More Issues to Explore
Refugees
In our worldwide community of over 7 billion people over 65 million people have been forced from their homes by warfare, famine, natural disasters or other factors beyond their control. How can we best respond? Do we build walls and stop boats, lock up those vulnerable people who are seeking an opportunity for a new life, imprison and prosecute those who seek to support them OR is there a better way?
This is one of the big issues in our world, an issue with significant political wrangling and pressure, an issue which touches on our own experiences and presses our prejudices. Yes, vulnerable people should receive care and support. Should that come at any cost or discomfort or disruption to us? Yes, people should be helped, but … not in my backyard.
This and other big questions touch on our values and what drives and shapes our lives. It is an issue which is explored in various ways though our community.
Explore. Question. Question your own responses and prejudices and values. Come and ask and explore this with us.
For a contribution from our national Anglican Church explore: https://anglican.org.au/our-work/migrants-refugees/
For an agency which supports refugees with integrity and transparency, see Act for Peace: https://www.actforpeace.org.au/
Climate Change
The effect of human activity on our world is clear. That we have had a negative effect, even a potentially catastrophic effect, is agreed by the vast majority of scientists who engage in ongoing research. What should we do? How should we respond? Recent strident calls from large numbers of people, particularly young people, have raised this question to something which cannot be ignored. An important part of our engagement with this question is to consider what changes we need to make to reverse or modify the effect of human activity on climate change.
The Anglican Board of Mission – Australia provides a way into this complex issue.
https://www.abmission.org/pages/climate-change.html
This paper, produced by our Rector, gives an overview and some questions to consider: Paint the ceiling or deal with the problem? PDF link
How will we respond?
Challenges facing the Anglican Church of Australia
As the Anglican Church of Australia we are at a crossroad. There are divergent views within the Church about who we are, what we do and should believe, what the Church should look like, who is acceptable, who gets to make the decisions and chart the future and more! A paper is attached here which explores some of this challenge. Please read and respond and consider how we can best be faithful, for to do nothing and consider nothing will allow those charting a particular path to prevail. LINK: Doctrinal Development by Paul Mitchell.
As we explore these, and other, issues more information will be added here.
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