What Have We Done?

Status Report 17th May, 2013

What have we done?

• The Foundation Meeting to establish the structure and priorities of the Taskforce was held on 14thFebruary, 2013, at St Stephen’s Anglican Church in Melbourne(Heads of Australian Churches were asked by the National Council of Churches to nominate and send appropriaterepresentatives to this meeting).
• Nominations were then sought for Core Group Members, Interim Chairs and Patrons, and the first formally constituted meeting was held on the 11th April.
• The list of currentmembers of the Core Group is attached, and further information about our structure and governance is available on our website at www/acrt.com.au
• The agreed areas of policy for which we will try to achieve more humane policy this year are:
• The diversion of overseas aid from the poor in developing countries for asylum seeker costs in Australia – “Let me not seek a bargain that leaves another hungry" the full policy is available on our website:
• Reframing the Debate – a Christian, values-based approach
• Better guardianship arrangements for unaccompanied minors and children in detention.

Why are we doing it?

• Both the Head of Churches (through the NCCA) and the ChristianWorld Service Commission in Australia decided last year that Australia’s humanity towards refugees and asylum seekers was being eroded, andthat the churches have an obligation to:
• Provide moral leadership; and
• Debunk the myths that have been perpetuated through the media, through the negative political discourse, and which have now crept into the Australian vernacular.
• Resources have therefore been made available by Act for Peace for the establishment and operations of the Taskforce. Act for Peace is the overseas aid arm of the National Council of Churches which has a significant program to protect and support people in developing countries.
• One of the first outputs of the Taskforce was our Theological Statement, which outlines the Christian rationale and underpinnings of our work – this is also attached.

How are we doing it?

• The Taskforce hired an Executive Officer, Ms Misha Coleman, who was formerly the CEO of Anglican Overseas Aid (Anglicord) and a part-time Media and Communications Officer, Mrs Allison Brown, who formerly worked in the Prime Ministers Press Office, from 1996-2001.
• The Taskforce Office has been established at the Victorian Council of Churches, Melbourne.
• The Taskforce has an agreed set of activities, which include:
• The provision of factual information to clergy and congregations to debunk the myths about asylumseeker and refugee policy, practice and conditions;
• Support to Taskforce and Patrons to have private meetings with Members of Parliament and the Senate – this week for example, a delegation from the Taskforce Core Group met with several members of the Government, Coalition and the Greens Party, including the Shadow Minister for Immigration and the Shadow Minister for Border Protection;
• Support for Taskforce Core Groupmembers and Patrons to speak at public events; and
• The provision of a website/portal for resources produced by Churches and their agencies.

What can you do?

• Sign up to the taskforce network, to receive updates about our work and calls to action for you and your fellow parishioners, by going to and enter your details under the Join the Network button
• Follow us on Facebook, our address is Australian ChurchesRefugeeTaskforce or Twitter @ ChRefugee
• Email the Taskforce staff if you would like resources or a speaker at an event, on

Taskforce Core Group Members as at 10th April, 2013

(The Core Group steers the work of the Secretariat)

• Chairman, Brotherhood of St Laurence
• Deputy Chair, Australian Churches Taskforce
• Chair, Anglican Social Responsibilities Committee, Melbourne

• Chair, Australian Churches Refugee taskforce
• National Director, Uniting Justice Australia
• Chair, Christian World Service

Amos Group – 10th April, 2013

(Patrons of the Taskforce)

Theological Statement

I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me(Matthew 25:35).

Christianity has a long tradition of hospitality. This includes care of family, the individual and care of outsiders. In the Gospel According to Matthew, Jesus commends those who welcomed the outsider and offered food and drink to the hungry and thirsty. In caring for others they care for him. Through hospitality Christians express God’s welcome and presence combined with advocacy for the marginalised and creation of community. It is an expression of God’s overabundant generosity.

The Hebrew Scriptures contain references to Israel as both a pilgrim people and a wandering nation. The experience of the Hebrews as strangers in the land of Egypt fuelled the belief that they should offer care to the stranger (or ‘alien’) from other lands and cultures who came into their midst and God is often identified as the God who cares for the exiled and the stranger – God is a refuge to the poor and the needy, a shelter to those who are away from home (Isaiah 25:1-5). God brings justice to the oppressed and calls on the people of faith to extend the rights of citizens to refugees in their midst.

When an alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.Leviticus 19:33-34 (New Revised Standard Version)

If a stranger lives with you in your land, do not molest him. You must count him as one of your own countrymen and love him as yourself – for you were once strangers yourselves in Egypt. Leviticus 19:33-34 (Jerusalem Bible)

Refugees are identified in the Bible with widows and orphans as the most marginalised people and the test of faithful obedience to God was how a community and individuals cared for these very vulnerable people.

The Christian story continued to uphold God's call to solidarity with the homeless. Mary and Joseph were forced to take Jesus and hide in Egypt as Herod sought to kill the baby Jesus. As an adult Jesus travelled through strange lands, choosing to spend time and share meals with the most marginalised and oppressed people of his society. Jesus called on people to love their enemies, give all they had to the poor, and offer hospitality to strangers. He taught that faithful obedience to God was marked by such deeds and that it would be how well people responded to strangers and to the poor that would identify them as people of faith.

Coupled with this concern for outsiders, who are often marginalised and persecuted, is the strong call to care for all who are in need without distinction. Even once they have received the protection of the state, refugees and asylum seekers can experience isolation and marginalisation as they settle into their new country.

This care for the most vulnerable in our world, should not, according to the Christian tradition, confine itself to people who are ‘like us’. Jesus’ point in telling the powerful story of the Good Samaritan is that God calls us to care for all in need, those who are different and even those who are our enemies.

It is out of these beliefs and traditions that churches in Australia have consistently spoken out against government policies that are harmful to asylum seekers and refugees.

At a time when policies relating to asylum seekers and refugees are increasingly harsh and the public debate lacks compassion, generosity and hospitality, the churches have recognised that a common action and voice are necessary.

It is hoped that this will add strength to the already committed service and advocacy of so many churches, agencies and church leaders.

As well as participating in the public conversation in support of refugees and asylum seekers, there is also a need to for more practical support for local churches and community-based church agencies as they seek to respond in their own contexts.

Our Christian commitment to care for refugees and asylum seekers acknowledges that such support is an important way of visibly demonstrating the seriousness which we, as churches working together, regard this part of our ministry and engagement with the community.

As churches, we are encouraged and commanded by our biblical tradition to be caring communities, sharing God’s love through Jesus Christ to all without distinction. We are called to share the generosity, compassion, hospitality and grace of the God of all, the God of the exiled and the homeless, the persecuted and the poor.

The Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce looks forward in hope to the time when violence and persecution are no more. Until then, we commit ourselves to care for, walk with and speak out for those who come in need, seeking our care and protection.