Evangelicalism’s boundary war
If Christian news obeyed the rules of AFL, then we saw a star player kick the ball out of bounds on the full this week. That gets a free kick to the other side. The star player is Richard B.… Continue Reading
Same-sex marriage
Some prayer, but not sermons, banned in NSW Conversion Bill
The Conversion Practices Ban Bill 2024, introduced into the NSW Parliament yesterday, seeks to ban “conversion practices” aimed at changing or suppressing a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity captures some forms of prayer and counselling, but not sermons or… Continue Reading
Railway maps and why all Christian superbowl ads are flawed
An Obadiah Slope column Smokebreak via Jeannine Baird ### Warning – railway and design nerd item ahead: Watching a doco about the misunderstood genius Harry Beck, who designed the famous London underground map, Obadiah learned something now – Beck, it… Continue Reading
Righter than the right, lefter than the left: Reading historian John Dickson and thinking about the present
History has a way of rhyming, if not repeating, and John Dickson’s book Bullies and Saints: An Honest Look at the Good and Evil of Christian History gives this reader an introduction to patterns of Christian blundering. But as often… Continue Reading
Lutheran church rebels over marriage and gender
A member church of the Lutheran Church of Australia (LCA) has gone public with a decision to withhold payments to the denomination. The Underdale–Glandore Lutheran Church in South West Adelaide resolved to send a message to the the SA NT… Continue Reading
Alpha’s home lines up on the conservative side as Church of England’s same-sex blessings start.
Last Sunday, December 17, saw the first “Prayers of Love and Faith” being offered in the Church of England. These new official prayers allow LGBTQIA couples to receive prayers of blessing in local churches as part of ordinary worship services.… Continue Reading
LGBTQIA+ members seek a ‘living apology’ from the Uniting Church
A working group tasked with developing an apology by the Uniting Church (UCA) to LGBTQIA+ people has advised against the national assembly of the church making a formal apology at their 2024 meeting. A draft working document by the “Apology… Continue Reading
Explainer: Church of England will have ‘experimental’ same-sex marriage services
A narrow vote of the Church of England General Synod (church parliament) this week has given the go-ahead for “experimental’ services of blessings for same-sex couples on a trial basis. This is despite the General Synod having voted at their… Continue Reading
Officially open, new Baptist network for LGBQIA affirming churches and supporters
A new association of Baptist churches, the Open Baptists , officially formed last weekend in Canberra as a body opposed to moves by the NSW/ACT Baptist Association to require pastors and churches to subscribe to a “position statement” that describes… Continue Reading
Nicky Gumbel, founder of the Alpha Course joins the leaders of the Global South Anglicans who oppose same-sex marriage
Possibly the most significant words in a communique issued this week by the Primates (national leaders) of the conservative Global South Fellowship of Anglicans (GSFA) was the list of who attended. The statement, which reaffirmed the determination of the Global… Continue Reading