This group, many of whom are Executive Staff of church community agencies, work together on a number of issues. This is also the group that works with Heads of Churches as they prepare to meet with the Premier.

Minutes of 5th July
Mandate of the Commission

Interchurch Criminal Justice Taskforce
A number of our member churches have for some time been concerned at the conduct of the current political debate in Victoria on criminal justice matters. The focus of being 'touch on crime' seems to have been fueled as much by political pressures as by a reasoned, principle-based approach to this complex area.

Arising out of this, the Commission for Social Questions agreed in April this year to establish an interchurch taskforce on criminal justice, with the objective of providing a Christian voice in the media on these matters. Click here for the terms of reference for the Taskforce.

The taskforce has now met several times. Regular attendees have included Denis Fitzgerald, Antony McMullen, Fr Tony Kerin, Jonathan Chambers, Janette Shepher, Joan Clark.

the initial work of the taskforce is the preparation of a letter to Victorian politicians on community safety. The group is also focusing on a pre-election statement on criminal justice issues. This will draw heavily on material that is already in the public domain, and will form a basis for informing congregations and the general public about the building blocks of true community safety.

Victorian Council of Churches
Social Questions Commission
Death Penalty Position

The churches and church bodies that make up the Victorian Council of Churches either hold a position that the death penalty should never be applied (such as the Salvation Army, the Uniting Church in Australia, the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne) or that it can only be used in cases of absolute necessity, but that such cases are very rare, if practically non-existent (as in the case of the Anglican Church and Catholic Church). Read on>>

 

The Commission on Social Questions is to help the churches and church members to be instruments of God's love and justice, living in such a way that all people in our communities have the opportunity to fully develop all their capabilities, and to ensure that all structures in society support such endeavours. It will do so with explicit awareness of, and regard to, the Australian Aboriginal and Islander Communities, the multifaith and secular environment.