NCCA's Ecumenical Theologians meet in Melbourne

The Faith and Unity Commission (the Commission) hosted their bi-annual meeting in Melbourne on 2 and 3 April 2024. 

The meeting gave the Commission members the opportunity to conclude their work for the period since the last Forum. This work has ranged over several topics including theological reflection arising out of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse; Churches in Australia and the Care of Creation; and a review of Australian Churches Covenanting Together.

The Commission had the opportunity to discuss Indigenous Spirituality, with guest speaker Rev. Canon Glenn Loughrey, the Project Lead for the Provisional First Peoples Ministry in Victoria. A fruitful discussion helped establish answers to questions the Commission members had, particularly around attentively listening and having First Nations involvement and participation in Church works and services. 

The commission noted the international plans for recognising and celebrating the 1700th Anniversary of the Nicene Creed, particularly the planned Sixth World Conference on Faith and Order: Commemorating the Council of Nicaea: Where now for Visible Unity? Themes of faith, mission and unity will be part of this commemoration.

This meeting gave the Commission the opportunity to finalise a report to the 11th NCCA National Forum. 

The Commission is chaired by Rev. Dr Gerard Kelly, who shared with us this message about the recent meeting:

In reviewing our work plan since the last Forum, the Faith and Unity Commission was conscious of the change in the social and ecclesial landscape in Australia since 2019. This is providing the context for developing the future work of the Commission as it seeks to provide theological resources to assist the churches.

Members that attended the meeting were: Rev. Fr Jacob Joseph, Syriac Orthodox Church; Rev.  Dr. Jane Lee-Barker, Anglican Church of Australia; Dr. Janet Duke, Religious Society of Friends (Quakers); Rev Dr. Gerard Kelly, Roman Catholic Church; Dr. Antonia Pizzey, Roman Catholic Church; Bishop Andrew Brook, Lutheran Church of Australia; Maj. Grant Sandercock-Brown, Salvation Army; Rev. Damian Palmer, Uniting Church of Australia; and representatives of the National Council of Churches in Australia: Rev. John Gilmore, President; Ms Elizabeth Stone, General Secretary; and Oliver Slewa, Policy and Projects Officer. 

The Faith and Unity Commission will provide a report for the upcoming 11th National Forum of the National Council of Churches in Australia in June 2024 in Adelaide, South Australia. The Commission will hold their next meeting in September 2024 in Sydney. 

Above and below, Faith & Unity Commissioners pictured during the hybrid meeting