5075 sharing issue 20 3 july 2017 by Levon Kardashian

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SPRING ISSUE 20

JULY 2017

Sharing

NEWSLETTER OF THE NSW E C U M E N I C A L C O U N C I L I N C O R P O R AT E D

Inside this issue From the Editor’s Desk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

“Luther at 500: Taking the Ecumenical Pulse” . . . 13

Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2017 . . . . . . . 14

Mapping Ecumenism in the “New Normal” . . . . . . 4

Memory Eternal! Metropolitan Paul Saliba of Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines . . . . 19

NCCA - Safe Church Program Update . . . . . . . . . 7 Just Comment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 500th Anniversary of the Reformation Events . . . . 11 Head of Churches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Week for Christian Unity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Plane Crash or Safe Landing? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Round-Table Discussion in Canberra . . . . . . . . . 24 Activities of the Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

From the Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Desk Very Rev Fr Shenouda Mansour

The world in 2017 has experienced much grief by extremist in the name of religion. In the month of May 2017, terror struck Manchester with 22 lost their lives and in Jakarta in Indonesia with 3 people lost their lives. Life is sacred. How can God who created mankind demand the killing of human beings? This is a question that is asked by many people of different faith and of no faith. As Christians, we believe that life is sacred, and all human being are precious and sacred before God. In this, life is precious, and life is sacred. Throughout the world, particularly in the Middle East, Christians are dealing with martyrdom. The Early Church dealt with constant martyrdom in many regions of the Middle East. Today, the Christians in Iraq, Syria and Egypt have experience torment, discrimination and genocide. We who live in the Western society, such as, Australia, may find it very difficult to grasp Christian persecution, discrimination and genocide. Today, 2017, the world has witnessed genocide of the Iraqi, Syrian and Egyptian Christians. The NSW Ecumenical Council, through the work of the Middle East Commission, promotes the education of the plight of the Middle East Christians. We cannot also forget the Palestinian issue with Israel, the self-determination and the right to existence at Westbank. How do we resolve fundamental issues, where the life of the human being is at the core value? Christ taught us the value of life and the value of love. Christ taught us not to hate, nor to kill. The process of a peace march or a peace demonstration is in pursue of preserving life and voicing for the voiceless. Recently, I attended a silent peace demonstration with the Quakers at Martin Place. The experience of a silent demonstration was more powerful than the noise, chanting and large volume of people at any demonstration that I have attended in my life. It was profound. We need to be peace activist â&#x20AC;&#x201C; promoting the Gospel of Christ at every moment. Remember, Christ never came with a sword or clubs, but rather carried His Cross to Calvary and taught us the power of Cross through His suffering, crucifixion and resurrection. The New South Wales Ecumenical Council extends congratulations to the Uniting Church in Australia for 40 years since union in 1978. The Lutheran Church in Australia is commemorating 500 years after Luther. On the 1st July 2017, His Eminence Metropolitan Archbishop Paul Saliba thrice blessed slept in the arms of the Lord Jesus, and was laid to rest on Monday 10th July 2017. The NSW Ecumenical Council extends condolence and sympathy to the Antiochian Orthodox Church in Australia. May his memory live on in the hearts and minds of the people whom he has left behind. We look forward to serve you and your community. 2

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From the Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Desk Very Rev Fr Shenouda Mansour

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Mapping Ecumenism in the “New Normal” Clive Pearson (Research Fellow, PaCT Research Centre, Charles Sturt University / Assembly, Uniting Church in Australia).

Being ecumenical today. It is not uncommon to claim that the ecumenical impulse has lost much of its early zeal and enthusiasm. That is one way to read the present situation – but it is not the only way. Our inherited patterns of being ecumenical in this country are derived from a “former worldview”. They were shaped prior to what the sociologist, Anthony Moran, has called the “reinvention of Australia” – that is, prior to large-scale immigration that gave rise to a culturally and linguistically diverse nation. Gary Bouma has identified this context as “the new normal”: he wrote of the need for living faithfully in a religiously diverse society. Bouma is wary of any subsequent call for unity: it is his belief that such calls “bring demands for uniformity” and that such calls will “ultimately fail to be able to deliver the goods”. The fact of the matter is “we are not the same. Our religious diversities are real and not to be papered over or denied.” His call to live faithfully in the midst of religious diversity is like a step-change for those of us resident in this country. We will need to negotiate matters of competition and conflict and the tendency towards what Bouma calls “negative othering”. The one who is not “us” is easily demonized, caricatured and left to become the object of dog-whistle politics.

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The need for a deeper ecumenism and the common good. This changing context brings much closer to home the debate over whether ecumenism should be seen merely an internal matter for the Christian faith. The dilemma is unavoidable in the light the way in which the church has co-opted the Greek word for the known world or whole inhabited earth – the oikoumene. By way of comparison John D’Arcy May, originally from Melbourne, now speaks of the need to engage in a deep ecumenism that involves members from other faiths. Merely thinking of this possibility aligns an evolving ecumenical line of thought with the emerging discipline of a public theology. That this be the case should come as no surprise. Forty years ago Martin Marty advocated the need for a public church: he had taken issue with the way in which one congregation after another, one denomination after another, had been retreating from the public domain into concerns for the witness and survival of its own self. Marty argued that a public church constituted a “communion of communions” whose members were engaged in “a pilgrimage of participants”. The purpose of the consequent public theology is the nurture of the common good, a civil society, and the flourishing of all.

