http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/socialissues/ en andrew.cameron@moore.edu.au Copyright 2008 2008-11-10T00:22:48+10:00 http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/socialissues/1351a We produce a free weekly Social Issues briefing. Each briefing is about two pages long, and gives some background information on an issue that has recently been in the news. It will offer some ways of thinking about it, and perhaps acting on it, as Christians. about, why social issues We produce a free weekly Social Issues briefing. Each briefing is about two pages long, and gives some background information on an issue that has recently been in the news. It will offer some ways of thinking about it, and perhaps acting on it, as Christians. 2005-11-23T02:19:01+10:00 Social Issues Executive http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/socialissues/392a Find out more about us... about, why social issues Find out more about us... 2005-06-25T02:24:00+10:00 Social Issues Executive http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/socialissues/080_free_money_for_new_lives In a society where abortion is so common and enjoys such extensive legal and political protection, we suggested that Christian resistance might aim to create a child- and woman-friendly culture, where pregnant women under adverse circumstances really can become mothers. We wanted to see churches become ‘oases of welcome’ for women and their babies. But we have to admit that our suggestion has remained merely theoretical... until now In a society where abortion is so common and enjoys such extensive legal and political protection, we suggested that Christian resistance might aim to create a child- and woman-friendly culture, where pregnant women under adverse circumstances really can become mothers. We wanted to see churches become ‘oases of welcome’ for women and their babies. But we have to admit that our suggestion has remained merely theoretical... until now 2008-11-09T23:22:48+10:00 Andrew J Cameron http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/socialissues/079_how_free_is_your_religion The Australian Human Rights Commission has begun a ‘Freedom of Religion and Belief in the 21st Century Project’ to map the state-of-play for freedom of religion and belief in Australia. The project seeks to address the experiences and place in civil society of every religious belief (including ‘secular belief’), and especially that of Muslim communities. This project is extremely important to Christians... The Australian Human Rights Commission has begun a ‘Freedom of Religion and Belief in the 21st Century Project’ to map the state-of-play for freedom of religion and belief in Australia. The project seeks to address the experiences and place in civil society of every religious belief (including ‘secular belief’), and especially that of Muslim communities. This project is extremely important to Christians... 2008-10-22T23:01:54+10:00 Andrew J Cameron http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/socialissues/078_caring_for_the_carers We can be very glad that this society does not support abandoning people with disabilities to street begging, or killing off the elderly and frail, or allowing the very ill to expire alone in some corner. But the problem with this fine sentiment is what we fail to see. In some ways our society does allow these practices to occur, and when they don’t occur it is precisely because there are carers who care. We can be very glad that this society does not support abandoning people with disabilities to street begging, or killing off the elderly and frail, or allowing the very ill to expire alone in some corner. But the problem with this fine sentiment is what we fail to see. In some ways our society does allow these practices to occur, and when they don’t occur it is precisely because there are carers who care. 2008-08-21T01:28:48+10:00 Andrew J Cameron http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/socialissues/077_nuclear_weapons_mans_challenge_to_god As we approach the anniversary of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, it seems fitting to move into unusual terrain and spend some time thinking about the place of nuclear weapons in today's world. As we approach the anniversary of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, it seems fitting to move into unusual terrain and spend some time thinking about the place of nuclear weapons in today's world. 