Common Grace (Australia) Explained

Common Grace is an Australian non-denominational movement of Christians concerned about issues of justice. The organisation started in 2014. As of May 2020, the network has over 45,000 members. The CEO since June 2022 is Gershon Nimbalker.

Common Grace focuses on justice for asylum seekers and Indigenous Australians, for ending domestic violence, and for climate justice[1] [2] and has run successful campaigns on these four issues.[3] It has been called the "largest left-leaning and faith-based political movement in Australia."[3]

History

Common Grace was founded in November 2014. Jarrod McKenna was seconded from World Vision Australia as National Director until the end of 2015.[4] [5] Scott Sanders, also formerly with World Vision, was appointed CEO in 2016.[6]

Wakka Wakka woman Brooke Prentis was the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Spokesperson for Common Grace in a volunteer capacity from 2015, before being appointed CEO in February 2020.[1] [7] [8] She was the first indigenous CEO of a Christian organisation in Australia.[9] Prentis resigned for personal reasons in February 2022.[10] In June 2022, former advocacy coordinator for Baptist World Aid Gershon Nimbalker was appointed as the new CEO.[11] [12]

Campaigns

Climate justice

In late 2014, Common Grace launched a crowdfunding campaign that raised money for solar panels to be given for the Prime Minister's Sydney residence, Kirribilli House. The Australian Solar Council offered to install the panels at no cost, however the Abbott government rejected the gift, citing the property's heritage listing and security concerns.[13] [14] [15]

In 2016, Common Grace launched a campaign to persuade then Deputy Prime Minister and Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce to stop the proposed Shenhua Watermark on the Liverpool Plains, arguing the mine risked Australia's food bowl.[16] In 2019, the organisation supported the School strike for climate, with climate campaigner Jason John arguing students were acting on what they were learning in school.[17]

Asylum seekers

Common Grace has been active in various campaigns to have refugees released from offshore detention.[18] In 2015, the organisation's then national director, Jarrod McKenna, was one of eight people found guilty of trespassing in the office of Foreign Minister Julie Bishop after staging a peaceful sit-in protest against the detention of children on Nauru.[19] In November 2017, Common Grace organised a day of support for the men held in detention on Manus Island.[20] Alongside World Vision Australia, Common Grace was a driving force behind the #KidsOffNauru campaign which saw the last four children on Nauru resettled in the United States in February 2019.[3]

Indigenous Australians

Common Grace advocates for justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.[21] In partnership with senior Aboriginal Christian leader Aunty Jean Phillips, the organisation has revived the idea of church services to mark Australia Day.[22] "#Change The Heart" prayer services, seeking to promote acknowledgement and understanding of Australia's First Nations Peoples, are held each year in every state and territory.[22] [23]

Domestic violence

In 2017, Common Grace launched a resource responding to domestic violence called "Safer".[24] [25] [26]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Putting Faith Into Action. Raúl. Suganananthan. Honi Soit. 4 May 2020. 16 June 2020.
  2. Book: Vromen, Ariadne. 204. Digital Citizenship and Political Engagement: The Challenge from Online Campaigning and Advocacy Organisations. Political Science. 2016. 9781137488657.
  3. Web site: Federal election 2019: Why Christians on the left are a growing voting bloc. Karen. Tong. 12 May 2019. 16 June 2020. ABC News.
  4. Web site: Are you our new CEO?. Jessica. Smith. Common Grace. 2016. 25 March 2021.
  5. Web site: Jarrod McKenna: 'The Church is having to be born again in the UK'. Ruth. Gledhill. Christian Today. 19 June 2015. 25 March 2021.
  6. Web site: Introducing our CEO. Common Grace. 2016. 25 March 2021.
  7. Web site: What This Aboriginal Christian Wants to Tell the Church About the Australia Fires. Christianity Today. 22 January 2020. 16 June 2020. Morgan. Lee.
  8. Web site: Message from our new CEO, Brooke Prentis. 2021-02-28. Common Grace. en.
  9. Web site: "Original sins" and racial justice: What's on the other side?. Justine. Toh. 30 July 2020. 1 March 2021. ABC.
  10. Web site: Brooke Prentis to leave Common Grace. Eternity News. 16 February 2022. 24 June 2022.
  11. Web site: Eternity News. Common Grace names respected change maker as National Director. 15 June 2022. 24 June 2022. Kylie. Beach.
  12. Web site: Announcing our new National Director. Common Grace.
  13. Web site: Abbott Government Rejects Solar Power System Gift. 17 March 2015. 16 June 2020. Energy Matters.
  14. Web site: Christian group attempt to present the Prime Minister with solar panels for Kirribilli House. news.com.au. Nick. Whigham. 18 March 2015. 16 June 2020.
  15. Web site: Government rejects gift of solar panels for Kirribilli House. The Sydney Morning Herald. 16 March 2015. 16 June 2020. Lisa. Cox.
  16. Web site: Christian group speaks out in online Watermark video. 3 March 2016. 16 June 2020. Namoi Valley Independent.
  17. Web site: Should School Students be "Striking" for the Planet? The Christian Case for Activism. Jason. John. Hope 103.2. 13 September 2019. 16 June 2020.
  18. Two modest, theologically informed proposals that gesture towards a politics different to those currently causing so much discontent. St Mark's Review. Doug. Hynd. 246. December 2018. 4.
  19. Web site: Christians strip off in Perth court protest at detention of asylum seeker children. The Guardian. 28 January 2015. 16 June 2020. Calla. Wahlquist.
  20. Web site: Churches Standing in Solidarity for Manus Island. Insights Magazine. 27 November 2017. 16 June 2020.
  21. Web site: Role of Christianity in the indigenous cause. Andrew. West. ABC News. The Religion and Ethics Report. 10 July 2019. 16 June 2020.
  22. Web site: How Christians can unpack the baggage of colonialism this Australia Day. Meredith. Lake. 24 January 2019. 16 June 2020. ABC News.
  23. Web site: Christian movement seeking to change hearts about January 26. Emma. D'Agostino. Bendigo Advertiser. 27 December 2019. 16 June 2020.
  24. Web site: Churches 'Should Unite' to Fight Domestic Abuse. Anne. Lim. 7 September 2017. 16 June 2020. Eternity News.
  25. Web site: Family Violence: How a New Resource Aims to Help Bring About a Culture Change in Churches. David. Adams. 27 February 2018. 16 June 2020. Sight Magazine.
  26. Web site: 'We have a serious problem': Baptist Church apologises to domestic violence victims. Hayley. Gleeson. 27 November 2017. 16 June 2020. ABC News.

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