Advocate for Justice 2016

I don’t preach a social gospel; I preach the Gospel, period. The gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is concerned for the whole person. When people were hungry, Jesus didn’t say, “Now is that political or social?” He said, “I feed you.” Because the good news to a hungry person is bread.  When you are ill, I heal you.  Those are physical, mundane, secular, nonreligious things.  And you remember the wonderful parable we have about the last judgment.  He said that when we are judged about whether we will go to heaven or hell, it will be by thoroughly nonreligious criteria.  He didn’t say that you will be asked: “Did you pray? Did you go to church?” He didn’t mean that those were not important things.  But you will be judged by whether you fed the hungry, whether you clothed the naked, you visited the sick and those in prison.  I have no conflict with this whatsoever, because all of life belongs to God.  I can’t believe that you can compartmentalise life and say this is political and this is religious, because for us religion must permeate the whole of life.  If people wish to say, “God’s writ does not run in the political sphere,” I want to ask, “Whose does?”

Archbishop Desmond Tutu

 

ABM’s advocacy priorities arise from issues that matter to our Partners. We invite you to discern how you might join with God’s work in the areas below.

 

 

ADVOCACY RESOURCES

The Australian Anglican church is actively engaged with a range of social issues arising from local mission contexts. Follow the links below for more information:

 

Anglican Alliance (http://www.anglicanalliance.org/advocacy/)

The Anglican Alliance is a global Anglican organisation that connects Anglican Churches involved with development, advocacy and relief. They are particularly focused on climate justice, gender based violence, human trafficking, corruption and the rights of garment workers.

 

Anglican Church Public Affairs Commission (http://www.anglican.org.au/governance/commissions/pages/public_affairs.aspx)

The Public Affairs Commission of the Anglican Church of Australia calls attention to important areas of concern for public theology. They have released positions on respect for all, refugees and asylum, Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, Native Title and heritage reform, responsibility to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, care for the environment and other issues.

 

Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce (http://www.acrt.com.au/)

The Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce has been established to promote a shared Christian vision of compassion and hospitality for asylum seekers and refugees. Their campaigns include ‘No Business in Abuse’.

 

Anglicare Australia (http://www.anglicare.asn.au/site/advocacy.php)

Anglicare Australia is a peak social advocacy organisation that brings together over 40 individual Anglicare agencies from around Australia. They have undertaken research into rental affordability, youth employment, aging, tax reform, social services, disability, workplace relations and many more areas.

 

Brotherhood of St Laurence (http://www.bsl.org.au/advocacy/)

The Brotherhood of St Laurence is a community organisation that works across Australia to prevent and alleviate poverty. They actively campaign for youth employment, inclusive growth, social inclusion, financial inclusion, a fairer tax system, equity and climate change.

 

Australian Freedom Network (http://afn.org.au/)

The Australian Freedom Network exists to raise awareness about slavery in Australia among faith communities as well as to support and amplify existing anti-slavery work in Australia.

 

God help us to change. 


To change ourselves and to change our world. 


To know the need for it.

To deal with the pain of it. 


To feel the joy of it. 


To undertake the journey without understanding the destination. 


The art of gentle revolution.

Amen.

 

Poem courtesy of Michael Leunig