Remembering the disadvantaged & disempowered

photo: Corey Grunewald

On Sunday the 22nd August I preached from James 1: 27 - 2: 13 on God’s heart for those who are disadvantaged and disempowered; and reflected on how easy it is to exclude people. I argued that “in order not to show favouritism (that is to deliberately or inadvertently exclude people) the dominant culture (which at Logan Uniting are those who are white, speak English as their first language, are ‘Ok’ financially, and reasonably able bodied) must purposefully and deliberately create space and show favour to those who are not part of this group.” I then asked us to think about, “who are the unseen ones – the ones who sit on the outer at work or at church or at our social groups; the ones whose voices are not heard; who are not usually invited out or included first in activities?” I also asked all of us to deliberately look beyond our circle of friends and those who we relate to easily in order to “see people” and then to step out of our comfort zone to include them.

A couple of weeks later (Wednesday the 8th September) I attended a remembrance service for the “Forgotten Australians”. I attended because a friend of mine was speaking at it. “Forgotten Australians” are the survivors of childhood institutional care in Australia. They are now adults, some in their thirties, some very elderly; and include indigenous children, child migrants and others who were placed in institutional care for a whole range of reasons.

I was sitting beside a lady who in 1951 at the age of 12 was sent with 11 other girls (the youngest being 5) to Australia. The Priest at the orphanage in London signed her deportment papers without any reference to her parents. Upon arriving in Australia, she and the other girls were sent to Neerkol Orphanage outside of Rockhampton. This lady was telling me that back in London they would leave the orphanage to go to school or church or on outings. At Neerkol the school and church were part of the orphanage and for the next years of her life she NEVER left the orphanage.

A Senate Inquiry identified systemic deception, neglect, exploitation, brutality, sexual assault, poor health care, denial of educational opportunities, removal or loss of identity etc. within childhood institutional care. Apart from this, such children suffered deep and lasting feelings of separation and abandonment.
As I sat in the service I heard words like, forgotten, unseen, invisible, and I found myself reflecting on the sermon from the book of James. In November 2009, the Australian Parliament, through the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition, formally acknowledged and apologised for the experiences of Forgotten Australians and Child Migrants, their harsh treatment and their ongoing trauma. At the remembrance service I attended, people spoke about how this apology has helped them feel heard and seen.

My friend who spoke was in institutional care from the age of 2 and as a teenager experienced physical, emotional and sexual abuse by staff within a local institution. I also met two ladies who claimed to have experienced abuse within Uniting Church institutions. One of these commented to me that those who grew up in institutional care benefit a lot from a relationship with a secure person who provides an experience of acceptance and stability. Over all the years relating to my friend (17 years all up) I had always felt I was never doing enough to help. It seems just being a faithful friend was and is the best gift I can give.

It was an amazing experience and introduced me further to a group of people who have been disempowered and disadvantaged, whom God loves and whom He calls us (well I guess at least me) to serve well.

I continue to ask all of us to look beyond the circle of people with whom we naturally relate, asking God to show us those He wants us to befriend/serve/show His love to.