From the National Council of Churches in Australia

Australian churches have responded generously to many emergency situations throughout the world in 2006. Alistair Gee, Director of NCCA Christian World Service, urges concerned Australians to also remember the upcoming Christmas Bowl appeal.

“Assistance in emergencies is a crucial part of the Christmas Bowl, but the Christmas Bowl is also committed to many other long-term development projects which are equally significant,” Alistair said.

“While we urge concerned Australians to give generously to emergency appeals, we also encourage them to continue to support our annual Christmas Bowl appeal in the coming months. The Christmas Bowl provides year round assistance to those in greatest need in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and the Pacific. The Christmas Bowl also works in Australia with refugees and displaced people as well as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.”

“As the season of peace approaches, we as Christians are motivated to find ways to overcome the greatest emergency of all – extreme poverty.”

The Christmas Bowl has been an annual fixture in parishes of all denominations across Australia for the past 57 years.  The Christmas Bowl began in 1949 when the Reverend Frank Byatt of Melbourne placed a bowl on the dinner table on Christmas Day.  The bowl was an invitation for people to give the cost of their meal to people who were hungry, thirsty, strangers, poor or sick.

Over the time Frank’s vision has grown, and now the Christmas Bowl funds effective AID programs - Assistance in emergencies, Injustice response and Development and poverty reduction - in 24 countries around the world.

“The Christmas Bowl education resources are a great way for churches to explore coming together as a community, and make a positive difference to the world through prayer, action and gifts. Ple.0ase act for the Christmas Bowl in 2006.”

For Christmas Bowl education resources or to make a contribution to the Christmas Bowl appeal in 2006 contact 1800 025 101 or visit http://www.actforpeace.org.au.

The Christmas Bowl is a program of the NCCA Christian World Service, the aid and development agency of the National Council of Churches in Australia.

For comment, more information, comment or photos contact:

Alistair Gee, Director, NCCA Christian World Service
Telephone: 02 92992215 / 0417 672 650
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Kaylea Fearn
Education and Communications Programs
NCCA Christian World Service
Telephone 03 9650 6811 / 0417 380 507
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

From the National Council of Churches in Australia

News that the Prime Minister has withdrawn the Migration Amendment (Designated Unauthorised Arrivals) Bill 2006 has been received with relief by the National Council of Churches in Australia. There is caution, however, that the Bill was not withdrawn on grounds of its injustice, but because it was unable to pass through Federal Parliament by the narrowest of margins.

Nevertheless the General Secretary of the Council, the Revd John Henderson, has written to the Prime Minister thanking him for his decision, and to 15 other federal members of Parliament from various political parties, thanking them for the roles they played in the withdrawal of the Bill.

“70 church leaders signed a statement that was due to be released the same day Mr Howard announced his decision. The statement was an appeal to Senators to defeat the Bill,” said Mr Henderson. “This shows the deep concern of a large number of Christian leaders that this move threatened to further undermine Australia’s compassion for those in genuine need. It would have effectively created an ‘out of sight out of mind’ situation toward people fleeing genuine persecution and at risk of their lives.”

“We are grateful that this piece of legislation will not be enacted, and we have continued to press the Prime Minister to rethink the entire ‘Pacific Solution’. This appeal springs from the insights the Christian gospel provides into our relationship with others, the needs of asylum seekers, and Australia’s international obligations.

For additional information: http://www.actforpeace.org.au

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For more information, contact:

Mr James Thomson, National Advocacy and Education Officer, National Program on Refugees and Displaced People, NCCA Christian World Service – (02) 92992215 or 0402 67 55 44

Mr Alistair Gee, Director, Christian World Service – (02) 92992215 or 0417 672 650

From the National Council of Churches in Australia

“Australia’s Churches have repeatedly stated their strong opposition to the interception, transfer and detention in the Pacific of those fleeing persecution,” said the Revd John Henderson, General Secretary of the National Council of Churches in Australia.
 
