MEDIA RELEASE AND STATEMENT FROM THE
AUSTRALIAN PROGRESSIVE CHRISTIAN VOICE (APCV)
ULURU STATEMENT FROM THE HEART
Spokespersons for the AUSTRALIAN PROGRESSIVE CHRISTIAN VOICE [APCV] today urged fellow Australians to accept the invitation of the “ULURU STATEMENT OF THE HEART” to “walk with us in a movement of the Australian people for a better future”.
Australian Progressive Christian Voice is calling on the Prime Minister, other political leaders, the media and all Australian institutions to give strong, compassionate and urgent leadership as the nation processes the Uluru statement and its legitimate proposals. As in the 1967 Constitutional referendum, APCV believe there is widespread goodwill in our nation to be harnessed for this historic journey.
Chair of the APCV, Rev Dr Peter Catt, Dean of St John’s Cathedral Brisbane, endorsed the Statement’s claim that “with substantive constitutional change and structural reform, we believe this ancient sovereignty can shine through as a fuller expression of Australia’s nationhood”. Dr Catt added: “There is nothing for non-indigenous Australians to fear here.”
Rev Dr Noel Preston AM (of the Uniting Church) added: “The Uluru Statement is the culmination of widespread consultation. It is a modest but significant appeal for substantial progress in the unfinished business of reconciliation between the First Australians and us, the other citizens of our nation.”
Dr Preston further observed: “When the constitution of 1901 was drafted the voice of the original Australians was not present. It is now time to right that wrong.”
“As progressive Christians we especially appeal to our fellow Christians and the leaders of all faith communities to give support to a process which should lead to a referendum in the near future and subsequent decisions by the federal Parliament.”
These decisions include the recognition “establishment of a First Nations Voice enshrined in the Constitution” and (not in the Constitution) a Makarrata Commission “to supervise a process of agreement-making between governments and First Nations and truth-telling about our history”. (“Makarrata” is term meaning “the coming together after a struggle”). END
CONTACT Dr Noel Preston 0419 789 249 and 07 3822 7400.
DATE 1 June, 2017