By: Members of the National Common Dreams Team and Representatives from Explorers Groups around Australia

Youth Values

Young people have the experiences, ideas, and ambitions to make a better world for everyone.

Young people have been resilient in the face of a global pandemic, growing inequality, wars and the threat of climate change. These problems impact everyone but will have the greatest impact on young people’s futures. And yet often young people are being ignored and disregarded while these problems persist.

Young people don’t just want to be heard. They want a seat at the table to create change for everyone. They are putting their hands up and want to be a part of the solution of the world’s problems.

Our Vision

To empower youth, young adults and parents to understand the authentic teachings of Jesus and enjoy their own identity and feel able to apply their learning and contribute to a better society.

You can help

We are in the phase of gathering ideas and opinions. Already we have initiated brainstorming amongst friends which has helped us to draft some thoughts on what values drive young people today, what principles they aim for, what knowledge they seek, what aspirations they have for the world, and where the teachings of Jesus would help them find their own identity and role in creating a better world.

But we need to get closer to the thinking of young people and you can help.

We need your feedback in three forms:

1. Identification of any publications, research or projects that you know about that focus on youth values, preferably in an Australian context, but not only.
2. Results of a conversation you have with young people that identifies their response to the following question:

What concerns you about our world and your future life?

This should be a relaxed conversation, not an interrogation. The teenagers could be your own, your grandchildren, young people at church, or young people you know. It could be a single young person.

3. Any work you are aware of that is being done on such a project already. We are aware of the work of Progressivechristianity.org and the curriculum for younger children called Joyful Path. Several congregations are using this now.

We have been given access to some very useful resources of progressive Australian theologians and educators also.

What to do with your feedback

Please send your feedback to Dr Paul Inglis. Thank you in anticipation of lots of feedback.

oOo

Would the Gold Coast couple who contacted me regarding finding an intentionally inclusive church, please contact me again. Have the information you need.

Paul

How to support our progressive friends at the Indooroopilly Uniting Church, Brisbane with their Refugee Clinic and Food Bank which is now battling to meet the needs of 653 adults and 137 children:

Many people have become  aware of the active role  of the Indooroopilly Uniting Church in supporting innocent victims of  cruel federal asylum seeker policies. 

Some have volunteered, others have brought donations of goods and deposited funds. 

No one dreamt it would take more than seven years, yet over 100 men are today incarcerated in a suburban hotel, without freedom, or the right to  work, or  to reunion with close family –  and into their eighth year of indefinite  immigration detention. 

Others, including families are living in limbo, uncertain of their future.  There are standing offers from citizens to accommodate in our community and help  the Kangaroo Point  men, but all we see and hear is political recalcitrancy 

Denied income support, and access to Jobkeeper and Jobseeker because of their immigration status, law abiding people are now in dire straits. It is poverty  and despair like I have never seen.   

They come to the Food Pantry at our church for basic food – rice , cooking oil, bread, milk and whatever fruit and vegetables are collected  from FoodBank in Morningside. With donations, we provide when we can, food vouchers  which grant some dignity to people who have no income .

Do it now!

A DIRECT DONATION by bank transfer is greatly appreciated! 

• Indooroopilly Uniting Church Parish : BSB  034 063   ACCOUNT   510 468 ***Reference: REFUGEE SUPPORT***

• OR  post a cheque   made out to:

Indooroopilly Uniting Church – Refugee Support Group     

P O Box 47, Indooroopilly 4068  74 Station Road Indooroopilly 4068

• OR  post – or drop- in a VOUCHER:

Food- only vouchers from Woolworths, Coles, Aldi, IGA  

• OR donate  non perishable food   

Volunteers collect perishables from FoodBank  every Thursday

Our church pantry serves the poor, the homeless   and asylum seekers /refugees

Contact details for further enquiries:

INDOOROOPILLY UNITING CHURCH      74 Station Road Indooroopilly

PH 38789535      email:  ipilly@bigpond.com

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