SA Synod Justice e-Newsletter
Lent Begins - A Time for Compassion and Justice
Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
Isaiah 58:6-8
Lenten Prayer
Compassionate Christ,
You speak to our deepest longings for love, hope and meaning.
You call us into communion with you.
Draw close to us, as we take time in this season, to pray, to reflect,
and to open our lives to the transforming presence of your Holy Spirit.
As we journey with you to Jerusalem and remember your suffering,
we pray you will open our hearts to the suffering of the world.
Open our eyes and ears to see the needs of our neighbours
and hear the voices of those who are grieving and wounded.
Strengthen our resolve to journey with you into justice, and into
solidarity with all those who long for liberation.
As we journey with you to Easter, may you renew us in following your Way
and empower us to be bearers of God’s good news of love,
compassion and hope to our world.
Amen.
(Author: President Dr Deidre Palmer, UCA)
Refugee Update
Additional release of Medevac detainees welcomed by SA refugee advocates
A Refugee from Iran, Mostafa Azimitabar posted this photo on his Facebook page along with a reflection just following his release from 2,737 days of detention (reprinted with permission).
South Australian refugee advocates have welcomed the Federal Government’s latest release of another group of refugees brought to Australia under the Medevac legislation, which was in place between 2 March 2019 and 4 December 2019. This comes a week after the release of 46 fellow detainees who had been in Melbourne hotels for more than a year.
The re-releases have come with little or no warning to refugees or their supporters. Those released were some of the 192 so-called 'transitory persons' brought to Australia during the months the Medevac laws were in effect. Since the overturning of the Medevac laws they have been housed in hotels, mainly in Melbourne and Brisbane, which the Department of Home Affairs insists on calling 'Alternative Places of Detention,' or APODs.
Those released have been put on the Orwellian sounding 'Final Departure Bridging Visas.' While this appears to suggest those assigned with visas will be leaving Australia sometime soon, that reality is highly unlikely. This means those released could be left without support indefinitely.
To read a full media release from Justice for Refugees SA including its Chair Rev Sandy Boyce’s comments please go to the following link.
There are 9 refugee men held at Adelaide Immigration Transit Accommodation in Kilburn, Adelaide for over 12 months since they were brought to Australia under the now-defunct Medevac laws.
With their time on Manus or Nauru, they have been detained for eight years. Some Adelaide based Refugee advocate groups including Adelaide vigil for Manus and Nauru are protesting to demand their immediate release into the community and freedom for all refugees detained by the Australian government.
'We are protesting so that refugees know that they are welcome here, and to spread awareness in the local community about their plight. We are demanding freedom for all refugees kept in detention in Australia, Nauru and PNG, and an end to Australia's policies of mandatory detention.'
Image: https://www.facebook.com/events/236232538118254. Reproduced with permission
Fact Sheet: UCA’s Advocacy for Refugees (download here)
Petition/Letter Writing Actions
Petition calling on the Government to immediately release people seeking asylum and refugees from immigration detention facilities, and commit to their re-settlement in a safe, permanent home by World Refugee Day, 20th June 2021. Please sign the petition here.
Letter-writing Guide: Call for the prioritisation of social housing over fossil fuels (download here)
Upcoming Events
Global Multi-faith CLIMATE ACTION Day of Action - 11th March
On March 11 join faith communities around the world for the biggest-ever multi-faith Day of Action on the climate crisis called Sacred People, Sacred Earth. People can sign onto a multi faith statement the signatories to which will also include globally recognised faith leaders; this will be launched on the day.
Join the Day of Action by making your church one of hundreds of places of worship all around the world ‘sounding the alarm’ for the climate. You can do this by ringing bells if you have them, playing bagpipes or other instruments, singing, or anything else, as long as you do it publicly. More information can be found here.
Image source: https://www.arrcc.org.au/global. Reproduced with permission
Harmony Week & The International Day of Elimination of Racial Discrimination: 15 - 21 March 2021
Harmony Week celebrates Australia's cultural diversity. It's about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone. This year ‘The International Day of Elimination of Racial Discrimination’ falls on Sunday 21st March 2021. If you plan to include the theme of anti-racism on the Sunday Service, please register your interest with Paul Goh on pgoh@sa.uca.org.au
Image source: https://www.harmony.gov.au/resources/posters. Reproduced with permission
Psalm Sunday Peace Walk – 28 March 2021
The Palm Sunday March is held in the heart of the city, and has been reflecting South Australia’s voice on matters of Justice and Peace for nearly 40 years.
