DURAL BAPTIST SOCIAL JUSTICE GROUP

Aim

Our aim is to:

Advocate (speak up) on behalf of and with those whose voices struggle to be heard:

  • to make a difference by joining with thousands of others around the world to highlight the rights and needs of the poor and oppressed, and
     
  • to help bring justice to those who have none.

Monthly meetings

We meet on the second Wednesday of each month from 8:00 till 9:30pm at Dural Baptist Church, Dural Sport and Leisure Centre. Please phone the church office on 8989 0000 for more information. We:

  • Pray for our leaders (who have the power to really make a difference), for the poor who need our help, and for ourselves, that we will be effective in changing attitudes and actions;
  • Learn about advocacy and how we can raise our voices effectively;
  • Become educated on the Catalyst theme for the year (see below); and
    Catalyst is an initiative of Baptist World Aid, enabling churches all over Australia to raise our voices together, so that together we will be heard. Make Poverty History and the Micah Challenge are also raising the same issues. See http://www.catalystonline.org.au for information on the Catalyst program.
  • Take action. This involves
    > educating our whole church and broader community about social justice generally, and this year’s Catalyst theme specifically, through
          - information sheets
          - occasional special church services/events.
    > Providing opportunities for people to be involved in actual advocacy campaigns around our Catalyst theme, as well as joining other advocacy campaigns like:
          -“Make Poverty History” - http://www.makepovertyhistory.org.au
          - and its Christian counterpart “the Micah Challenge” - http://www.micahchallenge.org.au, and
          -“Stop the Traffik” (ending human trafficking and slavery in the 21st Century) - http://www.stopthetraffik.org.au

The Catalyst Theme this Year (2008): Not For Sale. Campaign To End Slavery

We are joining the global campaign to end this horrific trade. We are calling on our Government to take a range of actions to address the global slave trade, treat victims fairly and educating our communities about how they can buy slave-labour-free products.

This is the theme that all Catalyst groups around Australia are lobbying our politicians about this year.

Some helpful documents

Social Justice - Why Bother?

The Impact of Poverty and what can we do?

What sort of aid should we give?

One way to advocate for better Overseas Aid
 

Activities so far in 2007

  • Training day with other Catalyst groups where we learnt about advocacy and social justice.
  • Bible studies for Dural Small Groups, which looked at social justice and God’s attitude to the poor and our obligations to be like our God. These took place in early 2007, and are planned again for early 2008.
  • “Stop the Traffik” postcard campaign. See earlier link. Voices are being raised around the globe to stop the trafficking of human beings, and to stop slavery in our time.
  • Supported our church pastor and other local pastors in visiting our local Member of Parliament by providing briefing papers and writing our own letters.
  • Began our education campaign for our church community in the morning and evening newsletters.
  • 7 July 07 was the half way point in the 15 year global commitment to the MDGs. Special services were held on the 8 July with the theme of “Good development”, and those attending signed “Half way” postcards that were sent to Prime Minister Howard.
    > This is all part of a large campaign by Make Poverty History and the Micah Challenge.

Activities still to come this year

  • The movie “Amazing Grace” about William Wilberforce ending slavery 200 years ago is coming to Sydney in July 07. We have made a group booking for Sunday evening the 29th July. Why don’t you join us for this amazing story about the power of advocacy to change entrenched injustice? Ring 8989 0000 for information about tickets.
  • We are planning to visit our local politicians again in October, reminding them of the MDGs and Australia’s commitment to support them.
  • Write letters to our politicians in October as well, as part of the Micah Challenge “Offering of Letters”. See http://www.micahchallenge.org.au/pages/content.asp?plid=156.