Tracking our Uniting Church social issues groups – can you help?

The Uniting Advocacy team is updating our list of Uniting Church social justice and social issues groups.

Since its beginnings, the Uniting Church has been actively involved in addressing the issues of the day as part of its faith and mission, a way of loving God and neighbour.

“We pledge ourselves to seek the correction of injustices wherever they occur. We will work for the eradication of poverty and racism within our society and beyond….We will oppose all forms of discrimination which infringe basic rights and freedoms….and will urge the wide use of energy, the protection of the environment and the replenishment of the earth’s resources…” (from the 1977 Statement to the Nation)

Over time congregations and presbyteries developed their own social issues groups as one way to support this mission. Sometimes groups were formed to address a particular concern, like support for refugees, domestic violence or care for the environment. Others had a broader social justice focus and dealt with multiple issues according to the interests of members.

In more recent years the landscape has changed. Some groups have ceased operating, other groups have continued and some new groups have come into being. Our advocacy team quite regularly hears of local groups that we were not aware of.

It would be helpful to know what groups there are, what their name and main focus is, and the contact details of group convenors. This could be mutually beneficial for a couple of reasons. Part of our team’s role is to engage Uniting Church members in the work of advocacy that the wider church delegates to Uniting. So being aware of a group within a congregation or presbytery already concerned about social justice is obviously a useful and natural starting point. At the same time our team has a role in supporting and encouraging the grassroots social justice work of Uniting Church members, congregations and other groups. We may have resources we can share with groups, we can let them know of other groups or networks with similar concerns (though in our experience most groups are very well connected already), be able to offer relevant training, or let them know of social justice events or actions they might like to be part of.

Could you help with the task of updating our list?

Are you aware a social justice or social issues group within a congregation or presbytery, or it could be joint church/community group in which Uniting Church members play a crucial and active part?

Or perhaps you are a member of such a group yourself. If so, could you let us know and provide what information you can.

Please contact Jon O’Brien in the Uniting Advocacy team at joobrien@uniting.org or on 0477 725 528.