPE this Christmas – Give to the Christmas Bowl

Photos: (Above) Emele with Graham Tupper (ACFOA), Frank Thompson (ACFOA), Doug Hewitt (NSWEC), John Ball (CWS-RDP) and Dee DeSilva (ACFOA) and (below) Emele launching the Christmas Bowl in Canberra.
Information/ Colleen Hodge - Education and Communications Programs
Photographs: Christian World Service - The National Council of Churches in Australia
Telephones 02 9299 2215/0419 6852 48/1800 025 101
Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Mozambique
Jo Lin and Gwen Willis, CWS International Programs staff, recently returned from meetings with the Christian Council of Mozambique – which was supported with A$ 50 000 from the Christmas Bowl this year.

One of the projects of the Christian Council of Mozambique has been enabling communities and individuals to relinquish weapons caches (a “legacy” from 19 years of war) and in return to receive tools and materials for home or business use.

“It’s more than about getting people to hand over weapons,” explained the Director, Forquilha Albino.  “We highlight the negative impact that weapons have on a community and offer something positive in return.”

This might be pots and pans, a bicycle, roofing or – in the case of one farming community which gave up thousands of weapons – a tractor.

“It doesn’t stop there,” said Albino.  “There are many people in these communities who were child soldiers and lost their chance of having an education in anything other than war.  We aim to help them by training them so they can earn a living.”

If sufficient funds are available, it is hoped the project will be truly national by December 2004.

Your support for the Christmas Bowl this year will enable more funds to be available to the people of Mozambique as they struggle to recover from the ravages of war.

Photo: Jeronimo Mendoza, Civic Education Co-ordinator, Christian Council of Mozambique.

Iraq
“We cannot live in peace, and many people do not even travel from their homes because they are afraid,” said Patriarch Mar Addai II of the Ancient Church of the East – he was robbed in front of his church by thieves who roam Baghdad – they snatched his crucifix, and shot his companion in the foot. 

The work of Action by Churches Together, a partner of Christian World Service, has helped to save Iraqi lives, not only during the war, but afterwards.  Some agencies are leaving Iraq but ACT is staying. 

Massive unemployment and unpaid workers, sporadic electricity supply (none for the churches), safety of girls and women, child kidnappings for ransom (a new crime in Iraq), are continuing problems.  “Please tell your governments about our lack of safety and security.”

Edward Esho, who manages the ACT/Middle East Council of Churches program in Iraq, was also a robbery victim – travelling in a taxi which was hijacked – he believed taxis were safer than vehicles belonging to a non-government organisation.

Lack of safe drinking water is another problem – in 20 years Iraq may have a beautiful water distribution system, but it is not happening now and will not happen by next year.

The Christmas Bowl program for 2004 includes A$ 150 000 for emergency programs and the generosity of Australian people will enable continuing support for the Iraqi people.

Give a little HOPE this Christmas – Give to the Christmas Bowl

Information/ Colleen Hodge - Education and Communications Programs
Photographs: Christian World Service - The National Council of Churches in Australia
Telephones 02 9299 2215/0419 6852 48/1800 025 101
Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Christmas Bowl has been busy at work in the world in 2003, supporting 53 projects – a project for each of the 53 years of the Christmas Bowl's existence.

The Christmas Bowl is a program of Christian World Service, a Commission of the National Council of Churches in Australia.  It invites Australians to look outwards to the worldwide family of Christ, offering an invaluable chance to show that we want to belong in the family.

Through its international programs with partners overseas, the Christmas Bowl helps to reduce poverty in sustainable ways through community-based development activities. It addresses the causes of poverty, and promotes justice and peace. Some funds are set aside for rapid response in times of emergency.

In 2003 the Christmas Bowl supported projects in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, the Pacific and Australia.

Among Christmas Bowl projects in Africa, Australian Christians gave $50,000 to help the All Africa Council of Churches with development education, human rights advocacy and training in peace building.  Similar amounts supported water security programs run by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and the Christian Council of Zambia, and the Christian Council of Mozambique's rehabilitation and reconstruction programs, including the peace program, Converting Weapons for War into Instruments for Peace.

