Yesterday I attended a meeting co-ordinated by the Australian Christian Lobby and attended by the heads of the following denominations (or their reps):
- Anglican Church Australia
- The Salvation Army
- Baptists
- Russian Orthodox
- Life Ministry Centres
- Christian Revival Crusade
- C3
- Australian Christian Churches
- INC: International Network of Churches
- Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney
Additionally for the first hour, Senator Eric Abetz (Libs) and Chris Hayes MP (ALP) who is the Chief Opposition Whip, attended.
Was great to hear from both sides of the political spectrum their perspectives on some of the areas of concern that church movements around Australia have. I appreciated them giving their time and listening ear. I also appreciated them allowing the meeting to pray for them.
Throughout the 4 hour meeting the following things were discussed:
- Support for the recognition of Indigenous Australians in the Constitution
- Religious Freedoms in Australia: Freedom of Faith vs Freedom of Worship and the implication of the two terms
- Militant Islam: the churches around Australia agreeing to hold a Day of Solidarity one Sunday late October to stand with the persecuted Church and Christians around the world.
- A unified call to be put to the Australian Government to increase the refuge intake from areas such as Iraq.
- Militant Secularism
- The emergence of a moral monoculturalism in Australia.
- There were a couple of other agenda items that need to remain confidential.
We also had Professor Patrick Parkinson, Head of Freedom 4 Faith, present on some legal issues currently facing the Australian Church.
I appreciated ACL Director Lyle Shelton’s leadership during the day and in instigating the meeting.
I think these meetings are great as it shows unity across the Australian church, it shows a willingness to be involved in the political process, to be proactive on Social Issues, and then as the meeting finished and we all prayed together: it was powerful.
Categories: Church related, Nowra City Church, Political Commentary or Thoughts, Social Justice Issues
peterpilt 
Sounds like there are a lot of “legal issues currently facing the church today”. ACL in my experience of trying to get them to comment on Section 116 (freedom of religion) of the Constitution seem totally focused on gay marriage and pornography. And what’s the difference between freedom of faith and freedom of worship? Both come under “religion” in the Constitution do they not? And is the Queen, the head of government in Australia not “Defender of the Faith”? Or was that title illegally removed by Whitlam when he created the unconstitutional title “Queen of Australia”?