Since the beginning of this year we’ve been listening to the heart of the Uluru Statement from the Heart. And in recent weeks as part of our Listen to the Heart: Christians for Voice and Justice campaign, we’ve met with many people who are part of the Common Grace movement in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. At these gatherings we sought to deeply listen to the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Christian Leaders, learn together, and inspire one another to spark conversations in our communities about the upcoming referendum for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament and commit to sustained action for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander justice.
Thank you for your compassionate heart for justice and for the healing and flourishing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. In 2023, as all Australians will face the decision as to whether they will vote Yes on protecting a First Nations Voice in our Constitution, we invite you to join with us to Listen to the Heart and engage your heart with the calls from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leaders for Voice, Treaty and Truth-Telling.
If you were unable to attend one of our recent in-person trainings, you are welcome to sign the Voice and Justice Pledge to receive a recorded version of this training once it is available in the coming weeks. This will help equip you to learn more about this significant moment we face as a country in 2023 and take the next steps to Listen to the Heart. We encourage you to explore our FAQ’s and resources to learn more and be informed about the referendum.
As we move closer to the referendum, we know there are many of you wanting to know how to engage your community, family, and neighbours to Listen to the Heart.
Below are some ways you can help Australia listen to the calls of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Christian Leaders.
Host a Church or Community Event – Help inspire your church or community to listen deeply and engage meaningfully with the upcoming referendum. We invite you to host a community or church event after NAIDOC Week, throughout July – September. These events help you engage your church and broader community in deeply listening and engaging in gracious conversations around the opportunity that an Indigenous Voice enshrined in Australia’s Constitution will create for First Nations justice. Common Grace is currently developing a range of resources to support churches in hosting these events. Our Church Event Guide is available now to help you get started in your planning. By registering to host an event you will receive access to Common Grace’s ‘Listen to the Heart’ Church Event Guide immediately and additional resources as they are made available in June 2023. Find out more and register your event here.
If you’re not a church leader, but you’re interested in your church hosting an event, make sure you start a conversation with your church leaders today.
Spark Table Talk Conversations – A crucial part of seeing the Voice be enshrined in the Constitution through a referendum is to have a majority of people in a majority of states vote ‘Yes’. This means we need to be speaking with the people in our everyday lives about why we support the Voice. So, in partnership with “Yes, 23” we are developing resources for Table Talks, so that you can host a safe, respectful, and gracious conversation around your kitchen table (or anywhere you like really). Hosting your own conversations are an important way to help engage people in your network and community in respectful and honest dialogue that creates real and lasting change. To find out more and receive the Table Talk resources sign up here.
Donate – Help urge Australians to Listen to the Heart. Double the loving action our shared movement for justice can make with your caring gift to the first ever Aboriginal Justice Matching Appeal. For a limited time, your caring gift will be doubled, thanks to some very generous donors. Your gift will support Christ-centred advocacy and encourage fellow Australians to Listen to the Heart…to stand up for what is loving and just. Thank you for calling for a fairer world.
Pray – Please join us in prayer for our nation at this important time. We have shared a number of prayers on our Listen to the Heart website that we invite you to pray through as well as continuing to pray for respectful conversations, safety for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander brothers and sisters and for this journey together to be one marked with understanding, wisdom, compassion and a deep heart for healing and justice in these lands.
Join Common Grace in Canberra – In-person training event, Tuesday 30 May, 7pm
Thanks to our dear friends at Canberra Baptist Church, Common Grace will be doing an additional in-person evening training for Listen to the Heart on Tuesday 30 May, 7pm-9pm on Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country. If you live close by or know someone who does, please share and register online today. We look forward to meeting with you and sharing about how you can be a voice in your local community.
Thank you for seeking justice, reconciliation and healing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and all of Australia.
Grace and peace,
Gershon, Safina, Bianca and the Common Grace team
- Make sure you sign the Pledge for Voice and Justice to stay up-to-date with the Listen to the Heart campaign, including receiving a copy of the in-person training recording.
PPS. Common Grace, and the Listen to the Heart campaign, is funded by the generosity of individuals and churches passionate about Jesus and justice, and who are seeking to right the wrongs of injustice, to love more boldly, and to listen more deeply. Would you consider supporting Common Grace through a donation to help fuel the movement for justice? Give to the Listen to the Heart campaign today or sign up to become a Common Grace Monthly Donor.
Authorised by Gershon Nimbalker, Common Grace, Sydney
Common Grace
http://www.commongrace.org.au/
