Common Grace Hui on Being a Just Church

Supporters of Common Grace Aotearoa recently gathered at Ngatiawa River Monastery to learn how better to be a just church – in our country and the world.

Founded by Kate Day and Alex Johnson, Common Grace Aotearoa is a Christian advocacy group that mobilizes action to transform unjust structures for the common good. Several families from our Wellington movement joined with other denominations from across the motu to celebrate the launch of Common Grace Aotearoa and learn how better to be a just church – in our country and the world.

This theme is a wonderful encapsulation of the tree diagram of our Anglican Movement Mission and Values, which has ‘ a just church’ as one of its branches.

Politicians, church leaders and activists shared how their faith inspired work in the forth and fifth marks of mission. People swum in the river, connected over coffee and prayed for the justice work people were part of.

The mahi is still ongoing. We learnt how our government subsides pollution giving some industries a free pass while the rest of us pay our share. We also heard how the Electricity Authority currently leaves thousands of struggling households vulnerable to higher prices.

In the coming weeks, Common Grace Aotearoa invites us to spend an hour to upskill in our political engagement through a Christian lens, while acting for real change.

This Thursday 23 November, at 7.30-8.30pm online, come and be walked through how to write a letter to your local MP asking: Does subsidising pollution during a climate crisis makes sense? Will they work towards ending free carbon credits in the Emissions Trading Scheme by 2030?

Next Wednesday 29 November 8-9pm online: come and be walked through how to write a letter to the Electricity Authority asking them to make their consumer care guidelines mandatory.