Marking the ecumenical church: This binding together of the religious other and the common good should also embrace what the recent census statistics are saying. There has been an unprecedented increase in those declaring themselves to follow “no religion”. The socio-cultural context in which a Christian ecumenism is now to be played out in this country has altered. It is not only its external setting that has changed. Bouma’s new normal included the rise of previously marginal forms of Christianity like the Pentecostal churches and, most significantly, an increasing cultural diversity within the various denominations of the Christian faith. Those churches which have played a significant role in ecumenism during the twentieth century are not the same churches they once were. It seems as if we are becoming more differentiated and plural. The call to participate in the ecumenical adventure has often been organized along an ecclesiology informed by the four classical marks of being the church: one, holy, catholic and apostolic. Each one of these marks needs to be unpacked, of course, within the context of Bouma’s new normal. So much of the energy and attention of the ecumenical agenda has fallen understandably given the Christian history of division and schism to that mark of being “one”. It is, of course, given a biblical strength and sanction through much weight being assigned to the prayer of Jesus in John’s gospel: Jesus prays not just for his disciples but also for those who will believe in him through their word, “that they may all be one”. (John 17: 17-19).

John Flett from Melbourne reckons presents us with the tension between the practice of a cross-cultural transmission of the gospel and what constitutes identity. What does it mean to be Christian, to be the people of God, the body of Christ across time, across space and place, across culture? What does it mean to be the church in this process when a European culture, a western culture, has often been the vehicle for the gospel to be handed on to those other cultures which were so often colonised but have now become equal partners in “the world [rather than global] church”? The implications are far-reaching. How is the life and witness of ethnic minorities to be found within our domestic churches now to be woven into the ongoing ecumenical agenda? How are we to reinvent the imaginaries of our respective denominations, let alone discourse between the churches? How sensitive will we be to the relative invisibility of so many of the cultural groups that make up our churches today? Is it now time for ecumenical practice to set standards of empathetic cross-cultural competency and address our often hidden forms of racism? The technical term is ‘aversive racism’ which describes how good, well-intentioned folk can be so supportive of equality of rights and presence and yet instinctively prefer people just like them. Perhaps it’s time to work on a home-grown ecumenism that is fit for purpose for the new normal Bouma has identified.

It is arguably the case that more time should be spent on apostolicity. The mark signifies that notion of being sent out. It is one which

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Mapping Ecumenism in the “New Normal” Clive Pearson (Research Fellow, PaCT Research Centre, Charles Sturt University / Assembly, Uniting Church in Australia).

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It is arguably the case that more time should be spent on apostolicity. The mark signifies that notion of being sent out. It is one which

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Interfaith Conversations on Peace and Non-Violence NCCA - Safe Church Program Update

Sponsored by Pax Christi Australia and the NSW Ecumenical Council

SATURDAY AUGUST 12 2017

The Safe as Churches? 8 Conference was held in Melbourne on the 16 and 17 May 2017 by the National Council of Churches in Australia – Safe Church Program. It brought together 180 delegates from a wide variety of Church traditions, including Anglican, Baptist, Catholic, Churches of Christ, Presbyterian, Reformed, The Salvation Army, Pentecostal and Uniting Church of Australia. We had delegates representing every state and territory within Australia as well as delegates attending from Fiji, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.

invites you to participate in a four-session day to reinvigorate peace and non-violence in our lives

Registration begins 9:00 am

THE

Program starts at 9:30am

Within the conference we had an update by The Honourable Justice Peter McClellan AM, Chair of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. Justice McClellan provided information about the current work as well as the latest statistics surrounding their work. These include, from the 6,302 Private Sessions that they have processed to date, 59% relate to a Religious Institution. You can view his presentation via: https:// www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/ media-centre/media-releases/2017-05/ justice-mcclellan-addresses-nationalcouncil-of-ch.

PROGRAM

Faith Perspectives on Peace and Non-Violence Culture of Encounter - Panel on Truth and Justice Workshops on Non-violence Feedback and Ongoing Commitment to Peace and Non-Violence

WHERE: Edmund Rice Centre - 15 Henley Rd Homebush West - alight at Flemington station $60 COST: LUNCH AND DINNER $35 - Student Concession

One minute walk from Flemington Station

INCLUDED

Safe church signage Along with the safe church commitment, it is good practice to visually display that you are committed to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable people. The

We also heard sessions relating to Forgiveness and Reconciliation for Survivors of Sexual Abuse and the impact of shame and guilt around this, Pastoral Care of Survivors and Parishes and working with known offenders. We had keynote presentations by Mary Barry, CEO of Our Watch (Australia’s Peak Body relating to the prevention of violence against women and children) on preventing Family Violence, Gerard Mansour, Commissioner for Senior Victorians relating to Elder Abuse and how churches can prevent and respond, and Greg Gebhart, Senior Trainer with the Federal Government eSafety Commission, who looked at technology and digital trends, cyberbullying and Image Based Abuse. For more information about the NCCA – Safe Church Program visit: www.safechurches.org.au and for specific information and Speaker handouts from the conference visit http://www.ncca.org.au/ safe-as-churches/conference-2017.

