It’s only a matter of time before Australia embraces same sex marriage, with the support and advocacy of progressive Australian clergy. So what’s next? We all know it won’t stop at same-sex unions. So who’s up for group marriage? For weeks, Sydneysiders and Melburnians who believe menages-a-trois and other polyamorous relationships can be just as [...]
Category Archives: Movement case studies
The day J.I. Packer walked out
10 December, 2011 – 12:09 AM
In June of 2002, the synod of the Anglican Diocese of New Westminster (Vancouver, Canada) voted to authorise a service to bless same-sex unions. J.I. Packer was among the synod members who walked out in protest. Why did I walk out with the others? Because this decision, taken in its context, falsifies the gospel of [...]
Church history repeats itself
9 December, 2011 – 2:26 AM
History repeats itself, first as tragedy, then as farce. Karl Marx, The Eighteenth Brumaire From the BUV policy on Ordination: “Persons who engage in homosexual practice will not be ordained.“ I’m confused. The leadership of the denomination and it’s theological college do not have a problem with Baptist clergy or theological professors who are advocates [...]
Defending the gospel of grace and truth
8 December, 2011 – 6:00 AM
Gary Lockyer was the senior pastor at Lilydale Baptist (1988-2002). This is an full version of his comment posted today providing background to the turmoil at his former church. Steve, I was the Senior Pastor of the Lilydale Baptist Church for 14 years. It had already grown out of its ancient (1881?) but very small [...]
Movements podcasts
8 December, 2011 – 3:38 AM
I’ve just updated the Movements podcast page to make it easier to navigate. Happy listening!
Yes we can
6 December, 2011 – 4:40 AM
On Saturday the ruling Labor conference committed the Party to a policy of support for same-sex marriage. The move was supported by a rainbow coalition of activists including member of the clergy. History teaches us that this is not the end of a long battle, just a pause before the next push begins. What was [...]
How denominations fall
5 December, 2011 – 3:39 AM
The governing Australian Labor Party will introduce a private members bill to legalise marriage between same sex couples. The move is largely symbolic. The bill will most probably be defeated—this time. Meanwhile some Australian denominations are tripping over themselves on this issue. A number of pastors and leaders within my own denomination, the Baptist Union [...]
Unsettled by Acts
1 December, 2011 – 10:51 PM
Still lost in the book of Acts. It feels like I’m reading it for the first time. Two glaring disconnects between what we call “mission/missional” and the early Christian movement. 1. Words. Acts is built around the theme of the progress of God’s word. The book is dominated by speeches. Only one of which is [...]
Operation World: 7th edition
22 November, 2011 – 11:50 PM
There is a new edition of Operation World, the definitive prayer guide for every nation and people group on earth. Here’s a few interesting facts from the first twenty five pages. The world’s population nearly doubled between 1970 and 2010. 63.2% of the worlds Christians are in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. About 10% of [...]
7 billion reasons
1 November, 2011 – 2:02 AM
Here are his estimates of the trends in population growth and the changes in religious identification since 1900. Note the incredible rise of Pentecostal/Charismatic movements (includes African independent churches and Chines underground house churches) which has taken place predominantly in the developing world where the population is growing fastest.
