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Journeying Together SPRING/SUMMER ISSUE 14 Sharing HEADS OF CHURCHES MEETING ON 30TH JUNE 2015 JOURNEYING TOGETHER Inside this issue Making a difference. Church Program ..........................10 Catholic Diocese of Bathurst Celebrates 150 years of Ecumenism…A language of love! .............2 Explorations in Evangelism Christian Presence in Regional NSW ..........23 Dare to Serve – Call to Mission ...............3 World Council of Churches .................11 Speaking out about climate change alongside our Week of Prayer for Christian Unity .............4 Laudato Si’ – On Care of Our Common Home 12-14 neighbors in the Pacific.....................24 NSW Ecumenical Council Great Reading from the Books of the NSW Ecumenical Bougainville will be destroyed in the name of Endorses Interfaith Commission...............5 Council . 14 development.......................... 26-27 Commission on the Middle East Inaugural Meeting 6 Promoting a Harmonious Multifaith Society .....15 Salvation Army celebrates 150 Years of Service.... 28-29 A Tour with a Difference .....................7 The Centennial Commemorations of the Armenian ‘God’s Own People’ .................... 30-32 A Tribute to General Eva Burrows..............8 Genocide . 17-19 Refugee Week ...........................33 Condolence Extended to the Assyrian Church of the Break my heart for what breaks yours .........20 East . 9 162 Years of Christian Witness at Balmain ......21 Activities of the Council.....................34 The National Council of Churches in Australia Safe St Paul’s Lutheran Church Celebrates Centenary 22 An invitation join the Ecumenical Network NSW..40 Come and help us… Very Rev Fr Shenouda Mansour I am not dreaming…I am living a NSW Ecumenical Council, write to the NSW dream… Ecumenical and request how this may be possible. Come and help, and join in the new Ecumenical the churches working together for the Glory of landscape that God’s hand is doing for NSW & God! No church can claim the Holy Spirit. No ACT. It is God’s marvellous hands and Spirit that church can claim the Kingdom of God. No church moves us and works through us for the Glory of can say, their brand of theology is authentic His Kingdom. and unique and all others are null and void of substance. The church is like a mosaic, different This issue will address the recent exploration size and different pattern, we all belong to God, of Evangelism in Sydney by the World Council without exception. All churches complement of Churches and Council for World Mission. one another. The churches complete each other. What is meant by Evangelism in Context? This Without realising, you belong to a church that issue initiates a discussion on local ecumenical works within your own community and supports initiatives. At the last Theological Reflection the broader community in a very unique and Commission initiated an appointment of a authentic manner. It is without, only when you coordinator to look after “Local Initiatives” for the explore what other churches may be doing in State of NSW & ACT. The Council understands their ministry to their people and to their local there is good energy in NSW and ACT on local community, you realise a reality: we are all doing ecumenical initiatives. This issue presents two a small bit to serve God’s people on earth, for the examples: one in Port Macquarie on Taizé; and the Glory of God. other on the Ku-ring-gai Inter church Committee. St Paul had a vision of a man from Macedonia The Council’s Annual General Meeting held on the calling out to him and saying, “Come over to 15th August 2015 had a successful symposium Macedonia and help us.” I want to present a on “The role of the Church in Secular Society”. As vision to you, as a reader, as a church, to come the current issue was bumper, we have decided to and join us at the NSW Ecumenical Council, have a special issue collating all the presentations bringing your gift of zeal and gifts to share the joy and some photos of the Symposium. and love of Christ to all areas of NSW and ACT. No one is an island. Collectively, at the public A couple of our member churches recently space, churches standing together impacts on celebrated their New Year celebrations, the society and government. I want you to be part of Assyrian Church of the East and the Coptic this dream, this vision. Yes, I am the man, just like Orthodox Church. The membership of the NSW from Macedonia, but from the NSW Ecumenical Ecumenical Council shows the great diversity and Council calling out to you, “come and help rich landscape of Christianity in Australia. This us”. There is so much work to be done. At the issue celebrates with these communities. Ecumenical Council, it is a team effort of God’s The NSW Ecumenical Council extends people working together. At the Council it seeks congratulations to the Assyrian Church of the East to serve the member churches