morepraxis

Dear Friends,

This morning, the Government announced changes to asylum seeker policy which will see future asylum seekers who land in Australia denied access to the onshore asylum program. Rather, they will be taken offshore and processed without access to Australia’s review processes. These changes were announced after recent pressure from the Indonesian Government over the successful asylum claims of 42 West Papuan refugees.

The President of the Uniting Church, Rev. Dr Dean Drayton, made a media release this afternoon condemning these plans.

UnitingJustice has also produced an updated Call to Action on the issue. Both of these documents can be accessed from the front page of the UnitingJustice website, http://nat.uca.org.au/unitingjustice. Please forward the updated call to action to your networks and friends.

Kind regards,
UnitingJustice Australia

Some of the great thoughts by Ray Gingerich as found in the Anabaptist newsletter On the Road #30 
In Jesus’ resurrection, nonviolent power counters the politics of empire. For the early church, the resurrection account is the theological narrative that substantiates the political viability of nonviolence. The resurrection affords us a glimpse of the nonviolent power [...]

A number of short term trips are planned for the next twelve months. As well, there will be several work parties.

Some of the STET���s include a work party aspect. Each of these trips offer an opportunity to get involved, and to gain awareness about the mission and ministry of partner churches and related agencies, the cultural context in which the partner church is immersed, and issues facing the partner church.

Each trip aims to get behind the tourist fa√�ade, and enable theological reflection. Each trip will be 2-3 weeks in length, and will cost about $2000 – $3000 (depending on flight and living costs), including international flights, food and accommodation. The trips will be limited to 10-15 people so early expressions of interest are encouraged.

For more information about current STET’s contact the People in Mission Coordinator on 08 8236 4240

Click here for PDFs brochures on upcoming STET’s.

Dear Friends,
The President of the Uniting Church has today written an urgent letter of concern about a proposed review of the processing of asylum seekers claims, in light of the issues raised by the cases of the West Papuans.
We believe that Cabinet may be meeting tomorrow and that this issue may be on [...]

Humility is difficult for people who think they are, or want to be, “radical Christians.” Humility is difficult when you’re always calling other people – the church, the nation, and the world – to stop doing the things you think are wrong and start doing the things you think are right. Humility is difficult for the bearers of radical messages. When we’re always calling other people to repent and change, it’s not always easy to hear that message for ourselves.

I want to suggest that there is a real and very deep tension between humility and the prophetic vocation. And most prophetic Christians I have known – present company and preacher included – are really not very good at humility.

 
Age 

Below some reflections on remaining in Iraq by the Christian Peacemaker Teams. by Peggy Gish
What now for CPT in Iraq–after a three and a half years presence, after four months of dealing with a hostage situation, culminating in Tom Fox’s death and the safe release of Jim, Norman, and Harmeet? The celebration of the release [...]

On the way in this morning I caught the end of Steve Cannane from Hack advertising his program. I think I heard that this afternoon (5:30pm) on Hack there will be an interview with one of the Asylum seekers from West Papua. It should be an informative chat about the state of West Papua.

Listen, Listen online (if your OS) or wait for the pod cast Hack

Age