Ecumenism D.Webster

Religious Dialogue in Multi-faith Australia

What does this mean?

Ecumenical movements within Christianity

It means… The various faiths speaking to each other for the greater good of the Australian community.

Describe the impact of Christian ecumenical movements in Australia

Out of the devastation of World War II sprang the Australian Committee for the World Council of Churches (1946). This developed into the Australian Council of Churches which, in 1994, gave way to the National Council of Churches in Australia.

The movement for Christian unity in this country was, initially, an Anglican and Protestant affair. Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches came in, in strength, during the 1960s and 70s. For Catholics, the 2nd Vatican Council (1963-1965) opened up fresh possibilities for relationships with other Churches, and the transition to the National Council of Churches in Australia (1994) saw the Catholic Church become a full participant in Australia's national ecumenical body.

How the NCCA works Departments The NCCA works through a number of Commissions, Networks, and Programs. These constitute the 'departments' of the NCCA and order its work plan.

A few examples of the Departments…

Faith and Unity The NCCA's Faith and Unity Commission is based in Melbourne, and operates on a small budget with a small allocation of paid staff time. Much of the work is done by theologians from the churches who act in a voluntary capacity.

National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ecumenical Commission The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ecumenical Commission works ecumenically among Australian churches and wider society to advance indigenous rights and help the churches understand the implications of their history and their current policies and actions. It has a full time staff of three, headed by the Executive Secretary.

The NCCA is its seventeen member Churches in their commitment to the world for which Christ died. It works in collaboration with state ecumenical councils around Australia. It is an associate council of the World Council of Churches, a member of the Christian Conference of Asia and a partner of other national ecumenical bodies throughout the world. 

In preparation for the next slide Create a table In preparation for the next slide Heading: The NCCA Column 1 Row 1: Empower Communities Row 2: Prevent and resolve Conflicts Row 3: Reduce Extreme Poverty Column 2 The Impact of NCCA

So does the NCCA have an impact? The NCCA reacting to the emergency appeal in Burma

Perhaps this goal may assist… Make Indigenous Poverty History Goal 8: Develop a National Partnership for Development Target 13: Give Indigenous people the control over managing their own affairs Indicator 34:  Re - establish an elected representative body. Indicator 35:  Monitor the impact of Shared Responsibility Agreements Indicator 36: Truth in funding – provide adequate funding for proper implementation of programs. Target 14:  Ensure that the wrongs of the past are acknowledged Indicator 37: The Federal Government says Sorry to the Stolen Generation and pays reparations.  Indicator 38: A Treaty is established Indicator 39: Reparations for Stolen Wages are made in full. It is the indicators that are important!

The NCCA Emergency appeal for Bangladesh

The NCCA offering assistance in the Sudan

In Mozambique

Monday, 29 January 2007 einews.blogspot.com/2007_01_01_archive.html Catholic, interfaith leaders join in Mohammed commemoration 4/27/2006 UCANews (www.ucanews.com) DHAKA, Bangladesh (UCAN) – Speakers from various religions commented recently on the role of Prophet Mohammad in promoting peace, justice and dialogue. They spoke at an April 20 interreligious gathering organized by Tamaddun Majlish, one of the country's oldest Islamic organizations, at the National Press Club in Dhaka. The event was held in honor of Prophet Mohammad's birth, which Muslims around the world commemorated on April 10. Ten speakers addressed an audience of 200 people on the theme: "The present world's human rights problems in the light of Prophet Mohammad's idealism."

The NSW Ecumenical Council Jon Inkpin, DOV in Australia program manager, joined with members of the NSW Ecumenical Council in visiting the Torres Strait at the end of October 2003. 

The NSW Ecumenical Council is comprised of sixteen (Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox) Christian churches throughout New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. “As churches together we are committed to a journey of peace and reconciliation for ourselves and our world, rediscovering our unity in the love of Christ in order that God's love and healing may be known to all.”

“Being together enables us to know God more deeply, to express a common voice on issues of concern in society, and to work together on specific projects concerning the churches and the needs of the wider community.”

You should know where this is…? Some activities Bonhoeffer Conference at Kincumber This year's event is timed to mark the 75th anniversary of Kristallnacht, and is concerned with the enduring influence of Bonhoeffer's discipleship on contemporary Jewish-Christian relations. Ecumenical Summer School 2009 - Melbourne The annual Ecumenical Summer School is a long-standing opportunity to explore spirituality and key issues together in a most enjoyable context. In 2009 the theme will be 'The Hospitality of God - Food for Thought'. Prayer with a Taize Community Brother Brothers from Taizé led prayers during the World Youth Day in Sydney in July 2008. A brother of the community will be returning to Sydney in February 2009. A series of prayers and meetings is planned in and around the city for the weekend of February Year of St.Paul Seminar A seminar on St Paul will be held on Saturday 28th February 2009 which will comemorate the Year of St Paul. The venue is tentatively the CIS, Strathfield. Time: 2-5pm.

