Author Archives: CraigT

Responding to the High Court on off-shore detention

Posted on by

Dear Vic/Tas Uniting for Refugees Network members,

I had hoped to start of our first email update of 2016 with a “Happy New Year” greeting, but sadly given today’s High Court’s decision is as shameful as we predicted it could be, it would be slightly ironic at best!

The High Court today voted to throw out the challenge to Nauru offshore immigration detention, and by virtue that officially makes offshore immigration detention legal.   Of course, just because it’s legal doesn’t make it right.  The Australian Human Rights Commission has also today affirmed that today’s High Court decision does not alter Australia’s international obligations towards people seeking asylum.

Because of this, we are writing to you with two very specific requests for the next 24-48 hours:

We are asking you to call on the Prime Minister to do whatever he can to rule out sending children and their families back to Nauru and Manus Island

We are asking you to consider attending the snap rallies being held this week to ‘voice your concerns’!

The Prime Minister has it within his powers to refuse to deport the 267 people who were affected by this case, which includes 36 babies / between 70-90 children, back to the horror of Nauru and Manus Island.

We encourage you to write a respectful messages to:

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull

http://bit.ly/contactPM

and

The Hon. Peter Dutton MP

Minister for Immigration and Border Protection

minister@border.gov.au

Please also send a copy to your local Federal MP as well – if you are not sure who they are or have their contact details, you can do a search here: http://apps.aec.gov.au/esearch/

 

We have attached a copy of the media release which has come out from the UCA National Assembly just a short time ago, and you are welcome to use points from that release in your messages to the MP and Minister Dutton.

 

For additional further information, you’ll find recent posts/updates on our Networks’ Facebook page here:  http://on.fb.me/1PQMSUi or some selected media articles on the High Court challenge below:

https://www.humanrights.gov.au/news/stories/human-rights-obligations-remain-despite-high-court-ruling

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-02/boy-allegedly-raped-on-nauru-could-be-sent-back-to-detention/7132608

http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/no-clear-winner-likely-from-high-court-ruling-20160201-gmiyzc.html

People all over Australia are going to be attending snap rallies in the next few days demanding that the PM to #LetThemStay and we’d also like to encourage you to attend the Melbourne-based rally tomorrow (unfortunately at the time of sending we aren’t aware of any happening in Tasmania or rural Victoria).  The rally details are as follows:

MELBOURNE | THURS FEB 04
5:30pm, State Library of Victoria
https://www.facebook.com/events/907459779369725/

If you can’t be part of the rally, then please make the most of social media using the #LetThemStay hashtag if you have an online presence on Twitter or Facebook, and by sending the more traditional letters / emails.

My final reminder is to also consider putting the Palm Sunday Walk for Justice for Refugees in your diary!  More than ever this year, these are going to be important events where the Churches and others from across the community come together to demand that Austrlia’s policies relating to people seeking asylum are driven by bipartisan commitments to a humanitarian-focussed response and on protection needs.   There are events happening all over Australia, and we suspect to also find out about several Vic/Tas regional-based activities as well.   In the meantime, the details for Melbourne and Launceston are as follows:

MELBOURNE | SUNDAY MARCH 20
2.00pm, State Library of Victoria

1.15pm UCA contingent meet at Wesley UCA in Lonsdale Street and process to rally with UCA National President Stuart McMillan
https://www.facebook.com/events/1045381425492119/

Warm regards – Jill

 

Jill Ruzbacky

Social Justice Officer, Justice & International Mission
Commission for Mission
130 Little Collins St Melbourne 3000
t  (03) 9251 5266  | f  (03) 9251 5241  | m  0417 878 982
e  jill.ruzbacky@victas.uca.org.au
w  victas.uca.org.au

 

Posted in UCA News and Other Upcoming Events

Taize Melbourne – Feb 6 Trinity College Chapel

Posted on by

Taizé prayer this Saturday night, 5.30pm at the Trinity College Chapel.

Please also join us for singing practice at 5pm if you would like.

There is also the option of dinner afterwards in the dining hall for $10 per person.

We are always looking for extra people to volunteer to help with our Trinity and CBD prayers – if you are interested, please speak to any of us after the prayer.

Hope to see you then!

All the best,

Heidi

Check out our Facebook group:

Taizé in Melbourne, Australia

Posted in Uncategorized

Truly, We Will Remember Them – ANZAC Day 2016

Posted on by
“Truly, We Will Remember Them”
For all those interested in praying and working for peace in the world please reserve this date:
ANZAC DAY 25 APRIL 2016 
11.00 AM, ST PAUL’S CATHEDRAL MELBOURNE
The Cathedral together with Pax Christi and the Anzac Centenary Peace Coalition, invite you to a service of lament for all soldiers who suffered and died in World War I, especially in the Battle of the Somme in 1916; for the doctors and nurses who cared for the wounded and dying; for loved ones at home during and after the campaign; for the government attempt to conscript men into the war that was said to be THE WAR THAT ENDS ALL WAR. Inquiries:revdrjohsmith@ozemail.com.au
Posted in UCA News and Other Upcoming Events

MtE Update – January 29 2016

Posted on by

Friends,

the first MtE news update for 2016!

