Making A Prophet

We affirm our eagerness to uphold basic Christian values and principles, such as the importance of every human being, the need for integrity in public life, the proclamation of truth and justice, the rights for each citizen to participate in decision-making in the community, religious liberty and personal dignity, and a concern for the welfare of the whole human race.

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 affirm the rights of all people to equal educational opportunities, adequate health care, freedom of speech, employment or dignity in unemployment if work is not available. We will oppose all forms of discrimination which infringe basic rights and freedoms.

We will challenge values which emphasise acquisitiveness and greed in disregard of the needs of others and which encourage a higher standard of living for the privileged in the face of the daily widening gap between the rich and poor.

We are concerned with the basic human rights of future generations and will urge the wise use of energy, the protection of the environment and the replenishment of the earth’s resources for their use and enjoyment.

We declared this, the Uniting Church, almost forty years ago, as part of our Statement to the Nation (google it for the rest). Wonderfully, sadly, this prophetic statement resonates today, as much as it did in 1977.

I am very proud of our Church this week, having participated in the annual meeting of Uniting Justice, the national justice body for our Church.

I heard once more how being a disciple of Jesus, articulating the Gospel, crying out for justice in the market place and bearing witness come together.

Each of us asks, each day, how we can best live as Jesus’ disciples in our world. One answer to that question is that the voice of Uniting Justice has been heard

• advocating for a just and civil society in which life is not only sustainable, but in which we can all flourish
• before Parliamentary Committees on capital punishment
• in papers and protests on behalf of those seeking asylum on our shores
• engaging with citizens and governments about a fairer tax system
• urging leaders to take appropriate and urgent action on climate change, taking special note of our brothers and sisters in the Pacific
• contributing to the vital conversation across Australia about Indigenous Recognition and the debate about a treaty

This is the Church acting in the tradition of the prophets, echoing Amos and Micah, Isaiah and Jeremiah. This is our Church, testifying before governments about our faith in Jesus Christ, which calls us to act.

This is leadership, both acting for us, and urging us to act. We are provided with resources to think things through, but not to remain dormant.

This is why I am proud this week, especially. Southside understands this passion – and this hope in Christ. We comprehend that we are participants in the Kingdom of God, and not spectators. We act, in Christ and because of him, in the power of his Spirit.

In the Spirit of God’s self-giving love, we go forward.