Safe Church Tip signage should include who the safe church contact is for your community and be child friendly in its language so it is accessible to everyone. SHARING | ISSUE #20 JULY

Interfaith Conversations on Peace and Non-Violence NCCA - Safe Church Program Update

Sponsored by Pax Christi Australia and the NSW Ecumenical Council

SATURDAY AUGUST 12 2017

invites you to participate in a four-session day to reinvigorate peace and non-violence in our lives

Registration begins 9:00 am

THE

Program starts at 9:30am

PROGRAM

Faith Perspectives on Peace and Non-Violence Culture of Encounter - Panel on Truth and Justice Workshops on Non-violence Feedback and Ongoing Commitment to Peace and Non-Violence

WHERE: Edmund Rice Centre - 15 Henley Rd Homebush West - alight at Flemington station $60 COST: LUNCH AND DINNER $35 - Student Concession

One minute walk from Flemington Station

INCLUDED

Safe church signage Along with the safe church commitment, it is good practice to visually display that you are committed to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable people. The

Safe Church Tip signage should include who the safe church contact is for your community and be child friendly in its language so it is accessible to everyone. SHARING | ISSUE #20 JULY

Just Comment

Resist yes! Despair is not an option. Building a culture of active response to injustice

Resistance as a response to injustice and social inequities is not new. It is part of the experience of many religious and secular groups. It has received a boost as people protest top-down abuse of power: women’s rights and domestic violence; rights of asylum seekers, Indigenous people, climate justice, gay rights and racism. Social media has put resistance on the radar. It occurs within a particular social context and requires navigating various social, political, and economic relationships. For example, these relationships confronted ordinary people who resisted the extremes of the Nazi Holocaust. Acting from within their own spheres of influence, they often paid with their lives. Adolf Hitler’s regime was supported by many. Others sat on the sidelines. Crucially, many people carried out meaningful acts of resistance to protect the life and dignity of their neighbours and strangers. Effectiveness? The effectiveness of protests in the immediate moment or over the long haul is often questioned when nothing seems to change. The true impact of activism is often not felt for a generation. But, despair or neutrality are not options in unjust situations. To be neutral is to collaborate with the powerful against the powerless. It is necessary to build a culture of active response in the face of injustice. It is built when the voices of those committed to exposing injustice are shared. Even highlighting the thoughts and actions of people dedicated to confronting injustice can build courage. Myriad small, incremental actions matter even when the consequences are not immediate or obvious. Even failure in an immediate objective may result in a change to the whole framework that makes broader change inevitable as the story is changed, future activists encouraged, and persistence is made possible.

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Social Analysis Kristine Renwick Monroe has analysed the experiences of rescuers/resisters, bystanders, and supporters of the Nazi regime concluded that moral identity - how one sees oneself in relation to self, other, world, and agency - affected the response to social evil moves one beyond thoughts and feelings to action. Resisters saw themselves as connected with others and able to effect change because they had integrated the value of human life into their world view

little knowledge of native rights and wrongs were educated. It inspired and informed young people of good work yet to do.

Experience and religious tradition teaches us that resistance is possible and serves to affirm human dignity and the integrity of creation, even if we do not always seem to end injustice or social wrongs. The most important effects are often the most indirect. Actions often ripple far beyond their immediate objective.

So, repeated small, incremental actions matter even when the consequences are not immediate or obvious. The true impact of activism may not be felt for a generation. That alone is reason to struggle, rather than surrender to despair.

In the 1980’s and 1990’s as people lived with and died of AIDS, organisations such as Act Up changed the way people thought about AIDS. Many Act UP activists did not see the final outcome of their work, but they accepted that the consequences may be immeasurable or still unfolding, or indirect, as poor people on other continents got access to medicine because some in another country refused to accept things as they were. In 2016, at Standing Rock, North Dakota, the gathering of tribes and activists was not measured by the defeat or not of a pipeline. Initially, it was delayed and cost investors a fortune. Though the pipeline went ahead, the gathering, the largest of Native North Americans ever seen, wrote a radical new chapter to a history of over 500 years of colonial brutality, loss, dehumanisation and dispossession. Thousands of veterans came to defend the people. In one ceremony, many apologised and sought forgiveness for the army’s long role in the oppression of Native Americans in an affirmation of solidarity and interconnection. People with

Actions often ripple far beyond their immediate objective, even when results are unlikely to be immediate or obvious. Many of our greatest victories are what does not happen: what is not built or destroyed, deregulated or legitimised, passed into law or tolerated. Even losing can be part of the process of change. Attempts to abolish slavery failed repeatedly but the ideas behind them spread until they were passed.

Obstacles to action Impartiality or hiding one’s values are obstacles to action. They buttress oppressive systems. The bishop of San Diego, Robert McElroy, recently called on community organisers to become disrupters and rebuilders of society. ‘We must disrupt those who would seek to send troops into our streets to deport the undocumented… We must disrupt those who portray refugees as enemies…….We must disrupt those who train us to see Muslim men and women and children as sources of fear……... We must disrupt those who seek to rob our medical care….. He said, ‘We must make the issues of jobs, housing, immigration, economic disparities, and the environment foundations for common efforts, rather than of division. We must seek prophetic words and prophetic actions which produce unity and cohesion…..’.

