Uniting Church congregations and Uniting staff have joined in symbolic action for refugees and people seeking asylum surrounding “Hope Sunday”, November 27.
After Uniting Church in Australia President Stuart McMillan called for a National Summit on alternatives to Australia’s policies on people seeking asylum, the Uniting Give Hope Campaign team encouraged members of the church and local communities to make their own statement through symbolic action.
The Give Hope Campaign, run by the Social Justice Forum of the Uniting Church Synod of NSW and the ACT, advocates for the rights and protection of refugees and people seeking asylum and also works to provide material aid through its Practical Support Initiative. Give Hope has joined a growing number of advocates and non-profit organisations to tell Federal MPs: “We Can Do Better”. The call for a government-convened National Policy Summit to seriously consider a better way forward follows harrowing reports of conditions in offshore detention centres and numerous policy papers and reports outlining humane and practical alternatives to our current policies and processes.
The Give Hope team are promoting state-wide symbolic actions to amplify the message, urging Uniting Church congregations and other faith communities across NSW and ACT to take part over the coming weeks and months. A special Service of Lament and Hope was held at Pitt Street Uniting Church on November 27, expressing both lament at Australia’s treatment of people seeking asylum, and hope that together we can find a better way. The service, which included Uniting Church members, people from the local community and representatives from the non-profit sector, heard an address from the National Director of UnitingJustice, the Rev. Elenie Poulos, and a personal story of what it was like to seek asylum and start a new life in Australia.
Uniting’s Social Justice Forum has developed resources to help individuals and their friends, families, colleagues, congregations and local communities make a statement and take part in their own advocacy on this issue. Participants can print out “We Can Do Better” signs and take a photo of themselves and their group holding the signs. On the flip-side is space to write a short, personal and heartfelt message to their local Federal MP on why they want a better way for people seeking asylum. All are encouraged to then send or deliver a copy of the photo, and the signs with messages, to their Local Federal MP.
Social Justice Forum Advocacy Coordinator Jon O’Brien says: “Facing resistance from both major parties, we see this symbolic action as an opportunity for people across the state to come together under a united banner of compassion and hope – and show our leaders and key decision-makers that people care about this issue and want alternative policies explored.”
He adds that: “Often we feel powerless to act by ourselves – but an action like this is a way to join our voices and together call for change.”
