
Uniting Church strikes for the climate

Members of Uniting Church congregations, Uniting, UnitingWorld, and NSW and ACT Synod staff participated in the Sydney Strike For Climate rally.
As many as 225,000 people were expected to participate in rallies around Australia.
Incredible pictures as Australia’s gathering for the #climatestrike
— Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) September 20, 2019
This is the huge crowd building up in Sydney.
Australia is setting the standard!
Its bedtime in New York…so please share as many pictures as you can as the strikes move across Asia to Europe and Africa! pic.twitter.com/7eAPUQPq5C
In Sydney, an estimated 50,000 people marched to the domain, which looked to be full.
Uniting Church people met for worship at Pitt Street Uniting Church before the rally and shared in communion.
NSW and ACT Synod General Secretary Rev. Jane Fry closed the service in prayer.
“Take your tough-minded love and walk together for the sake of this glorious, groaning creation,” she said.
“Take your fainting hearts and join your hands with your sisters and brothers who share this earth.”
“Take your infuriated optimism and raise your voices together so all may hear the cry of the earth.”
From a different angle. pic.twitter.com/onk7kVfqyH
— Jonathan Pryke (@jonathan_pryke) September 20, 2019
Up to 1,000 people also attended a rally at the Hub forecourt in Springwood in the Blue Mountains. Members of the Springwood, Glebrook, Penrith, and Bidwill congregations were present. Springwood Uniting Church hosted a prayer and poster painting event before the rally, in a Uniting function room.
Rev. Leigh Gardiner was among the Uniting Church ministers who attended.
“It was inspiring to be at the Springwood Rally today, led by students but with participation from all ages,” Rev. Gardiner said.
“It was a rally that sought to inspire and encourage hope. Hope is such a powerful message and one that we as Christians should be able to extend as we serve the source of all hope. We were also encouraged by the appreciation of students and others for the church to be there in support.”
Massive crowds building in #Sydney #ClimateStrike @SBSNews pic.twitter.com/Vhy1PI6d40
— Abbie O'Brien (@AOBrien_news) September 20, 2019
Rallies also took place in Gosford, Dubbo, and Canberra among other locations.
The rallies took place three days before United Nations climate summit, which aims to reach further consensus on climate change abatement and mitigation.
The climate strike movement was instigated by Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg, who says that climate change has made her anxious.
The 2019 Synod meeting agreed to support the strike.
Jonathan Foye is Insights’ Editor
- Tags: Climate action, climate change
Share
Insights Magazine
UPCOMING EVENTS
Spiritual Care Australia Conference - Trajectories of Hope
Mon, 19th Jun 2023 - Wed, 21st Jun 2023Listening to the Heart: Understanding The Voice
Sat, 1st Jul 2023National Conference of Lay Preachers 2023
Fri, 4th Aug 2023 - Mon, 7th Aug 2023Preachfest 2023
Wed, 1st Nov 2023 - Fri, 3rd Nov 2023- See more events
ADD AN EVENT
Are you hosting an event in the Synod that will be of interest to Insights’ readers?
To add an event listing email us your event details. A full list of events can be found on our Events page.