come together to find ways of stepping over the blockages to democratic aspirations created by corporations and big money. These groups, in the process of organising, strategising and mobilising are building relationships and creating something positive from a negative as happened at Standing Rock. The media would have us believe that protest is ill-informed and futile; that the status quo cannot be changed. But, protest begins with, and gives hope. As Joan Baez said, ‘Action is the antidote to despair.’ Despite an uncertainty of the future, hope acknowledges that we can impact future outcomes. Many people have embraced the term being a ‘voice for the voiceless’. This can be another excuse to place ourselves at the centre of the story and disempowering or marginalising people already oppressed. To speak for people who can speak for themselves reinforces their ‘voicelessness’. They have something to say but are often not heard. “The problem isn’t their ‘voicelessness,’ but that we are not listening.” We need to amplify their voices so that they can take centre stage and be encouraged. Whilst acknowledging the pain and suffering endured, we also highlight their resilience so as not to paint them as helpless victims. Calling them voiceless when not reinforces the narrative that they can do nothing. Dissent and political engagement go together. Dissent is from something. Political engagement is to be for something. It is not simply to protest negatives that ought to be denounced but seeking ways to make the lives better.

The true political spectrum in society ranges is about right and left, from top to bottom. Left and right have to do with political theory. Top to bottom is the daily reality in our lives. In most towns and cities small groups and coalitions SHARING | ISSUE #20 JULY

Just Comment

Resist yes! Despair is not an option. Building a culture of active response to injustice

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little knowledge of native rights and wrongs were educated. It inspired and informed young people of good work yet to do.

4th International Conference on

RECEPTIVE ECUMENISM 6–9 November 2017, Canberra, Australia

500th Anniversary of the Reformation Events

Leaning into the Spirit

discernment, decision-making, and reception HIGHLIGHTED CONFERENCE SPEAKERS

Revd Prof. Michael Welker Executive Director of FIIT University of Heidelberg Author of God the Spirit

Professor Paul Murray Director, The Centre for Catholic Studies Durham University

Dr Antonia Pizzey Australian Catholic University Rev Dr Mary-Anne Plaatjies van Huffel Member of Australian Roman Stellenbosch University Catholic – Uniting Church Dialogue Co-president World Council of Churches

Revd Dr Vicky Balabanski Flinders University Co-Director, Biblical Studies Uniting College for Leadership and Theology

The Most Revd Sir David Moxon The Archbishop of Canterbury’s Representative to the Holy See Anglican Chair of ARCIC III

Rt Rev Dr Helen-Ann Hartley Bishop of Waikato New Testament Scholar

HOSTS

PARTNERS

The Centre for Ecumenical Studies / Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture (Charles Sturt University)

National Council of Churches in Australia

The Research Centre for Public and Contextual Theology (Charles Sturt University)

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South Australian Council of Churches Anglican Centre in Rome

Saturday 19 August NSW Ecumenical Council AGM. Guest speaker on the Reformation – Bishop Mark Lieschke, Lutheran Church of Australia, NSW District. Tuesday 15 August Chamber Choir from Nordlingen, Germany. Concert at Martin Luther Church, Goulburn Street, Sydney. 7.30 pm.

Dr Paul Pulikkan Director, Chair for Christian Studies and Research, Calicut University

. . . and more speakers listed on the website

The Australian Catholic University – Institute for Religion and Critical Inquiry (Melbourne) and Signadou Campus (Canberra)

Sunday 8 August The Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany Sydney together with St Andrew’s Cathedral is planning an exhibition on Martin Luther. It is a poster exhibition on Martin Luther to be opened by His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Ret’d), Governor of NSW. St Andrew’s Cathedral on the 8th of August 2017 at 6.00 pm. It will be on display for at least 4-6 weeks.

FOR FULL DETAILS INCLUDING costs, accommodation, EarlyBird and full registration go to the Conference Website: http://arts-ed.csu.edu.au/centres/ accc/events/single/receptiveecumenism

Saturday 26 August Reformation Rally. This event, held at St Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney, featuring Archbishop Glenn Davies, Gerald Bray, Kanishka Raffel and will include a service conducted from the 1552 Book of Common Prayer. 9:00 am Tea and Coffee, event: 9:30 am – 1:00 pm. (Planned by Moore College).

Monday 18 September Commemoration Worship at St Peter’s Lutheran Church, Reid (Canberra) at 10.00 am. Ceremonial tree planting in the gardens of the St Mark’s National Theological College, Canberra. This follows a tree planting event in Wittenberg, Germany where a number of churches have planted commemorative trees. 2.00 pm. Sunday 15 October Gala Concert at Christ Church St Laurence featuring choir and orchestra presenting Bach Cantata 80: Ein feste burg. Ticketed event. 3.00 pm. Planned by Christ Church St Laurence and the Lutheran Church of Australia, NSW District. Sunday 29 October Sydney City Clergy are organising a Reformation Service as one of its ecumenical activities. St James Anglican Church. 4.00 pm.

