2019 - 70th anniversary of the Christmas Bowl

Bringing peace to Sri Lankan refugees returning home 

The prophet Isaiah told people who had lost their homeland and who had been through enormous suffering that they could live in peace and harmony again. He was considered radical for speaking of such miracles. But his message resonates with this year's Christmas Bowl, as we support Sri Lankan refugees to return home and build peaceful new lives after years of civil war. 

The NCCA administers three separate ecumenical funding programs. These will be open for applications in 2020, for projects requiring funding in the 2020-2021 financial year.

The Glenburnie Program - for ecumenical projects that enable work in justice, participation and sustainability

The Ronald Wilson Ecumenical Leadership Fund - to enlarge young leaders' ecumenical experience

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Development Fund - to assist First Nation peoples to develop their communities and their participation in wider Australia. 

Serving Communities with Courage and Compassion 

EARLY BIRD PRICES extended to 18 December 2019

When: Wednesday 26 - Friday 28 February 2020
Where: Catholic Leadership Centre, East Melbourne VIC

Registrations now open

Transforming Ecumenism - "listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches" (Rev 2:7)

Monday 22 – Thursday 25 June 2020, Sigtuna, Sweden 

NCCA sponsorship for a young adult to attend this conference is offered through the Ronald Wilson Ecumenical Leadership Fund.

World Council of Churches

WCC Ecumenical Institute invites papers for conference on ’Teaching Ecumenism’

The World Council of Churches Ecumenical Institute at Château de Bossey in Geneva will host the international conference on ’Teaching Ecumenism in the Context of World Christianity’  from 10-13 June 2020. The conference will focus on what it means to teach ecumenism and World Christianity in the twenty-first century.

Invitation deadline: 20 January 2020 

“PLEASE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO TELL US ABOUT YOUR PRAYER?”  A reflection by Bishop Philip Huggins

I attended another meeting last week of folk drawn to deeper prayer, based on the theme, “that they may all be one” (John 17:21).

It is called, you may remember, the Antonian Contemplative Vocation, in recognition of the continuities with the Call and Response of St Anthony, the Desert Mothers and Fathers.

At the Annual General Meeting on 30 October 2019, the Interim General Secretary, Ms Liz Stone, presented an Annual Review for 2018-2019 relating to the activities and programs of the National Council of Churches in Australia.

Cooperation needed to meet the challenges we face

A summary and reflection from Bishop Philip Huggins 

Pacific Church Leaders gathered at the Pacific Theological College, in Suva, Fiji from Wednesday 6 November through to Sunday 10 November 2019. The meeting was convened by the Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC) to discuss major issues that are affecting the people of the Pacific Nations. It concluded with an Ecumenical Service on Sunday at which Bishop Huggins, an Anglican Bishop, was invited to preach.