Cultivating Peace
DOV in Australia

The Release of DOV in Australia

Releasing the Spirit of Hope

Affirming life in the midst of adversity is a major Australian virtue, and celebrating the survival of hope is a common Australian response to violence and oppression, at home and overseas. So it was, with sorrow and righteous anger, that Australians made their national commitment to the Decade to Overcome Violence; Churches Seeking Reconciliation and Peace, on 22 March 2003, the day after war began with Iraq. Australia had just attacked another nation without any direct provocation to itself, in the face of opposition from over half its people and all the member churches of the National Council of Churches in Australia. In doing so, her Federal Government had put to the test the relationships of her citizens of so many different faiths, cultures and backgrounds.
The Australian 'launch' of the Decade to Overcome Violence was therefore not so much a launch (enough weapons had already been released in Iraq for that), as a release: a release of the holy dove of peace and reconciliation. The focus lay on the true spirit of Australia, and the strength of compassion and mutual understanding within it, despite the horrors of the past and present. As a sign of this, as they re-committed themselves to the path of reconciliation and peace, the Australian Churches were joined by representatives of several other faiths and multicultural bodies. Children of different ethnic backgrounds danced and led the singing, the diverse cultures of the Australian Christian community were voiced in different ways, a covenant of hands was formed, and doves of hope released.

Messages of Hope

The Australian DOV Release took place at The Centre in Randwick, Sydney, during the executive meeting of the National Council of Churches in Australia. It was introduced by Dr. Jill Tabart, chair of the DOV in Australia working group, who also read messages of support from two of the DOV in Australia patrons unable to be present: the former Governor-General of Australia, Sir William Deane, and the Revd. Shayne Blackman, of the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress.
The Release then began with a Welcome to Country from Ms. Elsie Heiss, of theAboriginal Catholic Ministry at La Perouse: as the gathering acknowledged that the Gadigal people, of the Eora nation, were the traditional owners of the land on which this event took place, and that all Australian land was traditionally owned by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Australia. The lively opening song, Celebrate It (The Spirit Here), took up this understanding, as children from St. Gertrude's Primary School in Smithfield led into the liturgy with a note of hope and encouragement.

Elsie Heiss, of the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry,
giving the Welcome to Country at the Release of DOV in Australia

Invocations to peace and reconciliation from representatives of different Christian traditions (Aboriginal, Catholic, Uniting Church, Coptic Orthodox, Religious Society of Friends, and Churches of Christ) recalled the Gospel of peace in the words of scripture and our Christian forbears. The first reading from Isaiah (read by Shehara Viswanathan) then followed: a call to restoration of relationship with God as the basis for justice and peace in the land.

Speaking as one of the DOV in Australia patrons, one of the best loved of national figures, Professor Lowitja O'Donoghue, spoke powerfully of her vision for the Decade, remarking firstly on the character of the times:

      It is with a particularly heavy heart that I speak about peace today....
      Many people, I know, feel overwhelmed at the gravity of the global
      situation at the moment. And helpless in the face of the military might
      that we see nightly on our television screens.... Perhaps what is even
      more frightening about this is that we have learnt to accept it as normal.
      I do not mean that if asked, people would say that they approve of
      violence. But rather, that they have come to take it for granted it as
      part of everyday life.

Thus, the challenge was a very deep one, extending to the very assumptions and
people had about life:
      
      It seems to me, that there is little point in talking about peace as an
      abstract ideal, in a world such as this, unless we actively respond to the
      values that support and maintain violence as the norm. This, for me, is
      the linchpin of my commitment to the mission of Overcoming Violence.
      I believe that violence is not a given. It is a choice. And we have to
      learn to choose differently.
      I believe that to do this effectively there needs to be leadership. And
      what more obvious leadership could there be than the teachings of Jesus
      Christ?...