Do you know a celebration to mark 500 Years after Luther….please let us so that we could let others by email: nswec@ncca.org.au or smansour@ncca.org.au SHARING | ISSUE #19 AUTUMN

4th International Conference on

RECEPTIVE ECUMENISM 6–9 November 2017, Canberra, Australia

500th Anniversary of the Reformation Events

Leaning into the Spirit

discernment, decision-making, and reception HIGHLIGHTED CONFERENCE SPEAKERS

Revd Prof. Michael Welker Executive Director of FIIT University of Heidelberg Author of God the Spirit

Professor Paul Murray Director, The Centre for Catholic Studies Durham University

Revd Dr Vicky Balabanski Flinders University Co-Director, Biblical Studies Uniting College for Leadership and Theology

The Most Revd Sir David Moxon The Archbishop of Canterbury’s Representative to the Holy See Anglican Chair of ARCIC III

Rt Rev Dr Helen-Ann Hartley Bishop of Waikato New Testament Scholar

HOSTS

PARTNERS

The Centre for Ecumenical Studies / Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture (Charles Sturt University)

National Council of Churches in Australia

The Research Centre for Public and Contextual Theology (Charles Sturt University)

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South Australian Council of Churches Anglican Centre in Rome

Dr Paul Pulikkan Director, Chair for Christian Studies and Research, Calicut University

. . . and more speakers listed on the website

The Australian Catholic University – Institute for Religion and Critical Inquiry (Melbourne) and Signadou Campus (Canberra)

FOR FULL DETAILS INCLUDING costs, accommodation, EarlyBird and full registration go to the Conference Website: http://arts-ed.csu.edu.au/centres/ accc/events/single/receptiveecumenism

Do you know a celebration to mark 500 Years after Luther….please let us so that we could let others by email: nswec@ncca.org.au or smansour@ncca.org.au SHARING | ISSUE #19 AUTUMN

Head of Churches June 2017

The meeting went well with a number of very important matters that surface from the meeting. The talk by Professor Bob Carr raised the important matter of Church and State. This issue was a concern for the Heads of Churches where a consolidate hand and voice on a number of important matters that affect churches and its members need to be highlighted before Government. The Heads of Churches raise the importance in the need to be in constant engagement with public discourse and public debate on important matters. The church need to have relevance in society and its engagement will provide this gap of silence.

Week for Christian Unity The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity was hosted at Ashfield Mission. The event marked the desire of several Christians coming from many Christian traditions to pray for Christian unity, as Jesus taught in John 17. The number of different people involved at the event reflected the spirit of the desire of Christian unity. The Moderator of Uniting Church, Rev Myung Hwa Park spoke eloquently on the Week for Christian Unity. After the service, Rev Bill Crews invited all the participants for dinner at the Exodus Foundation in the Hall.

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“Luther at 500: Taking the Ecumenical Pulse” Round-Table Discussion in Canberra Monday 29th May 2017

In the year that marks the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s ‘Ninety-five theses’, which itself marked the beginning of the Reformation in Europe, what better theme to address than the state of the ecumenical movement - the desire for a fuller expression of unity among Christians. Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture hosted a round table discussion on “Luther at 500: Taking the Ecumenical Pulse””. The facilitator, Rev Dr Ray Williamson (Previous General Secretary of NSWEC) introduced the topic eloquently. Four speakers were invited to participate and provide their perspective from their tradition on Luther - a Lutheran, a Catholic, a Methodist and an Orthodox. The four speakers in order of their presentation were:

The round table discussion provided an understanding historical context on Luther 500 years ago. The round table generated discussion from the floor, as the audience that listened came from many different traditions, Protestants, Catholics and Orthodox. Even after 500 years, the discussion gave new light on Luther. Personally, it brought a context that I have not heard before. After hearing all the talks I had a personal reflection - Luther was 500 years before his time. Is it possible that Luther was misunderstood then, and now it is important for us to understand the intent and purpose of unity rather than division?

The response heard also gave an understanding that Luther was not properly The Reverend James Winderlich (Principal, understood, but misunderstood. Without Lutheran Theological College) Luther’s stand, there would not have been the translation of Bibles, understanding of Dr Josephine Laffin (Senior Lecturer the Church and the diversity of the church in Church History, Australian Catholic as it exists today. It was clear that Luther University) was not after division as much as he wanted The Reverend Prince Devanandan (President reform so that salvation will be for the of the Methodist Church in A-NZ) populous. In order words, it was Luther’s desire to see for all men be saved rather than The Reverend Fr Anastasios Bozikis (St only a few to be saved. The day drew to an George’s Greek Orthodox Church, South end, and it gave a deeper appreciation for Brisbane the Lutheran Church, the reformation and 500 years after Luther.

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Head of Churches June 2017

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“Luther at 500: Taking the Ecumenical Pulse” Round-Table Discussion in Canberra Monday 29th May 2017

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Week of Prayer for Christ Unity 2017

“Reconciliation, the love of Christ compels us!”

Today we gather to pray for Christian Unity. Traditionally, the week of prayer is celebrated between 18-25 January, between the feasts of St Peter and St Paul. But in the southern hemisphere churches have established a new tradition by celebrating this at this particular time, between Ascension and Pentecost another significant time, a symbolic time for unity. So I’d like to begin this reflection by thinking about this season in the church’s calendar. For forty days the risen Lord shared his teaching about the kingdom of God with the disciples helping them to become confident of their faith in Christ. Before he ascended, Jesus promised that he would send the Spirit, the Advocate, the Paraclete. Jesus ascended into heaven. Then the disciples gathered in the upper room and prayed as they prepared themselves to be witnesses to the ministry of Jesus. And on Pentecost, the Spirit came and enabled them to connect with everyone from everywhere. A sure sign of unity, speaking in tongues to enable each

one to understand each other. Last week, I was in Brisbane for a Moderator’s gathering. From Brisbane airport, we took a cab to the meeting place. The driver was a Pakistani so I spoke to him in Urdu as I spent some years in Pakistan many years ago. He was so happy to hear me speaking his native language. He gave me his number so that I could contact him to take us back to the airport when we finished the meeting. The Pakistani Taxi driver was so happy and said that whenever I came to Brisbane, I should know that I had a taxi which would take me wherever I needed to go. Today we are here to confirm that we share a common language: a language which is built around God’s love revealed to us in Christ’s teaching and ministry. We are here to acknowledge that we are of one body which belongs to Christ and we have received the same Spirit which reminds us whose we are and what is our mission.

