Our Fundraiser

2015 Festival Mural by Carnival de Resistance artist Dimitri Kadiev

 

WHATS THIS TRIP ABOUT?

This year Ched Myers and Elaine Enns will be hosting the second Festival of Radical Discipleship in Philidephia in partnership with Kirkridge Retreat in May, drawing together a gathering of kindred spirits rooted in the radical Christian tradition. It will be a time to remember past gospel experiments, discuss current calls to witness and work; and conspire about future collaborations. What might voices from our local context offer to this event, and receive from it to inspire and inform our own work? 

We will be hosted by the Kirkridge Retreat Centre: this is a site where Dan Berrigan rested while a warrant was out for his arrest in the newly renovated Folly Cottage which will be commissioned soon to ensure frontline activists can find rest for the days ahead. The Retreat offers workshops in learning Black Woman's Resistance, and retreats for  Trans Sanctuary and decolonising theology. 

The three themes for the festival are: Dismantling White Supremacy and Settler Colonialism, Economies Challenging Capitalism and Watershed Discipleship & Creation Justice.

Have you seen teaching and leadership of this kind here in Australia? A small network of Christians are seeking funds to send four people (including two First Nations representatives) to this gathering in the USA in May of this year.   

As a fundraiser, we have designed and developed two versions of a sustainable tshirt inspired by Bishop Mariann Budde or folks can offer a gift  by donation via our Buy Me A Coffee page to support the attendance of the following to attend... 

Anything bought on the website or donated via BMAC between now and 16 May will go towards this trip. We are already at $11,200 of our $16,000 goal... 

ABOUT THE TEE

On the 30th of January The Right Rev. Mariann Budde stood at the pulpit of the 2025 Inauguration Prayer Service and spoke to President Trump...

"In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now...There are gay, lesbian, and transgender children in Democratic, Republican, and Independent families, some who fear for their lives... I ask you to have mercy, Mr. President, on those in our communities whose children fear that their parents will be taken away and that you help those who are fleeing war zones and persecution in their own lands, to find compassion and welcome here." 

The footage of Bishop Budde speaking this prayer to power was an extremely profound action at a nexus of faith, politics and history.

How might we show up ourselves at this a nexus of faith, politics and history: Who will we stand with? Who will we stand for? Who will we stand by?

Show up. Speak up. Act... buy the tshirt.

WHOSE GOING?

NAOMI WOLFE
Naomi is a trawloolway woman with Jewish German & Irish heritage. She is a lecturer in history at Australian Catholic University.  Naomi worked previously as Director of Academic Programs/Principal, NAIITS College – the first Indigenous postgraduate theological College in Australia, for the University of Divinity as Indigenous Theologies Project Officer and more recently she was the inaugural First People’s Co-ordinator of the University’s newly created School of Indigenous Studies. She holds a Bachelor Arts and a Bachelor of Teaching, a Graduate Certificate in Divinity, and a Graduate Diploma in Divinity. She also recently graduated with a Master of Theological Studies and will begin her PhD studies shortly. Naomi has a commitment and interest in decolonising the disciplines of theology and history, and working with people to transform church and society to better times.  

MIKENZIE LING
Mikenzie is a proud Wiradjuri woman with a Masters of Theology focusing on Indigenous Land Theology, excellent connections through Aboriginal Christian networks, and brings a unique perspectives to our work on Walking Together with First Peoples. Mikenzie is deeply passionate about people, Creation, theology, and education, and brings genuine enthusiasm to everything she does. Mikenzie is  First Peoples Strategy and Engagement Consultant for the Uniting Church Synod NSW/ACT.

MATT BELL
Matt Bell has spent his whole life working for justice in a range of settings, demonstrating a commitment to bringing the justice, peace and community of God's society to life. Matt has worked as a social worker with Asylum seekers, with at risk homeless men, as a youth worker, educator and community development worker. Matt has volunteered with a Soup Van, with People For Fair Trade, as a palliative care support worker. His most enduring contribution has been towards justice for First Nations Australians from university organising events for Sorry Day in mid 90's, to work at Reconciliation Victoria, his long term residency and support of the Indigenous Hospitality House, and his current roles as Chairperson of ANTaR Victoria and decolonizing work at Gembrook Retreat. In more recent years, Matt has understood that as well outward focused work in the form of advocacy and care, there is an equally important role for the inner journey of decolonising our own hearts and minds.  Matt lives with his wife Rachel and their dog Zoe in the Western suburbs of Melbourne, seeking to grow as much food as he can while also watching plenty of sport.

TALITHA FRASER
A Ngāi Tahu/Pākeha settler on the lands of the peoples of the Kulin Nation, Talitha Fraser is the Curator of The Recollective – a playground for reflection, culture, and feminist theologies.  Her creative practice is one of contemplative listening for what space has to say at the nexus of context, time and place. What can we make, here? This attention to taiao, as well as a vocational calling to radical discipleship and theopoetics, seeks to explore what responsibilities, privileges, inspirations, and possibilities exist within place.  Forms can be a blend of poetry and photography, of philosophy and theology, of observation and mindfulness, of textile and digital craft.