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

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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...