Thus it is significant for us to come together at this time to pray for Christian unity and for God’s mission which can best be carried out through the unity of the followers of Jesus. Christian unity is not a cooperation instigated through a group’s self-interest. Christian unity is based on Jesus’ own prayer “I pray that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” In other words, Christian unity stems from Christ and with Christ. Our unity is grounded in Jesus. Because we are one with Christ, we are in Christ. As God is in Jesus, Jesus is one with God, so we are united So when we pray for Christian unity, we are encouraging each other to be in the relationship which connects us with Christ, to remember what we need to do to reflect Jesus’ ministry of healing and reconciliation. When we are connected to Christ Jesus, we are united to each other in Christ.

Rev Bridget Ocean, Rev Bill Crews

Lighting of Candles...a sign of peace.... President NSW Ecumenical Council, Ms. Wies Schuiringa and Moderator Rev Myung Hwa Park of Synod of NSW & ACT UNiting Church in Australia,

President NSW Ecumenical Council, Ms. Wies Schuiringa 14 SHARING | ISSUE #20 JULY

Moderator Rev Myung Hwa Park of Synod of NSW & ACT Uniting Church in Australia, delivering the sermon SHARING | ISSUE #20 JULY

Week of Prayer for Christ Unity 2017

“Reconciliation, the love of Christ compels us!”

Rev Bridget Ocean, Rev Bill Crews

Lighting of Candles...a sign of peace.... President NSW Ecumenical Council, Ms. Wies Schuiringa and Moderator Rev Myung Hwa Park of Synod of NSW & ACT UNiting Church in Australia,

President NSW Ecumenical Council, Ms. Wies Schuiringa 14 SHARING | ISSUE #20 JULY

Moderator Rev Myung Hwa Park of Synod of NSW & ACT Uniting Church in Australia, delivering the sermon SHARING | ISSUE #20 JULY

We have come from many different contexts. We are from different churches, from different places, from many nations, cultures and traditions gathered here today. Even if we came from the same church, we would still have individual differences and different life experiences. We might even be inclined to say that the differences outweigh the things we have in common which unite us. And all those differences can cause not only misunderstanding but mistrust and distance and result in us being pushed further from each other. Therefore, we need to listen to Christ more than any other voices or events. Jesus wants us to be united as he and his father are one. This unity is not an ideology which comes and goes. It is a real relationship, a sharing of life’s experiences in true heart and mind. In order to experience this unity, we need to meet as a real body of Christ. The theme for this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is ‘Reconciliation: The love of Christ compels us’.

However, we are not so sure whether the quality of our life, especially our relationships with each other and with the environment are any better even though we have been inundated with all this incredible technology and scientific discoveries.

There are many walls in human society.

Through the development of transport, our world has become one big global village, but at the same time we have many people suffering from loneliness and isolation. And our overly populated earth is increasingly characterised by extreme individualism in this so-called global village. Furthermore, Anthropocentrism appears to be slowly destroying our earth community with the human induced climate change.

• The walls built by Israeli settlers that stop Palestinians from walking to their olive trees on their own land.

Today, we gather to pray for Christian unity because it is the will of God that we become one, as the father and Jesus are one. The prophet Ezekiel speaks about breaking down walls and barriers as an act of reconciliation. This is what God did through Christ. So, we too, are compelled to reconcile because of the love of Christ.

We believe that God in Jesus reconciled us and removed all the barriers that separate us from the love of God. And this love of Christ compels us now for us to go out to be the messengers of reconciliation. Today we are living in a world filled with advanced technology and scientific development. When I arrived in Australia 30 years ago, I did not even own a computer. But today, we use computers not only for reading and writing, but also for learning as we google anything and everything. Furthermore we can shop online or find a date online. Sooner or later, we will be asking a computer what we need to do next.

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Walls between nations: • The wall President Trump wants to build to stop Mexicans from coming to the USA.

• In my homeland there is a wall that divides one nation into two, the only divided country in the world for the last 64 years! Walls between religions: • Christians in many parts of the world are being killed by Islamic extremists. • Moderate, law-abiding Muslims in Western countries are reviled and discriminated against simply because of the their religion. Walls that we build against people whom we perceive as threat to our norms and values or even our stable society: like LGBTIQ people, Refugees and Asylum seekers and people with mental illness. And there is a wall of ignorance or carelessness against our environment. It is not rocket science to figure out that we too are a part of this earth like monkeys, butterflies, dingos, forests and the coral on the Barrier Reef.

Rev Dr. Manas Ghosh giving the benediction at the end of the service

We have built too many walls. And God speaks to us, calling for repentance, asking us to turn from building walls to breaking down the walls.

