#LetThemStay

In late August, Immigration Minister Peter Dutton announced that support is to be withdrawn for asylum seekers who are living in community in Australia. Their income support will cease and they will forced from Government funded accommodation. It is expected that they will be made to return to Manus or Naru within six months.

Ramadan 2017

The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue (PCID) has released a message for Ramadan and Eid 2017.
Download the PDF here 

21 May 2017

The World Council of Churches is calling all churches around the world to unite for a day of prayer on Sunday 21 May 2017.

The situation of people in African countries is desperate.

May we together respond in prayer.

Resources for the day can be found over the page.

Sydney based Faith Ecology Network (FEN) Prayer Vigil

Come and present a public witness to city workers.

Monday 22nd May 2017

4.30-0.00pm

Town Hall Square, Sydney

Preservation of biological diversity is precious in the eyes of our different faith and ecology disciplines.

In October 2016 the leaders of Churches met for conversation and to support each other.  At this meeting they decided that the first Sunday of Lent, 5 March 2017, will be a Day of Prayer and Fasting for Refugees and Asylum Seekers.

The NCCA has put together resources to assist with reflection, prayer, reading and study.  These documents represent a collection of some of the wonderful resources that have been gathered from our Churches.

Applying the 'golden rule' of treating others as one would like to be treated, I feel deeply for Muslims, amidst current hostility.

The latest sadness is over that Australia Day banner with smiling faces who happen to be Muslims.

Attacking diversity, as the new political correctness, is both cruel and absurd.

What a joy it is to be with you today.

On this very significant day for churches and the ecumenical movement in Aotearoa New Zealand and world-wide, I bring the greetings and the prayers of the member churches of the National Council of Churches in Australia.

The ecumenical community is saddened by the news of the sudden passing away of Rt. Rev. Dr. Zacharias Mar Theophilus, Suffragan Metropolitan of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church on 27 December 2015 at the age of 78.

Bishop Mar Theophilus was an ardent ecumenist and served the ecumenical enterprise in various capacities at different levels. He was a member of the Central and Executive Committees of the World Council of Churches (WCC) from 1991 to 2006 and of the General and Executive Committees of the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) from 1981 to 1985.

Deirdre Ashe joined the NCCA in December 2015 as Director of Business and Finance. Since 2008 she has been working in Hong Kong but knew it was time to come home to Sydney. The role at the NCCA appealed to her on a number of fronts – Interfaith dialogue is of great interest, believing ‘God has a place for unity’; NATSIEC was an exciting project, and she thought she would like to contribute to Act for Peace.

Having been brought up in the Anglican Church, Deirdre became a member of The Salvation Army by choice. At 15 she was invited to a House Party, and for the first time ‘received’ that Christ had died for her personally. From there she felt called to worship at the local Chester Hill corps (church) and over the years has committed to various ministries including open airs, pub ministry and youth work.

In the recent Australia Day 2016 honours many people were recognised for contribution to religious organisations and services. The NCCA congratulates all of them, with special mention of four who have been recognised for their contribution to ecumenism:

The Very Reverend Canon David Leyburn RICHARDSON AO, OBE is an Australian-born Anglican priest, who was dean of St Peter’s Cathedral Adelaide (1988-1999) and St Paul’s Cathedral Melbourne (1999-2008) and director of theAnglican Centre in Rome (2009-2013) .

For many people, the thought of retirement conjures images of time spent with the grandchildren, cruising the oceans or joining a band of grey nomads chasing the sun.

Few would imagine opting to live in one of the world’s most volatile regions, acting as an eyewitness to abuses of military and political power.

From 7-10 October 2015, our dream is for all people who work with youth and young adults to gather for a time of refreshment and encouragement, professional development and training, connecting and
networking. Whether they work in schools, Churches or the community, whether as volunteers or paid, whatever denomination or ministry philosophy they come from, we want to love, equip and help these key leaders.

Moana is a woman on a mission. Growing up in Tonga, she knows all too well the death and destruction that tropical cyclones can cause. But as a Community Disaster Risk Manager with Act for Peace’s local partner, the Tongan National Council of Churches, she’s also seen how the right training and preparation can save lives. With extreme weather events on the rise, she won’t rest until all Tongan people have the knowledge and skills they need to stay safe when emergencies hit.

We are deeply saddened by the death of Daphne Siva, Finance Director of NCCA since 2011. Daphne was a member of the Roman Catholic Church and had ecumenical experience with a number of other denominations both in her working life, as an inter-church family and local ecumenical involvement. She held a Masters of Business Administration from the Australian Graduate School of Management and was a Certified Practising Accountant.

Sadie Moore is the Head of Community Fundraising, Act for Peace.

The 2015 FIA Awards for Excellence in Fundraising were announced in February. One of the major awards, Most Effective Creative Campaign, was won by Act for Peace - Act for Peace Ration Challenge – a project that was designed by Sadie. It also won the award for Special Events – under $5 million revenue.