“Far from being rebels, the Senators opposing the amended Bill are expressing deep-felt community concerns over the extension of the Pacific Solution.  We hope they hold the line.”
 
Mr Henderson said the amendments proposed by the Prime Minister on 21 June and rejected by Liberal Senators did not go far enough and offered no guarantees that they would be implemented in Nauru.
 
“The Government’s amendments do not address church or community concerns and offer few concrete guarantees,” said Mr Henderson.
 
“Most Australians are also opposed,” said James Thomson, spokesperson for the Council’s Refugee Program.  “In May, when the legislation was first proposed, only 16% of Australians believed that our immigration policies should be changed.  70% were against any change.  Over 60% of Australians also believe that children should not be in detention.”
 
“The Government says it is committed to the principle that ‘children should only be detained as a last resort in accordance with the Convention Against Torture and the Convention on the Rights of the Child”, however, the government also admits that “none of these arrangements would prevent host countries from making restrictions on the movement of children,” said Mr Thomson.
 
“The Bill proposes a 90-day processing time limit, but only ‘where possible’.  No mention is made of who will be held accountable for not meeting the deadline.  Nor does it specify that detainees will be released after 90 days.  In fact, there is no provision to release people from detention even when they are found to be refugees.  Rather, it is only when a resettlement country is found that those recognised as refugees will be guaranteed of being released.  Australia says it will only offer resettlement as the country of last resort.  So far, no other countries have offered resettlement places,” said Mr Thomson.
 
“The Bill proposes that the Federal Ombudsman be given oversight, but the Minister is under no obligation to act on the Ombudsman’s recommendations.  The Minister will be given the power to issue visas, but the Minister cannot be compelled to even look at a case and her decisions will not be reviewable.”
 
“The Bill states that there will be no financial impact, but it is well known that the Pacific Solution was a costly affair.  Military operations to detect, intercept, detain and transfer asylum seekers to the Pacific come at a heavy price, as does establishing offshore detention centres and providing financial aid to Nauru.”
 
“If the purpose of the Bill is to send refugees to another country where the accountability, transparency and responsibility for these people is weak and unclear, then this is a grave injustice and will have dire consequences for the human rights of those intercepted.”
 
For more information, please contact:
 
James Thomson, National Advocacy and Education Officer, National Program on Refugees and Displaced People, NCCA Christian World Service – (02) 92992215 or 0402 67 55 44
 
John Henderson, General Secretary, NCCA – 0419 224 935
 
NOTE: The Migration Amendment (Designated Unauthorised Arrivals) Bill 2006 is scheduled to be introduced to Parliament on Tuesday 8 August.

Australia’s leading humanitarian agencies have today called for a permanent ceasefire in the Middle East to allow over three million people unrestricted access to humanitarian relief as a result of the deteriorating situation in Lebanon, Gaza Strip and Israel.

‘We are calling on all sides to immediately allow humanitarian aid agencies unfettered access to hundreds of thousands of men, women and children in desperate need of the basics for life such as food, water, shelter and medical assistance,’ said a spokesperson for the group that includes AngliCORD, AUSTCARE,  Australian Lutheran World Service, Baptist World Aid Australia, CARE Australia, Caritas Australia, Churches of Christ, National Council of Churches Australia, Oxfam Australia and World Vision Australia.

The group called for all parties to immediately recognise their obligations in accordance with International Humanitarian Law and to distinguish between civilians and combatants as well as to refrain from attacks that cause disproportionate harm to the civilian population.  The current conflict has killed over 600 people in Lebanon, more than 50 in Israel and 150 in Gaza.  Around one third of all casualties are children.

In Lebanon, up to 1 million people are reported to have fled their homes.  In Israel, tens of thousands of families have also been affected.  In the Gaza Strip, the total population of up to 1.3 million Palestinians is faced with major disruptions to the most basic services, including water, power, access to food and health care.

In the affected region, Australian humanitarian agencies are working on the ground and through local partners to provide immediate relief including shelter, food, water and medical services.