Thus the love of Christ compels us to witness to the spirit of reconciliation, the love of God which is like that of the father of a prodigal son, forgiving and compassionate, running to embrace the returning child. We know that walls of distrust, walls of hatred, walls of selfishness, walls of greed and walls of fear don’t easily fall. But the love of God in Christ breaks down the barriers, becomes reconciled with the sinners. The love of Christ compels us to reconcile with everything, with everyone from whom we have been divided. This is the unity that our Lord Jesus prayed for, “that you become one so that the world knows that you are my disciples”. Love not only breaks down all our barriers it also deepens our relationships. So as we gather to pray for Christian unity, let us begin to break the walls within us and build relationships with each other. Let us strive to deepen our understanding of each other and to foster our commitment to witness to Jesus’ ministry of reconciliation in our world in our words, deeds and prayers. Thanks and praise to the God of the universe, the Creator, the Redeemer and the Sustainer of all things here in the world. Rev. Myung Hwa Park

Moderator of The Uniting Church in Australia

Synod of New South Wales and the ACT

God loves the world, he sent his son so that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

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There are many walls in human society.

• The walls built by Israeli settlers that stop Palestinians from walking to their olive trees on their own land.

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Walls between nations: • The wall President Trump wants to build to stop Mexicans from coming to the USA.

Rev Dr. Manas Ghosh giving the benediction at the end of the service

We have built too many walls. And God speaks to us, calling for repentance, asking us to turn from building walls to breaking down the walls.

Moderator of The Uniting Church in Australia

Synod of New South Wales and the ACT

God loves the world, he sent his son so that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

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Plane Crash or Safe Landing? Rev Dr Manas Ghosh, Chair, Interfaith Commission, NSW Ecumenical Council

During Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting, I read an interesting story in an online Indian newspaper. During the month of Ramadan a group of young people in a town near Calcutta, India, every day at 2 o’clock in the morning went through their town singing a special song, “Allah ke payare, Nabi ki dulhare, sahari ki waqt ho gaye. Jago”, which means “Beloved of Allah, dear people of the prophet, the fasting time is about to begin. Wake up!” It’s interesting that in this age when everyone has a mobile phone and every mobile phone has an alarm in it, these young men were waking up people by going through the town singing this special song. What really amazed me is the group itself. Not all of them are Muslims. There were Hindus, Christians, Buddhists and Sikhs. When a reporter asked them about it, they said, “We are friends. We live together, play together, share our joys and sorrows together and we also celebrate one another’s festivals. We are one community. Our parents had done it and now we are doing it.” It’s amazing. In the world when there is so much sectarian violence, these young men have set an example of how people of different faith can live together harmoniously and peacefully and share the joys of one another’s festivals.

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Although India is the home of more than one hundred and eighty million Muslims, no wonder, only eight Muslims joined the ISIS. Citing this fact, Peter Hartcher, the international editor of Sydney Morning Herald pointed out that ‘it had been possible because in India people of different faith live as one community’. The last word of the song “Jago” has dual meaning. It’s not just a call to wake up people from their sleep, but a call to the world to wake up from their slumber of bigotry, prejudice, hatred and intolerance to a new day of loving, respectful, tolerant and peaceful existence. I am pleased that similar things are happening in Australia. Different faith communities are coming closer and trying to understand one another through dialogue and participation in one another’s festivals and other celebrations. Uniting Church, the Jewish Board of Deputies, the Affinity Intercultural foundation and the NSW Ecumenical Council are in the forefront of building bridges between communities. As they say in journalism, the reporters are paid to cover stories of plane crashes only and not safe landings, in spite of the saturation of the media coverage of only negative stories of violence and terrorism good things are happening all over the world and they outnumber the bad stories.

During the month of Ramadan I had the privilege and joy of attending a number of Iftar Dinners, in some places representing the NSW Ecumenical Council Interfaith Commission. Everywhere I found a great atmosphere of openness, friendship and willingness to break down barriers between the religious divides. At the Iftar Dinner hosted by the Uniting Church in Australia at Parramatta Mission, the Grand Mufti of Australia Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohammed in his keynote address reminded the audience that “Religions, in their pure form encourage a positive discourse, build bridges and promote tolerance. And that in spite of the hatred we encounter there are still Australians who have the ethos of love and awareness whose seeds were sown by all the prophets, especially by our beloved prophets, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad, peace be upon all of them. It is our duty now to maintain their positive messages and promote the common values of all religions.” He challenged his audience form all faith backgrounds with the following words, “Love is the key to changing hearts, minds and entire societies. The message of our faiths is clear, in that to be in the service of others is the quickest route to spreading love. This is the duty of all Australians, to serve each other and promote love and harmony to continue to grow in our cultural richness. Let us make Australia the leading nation in promoting mutual love in the context of our multicultural landscape.”

In his response to the Grand Mufti’s message, Mr Stuart MacMillan, President of the Uniting Church in Australia National Assembly appreciated the friendship between the Uniting Church and the Muslim community, the two communities’ willingness to appreciate the values and beliefs they hold in common and to respect, learn and understand the areas of difference, and their common desire for peace in our world. He reminded the audience that while “we mourn and condemn recent terror attacks across the world, we know that love and understanding will always triumph over fear and hate” and urged them to pray to “God to grant us the strength to passionately pursue a more welcoming, inclusive and peaceful community where all may live in harmony - and to encourage others to do the same.” As these two religious leaders reminded us that from within and without the challenge before us is no small, for we are not trying to obliterate or erase or smooth out differences under a universalizing canopy, but trying to discover our common humanity, and ways of living, connecting, relating, celebrating, arguing, and disagreeing in a community of differences, and yet loving one another as our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ commanded us. It’s a long journey and we are committed to be in it together.

