from the National Council of Churches in Australia

The Reverend Harvey L Perkins who is remembered by the National Council of Churches in Australian (NCCA) as a “devoted ecumenist” died on 25 November in Canberra.

Harvey Perkins was the sixth general secretary of the Australian Council of Churches (ACC) (1956-1967). He is remembered for the way he identified the major issues confronting the Australian churches in the mid 1960’s as the need for more Christian presence beyond the institutional structures of the Churches. For Perkins it was essential that the Australian Churches find new ways of both communicating the gospel and living a life that authenticated its message. In his 1967 report to the ACC he said "This constant struggle does not mean that we are changing the faith we confess. We are appropriating it, relating it, bringing out the emphases required for our situation.

"New situations and new issues require new expressions of the same faith.”

1946 - 22 September 2012

 

25 June 1952 – 20 June 2012

From the National Council of Churches in Australia.

Renowned Christian leader, ecumenist and former president of the National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA) His Eminence Archbishop Aghan Baliozian OAM, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia and New Zealand died on Saturday 22 September 2012 in Sydney.

Archbishop Baliozian was held in high esteem both in Australia and around the world for his wisdom and commitment to Christian unity, interreligious dialogue and peace building.  He arrived in Australia in 1975 to serve as Vicar General of the diocese before being appointed as Primate of Australia and New Zealand in 1982.

Rationale

Given the current ecological crisis (biodiversity loss, unsustainable consumption of resources, climate change etc.), there is an urgent need for the churches to address publicly the ethical, social and spiritual questions posed by this crisis. There is also a growing awareness that the church has a genuine mission to love and care for God’s creation as a vital expression of its faith (this is our definition of Eco Mission). 

Mandate of Eco Mission Network

The Eco Mission Network exists to assist the National Council of Churches in Australia in its commitment to encourage and enable the member churches, in the light of the gospel, to give prophetic leadership to each other and to the community in caring for God’s creation.

The Eco Mission Network assists the member churches to uphold the dignity of all people and the flourishing of all creation.

The Eco Mission Network is mandated to:

1. provide a means of communication between member churches on issues of ecological importance;
2. share resources that will assist our member churches to deepen understanding of the ecological implications of our Sacred Scripture;
3. facilitate cooperation and joint action between churches to care for our common home.
4. advise the National Council of Churches in Australia on resources and actions which might appropriately be taken by the Council and/or severally by member churches.
5. propose issues and occasions when either the NCCA or its members might advocate on behalf of God’s Creation. 

Resources

• NCCA - Eco Mission Network Resources
• Organisations and Church Bodies
• Programs and Initiatives
• Events
• Worship and Prayer 
• Ecological Theologies, Documents and Educational Resources

 

The NCCA Faith and Unity Commission is holding the 5th Consultation on Bilateral Dialogues in Australia. The Commission is delighted to have Dr Paul Murray as one of the speakers. This promises to be an exciting day with updates from each of the Australian dialogue teams. Please pass the invitation on to others. Invitation PDF

Theme: Reception – How do churches respond to bilateral dialogues?

Venue: Centre for Ministry and Theology,
29 College Crescent,
Parkville Victoria

Date: Wednesday 1 August 2012

“We will all be changed by the Victory of our Lord Jesus Christ”  (cf. 1 Cor 15:51-58)

Australian Churches will observe the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 20-27 May 2012. The theme chosen for 2012 is "We Will All Be Changed by the Victory of Our Lord Jesus Christ." (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:51-58). The theme for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2012 comes to us from the churches in Poland, who have reflected upon their own experience as a nation, and in particular how, as a nation, they have been changed and transformed by the many upheavals of their history, and sustained by their faith.

