The Uniting Church in Australia has welcomed the Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s announcement that he is taking proposed changes to the Racial Discrimination Act off the table.
“I thank the Prime Minister for his leadership on this matter and pay tribute to all the community leaders who stood together to oppose the changes,” said Uniting Church President Rev Prof Andrew Dutney.
“This decision is a positive outcome for our democracy in that elected leaders are willing to receive and accept feedback from the community.
“It is a credit to our nation that as a community we have left no one in any doubt that bigotry and racism are totally unacceptable.”
The first paragraph is an affront to the meaning of the word ‘church.’ The church is the gathering of believing people, not a small group of functionaries at head office. The UCA was not polled on this matter. And, in any case, there could not possibly be a unanimous position.
We praise God for His marvelous work. It reflects the ministry of Jesus who served the community crossing barriers, traditions, nationality, social taboos and so on. Let God’s guidance be upon the national leaders and on the church so that the ministry of reconciliation began by Jesus may continue. Praise God.