  1. Our Lenten Studies begin Feb 17 (Wednesday evenings or from the 19th for Friday mornings); more info is available here.
  2. Following worship next week Feb 7 we’ll have another of our hymn-learning sessions: learning a new communion setting and adding to our hymn repertoire for Lent.
  3. Our congregational picnic will be after worship on Sunday March 6
  4. The CTM (Parkville) is offering two events on the theme of faith and sexuality, led by Bill Loader: an evening Feb 18 and Feb 19 day event.
  5. The Anglican Church in Melbourne is running a conference on evangelism in February:  Life in Abundance: An Anglican Conference on Mission and Evangelism. The MtE Church Council is willing to subsidise up to $150 for any members of the congregation who would like to attend. Please speak to Craig if you’d like to avail yourself of this offer.
  6. The Synod Standing Committee has recently resolved to pursue legal incorporation of the VicTas Synod; more about this can be found here. I’ve made a short response to this advice which might interest some.
  7. The most recent Synod eNewsletter (January 16) is here.
  8. A number of information sessions have been arranged to discuss the developing outcomes of the Synod’s Major Strategic Review; details are here.

Craig

Posted in MtE News, UCA News and Other Upcoming Events

Incorporation of the VicTas Synod

Posted on by

A personal response to the advice from the General Secretary

 

Hi Mark,

I’ve read this with interest, and largely with agreement regarding the intended outcome and the rationale.
I’m concerned about the process, however. The second paragraph commences: “The SSC has resolved to seek a change to the legislative structure of the Synod”. The letter, however, implies that the SSC “resolved to change the legislative structure”.
This is unclear. Has the SSC made this decision on behalf of the Synod? If so, this concerns me greatly. Given that the letter indicates the possible need for changes to UCA Regulations and Constitution and the different legal requirements currently in place in different States and Territories, it seems to me that the matter ought to be considered by the whole Synod and not executed by the SSC only. As I understand it, this is the way the Anglicans in Victoria have dealt with the question.
Much has been made of the non-incorporated status of the church in the past – not least how this has made us “different’ from other civil entities – and, while incorporating has the positive benefits described in your letter, I believe that a final resolution on the matter ought to be made by a well-informed Synod meeting and not the SSC only, even if this were to involve a special Synod meeting for the purpose to deal with the matter in a timely fashion.
Craig
Posted in Minister's Blog

Mark the Evangelist Update – December 17 2015

Posted on by

Friends,

the latest MtE news update:

  1. Our service this Sunday Dec 20th will be a service of Advent-themed readings and carols, featuring most of our cantors as soloists and an impromptu choir!
  2. The previously announced congregational meeting on our MtE Futures Project (property and resources assessment) planned for this Sunday will now no longer take place as there is not sufficient new information to warrant convening a meeting. The next scheduled meeting on the Project is March 21, although Church Council may convene another meeting in February if sufficient information comes to hand to justify it.
  3. Act for Peace’s Christmas Bowl appeal is now underway; more information here.
  4. Some might be interested in a couple of Advent Taize events in Melbourne in the next week or so.
  5. The most recent Synod e-Newsletter (Dec 11) is here.
  6. Our Christmas service times are here.
  7. Super-advanced notice for next year:

a. Our Lenten Studies begin Feb 17; more info is available here.

b. Congregational picnic after worship Sunday March 6

Craig

Posted in MtE News, UCA News and Other Upcoming Events

Called to Holiness: Lenten Studies 2016

Posted on by

Our ecumenical Lenten studies for 2016 wiCalled to Holiness 1ll consider a recent publication coming out of the Australian Anglican-Roman Catholic ecumenical dialogue, Called to Holiness in Australia.

The document is available here, or copies can be collected from the church after worship closer to the commencement of the study series. You are invited to have read the relevant chapter prior to each session of the study group.

At least two groups will meet for the studies:

Wednesday nights (in conjunction with St Mary’s Anglican Church), February 17-March 9, 7.00pm at St Mary’s Anglican Church, 428 Queensberry St, North Melbourne. This will be proceeded by a light soup and bread meal from 6.30pm. [Note Change of times!]

Friday mornings (in conjunction with Habitat Uniting Church), February 19-March 11, 10.30am at Habitat Uniting Church, 2 Minona St, Hawthorn.

There will also be a Lenten retreat at Habitat on Friday March 18

Please let Craig know if you are interested in one of these study groups, preferably via our registration form; if you’re keen and can’t make one of these, let me know and we might be able to convene another in those weeks. (Contact: Craig Thompson, minister at Mark the Evangelist).

If you would like us to keep you informed about other reading groups like this one, add your email address to our Reading Groups list in the box below. This list is only used to send emails about our reading groups and you can unsubscribe at any time.


Widget not in any sidebars

These discussion groups are organised by the Congregation of Mark the Evangelist, (Uniting Church, North Melbourne), in conjunction with Habitat Uniting Church, Canterbury and Hawthorn and St Mary’s Anglican Church, North Melbourne.

Posted in MtE News, UCA News and Other Upcoming Events
« Older Entries Recent Entries »