But a Samaritan, as he travelled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ (Luke 10:34-36)
“The parable of the Good Samaritan — in which Jesus makes a despised outsider the model of neighbourly love; is a powerful call to choose encounter over suspicion and compassion over indifference. The message remains profoundly relevant today: to reach out beyond our safe boundaries, to encounter and care for those who are vulnerable or different. Such an attitude is the beginning and foundation of social cohesion”, said Rev John Gilmore, President of NCCA.
Australia is one of the world’s most successful multicultural societies. People from hundreds of cultural, linguistic and religious backgrounds have helped shape a society characterised by democratic institutions, respect for the rule of law, and a strong commitment to the common good. Yet, social cohesion cannot be taken for granted.
Recent years have seen increasing social tensions arising from economic uncertainty, housing pressures, political polarisation, racism, and growing antisemitism, including the appalling Bondi Beach massacre. Islamophobia is increasing. The impact of overseas conflicts reverberates in Australian communities. These pressures challenge trust between people and weaken the relationships within our multicultural society. They raise an urgent question: what actually holds Australian society together, and how do we strengthen it?
The National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA) believes social cohesion is not about demanding conformity or the mere absence of conflict. It is about building trust that allows people from different cultural and religious backgrounds to live together with mutual respect, shared responsibility and hope.
For Christians, the commitment to cohesion flows directly from the life and teaching of Jesus, who joined love of God to love of neighbour as inseparable commands. Scripture consistently calls us to welcome the stranger, care for the vulnerable and cross social and religious boundaries in compassion as Jesus did with the Samaritan woman, the Roman centurion and those excluded by society.
This is a model of peace understood not merely as the absence of conflict but as the presence of just and compassionate relationships — echoed in the Risen Christ’s greeting of peace spoken into the disciples’ fear, calling us to make peace even with our enemies.
Australian Identity and Multiculturalism
Diversity and unity are not opposites. Most Australians hold multiple identities at once — cultural, religious, ethnic — and these enrich rather than compete with one another. Three interwoven national narratives[1] can be discerned when describing Australian society: the enduring heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; the Anglo-Celtic inheritance of democratic institutions and the rule of law, but including the painful legacy of colonisation and dispossession; and modern multicultural Australia, built by successive generations of migrants. Australia’s future depends on holding all three together as an integral shared national story.
Honesty about the Church’s history also demands acknowledging serious failures — including the profound harm of institutional child sexual abuse, accepted by churches through the findings of the Royal Commission, and Church involvement in policies that harmed First Nations peoples, including the forced removal of children. The trust needed for social cohesion cannot be rebuilt through words alone; it requires truth-telling, accountability and sustained commitment to change.
“Multiculturalism is one of Australia’s great strengths, but it requires ongoing investment; building trust between communities, confronting racism and creating real opportunities for dialogue”, said Rev Gilmore.
Belonging, Bonding and Bridging
The following framework can be helpful in understanding social cohesion: belonging, bonding and bridging.
Belonging is the experience of being recognised and valued; rooted in the conviction that every person carries inherent dignity and equality as a bearer of God’s image.
Bonding is the strength of relationships within a community, expressed through care, volunteering and mutual support; churches have long nurtured these bonds through worship, pastoral care and practical service, rooted in Jesus’ call to “love your neighbour as yourself.”
Bridging is the harder but essential work of reaching beyond one’s own community to encounter people of different backgrounds and beliefs. The parable of the Good Samaritan is the model for Christians.
These three dimensions reinforce one another: strong belonging builds the confidence for strong bonds, and strong bonds create the confidence to build bridges across difference.
Ecumenism and Interfaith Dialogue
The churches’ own experience of ecumenical and interfaith dialogue can offer a practical model for wider society, that unity does not require uniformity. Christian traditions in working for unity remain distinctive while respecting one another, praying together and working toward common purpose demonstrating that difference need not become division.
Across Australia, churches take part in interfaith councils, shared community projects and educational programs that build trust between different religious communities before misunderstanding can turn into conflict. Faith-based schools have a particular opportunity here, helping young people develop both a confident grounding in their own faith tradition and genuine openness to others — recognising that the two are mutually reinforcing, not opposed.
Conclusion
Social cohesion cannot be assumed; it must be continually renewed. Responsibility for this work does not rest with government alone — it belongs to families, schools, community groups and faith communities alike. Grounded in the conviction that every person is made in the image of God, the NCCA calls Christians and all Australians to love their neighbour, welcome the stranger, pursue justice and peace, and — like the Good Samaritan — have the courage to cross boundaries in compassion and service.