Victorian Council of Churches

These thoughts from Social Life Project relate to ‘placemaking’ and in particular fostering community connection in public spaces. You might be interested in the short documentary, The Place Man.

The ideas may be a catalyst for conversation about the place of churches and faith communities and the use of their property, and ecumenical cooperation and collaboration.

The social life project identifies three crises:

1. The climate crisis that has grown out of a dependence on the cars we use to get around our spread of societies that have drifted away from the human scale;
2. The severity of the loneliness problem that has largely risen out of this sprawling, disconnected planning and a lack of great public places;
3. The divisive politics that reign because we have a hard time seeking things from others’ point of view, since we have no place to interact with those who are different from us.

These crises invite a different way of thinking and planning – one that is focussed on togetherness and the human experience. So many moments are converging and there is a growing realisation about how urgent it is to focus on the places we share and the people we share them with.

[Here’s an article reflecting on ways that places of worship have embraced the public space mindset with their property].

For reflection

=> what might this ‘placemaking’ movement have to say to the ‘placemaking’ that happens in church buildings/on church property?

=> in what ways are church buildings ‘public space’, and in what ways are they not?

=> how are (or may) church spaces used to build social cohesion, and flourishing community connections?

=> what might this idea mean for ecumenical activity, and churches working together – whether ‘same same’ congregations or those that are different from one another.

=> what might this idea of placemaking mean for fostering social cohesion and building relationships that are intercultural and interfaith?

=> Physical spaces – buildings and property – remain some of the greatest resources that churches possess. How does the use of our physical space demonstrate a love for our neighbour? What would it look like if community needs were considered as part of church priorities in terms of use of the property?

=> what theological imperatives underpin discussion about placemaking? (including incarnational ministry)

Further reading
BUV – Blessed are the placemakers

For further reflection
Theologian Willie James Jennings recounts the ways in which the white European church operated on what he calls a “diseased imagination,” building the church and its theological systems on the displacement of people from land and community. These practices were grounded in a misreading of the doctrine of creation, which saw dominion, mastery, and manifest destiny for the elect people of God as the catalyst for exclusion, racism, and mistreatment of both land and people. A redeemed sense of place must both lament this historical past and re-assess the theological ideas upon which it was built in order to establish a more just placemaking practice for the future.

Traditionally, the Romanian Orthodox Church honours Christian women on the “Sunday of the Myrrh-bearing Women.” During a patronal feast of the Romanian community in Türkiye, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew suggested that July could also be designated as a “Month of Holy Women.”

“We could call July the Month of Holy Women, whose lives show us how much Christian women can achieve when their hearts are filled with warmth, living faith in Christ, and love for their neighbour,” said Patriarch Bartholomew.

July draws attention with its extensive list of holy women mentioned in the Orthodox calendar. Among them are Saint Mary Magdalene, Saint Veronica, Great Martyr Marina, Saint Anne, the mother of the Theotokos*, and Saint Paraskevi of Rome, the protectress of the Romanian community in Turkey.

This abundance of female saints provides a unique opportunity for all women to reflect on the lives of those who transcended human frailty and acquired Christian virtues. Holy women are examples of faith, courage, and devotion, serving as spiritual models for today’s women.

A month dedicated to holy women can be seen as an opportunity for the entire ecclesiastical community to highlight appreciation for women.

“The vocation of Christian women today is to witness the faith in Christ crucified and risen, to give and protect life, to promote merciful love towards neighbours, and to bring peace and communion through their presence and work in the Church and society,” emphasized His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania.

(originally published on WCC website July 2024)

*As a title for the Virgin Mary, Theotokos was recognized by the Orthodox Church at Third Ecumenical Council held at Ephesus in 431. It had already been in use for some time in the devotional and liturgical life of the Church.

A call to krakani (sit) at the patrula (fire)

waranta (we) see the flicker in every flame from our warriors, past, present and future.

Our ancestors’ stories sit with each flame,
waranta (we) are a UAICC takarilya (family)
tapalti (go) to the patrula (fire) and reignite the Covenant,
in every day, in every way as we work, live & pray.

In unity with all that was and is.
All that says ‘this is the gift to the wider church and beyond.
This is not an invitation, it’s a creator bond.

May this NAIDOC week – with the fires burning, be the action for weaving and unweaving, learning and unlearning.

May we hold the ancient stories of these unceded lands, in all we do. May we be warmed by the wisdom, the struggle, and the survival.  May the action be a raising of First Peoples voices, a covenant, a campfire sharing revival.

Creator call us to these ancient stories,
call us to the covenant and keep the fires burning.
Creator, lead us to every campfire, every story, every thread,
a call where the covenant is First Peoples led.

Keep the fires burning.
Creators call us to see, feel and be,
all that is this country’s, true history.

Truth telling campfires,
truth acceptance campfires,
cultural safety campfires,
justice campfires.
self determination campfires

Keep the fires burning

As the anniversary of the Covenant*. Preamble** and this year’s NAIDOC theme, flicker in the flames of the fire together. May the action of truth telling warm our takila (heart)
A way forward,
A way to be,
A way to set this Nation free.

