New Times - September 2007 - Uniting Church in Australia

2 N E W S
New Times
ISSN 0726-2612
Acting editor: Jill Freear, Ph 8236 4230, email newtimes@sa.uca.org.au
Advertising: Russell Baker, Ph 8361 6822, email ribad@bigpond.com
Circulation: Jo Watts, Ph 8236 4260, email jo@sa.uca.org.au
Production: Joie Creative
Printer: Cadillac Printing
Circulation: 12,000
Distribution: On the first Sunday of the month
Editorial deadline for October: 11 September
Advertising deadline for October: 13 September
New Times is published 11 times a year by the Uniting Church SA
Communications Unit.
Articles and advertising content do not necessarily reflect the views of
the editor or of the Uniting Church.
New Times articles and policies are published on the Uniting Church SA
website www.sa.uca.org.au.
Office: Level 2, 212 Pirie Street, Adelaide. GPO Box 2145 Adelaide, SA 5001.
S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 7
www.wesleykenttown.com
Courting Christian voters
Seven Uniting ChUrCh congregations in
South Australia viewed a live web-cast of
Prime Minister John howard and Labor leader
Kevin rudd last month, as the leaders talked
about their faith and political policies.
the event was organised by the Australian
Christian Lobby. Organisers said more than
100,000 people, in 700 churches across
the country, watched the forum which was
broadcast live from the national Press Club in
Canberra last month.
Mr howard took the opportunity to
elaborate on plans to give families computer
filters to stop internet pornography.
Mr rudd promoted Labor’s ir and housing
affordability policies. he also committed a
Labor government to boosting foreign aid.
Both leaders used the forum to rule out any
official recognition of gay marriage.
WeStern AUStrALiAn
church groups are appalled by
the government’s about-face
on uranium sales to india.
the joint social justice
bodies of the Uniting Church
in WA, the Anglican Church in
WA, the Catholic Archdiocese
of Perth and Partners for
Peace are disappointed at the
government’s decision to end
Australia’s ban on uranium
sales to india.
Uniting Church WA social
justice consultant rosemary
hudson Miller said it is
particularly worrying as india
has not signed the nuclear
Rev Elenie Poulos, from
UnitingJustice, who has
co-ordinated the election resources
on behalf of Assembly.
More than 50 people viewed the web-cast
in Port elliot Uniting Church, including people
from the nearby Anglican and Church of Christ
congregations.
Minister rev Alan Jones said he did not believe
the web-cast influenced anyone to change their
voting pattern
“there were few young people in our group
and at our age we don’t change horses easily,”
Alan said. “however, for those who were aware,
there were some nuances which would appeal to
more ‘justice’ centered people.
“it was not for us to endorse one or other
potential leader. Our task was to provide a
forum where each side could be fairly heard and
not be subject to the agenda being written by
interpretive media.
“Followers of Jesus need to heed his
challenge to use resources for the benefit of the
‘marginalized, the vulnerable and the oppressed.”
‘Growing a nation of hope’
From page 1.
the resources are not party
political. they are not designed
to direct votes but rather to
encourage members to explore
the implications of the gospel
when considering policies and
deciding how to vote.
the resources include a
booklet which explores some
of the major policy areas
and issues from a Christian
perspective. Areas covered
include climate change,
counter-terrorism and
human rights, indigenous
health, industrial relations,
aid and development, and
issues of reconciliation and
multiculturalism.
A copy of the booklet and
a set of ‘hot issues Briefs ’will
be posted to all congregations
early this month. the materials
will also be available on the
UnitingJustice website http://
nat.uca.org.au/unitingjustice/
together with a set of ‘issues
papers’.
rev elenie Poulos,
the national director of
UnitingJustice Australia,
coordinated the resources on
behalf of Assembly.
“We have a perfect
opportunity to remind our
election candidates that they
have responsibilities that
stretch well beyond a term or
two in office,” elenie said. “We
are electing them to help us
build a just, compassionate,
inclusive, educated and
creative society, to shape our
future and to secure a just and
peaceful world.
“‘growing a nation of hope’
explores some of the most
important areas of public
Uranium exports condemned
non Proliferation treaty.
“Our fears are heightened
as india has already made
and tested nuclear weapons,”
rosemary said.
“Australian uranium sales
will enhance the legitimacy of
india’s nuclear program. it will
be impossible for Australia to
critique any expansion of that
program while we are gaining
an economic benefit from it.
“the recent experience with
north Korea suggests that the
manufacturing and testing
of nuclear weapons is still a
priority for many countries.
policy and some burning
issues from the perspective of
Christian hope.
“it examines what is
happening now, how we could
imagine it differently and what
Federal government policy
needs to look like in order to
achieve that vision.”
Assembly President rev
gregor henderson is also asking
church members and others to
cast a vote of hope so that we
might build a nation of hope
together.
“Jesus has called us to
engage in god’s mission of
transformation for our world,”
gregor said. “Overturning
systems and structures of
oppression, caring for the sick
and the underprivileged and
building a world where god’s
values - grace, compassion,
justice, forgiveness, wholeness,
freedom and love - shape our
lives at every level.
“We have a particular
responsibility to work for peace
and justice in the world and
this responsibility extends to
thinking deeply and carefully
about the way we engage our
political representatives and
cast our vote.”
“every expansion of a nuclear
production program is a
potential threat to the security
of the region.
“exporting uranium to nontreaty
countries will serve to
undermine the treaty’s value
and set a negative precedent
for other signatories.
“Countries which haven’t
signed are not committed to
the exclusively peaceful use of
uranium. the treaty is founded
on the principles of nonproliferation,
disarmament and
the right to the peaceful use of
nuclear technology.”