Details for humanitarian agencies accepting donations to assist the people affected by the conflict in the Middle East can be found at the website of the Australian Council for International Development – www.acfid.asn.au

AngliCORD                     Aust Lutheran World Service              Baptist World Aid Aust
Greg Thompson              Peter Schirmer                                 Les Fussell
Mob: 0438 823 511         Tel: 02 6021 5329                             Mob: 0402 112 411

CARE Australia               Caritas Australia                               Churches of Christ
Lynne  Minion                 Tim O’Connor                                   Peter Overton
Mob: 0419 567 777         Mob: 0417 284 831                           Mob: 0418 980 065

                                     NCCA Christian World Service           Oxfam Australia
                                     Alistair Gee                                      Ian Woolverton
                                     Mob: 0417 672 650                           Mob: 0409 181 454
 
                                     World Vision Australia                       AUSTCARE
                                     Michelle Rice                                    Shelby Burns
                                     Mob: 0402 503 227                           Tel: 02 95659106 

Joint Media Release from

NCCA Christian World Service, Caritas Australia, Uniting Church Overseas Aid and AngliCORD

Australian Church Aid Agencies Provide Humanitarian Assistance in the Middle East

International aid and development agencies of Australian churches are working together to assist the civilians caught up in the Middle East conflict.  AngliCORD, Caritas Australia, NCCA Christian World Service and Uniting Church Overseas Aid are working through ACT International, Caritas Internationalis and partners on the ground to provide food, water and medical supplies in Lebanon, Gaza and the West Bank. 
The church agencies have made an urgent call for additional funds to support this work.
To make a tax deductible contribution or for further details:

AngliCORD                                            1800 249 880                 www.anglicord.org.au

Caritas Australia                                      1800 024 413                 www.caritas.org.au

NCCA Christian World Service               1800 025 101                 http://www.actforpeace.org.au 

Uniting Church Overseas Aid                   1800 998 122                 www.overseasaid.org

BACKGROUND

The worsening humanitarian crisis is a result of numerous attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure by Hezbollah, the Israeli Defence Force and Palestinian militants.  In many instances these attacks constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law.   
The humanitarian situation is most critical in Gaza after attacks destroyed Gaza’s only electricity station and other infrastructure.  The UN describes the situation in Gaza as the worst that the area has seen in recent decades.  Our partners on the ground testify to the growing humanitarian crisis.
The agencies are hopeful of a ceasefire resulting from negotiations with the UN delegation and support the UN Stabilisation Force proposed by the UN Secretary General.  In the meantime, the governments involved must do more to end serious violations of humanitarian law.  Six church agencies have, therefore, written open letters today to the Israeli, Palestinian and Lebanese Ambassadors in Australia asking that their governments honour their obligations under international humanitarian law and UN Security Council Resolutions and work towards an end to hostilities. 

For media comment:

Alistair Gee (Director, NCCA Christian World Service):                 0417 672 650

Greg Thompson (CEO, AngliCORD):                                            0438 826 511

Copies of the letters to the Ambassadors are available online (click here) or by request.

From the National Council of Churches in Australia

The Right Reverend Richard Appleby, recently retired Assistant Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Brisbane, was last week elected President of the National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA).  Bishop Appleby is the 5th President of the Council, following on from the Revd Professor James Haire of Canberra.  The purpose of the Council is to promote Christian unity and help the Churches work together on key issues of theology, peace, and justice.

The national Executive of the Council unanimously elected Bishop Appleby in Sydney on Friday.  Bishop Appleby is a long time supporter of the ecumenical movement, and was instrumental in the formation of the NCCA in 1994, playing an important part in the negotiations that led to the membership of the Catholic Church.  He has had an extensive ministry in the Anglican Church of Australia having served as an Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Newcastle (1983-1992) and as Bishop of the Northern Territory (1992-1999).  He is married to Elizabeth and they have two adult children.

Elected as the President for a three year term, Bishop Appleby will work with member and observer Churches, chair the meetings of the Council, and represent it in a number of public settings.

