Recently on 20Twenty, James Toomey from Mission Australia joined Neil to share how Christian organisations in Australia are partnering with the Federal Government as part of our Covid recovery.
It’s a long road to recovery from the economic challenges we currently face as a nation. But a new alliance of Christian faith based organisations partnering with the Federal government is providing some much needed hope. It encompasses everything from individuals and communities, as well as education, aged care, the disability sector and indigenous communities.
James joined us to share some insights into how significant this alliance is and what it will mean. Being at the helm of Mission Australia, James is well placed to comment on where Christian organisations are placed when there are challenges facing the nation.
“Christian organisations have a history of stepping in at times of crisis,” James says. “Even without Covid we had the bushfires, and that was an extremely challenging season. As organisations with a Christian purpose we have a calling from God to reach out to the disadvantaged which is quite unique to us.”
Having both the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader in attendance at a recent meeting discussing the new partnership was a significant step in the coordination of a joint effort.
“The messaging we received was that both the government and the opposition recognise the importance of Christian organisations and the need for the services they deliver. They are currently responsible for the delivery of half of the support services across the country. Viewing ourselves as a group and not as individual organisations helps enable the ongoing delivery of services to the community.
We have enormous impact as a group.”
Some of those in attendance included Catholic Social Services, World Vision, Anglicare, Alphacrusis and The Bible Society.
“We had people from across all denominations and Christian faith based organisations. It was a demonstration of what it means to agree to on what unites us, rather than what divides us. We were able to find common ground as organisations.”
History shows that crisis has a way of bringing everyone together.
James continues, “The response to Covid of stimulus and support was unilateral and bipartisan, and previously unthinkable things happened. It opened up a sense of possibility of what we thought could never be done, and both sides of government can see the benefits of Christian and faith based organisations jumping in to the response. Crisis response brings energy and shows the way to do things. Let’s use this opportunity as a high water mark to not be complacent.”
However, there is no denying there has been some distance between the government and the church during recent times. But this new partnership is about Church and state being complimentary to one another. Christian organisations have a wonderful role to play in helping the nation to get back on its feet.
“It’s about understanding priorities so Christian organisations can respond. There is great encouragement for the work they do. The social justice principles around Christianity are strongly aligned with the government. Doing good things for people in need is not something to be afraid of. It constitutes a thriving and civilised society. These are founding principles for most Christian organisations, and we hope their beneficial role can be recognised. “
James concedes that unfortunately, many people have a poor view of Christian associations after some of their appalling practices have come to light. But there is another side to the way they operate that benefits the community when everyone is working well and working together.
James believes it’s also vital that we reach not just inner cities, but also our remote communities.
“We need to make sure that we don’t just deliver services into metropolitan Australia, because our regional and remote communities cannot be overlooked. We have a responsibility to be a voice into the government process.
There is a huge dispersal of small Christian communities, a network of connection that can be agile as a group to lean on and use each other’s resources to make sure no one gets left behind.”
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