Each day of the week has a theme, a reflection, Questions to consider and a prayer. The daily themes are;
DAY 1 Theme: Changed by the Servant Christ
Text: The Son of Man came to serve (Mark 10:45)

WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY 2012

20 May – 27 May 2012

“We will all be changed by the Victory of our Lord Jesus Christ”

(cf. 1 Cor 15:51-58)

The 2012 theme is concerned with the transformative power of faith in Christ, particularly in relation to our praying for the visible unity of the Church, the Body of Christ. This was based on St. Paul’s words to the Corinthian Church which speaks of the temporary nature of our present lives (with all its apparent “victory” and “defeat”) in comparison to what we receive through the victory of Christ through the Paschal mystery.

Why such a theme?

The history of Poland has been marked by a series of defeats and victories. We can mention the many times that Poland was invaded, the partitions, oppression by foreign powers and hostile systems. The constant striving to overcome all enslavement and the desire for freedom are a feature of Polish history which have led to significant changes in the life of the nation.  And yet where there is victory there are also losers who do not share the joy and triumph of the winners.

This particular history of the Polish nation has led the ecumenical group who have written this year’s material to reflect more deeply on what it means to “win” and to “lose”, especially given the way in which the language of “victory” is so often understood in triumphalist terms. Yet Christ shows us a very different way!

The 2012 resources, have been adapted by a small Week of Prayer team from the materials produced jointly by the WCC & the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, drawing on the Polish churches’ experience, here for Australia, they seek to deepen our unity in Christ. It is hoped that these resources may be used in creative ways assisting people’s reflections on the unity that is visible in Christ. Please mark the Week of Prayer in ways that are most appropriate for the place where you live.

NCCA RESOURCES

Ecumenical Service of Worship outline with notes and suggestions for Worship Leaders and Order of Service ( A4 PDF ) ( word )

An Order of Worship for congregational use in   ( A5 PDF ) or in ( A5 Word )

Sermon Notes on the central text 1 Corinthians 15:51-58 ( Sermon Notes PDF )

Daily Prayers and Biblical Reflections ( 8 days PDF )

Prayers and Reflections for each day:

Day One (20 May)                  Day Two (21 May )

Day Three (22 May)                 Day Four (23 May)

Day Five (24 May)                   Day Six (25 May)

Day Seven (26 May)                 Day Eight (27 May)

A  Colour A3 Poster is available to download ( poster )

Prayer Cards are available to order $10 for 25 ( Prayer Card )

For Orders Phone Laura on (02) 9299 2215 email; faithandunity[at]ncca.org.au

OTHER RESOURCES AND LINKS

Global resources introducing the theme for 2012, A reflection placing this year's Week of Prayer themes and the 8 Days' Prayer materials in their biblical and theological context. ( Introducting the Theme )

The Ecumenical Context in Poland ( PDF )

If you download resources from the NCCA website, a donation to the NCCA for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity would be appreciated and will assist in the preparation of  resources in the future.

LOCAL EVENTS

Information concerning Week of Prayer for Christian Unity events may be obtained from your State Ecumenical Council.

 

 

rom Act for Peace, the international aid agency of the National Council of Churches in Australia

By-elections in Burma / Myanmar this Sunday will not change the balance of power in the nation, but could be an important step in its struggle towards democratisation, according to Act for Peace, the international aid agency of the National Council of Churches in Australia.

Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy party will stand for national parliamentary elections in Burma / Myanmar for the first time since the party was prevented from taking office in 1990. The decision of Aung San Suu Kyi and her party to stand in these by-elections, and the possible influence she may have in the parliament, will continue to be hotly debated inside the country.

from Act for Peace, the international aid agency of the National Council of Churches in Australia

Tens of thousands of children around the world, including over 500 in Australia, are currently estimated to be held in immigration detention simply because they do not hold the right documents, the International Detention Coalition reveals in a new report.

The report, Captured Childhood, is being released today at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. Act for Peace, the international aid agency of the National Council of Churches in Australia, is a founding member of the International Detention Coalition, which produced the report, and is supporting the global campaign for an end to child detention.