social justice sunday 2003 subverting racism COPYRIGHT Subverting Racism: Social Justice Sunday 2003 Published 2003 Anglican materials: © rests with the orginal authors as acknowledged for unacknowledged material © 2003 The Social Responsibilities Commission, Anglican Province of Western Australia Catholic materials © rests with the orginal authors as acknowledged for unacknowledged material © 2003 the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference Uniting Church materials © rests with the contents orginal authors as acknowledged for unacknowledged material © 2003 UnitingJustice Australia Action and Reflection Kit © Social Justice Sunday 2003 Team All Bible quotations are from the Holy Bible New Revised Standard Version (1993) Grand MESSAGE FROM THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES Rapids, Michigan: Zandervan Publishing House This document is published for use by congregations and church groups and we encourage reproduction with proper LITURGICAL AND THEOLOGICAL RESOURCES acknowledgement. Ecumenical Prayers ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Anglican Resources Subverting Racism was produced by a team which included John Ferguson (Australian Catholic Resources Catholic Social Justice Council), Theo Mackaay (The Social Responsibilities Commission, Anglican Province of Western Australia), Uniting Church Resources Peter Lewis (Covenanting, Uniting Church in Australia), Rev. Elenie Poulos and Tanya Richmond (UnitingJustice, Uniting Church in Australia), Rev. Helen Richmond (Multicultural Ministry, Uniting Church in Australia), Rev. ACTION AND REFLECTION KIT Dr Ann Wansbrough (Social Justice Network, National Council of Churches in Australia). How to Use this Kit The team would like to thank the following people for their invaluable help with this All About Racism project: Rev. Dr Robert Bos, Adele Horin, Rev. Dorothy McRae McMahon, Monica Morgan, and Rev. David Pargeter. Black and White Artwork by Rick Bull. Sticks and Stones Design by Geoff Pritchard. Printed in Australia by Lindwall & Ward A Level Playing Field? Printing Pty Ltd, Marrickville, New South Wales, Australia on 100% recycled Australian made paper and board using soy inks. International Relations Fear and Loathing in Australia This kit is available on the UnitingJustice Australia website @ http://nat.uca.org.au/ Find out More resources/socialjusticesunday/2003/ social justice sunday 2003 a call for racial justice MESSAGE FROM THE evident in our churches. We condemn the racism NATIONAL COUNCIL OF which is hidden in the systems and structures of CHURCHES our society. In a world so full of fear and distrust, it is timely We believe that the cultural and racial diversity that Social Justice Sunday 2003 addresses issues of in Australia today is a reflection of God’s gift of racism. diversity in creation. It is to be treasured and nurtured, regarded as a blessing for us all. Christians believe that all human beings are created in the image of God. In Jesus Christ the divisions We call for racial justice – an acknowledgement in that separate people from each other are broken word and deed that all people are created equal down – people are reconciled and a new unity is and that the lives of all people are equally valuable. created among us. We seek a community in which strangers are welcomed and differences are celebrated; we seek a Racism separates us from God and from each society where the systems, structures and policies of other and is incompatible with the Christian gospel. governments and institutions are racially inclusive; Together with Christians all over the world, we and we seek a country in which all people are affirm that racism is a sin. valued and can worship according to their own faith tradition. It is a sad fact that racism has been a part of Australia’s history. It is evident in the life of We encourage members of our churches to use individuals, communities, and churches and the opportunity provided by Social Justice Sunday enshrined in government policies. Responses to 2003 to reflect on our own lives and the lives of our recent events throughout the world indicate that churches; to seek God’s transformation of our lives we have not rid ourselves of the racism which has and healing of our communities; and to work for defined so much of our history. Racism has always racial justice so that we may be faithful agents of been a form of violence, damaging the lives of those God’s transforming mission in our society. who experience it and violating their human rights. In seeking to understand how racism works This statement has been endorsed as a public a call for racial justice we need to listen to the experiences of others statement and for inclusion in the Social Justice and reflect on differing perspectives. We need Sunday Kit by the following churches of the National to consider what is happening to Indigenous Council of Churches in Australia: Australians, how authentic our multicultural