Churches Together for Peace and Justice Walking in Unity It is a gentle walk beginning at Tarntanyangga (Victoria Square) along King William Road to (Tarntanya Wama) Elder Park, where there will be three short presentations on the key foci and an invitation to all to stroll in prayerful presence along the banks of the Karrawirra Pari (Torrens River).
More information is on the Churches Together SA website and registration is via an Eventbrite site.
Image source: https://churchestogethersa.org.au. Reproduced with permission
Free The Medevac Refugees Rally - Saturday, April 10, 2021
This rally is hosted by Adelaide Refugee Supporters and requests the release of the 9 Medivac Refugee men held at Adelaide Immigration Transit Accommodation in Kilburn on permanent visas with immediate access to Centrelink and Medicare.
Image source: https://www.facebook.com/adelaiderefugeesupporters. Reproduced with permission
Refugee Week 2021: 20-26 June 2021
This year Refugee Week will be held from Sunday June 20 - Saturday June 26 and this year's theme is Unity. Put the dates in your calendar and start thinking about how you might get involved. For further resources, visit here.
Image source: https://www.refugeeweek.org.au
Lent Resources
A Voice in the Wilderness: Listening to Statement from the Heart
A Voice in the Wilderness is an 8-part study that opens up conversations about the church's theological response to the Uluru Statement from the Heart. The studies are for those interested in a Christian response to Australia's history, listening to what Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Christians are saying right now, and grappling with the question of what it is to be a truly Australian church. Resources for leaders and groups are available online here.
Image source: https://www.abmission.org/resources.php/163/a-voice-in-the-wilderness. Reproduced with permission
Roll Down, Justice! A Lenten Biblical Reflection
This Lenten Biblical Reflection poses the following questions for believers:
· What are you prepared to give in order to have a closer walk with God?
· What can you give in order to embrace anew the work of justice?
Six videos/songs/study guides for small groups are available to download here.
Just Earth
The Just Earth app offers a 40 day journey for those who care for all aspects of Creation and its beauty and wonder. For each day there is a short Biblical text followed by a reflection on the passage, a variety of quotes closely related to the passage (wisdom from many traditions and ages), a ‘to do’ suggestion that includes a practical action, and prayers appropriate to the section. It is the work of the Environmental Action Group in UCA SA and is available free to download for Android and Apple devices.
Image source: https://sa.uca.org.au/new-times/changing-behaviour-this-lent-with-earth-focused-app. Reproduced with permission
Lenten Carbon Fast 2021
Lenten Carbon Fast helps align our spiritual practices with caring for the climate by fasting from carbon during Lent. Each week has a different theme with prayers and action prompts. We are invited to take an action on each day of Lent to modify our ways of doing things in order to lighten our environmental footprints so as to lead towards a carbon neutral future. Visit here.
Creation Care / Climate Justice Resources
Climate Action Plan Resources for Congregations
This two-page sheet provides some resources for congregations to respond to issues of climate change, including creating a climate action plan for your congregation (download here).
Climate Justice Resources for Congregations – Part 2
This second part of a two-page sheet provides additional resources about:
- Helping congregations reduce their emissions
- How to deal with anxiety over climate change
- Energy audits for your congregation and home
- Installing Solar Panels on your church or home.
Download here.
On-going Resources
Assembly database – Justice
Any justice-related resources are searchable for different documents at a newly opened Assembly database site here. You can search and download over 200 different documents from Statement to the Nation (1977) to Towards Climate Justice (2016) and Roadmap for congregations, communities and churches for an economy of life and ecological justice (WCC, 2019).
A Just Recovery Post Covid-19
The Uniting Church in Australia has outlined a set of principles and key actions that will guide the way to a better future as Australia recovers from the Coronavirus pandemic. There is much we have learned through this pandemic about who we are as a nation, our vulnerabilities and our strengths. Drawing upon these learnings and the values articulated in our vision, we believe we have an opportunity to create a better future where all people and all creation can flourish. The document Build Back Better: A Just Recovery, Post-COVID-19, draws upon the Uniting Church Vision for a Just Australia and is available to download here.
Contact:
Transforming Justice Unit
Mission Resourcing
312 Sir Donald Bradman Drive, Brooklyn Park SA 5032
Phone: (08) 8236 4244 / Email: pgoh@sa.uca.org.au /
Website: sa.uca.org.au/justice-advocacy
SA Synod Justice e-Newsletter
