Open Letter from Religious Leaders
Faith Leaders' Call for constitutionally guaranteed Voice
Wednesday 22 February 2023
Reverend John Gilmore, President of National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA) is a joint signatory to the Open Letter from Australia’s leaders of major religious organisations to federal parliamentarians on 22 February 2023. The letter calls for support of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament as requested in the 2017 Uluru Statement from the Heart.
Read the Media Release on the NCCA Media Release page
On 22 February 2023 the Prime Minister said at the National Press Club:
"And I'm very hopeful that that the Australian people will vote to recognise First Nations people in our constitution to show them that respect.... But today the significance of faith leaders: Catholics, Anglicans, Muslims, Hindu, Buddhist leaders, putting a joint statement pleading, pleading for support for the Voice and support for constitutional recognition was, in my view, incredibly significant because it was them putting forward their values proposition just as sporting organisations, the business community, and others, or the trade union movement are all backing so strongly in civil society this change."
More press coverage below:
"A powerful coalition of religious organisations has sent a joint letter to MPs warning that future generations of Australians “will not forgive us” if the Indigenous voice to parliament fails at the referendum, urging for the Liberal Party to pledge its support."
Religious Heads voice concerns for the future | The Australian| By Sarah Ison 22 February 2023
New book launched
Statements from the Soul: The Moral Case for the Uluru Statement from the Heart
A collection of passionate essays from religious leaders arguing for a First Nations Voice to be enshrined in the Australian Constitution
Edited by Shireen Morris and Damien Freeman
La Trobe University Press and Black Inc. 2022.
Purchase online at Black Inc Books or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Book launch
NCCA General Secretary, Liz Stone was present at the book launch on Monday 20 February 2023. The launch was held at The Great Synagogue, Sydney and the book was launched by The Honourable T.F. Bathurst AC KC FRSN Former Chief Justice of New South Wales.
NCCA President, Rev John Gilmore is mentioned in the book in relation to the signing of the Joint Resolution in support of the Uluru Statement from the Heart on 27 May 2022.
Rev Gilmore is pictured below in Adelaide with filmmaker Rachel Perkins (left) and SA Churches Together executive officer Rev Anne Hewitt (right).
Melbourne dialogue
Australian First Nations' leaders met with Canadian First Nations' leaders on Monday 20 February 2023, hosted by St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne for a panel discussion on The Voice to Parliament.
The panel featured high-level experts in the field of Indigenous rights and cultural understanding; Canadian First Nations Leaders Lewis Cardinal, Chief Lee Crowchild and Rainbow Cardinal, as well as the Cathedral’s First Nations Canon, Uncle Glenn Loughrey.
Watch the recording of the Panel Discussion on YouTube: https://youtu.be/XOFd-vFxr1s.
