In the wake of the Australian Christian Lobby appointing Michelle Pearse as their new CEO, dedicated followers of the ACL appear to be split. Some want to trust the board’s judgment and support the new leader. Others remain disappointed over the board falling out with Martyn Iles.
People whom Obadiah sees typically as being in lockstep because they are convinced social conservatives and rusted-on supporters of ACL have sharply divergent views on this.
Here are a couple of examples – who are martyrs to the causes ACL supports, both forced out of jobs because of their views, and both have received strong support from the ACL. (Campaigning for Freedom of speech is one of the strengths of ACL in this journalist’s view)
Jereth Kok, a doctor suspended for social conservative social media commentary, posted: ”Just looking around at the sentiments coming from the kinds of people who have been the strongest backers of ACL over the last ten or so years– it appears the ACL is poised to haemorrhage a large chunk of its supporters.
“I guess we will have to wait and see what actually happens, but it’s hard NOT to conclude that they’ve been extremely foolish.” As a result, Kok has paused his donations to the ACL.
And here’s someone I don’t think I have seen Kok disagree with. Ever.
Academic Steven Chavura points out “three big truths”: “The ACL has always been Gospel driven; the ACL has always been bigger than our friend Martyn Iles; and the ACL is incredibly important for the good of Australia. I’m not asking anyone to be happy with recent events, but I am asking that recent events not so dominate our view of the present time or the ACL that we lose sight to the fact that Australia needs the ACL, and, yes, we need to support it. This doesn’t mean that the ACL is above scrutiny, but let’s scrutinise to improve and edify, not to pick apart and destroy. I say this as an admirer and friend of Martyn and one who is grieving the separation of the two. But the world goes on, and so must we and our calling to be salt and light and peacemakers in a world that seems to revel in darkness, decay, and conflict.”
UPDATE Stephen Chavura rightly points out his comment was well before the Pearse appointment – it was in the context of Martyn Iles departing ACL. So to be clear it is not a comment on the Pearse appointment. It stands in contrast to Kok only in being supportive of the board. Kok is still so concerned about the ACL and Iles parting ways. At this point it is worth adding that Pearse, except for the “surely not a women” commenters described below, is not the issue. The division is about Iles and whether or not the strategy of the ACL should reflect his tactics or something different.
Chavura has every right to be irritated at me. Sorry, Stephen.
For some supporters, the fact that Michelle Pearse is a woman pastor was a shock. [quote removed]
Martyn Iles’ reformed theology was a real plus for some Christians. But Pearce’s background – she comes from the Pentecostal Kingdomcity movement – may not please that particular group. Her husband, John, is listed as the lead pastor of a Kingdomcity church in Fulham, London. In pentecostal style. Michelle has also been a pastor, giving sermons etc.
Any true multi-church movement will have CEOs from different church backgrounds who differ on secondary doctrines. People who supported ACL because they liked where Martyn lies came from will have to decide whether they followed ACL or Iles.
Pearce has a strong ACL background. She;’s reportedly been a member of the ACL board, which means she will be across the difficulties the board had with Martyn Iles.
Given that an issue in Iles’ leaving was whether Iles would follow what the board wanted to emphasise engagement with politicians, it makes sense for the board to pick one of their own – although it is not best practice. (But it seems to happen a lot in Christian organisations.)
ACL supporters will hope she can build on his strengths but bring back the task of communicating more broadly with politicians. For example, the ACL held candidate events for the NSW state election that only featured Mark Latham, leader of One Nation and Lyle Shelton, the National Director of the Family First Party. Whether ACL should involve a broader range of political leaders to their election forums in future will be a question for Michelle Pearse to tackle.
“Whether ACL should involve a broader range of political leaders to their election forums in future will be a question for Michelle Pearse to tackle.” – The ACL can’t hold a gun to a politician’s heads and make them participate. Has it occurred to you that the politician’s featured were the only ones willing to participate? At the recent Victorian by-election of Aston, for instance, the ACL meet the candidates forum was cancelled cause neither the Liberal or Labor candidate wanted to participate. The ACL has copped flack for it’s seeming close association with One Nation but it’s one of the only parties that is very open to approaches from the Christian community which speaks volumes about why the Liberals are losing ground to other right-wing parties.
Better Balanced Futures – a group that lobbies for SRE volunteer led religious teaching in NSW public schools – got then Premier Perrottet and the new Premier Minns to a pair of nights where religious freedom and similar topics were canvassed. they reminded me of the old style ACL gatherings. The strength of the ACL forums used to be that the heads of most of the churches were involved – and this was the case with the Better Balanced Futures gatherings. I don’t know what format the ACL offerred at Aston, but it may be that getting the church leaders involved again is the key. An example of reaching out to all candidates occurred at Sydeny cathedral with three very progressive candidates (Green, labor, Independent (who won)) turning up. A joint churches event in the Balmain electorate also got the candidates along.
Public expressions of Christian faith are so far from popular. I suggest that the press/journalists should be attracted somehow – the press is so anti-church here, it’s a shame and it’s sad. We in the church need to become more outward-looking and interested in what’s happening “out there”, not only in the community but also in other churches (they’re not an enemy, we’re supposed to be in this (mission) together). No wonder it is tough for ACL when the support is so weak and divided. Sad. Maybe there can be a resurrection after this Easter – let’s pray for it.
I think the ACL has lost it’s way. They’ve become an organisation that has no teeth. Gathering signatures for a petition, sending emails to MPs or stroking the necks of MPs in parliament telling them to do better and Jesus will love you more is pointless.
There strategies under Iles early leadership when he wasn’t throttled of targeting specific MPs based on their beliefs was excellent. Targeting them in election cycles with public awareness campaigns and doing everything they could to stop those MPs being re-elected had teeth.
I think the board got a shake down from the higher ups warning them if they didn’t stop their aggressive campaigns against members of parliament regardless being on the left or right there would be hell to pay for.
They’ve become like the rest of the religious leaders in this country, spineless jellyfish pandering to the current zeitgeist.
I’ve withdrawn my support.