APRO One Day Forum 2017

Religious values and the Value of Religion

Date: 22 February 2017, 10 am to 4 pm

Location: Strangers Function Room, NSW Parliament House, Sydney

Keynote: Former NSW Premier Kristina Keneally

Register : APRO registration page and then pease advise the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. of your participation.

Cameron Haig, Safe Church Program

Cameron is the National Coordinator of the Safe Church Program. His role sees him overseeing the Safe Church Agreement. The program provides Standards and Framework for Churches across Australia to train their Pastors, Clergy and Volunteers to create safe environments for all people, in particular children, young people and vulnerable adults.

New Year means new volunteers

As you begin this year, there will naturally be turnover of volunteers and new volunteers assisting in the ministries of the church, in particular to children, young people and those who are vulnerable.

It is critical to ensure that you implement screening practices for all volunteers, and ensure that they have a valid Working with Children Check or Working with Vulnerable People Check as they begin their roles

Safe as Churches? 8 Conference

16 - 17 May 2017 - Jasper Hotel, Melbourne

Early Bird Registrations close 28 February

Breaking ground for safer churches and stronger communites, the upcoming "Safe as Churches?" Conference is the 8th biennial conference. The conference will bring together various leaders and experts to network and develop effective ways to lead our churches in best practices for safeguarding our children, youth and vulnerable.

2016 Christmas Bowl

Thank you for planting the seeds of hope

During the 2016 Christmas period tens of thousands of kind and compassionate people just like you came together to support the Christmas Bowl appeal.

Thanks to your generous gifts, it is on track to raise an incredible $2.6 million to support farmers in Zimbabwe suffering from severe hunger, as well as other people in great need around the world.

Sr Janette Gray RSM

1 Februry 1952 - 24 December 2016

Sr Janette passed into eternal life on Saturday 24 December, Christmas Eve. Her funeral was held at St Ignatius Church, Norwood, SA on 3 January 2017.

Sr Jan was a valuable member of NCCA’s Faith and Unity Commission since 2013, sharing her knowledge of theology, commitment to ecumenism and passion for life. Her contribution towards Christian Unity was significant and she will be greatly missed.

With so many weeks since our last newsletter, one might expect that I would be early with my message, But such is not the case.

There is much happening with the National Council of Churches in Australia and as I try to catch up on what was not completed last year, and try to prepare for the coming year, I find that there are many issues before me, and many ideas floating around.

Last October the leaders of Churches came together. They came together primarily to support each other and for conversation together. Part of their time focused on the Royal Commission into Institutional Response to Child Sexual Abuse. Francis Sullivan, the CEO of the Catholic Church’s Truth Justice and Healing Commission spoke to them on the proposed redress scheme.

Applying the 'golden rule' of treating others as one would like to be treated, I feel deeply for Muslims, amidst current hostility.

The latest sadness is over that Australia Day banner with smiling faces who happen to be Muslims.

Attacking diversity, as the new political correctness, is both cruel and absurd.

There are currently no vacant positions within our organisation.

Please check the Act for Peace website for any jobs available in that office.