through the five for the election and consecration of the 121st Commissions: Peace and Justice; Theological Patriarch Catholicos Mar Gawarios III. Reflection; The Middle East Commission; Interfaith Commission; and Overcoming Family Violence. Finally, don’t forget the Christmas Bowl season is Its main purpose is to meet the needs of the around the corner. A special article is dedicated churches. here. “Come and help us” by joining either as an Next issue will be focused on local ecumenical Ecumenical Friend by pledging an amount to initiative. If you have a story that you would like to help the Council in its mission on the Ecumenical share, please email the editor on journey for the State of NSW & ACT. If your [email protected] Denominational Church is not a member of the 2 SHARING | ISSUE #14 SPRING/SUMMER NSW Ecumenical Council AGM Saturday 15th August 2015 Wies Schuiringa, vice-president Representative of the Religious Society of Friends, Quakers The office bearers were commissioned in a Our Annual General Meeting, held service led by Rev James Collins. After a hearty at the Uniting Church in Epping on lunch, we heard from the five commissions Saturday 15 August. who spoke to their reports: Peace and Justice, Theological Reflections, Middle East, A large group of representatives of the member Interfaith and Overcoming Family Violence. All Churches, friends of the Council, office bearers commissions have representatives from most and members of Commissions met for the of the member Churches. Doug Hewitt stepped AGM. Our president, Rev John Barr was laid down from his leadership role in the Peace and low with the flu and the vice-president took Justice Commission and so closed his 55 years the chair. Pastor Ray Minnicon provided the of service to the NSW Ecumenical Council. Acknowledgement of Country. At the first He was presented with a special plaque as a morning session, representatives of five member symbolic thank you for his work. Churches gave a presentation about “The role of the Church in secular society”. A topic suitable The day was a great gathering for ecumenism for a PhD or a study group that meets for a during which we celebrated all the work of the semester. Our speakers had been given six to ten last 12 months and are looking forwards to the minutes each and all provided a very thoughtful next 12 months. and reflective presentation. Members of the Executive of the NSW The representatives were from the Uniting Ecumenical Council for 2015 – 2016: Church, the Religious Society of Friends President: Rev John Barr, Uniting Church of (Quakers), the Lutheran Church, the Salvation Australia Army and the Coptic Orthodox Church. Each Wies Schuiringa, Religious speaker spoke from the context of their own Vice President: Society of Friends, Quakers Church and tradition, however the common theme in all the presentations was that we are Vice president: Rev Bruce McAteer, Anglican called to live the Gospel, to care for the stranger Church and that by our works we will we be known. Treasurer: Rev Bruce McAteer, Anglican Church Upon further reflection in the following days, I Public Officer: Father Shenouda Mansour, remembered the “Lund Principle”, accepted by Coptic Orthodox Church the third World Conference on Faith and Order of Members: the World Council of Churches in Lund, Sweden Rev Dr James Collins, Anglican Church in1952 when it was accepted that the Churches: “Act together in all matters except those in which Father Youssef Fanous, Coptic Orthodox Church deep differences of conviction compel them to Bishop Mark Leischke, Lutheran Church act separately“. There was a great togetherness Major Peter McGuigan, The Salvation Army in how we understand the role of the Church in Ms Mandy Tibby, Anglican Church secular society. Rev Dr Andrew Williams, Uniting Church of Our general secretary, father Shenouda Mansour Australia presented highlights from his annual report. The audited financial report was accepted. Our Executive and office bearers were elected and the list is at the end of this article. SHARING | ISSUE #14 SPRING/SUMMER 3 Exploration in Evangelism in Sydney By Rev Dr Andrew Williams I was recently involved in organising the conference What has also become clear to me is that we for the World Council of Churches on the issue cannot forsake the personal nature of the gospel of “Evangelism in the City”. With a range of message which we have received. Principalities and participants from many churches, and several from powers, governments and nations cannot come my own church, the Uniting Church in Australia to faith – only individuals can! Making prophetic (UCA), we had an excellent gathering. I am also statements to governments may be mission but it is teaching the course “Mission, Evangelism and not evangelism, for evangelism is always addressed Apologetics” at our Theological College this to persons.
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