Keep the campfires burning
Be in and with – First Peoples learning.

waranta (we) will lakapawa (see) you all at the campfires

Written by Alison Overeem (Smith)

* On 10 July 2024, the Uniting Church will mark 30 years since the signing of the Covenant statement between the United Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC) and the Uniting Church in Australia (UCA).

** It will be 15 years this year since the revised Preamble to the Constitution of the Uniting Church was agreed to at the 12th UCA Assembly (July, 2009). Paragraph 3 recognises that the Creator Trinity was already in the Creation prior to the arrival of the colonisers. It affirms that the Spirit was sent by the inner Trinitarian Community outwards to the creation revealing the economy of God to the people in law and custom, and traditional ceremony. Although the world came to be through Christ, God’s love and grace was not finally and fully revealed until the living Christ, who had sustained the First Peoples, came to live among the people and his ongoing presence continues to give them particular insights to the way of the Triune God.
The Preamble to the Constitution states that “As the Church believes God guided it into union so it believes that God is calling it to continually seek a renewal of its life as a community of all First Peoples and of Second Peoples from many lands”.

(by Heiko Koenig, German Lutheran Trinity Church)

On June 2nd the German Lutheran Trinity Church in East Melbourne (a VCC Member Church) was able to celebrate a memorial service for the initiator and founder of Cap Anamur, Rupert Neudeck, together with the Vietnamese community. The memorial service was well attended.

In the late 1970s, Rupert Neudeck did not close his eyes to the suffering of the Vietnamese boat people. At first he had no money, no ship and no experience with international shipping. But he was able to get the ball rolling and was ultimately able to rescue over 10,000 Vietnamese refugees from the sea with the ship Cap Anamur.

Many of these refugees came to Australia. Two of the people who were rescued by Cap Anamur attended the church service.

A greeting from the Cap Anamur Society (https://cap-anamur.org/) came from Germany, which was able to be read out during the service.

Marc, whose mother was rescued from Cap Anamur, also spoke.

In his welcoming speech, the President of the Vietnamese Community in Victoria, Duy Quang Nguyen, spoke of the reprisals by the new rulers in Vietnam, the suffering of the refugees and the difficulties of making a new start in Australia.

The word “boat refugee” (boat people) is repeatedly misused by Australian politicians for their own purposes.

After the service, many of the members of the Vietnamese community present took the opportunity to take a photo together with Rupert Neudeck’s picture in the church.

The Vietnamese guests spared no effort in providing for the refreshments after the service. The whole congregation was treated to Vietnamese delicacies.

Everyone made the most of the time for conversation.

And many expressed the hope that the service would be repeated in 2025.

Pacific seasonal farm workers have made a major contribution to the agricultural industry in Australia, including here in Victoria, through the PALM scheme (Pacific Australia Labour Mobility).

Workers from Samoa are experienced in agriculture and horticulture, aged care, meat processing, tourism and hospitality, fisheries and health services, as well as a range of other industries. Samoan men and women are known for being hardworking, strong, and quick to learn.

It is very sad news to hear the news that Pacific seasonal farm workers have been involved in a fiery crash near Mildura, resulting in the death of two Samoan farm workers, with two others in critical condition. The injured were taken to Mildura Base Public Hospital with four trauma teams set up to receive the injured passengers.

The Coroners Court follows cultural protocols and will hold an information session for 30 Samoan pastors. Afterwards, the pastors will be able to recite a prayer and offer Samoan songs for the deceased as would be the cultural tradition.

Heartfelt condolences to the friends and families of the deceased, both here in Australia and in Samoa, who will deeply grieve this loss as a Samoan community. May you find comfort in your Christian faith and the knowledge of God’s loving care.

 

 

 

Glenn worked very hard in ecumenical circles in the lead up to the Referendum in 2023, with webinars, resources, in-person presentations, online videos and art work.

Glenn has been appointed to the position of “Project Lead – Aboriginal Ministry – Province of Victoria” for the Anglican Church from April 1st, 2024 and will take the leadership of a five-year Anglican Province of Victoria First Nations ministry, mission and justice project across all 5 Anglican Dioceses in Victoria.

He writes:

This is a significant development from the church which has been a response to an ask from the Aboriginal Clergy as far back as 2015 and to the failure of the Referendum and a similar proposal at the 2023 Synod. It will develop a Council that will support and speak on behalf of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to the church in Victoria.

Glenn has been tasked with the responsibility to establish the new Council with an aim to make the Church a safer space for Indigenous Anglicans. It will be made up of Indigenous Anglicans who will represent and promote the interests of First Nations church members.

Canon Loughrey said the landmark body would ensure there were pathways for Indigenous people in the Church and that mission and ministry were conducted in culturally appropriate ways.

A key element of this development is the Murnong First People’s Gathering Place and the Wominjeka Garden which will act as hub for all activities and action across the State. Glenn will work out of that space.

This is a wonderful recognition of the work St Oswald’s (where Glenn has been in ministry until March 2024) has done since 2015 and provides an opportunity to develop this congregation as key leaders in the process of dialogue and engagement.

As Glenn says, “A very exciting time for all”.

Read a related article in The Melbourne Anglican publication here.