Currently the Council has a total membership of 15 national Churches, including the Anglican, Catholic and Uniting Churches, 7 Eastern and Oriental Churches, and a range of Protestant Churches, the Salvation Army, and the Quakers.

Photo available on request.
Contact: Debra Porter, NCCA Communications Officer, (02) 9299 2215

From the National Council of Churches in Australia

Leaders of 7 Australian Churches have collectively written to the Prime Minister John Howard, expressing their opposition to the changes proposed to Australia’s processing of asylum seekers.  The changes mean Australia will send asylum seekers who arrive here to Nauru until their claims are processed.

The National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA) has consistently opposed the ‘Pacific Solution’ system of off-shore processing centres since its introduction in 2001.  “If this new Bill passes into legislation, it will effectively mean that Australia will cease to be a place of refuge for those directly fleeing from violence and persecution,” said Revd John Henderson, General Secretary of the NCCA.  “If other countries behaved like this, the world would become a much more dangerous place for everyone, especially those being persecuted.  There would simply be nowhere to go when you are in fear of your life.  We can and should do better than that.”

“The regime of detention forced upon people by the Pacific Solution has already been shown to cause unnecessary trauma through prolonged and isolated detention.  All it really achieves is removing them from the consciousness of ordinary Australians who would want to see those suffering people being given a fair go,” said Mr Henderson.

In their letter the leaders of 7 Australian Churches have urged the Prime Minister to reconsider the legislation, and have asked the Government to act compassionately towards people arriving here in genuine need of help and protection.

For more information contact:
Mr Alistair Gee, Director of NCCA Christian World Service (02) 9299 2215

From NCCA Christian World Service
(the aid and development agency of the National Council of Churches in Australia)

NCCA Christian World Service (CWS) has launched appeals to provide support for the Indonesian Earthquake and East Timor Humanitarian Emergencies.

Indonesian Earthquake

Indonesia's earthquake toll has reached more than 5,000 with estimates of 20,000 injured and 200,000 homeless.

CWS (the aid and development agency of the National Council of Churches in Australia) has three partner agencies on the ground that have been running mobile clinics and distributing thousands of packs of food, shelter and hygiene supplies since the day of the earthquake.

The response is being coordinated by ACT International.  With your assistance, CWS and the partners of ACT International are seeking to raise $2 million for this appeal.

East Timor
In East Timor an estimated 25,000 people have been displaced as a result of recent unrest. CWS is responding through its partner, Yayasan Sosial Naroman (YASONA) by distributing food supplies to displaced people in the districts of Aileu, Same and Ainaro. This assistance began during the early stages of the unrest several weeks ago and has intensified in the past week.

YASONA staff are meeting with village people to assess the growing needs and will advise as soon as the situation is known.

Please give generously

To give online go to http://www.ncca.org.au/give/christian_world_service, or call our toll free number 1800 025 101.

You may also send a cheque or money order to Christian World Service (indicating which appeal you wish to support), Locked Bag 199, SYDNEY NSW 1230.  Gifts are tax deductible.

Updates about the humanitarian assistance provided will be available on the website.

Any excess funds raised by these appeals will be allocated to ongoing development work in these areas.

For comment and further information
Alistair Gee, Director, Christian World Service, mobile 0417 672 650

From Simply Sharing Week
(a joint program of Caritas Australia and Christian World Service/National Council of Churches Australia)

Churches work together for rehabilitation in the Solomon Islands

The present crisis in the Solomon Islands highlights the continuing need for Australian Church support in the unsettled country.  The Australian Churches recognise the need to address underlying economic and social justice issues in the Solomons to achieve lasting peace.

This year Simply Sharing Week (an annual education program of the Australian Churches) is focusing on physical and mental health in the Solomon Islands.

Alistair Gee, Director of Christian World Service/National Council of Churches in Australia says that the current reports of violence from Honiara signal that support for Solomon Islanders is needed now more than ever.

“Solomon Islanders are frustrated by the lack of health, education and other essential services available to them.  Without healthy and happy people, it is difficult for the community to feel empowered enough to realise their potential.