Projects in Asia helped the Christian Conference of Asia's urban and rural ministry programs, the World Student Christian Federation's justice and development programs, and the Church World Service's Cambodia village development water, agriculture and leadership programs.  It contributed $80,000 to both Amity Foundation's medical training of village doctors in China and the Organisation for Eelam Refugee Rehabilitation's Tamil refugee relief in India.  The Christmas Bowl has enabled the Burma Border Consortium to receive $1,031,744 relief funding for the Thai-Burma border refugee camps.

In the Middle East, Australians, through the Christmas Bowl, helped the Middle East Council of Churches' Department for Service to Palestinian Refugees. The Iraq Emergency Appeal, through Action by Churches Together International, received $95,775.

In the Pacific, the Christmas Bowl supported development and capacity building programs of the Pacific and Papua New Guinea Councils of Churches, the Pacific Theological College's education and training programs, peace-building in the Solomon Islands, and other activities of regional and international Christian organisations.

And, in Australia, a partnership visits program, the Australian Council for Overseas Aid (the non-government organisations coalition), the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ecumenical Commission, and programs for Refugee and Displaced Peoples, and Education and Advocacy, also benefited from Christmas Bowl support.

Australian Christians can continue to "Give a little HOPE this Christmas”.  Contributing to the Christmas Bowl helps real people build real relationships, based on partnership, and helps strengthen local churches all over the world.

Using Christmas Bowl funds, the National Council of Churches in Australia is able to support long-term community development projects, as well as respond quickly in times of disaster.

"Responding to the Christmas Bowl," says the NCCA, "is a way of giving account of the hope we have received in Christ."  "Give a little HOPE" signifies giving life, joy, peace, love, thanks, freedom and blessing to those desperate for them, as exemplified by the people featured in the Christmas Bowl Kit.

The uniqueness of the Christmas Bowl remains after more than 50 years: churches working together, churches pointing to the unity they are called to live. It enables their partners to act together in effective ways, and in turn give witness to Christ as, together, they pray, take counsel, advocate and network for the communities in their care.

Australian congregations have been invited to:

• Invite members to increase their gift this year by raising their last year's giving by at least $5 or 5% (if greater).
• Urge those who did not give last year to give at least $5 this year.
• Urge members to each request a friend to give to the Christmas Bowl.
• Set a Christmas Bowl target for congregation(s).

Christmas Bowl kits, containing posters, worship and group resources, with giving envelopes, and much more, together with corflute (firm, corrugated plastic) signs for outside displays, are available FREE from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Christmas Bowl can be contacted at Locked Bag 199, Sydney, NSW 1230; telephone 1800 025 101; or visit www.ncca.org.au.

Photos: A - Corflute sign at Christ Church Anglican Cathedral, Darwin.
            B - Christmas Bowl Banner at Penrith Uniting Church.
Information and Photographs:  Colleen Hodge - Education and Communications Programs
Christian World Service - The National Council of Churches in Australia
Telephones 02 9299 2215/0419 6852 48 - Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The peak body representing most of Australia's Churches, the National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA) today urged the Australian Government to demonstrate serious commitment in tackling the unacceptable level of poverty in Australia.

The NCCA is calling for a national strategy to eliminate poverty in Australia.

The President of the Council, the Revd Professor James Haire said, “Thirteen percent (2.4 million) of Australians have insufficient money to cover the basic costs of food, clothing and shelter.

“This is a tragic figure for our nation.

“We urge the government to take a leadership role by making the issue of poverty reduction a first order priority for the nation.

“It is time to take politics out of poverty, and bring all state and territory governments together in a partnership and produce a national strategy for poverty elimination in Australia.

“So the NCCA calls on the Australian government to exercise leadership in governing for the benefit of all Australians ensuring that individual, families and communities have access to the social opportunities and basic goods required to participate fully in every day life.

“We believe it is paramount that poverty indicators and targets to measure the effectiveness of strategies to improve the well being of the poorest groups be put in place. 

The West African country of Liberia has suffered severe devastation and destruction in recent months.

On June 5, the Liberian civil war made a dramatic entry into the capital city of Monrovia. For a week, street battles raged and the whole city was plunged into pandemonium. The worst affected area was the western part of the city where the dissident fighters entered the town. The internally displaced persons sheltering in that section of the town had to flee along with the locals.

