Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Australia Day 2009 - remembering the past for a peaceful future
The President of the Uniting Church, Rev Gregor Henderson, has today urged the nation to celebrate the privilege of being an Australian, while encouraging reflection on our bloodstained history. He said that Australia Day was the perfect time to acknowledge the first peoples of the land and to extend the hand of peace and friendship between all Australians.
“This is a great country, a lucky country, a rich country; a country which attracts people to its shores from all corners of the globe, due to the ‘fair go’ we afford to all who seek opportunity here. The Aussie spirit can be seen all over the world, as we give of ourselves to working in other countries, to providing aid, to celebrating humanity through our generosity and hopefulness. But we have a shameful and bloody past in our treatment of Indigenous Australians, beginning with the arrival of the first fleet and perpetuated by many who followed".
“So while we commemorate Australia’s European history on 26 January, we must also recommit to the ongoing process of reconciliation between the first peoples and those who have come after. We know that we have seriously and profoundly hurt Indigenous communities, who continue to lose their language, their culture and their identities".
“However, the Australian Government has taken steps towards a better future for Indigenous people. We strongly support increased attention to reconciliation and ask the Government to continue to focus on that in 2009.”
Rev. Henderson called on Australians to remember their histories – both the good and the bad – and to take those lessons into the future.
“The Christian faith calls us to repent for past sins and to redress past wrongs. We belong to a country that is remarkably peaceful and yet many of us have arrived out of situations of war and terror. Let us therefore acknowledge our pasts, and those of our fellow Australians, and work together for a future of harmony and reconciliation.”
“This is a great country, a lucky country, a rich country; a country which attracts people to its shores from all corners of the globe, due to the ‘fair go’ we afford to all who seek opportunity here. The Aussie spirit can be seen all over the world, as we give of ourselves to working in other countries, to providing aid, to celebrating humanity through our generosity and hopefulness. But we have a shameful and bloody past in our treatment of Indigenous Australians, beginning with the arrival of the first fleet and perpetuated by many who followed".
“So while we commemorate Australia’s European history on 26 January, we must also recommit to the ongoing process of reconciliation between the first peoples and those who have come after. We know that we have seriously and profoundly hurt Indigenous communities, who continue to lose their language, their culture and their identities".
“However, the Australian Government has taken steps towards a better future for Indigenous people. We strongly support increased attention to reconciliation and ask the Government to continue to focus on that in 2009.”
Rev. Henderson called on Australians to remember their histories – both the good and the bad – and to take those lessons into the future.
“The Christian faith calls us to repent for past sins and to redress past wrongs. We belong to a country that is remarkably peaceful and yet many of us have arrived out of situations of war and terror. Let us therefore acknowledge our pasts, and those of our fellow Australians, and work together for a future of harmony and reconciliation.”
Labels: Reconciliation
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
About F.A.C.E. 5 group 2002
About F.A.C.E. reflections 1
About F.A.C.E. was an important step in my faith journey. The trust it took to step out and then the steps a greater understanding of God as a result of that first step. I’ve gained a greater appreciation of listening and its importance in healing and a person’s well being and I have been confronted with the reality of what it means to meet a person and not to make assumptions about them because of the situation in which you meet them. About F.A.C.E. reinforced for me that we need to have respect for each other, for culture, for the environment. And through showing that respect we see more of God than we may have thought possible.
Labels: About F.A.C.E.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
About FACE 9
About F.A.C.E. (Faith and Cultural Exchange) is an activity of the Uniting Church in Australia. It provides an opportunity for young adults aged 18-30 years of age to have a short term placement in an Aboriginal community or with a community in the Asia-Pacific region. The program will be held in late June to mid July 2009 (3 weeks). This blogsite will share some of the stories and photos and experiences, as well as provide a medium for participants to share other news during the re-entry phase and as they engage in further cross-cultural experiences and participate in reconcilation with indigenous peoples within Australia.
The next About F.A.C.E. program will take place in July 2009, coordinated by the Synod of Vic/Tas. Placements will be both within Australia and overseas (Philippines).
Contact Tess Keam, tess.keam@victas.uca.org.au or Jill Ruzbacky, jill.ruzbacky@victas.uca.org.au. Applications close mid February 2009.
The next About F.A.C.E. program will take place in July 2009, coordinated by the Synod of Vic/Tas. Placements will be both within Australia and overseas (Philippines).
Contact Tess Keam, tess.keam@victas.uca.org.au or Jill Ruzbacky, jill.ruzbacky@victas.uca.org.au. Applications close mid February 2009.
Labels: short term exposure trips
# posted by Sandy Boyce @ 1:06 PM