“Simply Sharing health programs in the Solomon Islands have a focus on rehabilitation.  Whilst people are still disturbed, they will continue to launch into violent behaviour.  By offering the people the opportunity for healing, we can be instrumental in bringing peace in the region,” says Alistair.

“The Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) has an important role in restoring order.  The Church community needs to follow this up by providing basic health education services, rehabilitation and trauma counselling as well as supporting the long term projects, which will facilitate peaceful solutions to conflict.”

Simply Sharing Week education resources are available for churches and schools to develop their understanding of the situation in the Solomon Islands and equip them to take positive action in the Pacific region.  Prayers for church partners and a peaceful end to the conflict are also encouraged at this time. 

Simply Sharing Week - Simply Hoping for Health in the Solomon Islands is 14-21 May 2006.  To receive education resources or to support the program contact Kaylea on (03) 9650 6811.

For more information, resources and photographs contact:
Alistair Gee
Director - Christian World Service/National Council of Churches Australia
Phone: (02) 9299 2215
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website: www.simplysharingweek.org.au

The National Council of Churches (NCCA) is often contacted before Easter and Christmas by media looking for a religious comment on these high festivals.

This year we have asked Church leaders to supply an Easter message for release in Holy Week (the week between Passion Sunday and Easter). Here we have a selection of 6 messages from Australian heads of Churches, and an ecumenical message from the NCCA.

We hope these messages are helpful to the media, and the Australian public, as Christians in Australia and around the world celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ*, an event above all others that is essential to the Christian faith.

Revd John Henderson
General Secretary
National Council of Churches in Australia

(*Note: In the Western Church, the date of Easter this year is Sunday 16 April. Most Orthodox Churches will celebrate Easter this year on Sunday 23 April, based on the Julian calendar.)

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ANGLICAN CHURCH

The tomb holding Christ’s body was sealed with a huge stone. The three women who visited that first Easter morning to honour his corpse with spices wondered how they would move the stone barrier. They arrived to find it had been rolled away. The stone is a metaphor for the rock hard fears, closed doors, periods of interminable darkness, disagreements, pains and prejudices we all face. The women didn’t have to move the barrier. God did. Easter has nothing to say about what we can do. It has everything to say about what God does. God rolls stones away and sets life free.
 
The Most Reverend Dr Phillip Aspinall
Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia

CATHOLIC CHURCH

I, and many others, were thrilled when Pope Benedict entitled his first Encyclical Letter “God is Love”. He writes “In a world where the name of God is sometimes associated with vengeance or even a duty of hatred and violence, the message is both timely and significant. For this reason, I wish in my first Encyclical, to speak of the love which God lavishes on us and which we in turn must share with others”.

The suffering and death of Jesus teach us that love is costly. His resurrection joyfully love’s victory over death. Love consoles us as we carry life’s crosses and rejoices our hearts as we live the life of the risen Lord.

May Easter renew our love of God and love of each other.

+Francis P Carroll
Archbishop of Canberra and Goulburn
President – Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference

CONGREGATIONAL FEDERATION

In the Northern Hemisphere, Easter is equated with spring – the end of winter and the return of plants and animals that have been dormant during the cold winter. From American and European movies and television, we see Easter as a time for new fashions and bright flowers. For those of us in the Southern Hemisphere, the opposite is the case and Easter is the harbinger of cold weather. For us Easter is not the end of physical winter but is the end of spiritual winter.

Until the Resurrection, the world was spiritually cold, burdened with the darkness of sin and desolation. After the Resurrection, there was a spiritual light and warmth that lasts for all time. Easter is a time for new spiritual awakening and joy.

It is wonderful to wake up in the morning and to realise that you have been forgiven by the Lord and that you are not burdened with sin but are free to go forth and live in the Lord’s creation and do the Lord’s will. Easter is absolutely the happiest holiday. It was not created by man or governments; no, Easter was created by the Lord for us. It is the day that the Son triumphed over evil. God won, evil lost and by that victory, all of mankind for evermore won. Easter is God sharing Christ’s victory over death with us. Christ’s resurrection is our redemption.