Plane Crash or Safe Landing? Rev Dr Manas Ghosh, Chair, Interfaith Commission, NSW Ecumenical Council

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Mosman Neutral Bay Inter-Church Council Hymnfest and Flower Show Phillip Seale - Vice Chairman 31 July 2017 The Mosman Neutral Bay Inter-Church Council held their Hymnfest this year at St Luke’s Anglican Church Mosman, on Saturday 17th June. St Luke’s added to the flavour of the event by including a Decorative Flower Show. Flowers were displayed around the window sills and in the chancel area and at the altar of St Luke’s, which greatly enhanced the festive feeling. Flowers were donated by member churches, members of St Luke’s congregation and businesses in the Mosman area. The flower arranging was organised by Ruth Rock with helpers from St Luke’s. The afternoon started with a warm welcome from the Rector of St Luke’s, the Rev’d Dr Max Wood, and proceedings were conducted by accomplished compere David Garrett, from Mosman Uniting Church, reprising his role from last year. David’s erudite introduction of each hymn and musical item was enlightening and allowed the afternoon to run smoothly. During the afternoon David addressed us on the Importance of Music in Liturgy.

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The music, choral and congregational singing however were the highlight of the afternoon. The combined church choir from Scots Kirk Mosman and St Luke’s performed beautifully led by St Luke’s organist and choirmaster, Gareth Baard. He was ably assisted by the masterful organ playing of Heather-Moen-Boyd, organist at Scots Kirk, Mosman. Heather was also the initiator of the Hymnfest idea and organised the event in conjunction with Gareth Baard and the ICC. The congregational hymn singing began with a rousing rendition of `Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer’, followed by `Tell Out My Soul’, and many other favourites.

The afternoon included singing by Cantors of Sacred heart, Mosman, led and accompanied by Pastor de Lasala, and a music group from St Therese Catholic Church, Beauty Point. Another highlight was a solo by the Rev’d Darren Liepold, minister at Neutral Bay Uniting Church, who sang `How Great Thou Art’. Around 95 people attended the event and an additional 35 assisted up the front in the choir and band. We raised $1,294.00 and this was donated to Bear Cottage, a children’s hospice. Wendy Blacklock, from Bear Cottage, told us about the valuable work of Bear Cottage. The event finished with afternoon tea and finger food in the St Luke’s lower hall where fellowship continued and ecumenism flourished. The Hymnfest was an event enjoyed by all and worthy of the ecumenical goals that bind us together.

The choir was also accompanied by the students from Queenwood School, Balmoral. The students were led by head music teacher, Murray Winton. The string and brass ensembles contributed to and supported the choir making it a wonderful balanced sound. The Queenwood Astra Singers also sang a piece by Norwegian composer, Ola Gjeilo, entitled `Northern Lights’.

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Round-Table Discussion in Canberra

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The round table discussion discussed Luther 500 years. The discussion brought a discussion from different Christian perspective, Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox response. The response brought a context that I have not heard before. The personal reflection was one that Luther was 500 years before his time. The response heard also gave an understanding that Luther was not properly understood, but misunderstood.

Without Lutherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stand, there would not have been the translation of Bibles, understanding of the Church and the diversity of the church as it exists today. It was clear that Luther was not after division as much as he wanted the reforms from corruption and salvation for the populous. Lutherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s desire to see that all men be saved rather than only a few were saved. The day gave a deeper appreciation of the Lutheran Church, the reformation and 500 years after Luther.

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Round-Table Discussion in Canberra

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Activities of the Council

Building Relationship with other living faiths IFTAR Dinner with Affinity at NSW Parliament House on 7 June 2017

Celebrating 350 Year Anniversary of the 1st Print of the Bible in Armenian NSW Parliament House on 3 May 2017

Talk on peace – Initiatives in Iran At the Quakers Meeting House Surrey Hills on 22 June 2017

At the ABC Radio, farewelling radio personality, Mr. John Cleary

Greek Genocide – 18 May 2017 at Marrickville Town Hall. A panel of experts coming from the Assyrian, Armenian, Greek, Jewish Communities.

General secretaries at the Safe as Churches National Conference Melbourne Right to Left: Fr Youssef Fanous (Coptic Orthodox), Rev Frederik Mul (Tasmanian Council of Churches), Rev Ian Smith (Victorian Cunicl of Churches), SIster Elizabeth Delaney SGS (National Council of Churches in Australia), The Revd Canon Richard Tutin (Queensland Churches Together), Fr Shenouda Mansour (NSW Ecumenical Council).

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Activities of the Council

Building Relationship with other living faiths IFTAR Dinner with Affinity at NSW Parliament House on 7 June 2017

Celebrating 350 Year Anniversary of the 1st Print of the Bible in Armenian NSW Parliament House on 3 May 2017

Talk on peace – Initiatives in Iran At the Quakers Meeting House Surrey Hills on 22 June 2017

At the ABC Radio, farewelling radio personality, Mr. John Cleary

Greek Genocide – 18 May 2017 at Marrickville Town Hall. A panel of experts coming from the Assyrian, Armenian, Greek, Jewish Communities.

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