A Media Release From the Baptist Churches of NSW

Issued on Saturday 14 June 1997

Local Churches Challenged to Play Their Part in Reconciliation Process

Neither governments nor Churches could sidestep the injustice and pain that
had been suffered by indigenous Australians, the President of the Baptist
Union of NSW, Dr Cliff Hughes, said today.

Speaking at the mid-year Assembly of the Baptist Churches of NSW, Dr Hughes
urged all local Churches to commit themselves to working towards genuine and
lasting reconciliation within their local communities.

He further called on individual members of Baptist Churches across the State
to write to the Prime Minister, Mr Howard, and their respective Federal
parliamentarians expressing their concerns regarding the rights and
aspirations of indigenous Australians.

“While genuine reconciliation requires a widespread community involvement
the Federal Government has to take the lead and ensure that the rights and
aspirations of Aboriginal Australians are improved, rather than hindered,”
Dr Hughes said.

For this to occur there had to be a meaningful response to the tragic
injustice of the past, as recorded in the “Stolen Generation” inquiry
report, as well as the need to protect native title, rather than seek its
blanket extinguishment.

“This doesn’t mean ignoring the rights of the farming community as they have
their own valid rights and aspirations, but what it does mean is the need
for all sides to listen to each other, to respect each others rights and to
seek to build a community based on trust and security, not one where there
are winners and losers.” he said.

Addressing delegates from across NSW at the Springwood Assembly, Dr Hughes,
who is also the head of cardio-thoracic surgery at the Royal Prince Alfred
Hospital, said there was a vital need for local Churches to make a strong
stand in their communities, taking the lead on reconciliation and responding
to racism.

“Too often Churches have failed in this role. Too often they have been
silent and apathetic. In the current climate they need to speak up and show
through their actions that they are committed to God’s vision for a
community where all humanity is respected and treated with dignity.”

The Assembly resolved to encourage the denomination’s 340 Churches to pray
for and work towards a genuine reconciliation with indigenous Australians,
which recognised the past mistreatment and pain suffered by the nation’s
original inhabitants. As part of this all local Churches have been
encouraged to lobby the Federal Government on behalf of indigenous interests.

For more information contact:

Dr Cliff Hughes – +61-2-9427-6256

Social Issues Consultant – Rev Chris Leech +61-42-948268

…..

From: Rowland Croucher <>

Newsgroups: aus.religion.christian,aus.religion,aus.politics

Subject: Re: Baptists and Reconciliation…

Date: Tue, 24 Jun 1997

Julian Siuksta wrote:

> > So what does mum think of that now ?

She accepts it, although disapointedly.
Mum is now a Yoga instructor, whose mystical beleifs now include UFO’s
whose pilots have a secret underground base somewhere in South America,
“vibrations”, the Moons gravity effecting peoples moods…..the list goes
on. If I had the bucks I’d find her a good phsychiatrist.

Best-kept counseling secret in Australia: you don’t need bucks to see a good
psychiatrist: many will bulk-bill…

Shalom! Rowland Croucher

….

John Roebig wrote:

Rowland, don’t tell them that.

I’ve got to get clients somehow, and Medicare won’t let *me* bulk bill

John Roebig

Consulting Psychologist

John Roebig and Associates.

As the old proverb puts it: ‘Be a friend, and many will beat a path to your door.’

I can’t bulk-bill either. But what many/most psychiatrists lack is a truly
_interactive_ counseling style. Freud/Rogers killed it for them…

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