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: 5. Decay
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 [...]
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 [...]
You foolish Lilydalians
30 November, 2011 – 1:35 AM
Matt Glover, freelance cartoonist and pastor, is an advocate for same-sex unions. His church, Lilydale Baptist, is in turmoil. They’ve only just found out via this gay website or maybe this one? A church meeting to deal with the issue was cancelled a few days ago. A newspaper report states confidently that Pastor Matt has [...]
No one excluded except the real Jesus
30 July, 2011 – 12:38 AM
It’s a serious thing to sack a seventy year old priest. The Catholic church has a shortage of them. Yet it strikes me as strange that someone who doesn’t believe in the Trinity, the virgin birth—who doesn’t believe Jesus ever existed—should want to be a priest, or should even expect to remain a priest. Father [...]
Drifting in calm waters
7 July, 2010 – 4:55 PM
Our nature lies in movement; complete calm is death. Blaise Pascal I caught up with an old friend a few years ago over coffee. He confided in me that he wasn’t sure if he believed in hell any more. He was a church leader with an evangelical background. He didn’t seem concerned. After all, he [...]
A case study in decline
6 July, 2010 – 7:32 PM
There is nothing more important to the vitality of a movement than it’s commitment to its core beliefs. Dynamic movements hold both orthodoxy (core beliefs) and engagement with the culture in creative tension. About a year ago my denomination (Baptist Union of Victoria) reappointed its New Testament professor, Dr Keith Dyer. The appointment was supported [...]
Neither “Progressive” nor “Christian”
6 July, 2010 – 1:25 AM
Earlier this year the Common Dreams conference drew together people from Australia, North America and the South Pacific to Melbourne, to explore ways that ”progressive religion” can contribute positively to the common good. I’ve just listened to a two part series on “Progressive Christianity” based around interviews with keynote speakers and participants. The interviews are [...]
