In Early May 2013 the St Andrew’s on The Terrace Parish Council voted for St Andrew’s to become a Living Wage Church.
Following that great Social Justice decision, on 23 May, Margaret Mayman spoke at the launch of “The Living Wage” campaign in Auckland. Read the speech here: living wage.
EXTRACT FROM 2015 SUBMISSION to Wellington City Council on Draft Long Term Plan 2015 – 2025 Continue reading Supporting a Living Wage
QUOTE from post in More Light Presbyterians [USA]
After decades of slow changes in the hearts and minds of Presbyterians regarding welcome and affirmation of LGBTQ people, it is in many ways remarkable that the PC (USA) has chosen to ratify these much-needed changes to the Book of Order, not only correcting statements of fact (marriage as a civil contract has changed in most states to allow two people to enter the contract regardless of their gender), but also affirming marriage as God’s gift for the benefit of all humankind, not just heterosexual, gender-conforming couples.
…this is the culmination of a much longer and hard-fought struggle for recognition of LGBTQ people and our relationships. Before Jane Spahr and the couples she married put so much on the line in their judicial cases; before this Massachusetts couple and their pastor took unknown risks to claim the full richness of their relationship, there were the struggles of prior General Assemblies over civil unions, holy unions, domestic partnerships, and commitment ceremonies; and before that the struggle to keep body and soul together with a Christian sexual ethics based in justice-love. And well before General Assemblies would even talk about any of this there was the love, one person for another, a constant steady stream of what God had joined together, queering our understanding of ourselves and each other, of who God is and what church can and should be.
From Doug Burtenshaw, Convenor, UCA Lay Preachers Association, WA:
Below is a YouTube link which is from a well regarded voice in the sexuality debate.
Now available on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHN7v54bGzQ
Continue reading Listening to 1st Century voices: Jewish & Christian attitudes to same-sex relations
The Yes to Love website ‘is a celebration of faith that is accepting and welcoming. It profiles leaders of religious and spiritual communities in Aotearoa who are saying “yes” to love and marriage equality. These are people of faith who are willing to conduct weddings for same-sex couples.’
“This is our first ever membership campaign. Up to now we’ve been able to build a database of supporters who have contacted us as individuals, signed up for newsletters, or signed the Charter and made contributions to the work of the Charter. We’ve relied on a few generous friends to help maintain our small staff and budget.
“In the last year, however, we’ve grown over 200%, increasing our partners from 150 to 800 and our city initiatives from 60 to 230, but our staff size has remained the same. At the same time, we have increased our on-line presence, the delivery of our newsletters, and weekly conference calls.” Continue reading Charter for Compassion Membership Challenge
Whether it’s protesting for the rights of women or trying to stop the liberalisation of gambling, Presbyterians don’t just sit down on a Sunday and sing. We get involved! Presbyterian Support is the largest provider of Church-based social services in New Zealand—Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand website
For Progressive Presbyterians, this includes speaking truth to power, within and beyond our church organisation.
Read how one progressive faith community supports the Living Wage campaign, lobbied for marriage equality, buys Fair Trade coffee and tea for sharing after Sunday services and supports Ethical Investment… as well as making submissions on a range of issues including the Care of Children (2003) and the Green Paper on Vulnerable Children (2012).
Share your stories, submissions and social justice initiatives: info@progressivespirituality.co.nz
Progressive Christianity Aotearoa 