identity ANGLICAN CHURCH OF AUSTRALIA really is, the assumptions that underlie our resort ANTIOCHIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH to warfare in recent times, and the lack of safety ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH which people of some religious and ethnic groups ASSYRIAN CHURCH OF THE EAST CHURCHES OF CHRIST experience everyday. We need to examine what CONGREGATIONAL FEDERATION OF AUSTRALIA is happening in sport, the workplace, politics, the GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH media and in our own congregations and churches. LUTHERAN CHURCH OF AUSTRALIA RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS While racism may at times be subtle and well ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH disguised, it is always a powerful force of oppression ROMANIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH and injustice. We condemn the continuing racism SALVATION ARMY in our country which is evident in the behaviour SYRIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH of individuals and communities and which is still UNITING CHURCH IN AUSTRALIA liturgical and theological resources ecumenical prayers IT’S HARD TO FEEL WE BELONG1 PRAYER FOR THE JOURNEY OF HEALING2 Voice of a newly arrived migrant Almighty and loving God, It’s hard to feel we belong, you, who created ALL people in your image, we’ve been uprooted and replanted in foreign soil. lead us to seek your compassion Our roots are shallow and sometimes it feels like a as we listen to the stories of our past. strong and gusty wind will blow us away. You gave your only Son, Jesus, In a borrowed language who died and rose again it is hard to share the pain and hope so that sins will be forgiven. or whisper our fears and prayers. We place before you the pain and anguish of dispossession of land, language, lore, It’s hard to find our way, culture and family kinship and to feel we can have a say that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the way things are done around here. have experienced. We learn your language. You don’t know ours. We live in faith that all people If you take the trouble to sit with us, long enough, will rise from the depths of despair we will open our hearts to you, and hopelessness. then we may belong to you Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and this church that has accepted us, have endured the pain and loss of loved ones, but not yet opened its heart to us. through the separation of children Response from their families. God may your church have ears to listen We are sorry and ask God’s forgiveness. and hearts to feel, Touch the hearts of the broken, homeless and that together we might find ways afflicted and heal their spirits. to cross the divide that lies between us, ecumenical prayers In your mercy and compassion that bridges of justice, understanding walk with us as we continue and love can be built. our journey of healing to create a future that is just and equitable. Lord, you are our hope. Amen. RUNE OF HOSPITALITY I saw a stranger yestre’en: I put food in the eating place, drink in the drinking place, music in the listening place; and in the blessed name of the Triune he blessed myself and my house, my cattle and my dear ones, and the lark said in her song often, often, often, goes the Christ in the stranger’s guise often, often, often, goes the Christ in the stranger’s guise. AN OLD GAELIC RUNE 1 2 Mission Prayer Handbook, Uniting Church in Australia, 1996, p. 60 © 2003 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ecumenical Commission of the National Council of Churches, used with permission 3 EVER NEW BEGINNINGS A PRAYER FOR NATIONAL ABORIGINAL God of all people, SUNDAY4 My forebears came from England, Holy Father, God of Love, Ireland and Scotland; You are the Creator of this land Some because they were transported, and of all good things. others to escape the poverty of agricultural life, We acknowledge the pain and shame of our history all to seek new beginnings. and the suffering of our peoples, Thank you for those who were faithful. and we ask your forgiveness. Thank you for those who loved greatly We thank you and built strong family and community ties. for the survival of indigenous cultures. If any contributed to the pain Our hope is in you of the first people of this land: because you gave your Son Jesus I am sorry. to reconcile the world to you. If any knew of oppression and did nothing: We pray for your strength and grace I am sorry. to forgive, accept and love one another, If any knew of dark deeds and remained silent: as you love us and forgive and accept us I am sorry. in the sacrifice of your Son. Lord, grant us reconciliation: Give us the courage to accept the ever new beginning of new beginnings. the realities of our history In more recent times others have come, so that we may build a better future for our nation. as refugees from war and famine, Teach us to care for our land and waters.