Here you can find the draft of an open letter prepared by ICAN for sending to the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition on the next few days, as part of the 75th commemorations. Our leader, Alex, has added his signature on behalf of Wellspring Community, and many of us have done the same on behalf of our own organisations. The major churches are all signatories, along with the leaders of many faiths. We hope that the media will carry news of the letter when it is delivered next week.
This pressure on our government is particularly timely, in the wake of the recent new Defence Statement, which gives priority to militarisation of our international relationships at the same time as the Foreign Affairs department is cutting the budget for diplomacy and reducing staff in embassies around the world. People of faith are speaking out, and as Christians we must remind our leaders, many of whom profess to be followers of Christ, that our Saviour taught his followers to be agents for peace.
Here is a suggested order of service for Sunday 9th August (which is the anniversary of the bombing of Nagasaki), from which you may wish to take extracts for use for either public worship or private devotions, on that Sunday.
Lastly, here you can find the details of the Interfaith Service hosted by the Uniting Church and ICAN, with participants from seven faith groups. If you have not yet signed up to attend please consider following the links.
As people of Hope, we continue to pray for Peace, in our local communities and in all parts of our troubled world.