      Given what we are up against, this cannot be achieved simply with an
      assurance that at a higher level everyone is loved. Faith is a necessary -
      but not sufficient - ideal to change the hearts and minds of people. I
      believe that the church in order to fulfil its mission, must, in its
      actions and teachings show a different way....

Lowitja went on to speak of the many aspects of this, drawing attention to the major role the Churches had played in working for Reconciliation with Indigenous people and calling for a continuation of this in all areas of life:

      It was John Dewey who said, and I quote, "The only way to abolish war is
      to make peace heroic."
      I hope and pray that the aims of the National Council of Churches are met
      during this decade, and that the work of overcoming violence will become
      understood as the courageous way... it is crucial that the Church is known
      for its leadership in overcoming violence. This would indeed make it the
      true hero of our age.

After Lowitja O'Donoghue's address, all joined in the Prayer for the Journey of Healing, recognising the 'original sin' of modern Australia's founding violence against Australia's Indigenous peoples and expressing the commitment to work together to overcome its continuing manifestations. As a demonstration of this spirit, the children of St. Gertrude's School then sang the anthem One People, One Land (this, like all their three songs, written by the Australian Catholic musician Monica Brown). The Gospel (from Matthew chapter 5, verses 1-12) followed (read by Karen Lunney, chair of the NCCA Youth Network), relating the words and spirit
of Jesus himself.

 The second address came from DOV Patron Ms. Paula Masselos, a member of the Greek Orthodox community, and a leading figure in community relations and multiculturalism in Sydney. She also took issue with the Federal Government's handling of recent international crises, including the war against Iraq and the handling of refugees.
As a way into prayer, the song How Long? (by the South Australian Christian musician Robin Mann), was then played, with a lively range of images of violence and peace for reflection. Addressing the spirit of fear which has allowed or maintained violence in Australian political and cultural life, DOV in Australia seeks to 'enlarge the circles of love' which the grace of God nurtures in and around us. The prayers of intercession consequently focussed on the seven circles of violence highlighted by DOV in Australia (personal, family, religious-cultural, local community, national, international, and ecological), with prayers for the enlarging of our circles of love by members of different Christian denominations (Lutheran, Anglican, Catholic, Armenian Apostolic, Assyrian Church of the East, NCCA Youth Network and Uniting Church).

Joining Hands - Cultivating a Culture of Peace

Is it possible to work for peace in such a world as this? Do we need special qualifications? No, sang (and danced) the children of St. Gertrude's School: I Can Be A Peacemaker: just with 'my little smile' and 'little hand' even the tiniest of humans can do their part. Encouraged by the children to join hands together (and, as the spirit of the DOV in Australia's resource kit has it, to 'Give Peace A Hand'), representatives of the member churches of the National Council of Churches, and of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Christians, then made a 'covenant of hands' on a specially made banner: the making of handprints being a traditional feature of Indigenous Australian cultures, and the colours reflecting the colours of land, sea and sky in Australia. 'Cultivating Peace' the banner title read, reflecting the overall theme of DOV in Australia: 'Cultivating a Culture of Peace'. A blessing followed, read by Peter Sabatino, Executive Secretary of the NCCA's National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ecumenical Commission.

Representatives of Australia's faith communities releasing doves for peace

Is peace and reconciliation about Christians alone, or Australia alone? No, affirmed the DOV Release, as the event concluded with a release of doves, a symbolic expression of a common Australian commitment to work together. Five doves were released: by DOV patrons, Lowitja O'Donoghue and Paula Masselos, the Revd. John Henderson (General Secretary of the National Council of Churches in Australia), Mr. Amjad Mehboob (Chief Executive Officer of the Australian of Islamic Councils), and Mr. Jeremy Jones (President of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry). As the doves flew heavenward, so the hearts and minds of all who were gathered lifted in fresh hope and purpose, that Australia would follow the Holy Spirit in the work of this Decade.

The Revd.Dr.Jon Inkpin
DOV programme manager
dov@ncca.org.au