After the dissidents retreated, calm returned, but then on 24 June a renewed, intensive attack resulted in extensive destruction of infrastructure and human life. Hundreds of thousands have become internally displaced with most living in at least 50 new camps around the city of Monrovia.

People are still on the move seeking shelter in church compounds around the capital. Dissidents and other armed elements have paralysed. What remains of the country’s food supply systems and warehouses have been looted. Many lives are being lost and the rainy season is making the situation worse.

ACT (Action for Churches Together) International, is an ecumenical global alliance of churches and related aid agencies working to save lives and support communities during emergencies. It has issued an appeal on behalf of its Liberian counterparts, seeking assistance for those who have been attacked and left destitute. The immediate needs are food, clothes and medicines.

The National Council of Churches in Australia/Christian World Service has released $20,000 of emergency funds to help the Liberian Council of Churches assist 3,000 families with the basic necessities of life.

It is hoped that peace will return to this war-torn country as President Taylor moves to Nigeria where he has been promised asylum.

The NCCA asks people to pray for the Liberian Council of Churches and all of the ACT members in Liberia as they work to help the many who are destitute and traumatised through this recent conflict. 

For further information please contact:

The Revd Professor James Haire, a well-known figure in Australia, and a leader among Christians, is the new President of the National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA).

The Council exists to strengthen the cause of Christian unity. 15 major Australian churches form its membership. It works to bring churches closer together and helps them find a common cause and a common voice. There has been a lot of growth in relationships between Australian churches.

"Australia is a pacesetter in ecumenism," said Professor Haire. "In the Asia region, we're one of the very few countries where the Roman Catholic Church is a full member of our council of churches. We Australians are very bad at giving ourselves a pat on the back. But in this area we really are at the cutting edge," he said.
Next week Professor Haire ends his term as President of the Uniting Church in Australia. He has been named as incoming Director of the National Centre for Christianity and Culture in Canberra, and Professor of Theology at Charles Sturt University.

The General Secretary of the NCCA, the Revd John Henderson, said the NCCA is delighted that Professor Haire has accepted the honorary position of President and that he and the Council look forward to the energy and wisdom that Professor Haire brings to his leadership in ecumenical affairs.

For further information contact :

• The Revd John Henderson - General Secretary, NCCA
  Tel: (02) 9299 2215 or 0419 224 935
• The Revd Professor James Haire - President, NCCA
  Tel: 0409 363 362

The National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA) endorses a new national initiative - “Make the right choice” - which challenges all political parties to unite in adopting fair policies for refugees and asylum seekers. “A Just Australia”, a national umbrella group of refugee advocates, launched the initiative today.

“Make the Right Choice” urges the Australian Government to:

Provide permanent protection for all refugees, with assistance to return home on a voluntary basis,
Introduce a process for humanitarian visas or solutions for those stuck in the limbo of long-term detention, and
Immediately release children and their families into the community.

“Clear opportunities now exist for a fresh approach bringing together the goodwill, resources and expertise of government, church and community to choose a fuller life for refugees and asylum seekers and to heal divisions in the wider community. Only the wisdom, courage and will is needed to do it ”, said the Rev John Henderson, the NCCA’s General Secretary.

“The Federal Government has recently confirmed that state welfare authorities can remove children from detention centres for the children’s wellbeing. Other political parties urge the Minister to allow children and their families to be released. The Federal court has ordered the release of asylum seekers who are prepared to leave Australia but are stateless or will not yet be accepted by their home or third countries. Without release these people would suffer indefinite detention.”

 “The churches urge all players to seize these openings and introduce a more humane policy. Today’s “Make the Right Choice” initiative is a blueprint for this. Jesus urged us to choose life in all its fullness and to offer such life to others”, said the Rev Henderson.

“The churches have long offered support to people fleeing persecution and helped advance their cause in society. Now, the NCCA has called for an end to the detention of children and Australia’s mandatory, indefinite and non-judicially reviewable detention system, which grossly exceeds the needs of initial identity, security and health checks. It has also called on the Government to cease issuing of temporary protection visas to refugees instead of providing the security of permanent protection and residency”, said Mr James Thomson, NCCA’s Refugee Education and Advocacy Officer.