News
As the National Council of Churches in Australia held its 10th National Forum in late June, more than 65 people gathered in Canberra to participate in a Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace with First Nations people.
Participants walked together around the Parliamentary Zone in Canberra to significant locations related to justice, peace and reconciliation, including the High Court of Australia, Reconciliation Place and the steps of Old Parliament House.
Aboriginal people have been in Australia for at least 60,000 years and are one of the oldest surviving cultures in the world. However today, indigenous communities, both remote and urban, experience heightened levels of disadvantage. Indigenous Australians have a lower life expectancy and worse health, education and employment outcomes across the board than other Australians.
“The pilgrimage celebrated the gifts, visited the wounds and continued the process of transforming the injustices,” reported Emily Evans, project officer for the National Council of Churches in Australia and a World Council of Churches Executive Committee member.
The overall theme of the National Council of Churches forum was “Living and Walking in the Holy Spirit: Called to Transforming Discipleship.”
Over four days, representatives from across the council’s member churches met to develop existing relationships, receive reports, and receive recommendations for action.
National Council of Churches in Australia
Learn more about the Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace
World Council of Churches solidarity with Indigenous Peoples
