Common Grace is an Australian non-denominational movement of
Christian
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...
s 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
Domestic violence (also known as domestic abuse or family violence) is violence or other abuse that occurs in a domestic setting, such as in a marriage or cohabitation. ''Domestic violence'' is often used as a synonym for ''intimate partner ...
, and for climate justice
Climate justice is a concept that addresses the just division, fair sharing, and equitable distribution of the burdens of climate change and its mitigation and responsibilities to deal with climate change. "Justice", "fairness", and "equity" ar ...
[ and has run successful campaigns on these four issues.][
]
History
Common Grace was founded in November 2014. Jarrod McKenna was seconded from World Vision Australia as National Director until the end of 2015. Scott Sanders, also formerly with World Vision, was appointed CEO in 2016.
Wakka Wakka woman Brooke Prentis
Brooke Prentis (born 25 May 1980) is an Australian Aboriginal Christian leader, who is descended from the Wakka Wakka people. She is the coordinator of the Grasstree Gathering.
Early life and education
Prentis was born in Cairns on Yidin ...
was the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Spokesperson for Common Grace in a volunteer capacity from 2015, before being appointed CEO in February 2020.
Campaigns
Climate justice
In late 2014, Common Grace launched a crowdfunding
Crowdfunding is the practice of funding a project or venture by raising money from a large number of people, typically via the internet. Crowdfunding is a form of crowdsourcing and alternative finance. In 2015, over was raised worldwide by crow ...
campaign that raised money for solar panels
A solar cell panel, solar electric panel, photo-voltaic (PV) module, PV panel or solar panel is an assembly of photovoltaic solar cells mounted in a (usually rectangular) frame, and a neatly organised collection of PV panels is called a phot ...
to be given for the Prime Minister's Sydney
Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...
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.
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. 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.
Asylum seekers
Common Grace has been active in various campaigns to have refugees released from offshore detention. 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
A foreign affairs minister or minister of foreign affairs (less commonly minister for foreign affairs) is generally a cabinet minister in charge of a state's foreign policy and relations. The formal title of the top official varies between cou ...
Julie Bishop after staging a peaceful sit-in protest against the detention of children on Nauru
Nauru ( or ; na, Naoero), officially the Republic of Nauru ( na, Repubrikin Naoero) and formerly known as Pleasant Island, is an island country and microstate in Oceania, in the Central Pacific. Its nearest neighbour is Banaba Island in Ki ...
. In November 2017, Common Grace organised a day of support for the men held in detention on Manus Island. 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.[
]
Indigenous Australians
Common Grace advocates for justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. In partnership with senior Aboriginal Christian leader Aunty Jean Phillips
Aunty Jean Phillips is an Indigenous Australian elder and has been a senior Aboriginal Christian leader for over 60 years. She was born on the Aboriginal mission of Cherbourg, Queensland and later she served as an Aboriginal missionary herse ...
, the organisation has revived the idea of church services to mark Australia Day.[
]
Domestic violence
In 2017, Common Grace launched a resource responding to domestic violence
Domestic violence (also known as domestic abuse or family violence) is violence or other abuse that occurs in a domestic setting, such as in a marriage or cohabitation. ''Domestic violence'' is often used as a synonym for ''intimate partner ...
called "Safer".
References
External links
* {{Official website, commongrace.org.au
Christian advocacy groups
Christian organizations established in 2014
Christian organisations based in Australia
Christian political organizations
2014 establishments in Australia
Political advocacy groups in Australia