The Uniting Church in Australia responds to the Bondi Beach Attach with grief and call for solidarity and peace

The Uniting Church in Australia expresses its deep sorrow following the attack at Bondi Beach, which NSW Police have identified as a terrorist act.

The violence occurred while families and children were gathered to celebrate the start of Hanukkah, a long-held religious tradition, in peace. What should have been a time of joy, faith and community was instead marked by fear and devastation.

We grieve the lives lost and hold in prayer all who have been injured, traumatised and affected.

As the Uniting Church in Australia, we unequivocally state that any attack on families and children gathered peacefully to celebrate faith is utterly unacceptable. We name and reject antisemitism in all its forms. Violence and hatred must never have the final word.

We stand in solidarity with the Jewish community and commit ourselves again to compassion, peace, and care for one another. We reaffirm our commitment to stand with our Jewish friends against hatred, violence, and fear. This horrifying moment reminds us as a nation that the safety and dignity of our neighbours must never be taken for granted and that protecting one another, especially children and those targeted for their faith, is a shared responsibility.

The Uniting Church affirms the dignity of every person and the right of all people to gather, worship, and celebrate their traditions without fear or violence.
At moments like this, when terror seeks to unsettle our sense of safety and unity, we reject fear, hatred, and division. As a Christian church, shaped by the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, we are called to speak with moral clarity and to act with deep compassion.

We give thanks for the courage and care of first responders, health workers, and all who have supported those affected during this time.
We invite the church and the wider community to join us in prayer and quiet reflection for all who are grieving today.

The Uniting Church continues to hold in prayer the Jewish community, the families and children impacted, and the wider community as it grieves and seeks healing.

𝗥𝗲𝘃 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗮 𝗦𝘂𝗹𝗶
𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮

Uniting Church in Australia is with Charissa Suli.