Thea is doing this simply because she feels that it's time. She said recently “I'm not getting any younger, and I'd like a more balanced lifestyle, more time with friends and to be a climate activist as such - to spend less time at my computer and at meetings. I'm grateful that there are generous people with different gifts, energy and perspectives willing to provide ARRCC with fresh leadership."
All hands on the ARRCC deck
We are growing. Now is the time both to do more than we ever have before and to put our powerful faith-based climate action on a secure long term footing.
Long-time ARRCC President Thea Ormerod, who has done a truly outstanding job, is moving on. There will not only be a new President, in the form of Reverend Meredith Williams, but for the first time we will be hiring an Executive Director, as well as another campaigner. This will take place on March 11th.
It’s an exciting time - with new energy and leadership coming to the fore. Here are the main changes:
Rev Meredith Williams will become ARRCC’s new President.
Meredith has been an ordained minister of the Uniting Church in Australia for nearly 26 years. She is currently serving in a congregational placement in western Sydney. Social justice, ecology and environmental protection have always been a prominent part of her preaching, teaching and personal life. Meredith joined ARRCC in early 2021, and it was a natural fit, linking as it did with her other great passion - interfaith appreciation and collaboration. She immediately became involved in her local ARRCC group, action and advocacy. This also fitted perfectly with the response of the Uniting Church to global heating. Meredith will seek re-election in this new role at our AGM in May (exact date to be advised).
Long time ARRCC campaigner Tejopala Rawls will take on a new role as Executive Director.
Tejopala has worked for ARRCC since August 2017 and brings years of experience of both our organisation and the climate movement and has extensive networks across faith communities in Australia. The exact date when he will start in this role has yet to be confirmed but it will be no later than June 1st.
The committee has become more engaged and active
This has been growing in recent months with the committee taking on more of the work that Thea has done until now. This sharing of responsibility will become more pronounced as the year goes on.
Thea will stay active on the committee.
She has much to contribute still and her experience and wisdom will be extremely valuable. She will always be our founding president.
We will be hiring a new campaigner
This person will take on a number of the responsibilities that Tejopala has held until now. This is likely to take place early in the second half of the year.
These changes will allow us both to do more than we ever have before and to put the organisation - and faith-based climate action - on a secure long term footing.
This is going to take all hands on the ARRCC deck.
Thea has been a volunteer for 17 years. We can no longer rely on so much donated time. For the first time we need both a new Executive Director as well as a campaigner. We know this is a venture into the unknown. If we’re to grow and also secure our future in this way we will need to increase our financial support.
We have achieved amazing things together. Time and again ARRCC has brought a moral voice to public debates that cannot be ignored. Over and over we have reached people that other climate organisations simply can’t. demonstrating that the desire for bolder climate action is mainstream.
Of course, the climate crisis has never been more urgent. The last three years have been the hottest on record. Now, more than ever, we need the prophetic voice of faith communities and leaders. As one major donor has said: “‘If an organisation like ARRCC didn’t exist, you’d have to make one.”
Our number one priority for the coming years is phasing out fossil fuel exports. We will do this by working closely with faith communities and the climate movement across Australia, the Pacific and around the world.
If you’ve ever cared about the voice of faith communities when it comes to the climate crisis, cared about ARRCC, or simply about all the hard work that Thea has done over the years, this is the moment to get behind us by giving what you can.
If there was ever a time to do this, it’s now.
You can give via this page, or to contribute via PayPal click here. Or if you prefer, you can organise for direct transfers of your chosen amount into the ARRCC Bank Australia account. Details are below. All donations to ARRCC can be claimed as tax deductions.
| Bank: | Bank Australia |
| BSB: | 313 140 |
| Account number: | 12038597 |
| Account name: | ARRCC Gift Fund |
Thank you for whatever you can manage to give.