# Why YES? A Pastoral response

> Gen X, Y, Z: all have grown up in a fast-paced, global and virtual world so different from the world of my Baby-Boomer childhood.

25 September 2023 · Opinion

Canonical: https://insights1.uca.org.au/articles/why-yes-a-pastoral-response/

Gen X, Y, Z: all have grown up in a fast-paced, global and virtual world so different from the world of my Baby-Boomer childhood.

My family, community, schooling, church… would now be viewed as incredibly conservative.

And I suppose it is unsurprising that I internalised the messages that ‘being a good person’ meant: ‘be quiet’, ‘toe the line’, ‘don’t rock the boat’, ‘preserve the *status quo’*. To do otherwise – felt transgressive; wrong.

One of those rules was you didn’t talk about religion or politics, especially at the same time.

In contrast, within **Uniting** (as part of the Uniting Church in Australia) social justice advocacy, community services and spiritual care, go hand in hand. It’s a challenging synthesis: inviting me to dream beyond s*tatus quo*, and move beyond comfort-zones – for the benefit of others…

So as a Boomer who has found my voice, and as a Chaplain who spends my days listening to and affirming the voices of others, I am happy to talk about my ‘Yes’ vote in the upcoming Referendum. It reflects both a Uniting/Uniting Church response ([FAQs About The Voice – Uniting Church Australia](https://uniting.church/faq-about-the-voice/)), and my personal and professional Pastoral Response:

* My ‘YES’ vote is my ongoing commitment to respectful listening.

* My ‘YES’ vote is an affirmation of the gifts such listening gives – for both the listener and speaker: recognition, respect, shared wisdom, balance, growth, empowerment, healing…

*‘We empower one another by hearing the other to speech’* (Nelle Morton (1977), **Beloved Image**).

* My ‘YES’ vote is for Voice, conversation, healing and wholeness.

**Cal More (Uniting Chaplain, South Coast)**

#UnitingForYES