Heads of Churches Refugee Sunday Statement

For 50 years, Australian churches have helped refugees. Since 1997, Australian churches have marked Refugee Sunday. This year, Australia needs a gospel response.

We stand at the crossroads. Confronted by the horrors of war, persecution and displacement. Forced to deal with the victims of atrocities and persecution. Challenged by the need to rid humanity of the poverty, injustice and persecution that breeds discrimination and violence.

Will we fear the stranger and close our doors, or open our minds and work to bridge the ethnic, religious and political divides by welcoming and protecting refugees?”

Australia’s Challenge: to Protect or Reject Refugees?

In October 2002, Australia and 61 other member states of the United Nation’s High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Executive Committee made an undertaking to protect, rather than reject, refugees when endorsing the Agenda for Protection* (see: www.unhcr.ch).

Having made the commitment, nations like Australia must now live up to their promises to protect and not reject refugees, and share instead of shift their responsibilities. Australia has a strong track record in voluntarily resettling offshore refugees. The Gospel now calls upon us to challenge Australia’s treatment of onshore refugees and asylum seekers:

Our system of mandatory, indefinite and non-reviewable detention should be replaced by community-release models for children and their families.

Struggling on-shore refugees granted Temporary Protection Visas and asylum seekers in the community on bridging visas need much improved income and services support.

Massive over-spending on border control should be reduced and funds diverted to the UNHCR to assist displaced people in refugee camps and help neighbouring states provide effective protection.

Australia’s so-called ‘Pacific Solution’ should be abandoned.

While some governments weaken refugee protections, the Agenda stands as a beacon of hope. UNHCR’s “Convention Plus” initiative stands as another beacon of hope, aiming to complement the Refugee Convention with agreements on secondary movement, mass influxes, resettlement, conflict prevention and development assistance. Implementing these initiatives, however, requires international co-operation and the support of UN member states.

Signed by Heads of NCCA Member Churches

Archbishop Peter Carnley, Anglican Church Of Australia;

Archbishop Baliozian, Armenian Apostolic Church

Bishop Mar Meelis Zaia, Assyrian Church Of The East;

Revd Peter Overton, Churches Of Christ In Australia;

Archbishop Stylianos, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia;

Revd Mike Semmler, Lutheran Church Of Australia;

Ruth Watson, Religious Society Of Friends;

Revd Dr Gabriel Popescu, Romanian Orthodox Church;

Commissioners Les Strong & Ross Kendrew, Salvation Army;

Most Revd Francis Carroll, Roman Catholic Church;

Revd Professor James Haire, Uniting Church In Australia

* The Agenda for Protection is a 27-page document that represents an international consensus on policy and a blueprint for concerted international action. It is the product of a two-year series of Global Consultations and is one of the most important documents since the 1951 Refugee Convention.