Common Grace is an Australian non-denominational movement of Christians concerned about issues of justice. The organisation started in 2014. As of May 2020, the network has over 45,000 members.[1] The CEO since June 2022 is Gershon Nimbalker.

Common Grace focuses on justice for asylum seekers and Indigenous Australians, for ending domestic violence, and for climate justice[1][2][3] and has run successful campaigns on these four issues.[4] It has been called the "largest left-leaning and faith-based political movement in Australia."[4]

History

Common Grace was founded in November 2014. Jarrod McKenna was seconded from World Vision Australia as National Director until the end of 2015.[5][6] Scott Sanders, also formerly with World Vision, was appointed CEO in 2016.[7]

Wakka Wakka woman Brooke Prentis was the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Spokesperson for Common Grace in a volunteer capacity from 2015, before being appointed CEO in February 2020.[1][2][8] She was the first indigenous CEO of a Christian organisation in Australia.[9] Prentis resigned for personal reasons in February 2022.[10] In June 2022, former advocacy coordinator for Baptist World Aid Gershon Nimbalker was appointed as the new CEO.[11][12]

Campaigns

Climate justice

In late 2014, Common Grace launched a crowdfunding campaign that raised money for solar panels to be given for the Prime Minister's Sydney residence, Kirribilli House. The Australian Solar Council offered to install the panels at no cost, however the Abbott government rejected the gift, citing the property's heritage listing and security concerns.[13][14][15]

In 2016, Common Grace launched a campaign to persuade then Deputy Prime Minister and Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce to stop the proposed Shenhua Watermark on the Liverpool Plains, arguing the mine risked Australia's food bowl.[16] In 2019, the organisation supported the School strike for climate, with climate campaigner Jason John arguing students were acting on what they were learning in school.[17]

Asylum seekers

Common Grace has been active in various campaigns to have refugees released from offshore detention.[18] In 2015, the organisation's then national director, Jarrod McKenna, was one of eight people found guilty of trespassing in the office of Foreign Minister Julie Bishop after staging a peaceful sit-in protest against the detention of children on Nauru.[19] In November 2017, Common Grace organised a day of support for the men held in detention on Manus Island.[20] Alongside World Vision Australia, Common Grace was a driving force behind the #KidsOffNauru campaign which saw the last four children on Nauru resettled in the United States in February 2019.[4]

Indigenous Australians

Common Grace advocates for justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.[21] In partnership with senior Aboriginal Christian leader Aunty Jean Phillips, the organisation has revived the idea of church services to mark Australia Day.[22] "#Change The Heart" prayer services, seeking to promote acknowledgement and understanding of Australia's First Nations Peoples, are held each year in every state and territory.[22][23]

Domestic violence

In 2017, Common Grace launched a resource responding to domestic violence called "Safer".[24][25][26]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Suganananthan, Raúl (4 May 2020). "Putting Faith Into Action". Honi Soit. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  2. 1 2 Lee, Morgan (22 January 2020). "What This Aboriginal Christian Wants to Tell the Church About the Australia Fires". Christianity Today. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  3. ↑ Vromen, Ariadne (2016). Digital Citizenship and Political Engagement: The Challenge from Online Campaigning and Advocacy Organisations. Political Science. p. 204. ISBN 9781137488657.
  4. 1 2 3 Tong, Karen (12 May 2019). "Federal election 2019: Why Christians on the left are a growing voting bloc". ABC News. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  5. ↑ Smith, Jessica (2016). "Are you our new CEO?". Common Grace. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  6. ↑ Gledhill, Ruth (19 June 2015). "Jarrod McKenna: 'The Church is having to be born again in the UK'". Christian Today. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  7. ↑ "Introducing our CEO". Common Grace. 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  8. ↑ "Message from our new CEO, Brooke Prentis". Common Grace. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  9. ↑ Toh, Justine (30 July 2020). ""Original sins" and racial justice: What's on the other side?". ABC. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  10. ↑ "Brooke Prentis to leave Common Grace". Eternity News. 16 February 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  11. ↑ Beach, Kylie (15 June 2022). "Common Grace names respected change maker as National Director". Eternity News. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  12. ↑ "Announcing our new National Director". Common Grace.
  13. ↑ "Abbott Government Rejects Solar Power System Gift". Energy Matters. 17 March 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  14. ↑ Whigham, Nick (18 March 2015). "Christian group attempt to present the Prime Minister with solar panels for Kirribilli House". news.com.au. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  15. ↑ Cox, Lisa (16 March 2015). "Government rejects gift of solar panels for Kirribilli House". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  16. ↑ "Christian group speaks out in online Watermark video". Namoi Valley Independent. 3 March 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  17. ↑ John, Jason (13 September 2019). "Should School Students be "Striking" for the Planet? The Christian Case for Activism". Hope 103.2. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  18. ↑ Hynd, Doug (December 2018). "Two modest, theologically informed proposals that gesture towards a politics different to those currently causing so much discontent" (PDF). St Mark's Review. 246 (4).
  19. ↑ Wahlquist, Calla (28 January 2015). "Christians strip off in Perth court protest at detention of asylum seeker children". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  20. ↑ "Churches Standing in Solidarity for Manus Island". Insights Magazine. 27 November 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  21. ↑ West, Andrew (10 July 2019). "Role of Christianity in the indigenous cause". The Religion and Ethics Report. ABC News. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  22. 1 2 Lake, Meredith (24 January 2019). "How Christians can unpack the baggage of colonialism this Australia Day". ABC News. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  23. ↑ D'Agostino, Emma (27 December 2019). "Christian movement seeking to change hearts about January 26". Bendigo Advertiser. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  24. ↑ Lim, Anne (7 September 2017). "Churches 'Should Unite' to Fight Domestic Abuse". Eternity News. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  25. ↑ Adams, David (27 February 2018). "Family Violence: How a New Resource Aims to Help Bring About a Culture Change in Churches". Sight Magazine. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  26. ↑ Gleeson, Hayley (27 November 2017). "'We have a serious problem': Baptist Church apologises to domestic violence victims". ABC News. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
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