State of emergency ?!?

At long last, there is some acknowledgment from our elected leaders that remote aboriginal communities are in urgent need of support and help.

National debate rages over the form this is taking. At its worst it looks like a sledgehammer approach to communities that are already fragile and vulnerable. At its best it enacts a measure that is admittedly interventionist in preparation for longer term measures to assist sustainability, health, safety and security. Subtexts of political opportunism, hypocrisy in the wake of deafness to previous pleas and the shadows of paternalism abound.

So, in the light of my previous post's reflection on Lee Camp's offerings om "mere discipleship," what role does Christ's church have to play in all this. History gives us a mixed bag of inappropriate interventionism in aboriginal affairs and admirable service in the name of the Suffering Servant.

The following is from the Council of Churches Western Australia:-

Churches in Australia have combined with other agencies in an open letter to the Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous affirs, Mal Brough.

Referring to "our concerns about aspects of the Australian Government’s response to (the problem of child abuse in Indigenous communities) as outlined in your statement of 21 June 2007", the letter welcomes the Government's initiatives and concerns and reiterates the concerns of the Churches in the "the severity and widespread nature of the problems of child sexual abuse and community breakdown in Indigenous communities in the NT, catalogued in the 'Little Children are Sacred Report.'"

After indicating a desire to "work collaboratively with Governments and the communities affected to ensure that children are protected", the letter calls for more services and greater engagement with communities affected.

In their present form the proposals miss the mark and are unlikely to be effective in their present form. There is an over-reliance on top-down and punitive measures, and insufficient indication that additional resources will be mobilised where they are urgently needed; to improve housing, child protection and domestic violence supports, schools, health services, alcohol and drug rehab programs. These issues have been raised by many Indigenous leaders over many years.

We offer our support to Indigenous communities and the Government in:

• developing programs that will strengthen families and communities to empower them to confront the problems they face;
  
• consulting adequately with the communities and NT Government, and community service, health and education providers;
  
• developing a long term plan to address and resolve the causes of child abuse including joblessness, poor housing, education and commit the necessary resources to this.

It seems to me to be a very even-handed statement, avoiding the danger of being the "hand-maiden of the state" yet at the same time co-operating with that which reflects the justice and mercy agenda of radical Christianity's traditional prophetic stance.

There are those who are bound to disagree and who are welcome to say so here. It is an emotive and volatile issue, but let us reason together!