Regardless of whether Easter arrives in cold or warm weather, for our hearts and souls, it is indeed a warm and happy time of the year. Easter reminds us of God’s Love and Forgiveness. Easter is a time for some new fashions – not just clothing – but the fashion of proclaiming Christ the Risen and Mankind the Forgiven. Easter is the happiest event each year because it was and continues to be the happiest event since creation itself.

Dr Harry Melkonian
Congregational Federation of Australia

COPTIC ORTHODOX CHURCH

Easter time is a time to contemplate upon The Resurrection and the New Life; both bringing hope after they had all but disappeared.

Easter is a time for celebrating Victory after Defeat. Victory on the human level is one over hatred, pride, and selfishness of those who crucified Christ. On the spiritual level, it is a victory even over death; humanity’s most dreaded enemy.

Today, hatred is spreading between civilisations and neighbours, also pride kills innocent civilians and destroys families. As well selfishness wastes many a life of potential goodness on meaningless hedonistic experiences.

After The Resurrection and The New Life, we need love and humility more than ever, so that the compassion of Christ would engulf us, and that is our hope and ultimately where our victory lies.

Daniel
By the Grace of God
Bishop of Sydney & Affiliated Regions
Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Sydney and Affiliated Regions

LUTHERAN CHURCH

'I have seen the Lord’, cried Mary Magdalene as she burst into her friends’ hiding place.
As Mary had been, those followers of Jesus of Nazareth were bewildered, depressed, without hope and frightened. They had witnessed his crucifixion and now were confronted with an empty tomb, but it was Mary who had seen the risen Christ, her Lord and Saviour.

We can only imagine the joy which burst through in her life. We wish we could have it. How did it feel, Mary, when he called you by name? Your name in his mouth – and suddenly you knew who he was and you knew who you were: loved and raised from the dead.

The mystery of faith from unbelief, hope from hopelessness, meaning from despair and life from death can only result in one thing: ‘Tell the others!’

There is hope in mental illness, tragedies, despair, loneliness, sickness and in death. That hope is in the risen Saviour. Let our world hear the good news.

The joy that bursts from the grave is eternal.
 
Revd Mike Semmler,
President
Lutheran Church of Australia.

UNITING CHURCH

Easter.

The terror and the majesty of Easter for Christians is that the injustice of Jesus of Nazareth on the cross becomes the window through which we have to look at all who suffer injustice, for there is the majesty of God present on the edge of life.

Then God raised Jesus from the dead and in so doing blatantly declares God is not only at the edge but at the centre of all that is.

If you want to separate God from the universe, make God as an object, talk about God as someone you can take or leave, don’t look here. Here is God assuming all of the human context and condition, so it may be healed. God is the one in whom all, including our life, is to be made whole.

The Revd Dr Dean Drayton
President
Uniting Church in Australia

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES IN AUSTRALIA

Recent publicity about the Gnostic ‘Gospel of Judas’, and popular fascination with works of fiction like ‘The Da Vinci Code’ might give some people the idea that authentic Christian hope in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ should be long dead and buried.

This month, however, around the world and around Australia, Christians will celebrate the central tenet of their faith, that God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. This is a core belief because it authenticates not only Jesus’ moral and ethical teaching, but also his claim to be the Son of God and Saviour.

It is natural for there to be controversy, scepticism, and counter claims about such a radical event that steps outside the bounds of what we usually accept as normal and even possible. It is an event ‘from beyond’, that is, of God’s choosing not ours. Controversy has raged over this event for 2,000 years, and continues today.

Christianity has always opened itself to such scrutiny, and does not reject it now. Each person must make their own decision about the claims of Jesus Christ and the promise of God for salvation. For their part, Christians will go on witnessing and proclaiming what they believe is the greatest event in human history, that “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

Revd John Henderson
General Secretary
National Council of Churches in Australia