Everyone’s Eyes on Burma For twenty one years, the Christmas Bowl has supported hundreds of thousands of Burmese refugees who have fled to camps on the Thailand-Burma border in an effort to escape the horror of the persecution imposed by a brutal and violent military Junta.  As the price of rice has more than doubled in the wake of Cyclone Nargis and the global food crisis in Burma, assistance for Burmese refugees should be on everyone’s agenda this Christmas. By giving just $76 to this year’s Christmas Bowl, you can provide food for a family of four refugees for one month.

Basis and Objects The Council oversees the work of the churches together and the mission of the NSW Ecumenical Council is spelt out in its Statement of Objects to which all member Churches assent.  It is a fundamental ecumenical principle that no Church needs to do anything against its conscience, so that the life of the NSW Ecumenical Council is centred on the unity and core truths of God in Jesus Christ.

History The NSW Ecumenical Council was established to be the instrument through which the churches seek to be faithful to their ecumenical calling and commitment. The NSW Ecumenical Council is one of seven State/Territory councils of churches, all of which are affiliated with the National Council of Churches in Australia. Together they make up the network of the churches' ecumenical instruments in this country, and through them the churches are linked to the wider ecumenical movement, nationally, regionally and internationally.

How the Council works The NSW Ecumenical Council is accountable to its Member Churches who are represented on its Council (which meets twice a year) and directed by an Executive (elected by the AGM).  Members of the Commission are nominated, or agreed, by the respective Member Churches and a close relationship is pursued with Church Leaders. 

Unity and Service are seen as the two fundamental and intertwined aspects of the mission of Churches Together and four working areas have been designated for work: Theological Reflections, Social Justice, Partnership for Development and Local Ecumenism. Care for Creation and inter-religious relationships are also given specific attention.

The following are some of the major services and projects of the NSW Ecumenical Council - representing key concerns in the prayer and work of Churches Together in NSW and the ACT.

Christmas Bowl An appeal of the National Council of Churches in Australia, the Christmas Bowl has brought aid and development assistance to communities around the world for the past 60 years.  Thanks to the generosity of Australian Churches, the Christmas Bowl now funds programs in 22 countries in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, the Pacific and Australia.  The Christmas Bowl is a significant expression of Churches working together in response to human need.

House of Welcome The House of Welcome is the Refugee Project of the NSW Ecumenical Council which provides support and services to asylum seekers living in the community without work rights or access to social services.  The House of Welcome was established in 2002 by the NSW Ecumenical Council to provide assistance to Refugees released from detention centres on a three-year Temporary Protection Visas (TPV).

Make Indigenous Poverty History As part of its long-term commitment to Reconciliation and justice for Indigenous Australians, the NSW Ecumenical Council is an active supporter of the Make Indigenous Poverty History campaign, run by NATSIEC (the National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Ecumenical Commisison of the NCCA)

Partners4Peace Partners4Peace give regularly to projects that build peace through ecumenical partnerships throughout the world.

What do you believe the impact of the Council is in Australia and the world?

What impact does it have on interfaith dialogue?

Interfaith dialogue is When the various religious traditions speak to each other….. Zuleyha Keskin was recognised for her contribution to interfaith dialogue.

So does the NSW Ecumenical Council do this?

Here are some venues where “speaking” takes place

You make up your own mind….

Australian Centre for Christianity & Culture A national ecumenical centre in Canberra which offers opportunities for ecumenism and interfaith dialogue and growth in understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians http://www.acc-c.org.au

World Council of Churches The global ecumenical Council of Churches established in 1948  http://www.oikoumene.org/en

Christians for an Ethical Society Social Justice partners in Canberra  http://www.ces.org.au

Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity The Pontifical Council for Christian Unity is a key instrument in the Roman Catholic Church's prayer and work for Christian unity  http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/

The syllabus asks you to know…

What are the ecumenical movements within Christianity in Australia?

Therefore you need to know About the NCCA The NSW Ecumenical Council

Their impact on Australia. And…. Their impact on Australia.

You will also need to understand… The importance of interfaith dialogue in a multifaith Australia.

And that is… This dialogical vision of the human being is rooted in the biblical and Jewish tradition. God did not create us as isolated individual beings. He created us as man and woman, as social beings who can and must see in the other the image and likeness of God, who must respect and love each other. Even revelation is a dialogical process.

In revelation God addresses us and speaks to us as to friends and moves among us in order to invite and receive us into his own company (Dei Verbum 2). The highpoint of this dialogue is the Christ-event itself. In Jesus Christ, who is true God and true man, we have the most intensive and totally unique dialogue between God and man. For Christians Jesus Christ is the centre and the criterion of any dialogue, and the common reference point of dialogue.

The end!