Displaying items by tag: Deidre Palmer

Dr Deidre Palmer gave the following reflection at worship at NYALC on Sunday 20 January 2019 - the day Uniting Church congregations and faith communities around Australia were asked to reflect on the effect of invasion and colonisation on Australia’s First Peoples and our identity as a nation.

President Dr Deidre Palmer has recorded a Survival Day video message with young Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress leader Sean Weetra on Ngarrindjeri country in South Australia.

President Dr Deidre Palmer opened the 2019 National Young Adult Leaders Conference with a reflection on Jesus' encounter with the disciples' on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24.

In December 2018, the Uniting Church in Australia provided the Federal Government with its application and supporting documentation to participate in the National Redress Scheme for people who have experienced institutional child sexual abuse.

To all Congregations and Faith Communities

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Written by President Dr Deidre Palmer six months after the Fifteenth Assembly.

Gracious and loving God,

Church leaders from the Pacific region have explored themes of displacement and captivity at the 11th General Assembly of the Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC).

Over seven days from 26 October to 1 November representatives of the PCC’s 34 member churches and 11 national councils of churches shared worship and built ecumenical community at the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga in the Auckland suburb of Mangere.

President Dr Deidre Palmer has renewed the Uniting Church’s apology to survivors of institutional child sexual abuse, following the historic National Apology at Parliament House in Canberra.

“For anyone who was abused in the care of the Uniting Church, in our churches, schools or agencies, I’d again like to apologise sincerely. I am truly sorry that we didn’t protect and care for you in accordance with our Christian values,” said Dr Palmer.”

President Dr Deidre Palmer provided the following response to Fairfax Media yesterday after a request for comment about the recommendations of the Ruddock Review into religious freedom.

“The Uniting Church’s position, as conveyed to the Ruddock Review, is that any exceptions or exemptions for discrimination by religious organisations, should be limited in scope, and only as is required in order to maintain the integrity and existence of the religious organisation.”

“Our Church’s position is that every person is equal before the law and before God. Any permission given to religious organisations that allows them to discriminate on the basis of religious belief must be carefully balanced against the rights of people to be free from discrimination.

President Dr Deidre Palmer has written to members of the Uniting Church in Australia ahead of the National Apology to Victims and Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse on Monday 22 October.

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ in our Uniting Church,

The 22nd of October 2018 is an important day in the life of our nation and our Church.