2008-08-05T17:16:11+10:00 Andrew J Cameron http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/socialissues/076_beyond_homophobia_toward_new_terms_of_debate 2008-06-16T01:03:00+10:00 Andrew Cameron http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/socialissues/074_caring_for_children_now_and_in_future In early May NSW Attorney General John Hatzistergos introduced the Miscellaneous Acts Amendment (Same Sex Relationships) Bill 2008 into the Legislative Council of the NSW parliament. (This NSW State Bill is not to be confused with a recent Federal Bill introduced by the Federal Attorney General, Senator Robert McClelland; see link below.) John Hatzistergos described how the Amendment Bill is a further step in a long process of NSW legislative reform. family + society In early May NSW Attorney General John Hatzistergos introduced the Miscellaneous Acts Amendment (Same Sex Relationships) Bill 2008 into the Legislative Council of the NSW parliament. (This NSW State Bill is not to be confused with a recent Federal Bill introduced by the Federal Attorney General, Senator Robert McClelland; see link below.) John Hatzistergos described how the Amendment Bill is a further step in a long process of NSW legislative reform. 2008-06-02T09:37:00+10:00 Social Issues Executive http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/socialissues/073_the_china_syndrome As the opening of the Olympic Games on 8 August approaches, world attention is on China, and this attention is persistently on issues other than sport. Human rights abuses and environmental concerns are top of the list. All of this begs the question: should Christians be more active on these moral issues? law + government As the opening of the Olympic Games on 8 August approaches, world attention is on China, and this attention is persistently on issues other than sport. Human rights abuses and environmental concerns are top of the list. All of this begs the question: should Christians be more active on these moral issues? 2008-05-12T01:13:03+10:00 Social Issues Executive http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/socialissues/73_the_churches_and_sexual_wholeness Archbishop Jensen has recently decided not to take his Sydney bishops to the Archbishop of Canterbury’s forthcoming conference in Lambeth, London. Do the grounds for the boycott—in this case, differing views over the place of homosexuality in our fellowship—mean that conservative Christians and Anglicans are ‘homophobic’? Are they obsessed with sex? Has the Anglican church now split? Archbishop Jensen has recently decided not to take his Sydney bishops to the Archbishop of Canterbury’s forthcoming conference in Lambeth, London. Do the grounds for the boycott—in this case, differing views over the place of homosexuality in our fellowship—mean that conservative Christians and Anglicans are ‘homophobic’? Are they obsessed with sex? Has the Anglican church now split? 2008-02-11T00:03:00+10:00 Andrew Cameron http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/socialissues/the_hearing_of_sorry_71 Why was an expression of regret so inadequate for many indigenous people? What makes it seem imperative for them to hear the word ‘sorry’? What is so important about this word? In this extended briefing, we will try to understand why it seems so important for ‘sorry’ to be heard from the lips of the nation’s leader, and we will consider the sticking-points against saying it. We will confine our attention to the issue of the Stolen Generation, although some of what follows may apply to other ways in which white colonials harmed indigenous people. Why was an expression of regret so inadequate for many indigenous people? What makes it seem imperative for them to hear the word ‘sorry’? What is so important about this word? In this extended briefing, we will try to understand why it seems so important for ‘sorry’ to be heard from the lips of the nation’s leader, and we will consider the sticking-points against saying it. We will confine our attention to the issue of the Stolen Generation, although some of what follows may apply to other ways in which white colonials harmed indigenous people. 2007-12-17T00:05:00+10:00 Andrew Cameron http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/socialissues/the_queen_and_the_humanity_of_marriage_70 The Queen's celebration of sixty years of marriage is bound to become increasingly unusual as people marry later and as more marriages dissolve in separation and divorce, despite increasing life-spans. weekly briefings, family + society The Queen's celebration of sixty years of marriage is bound to become increasingly unusual as people marry later and as more marriages dissolve in separation and divorce, despite increasing life-spans. 2007-11-26T00:01:00+10:00 Andrew Cameron http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/socialissues/smaller_carbon_footprint_we_can_do_it_069 The General Synod of the Anglican Church in Australia recently passed a number of resolutions relating to climate change. One of them ‘requests all organisational units within the Anglican Church of Australia to reduce their environmental footprint through best practice energy use, water use, and waste disposal.’ But what is the value of such resolutions? In this briefing, we will argue that they are realistic and helpful. We will also consider what makes people sometimes respond cynically or negatively to resolutions such as these. environment The General Synod of the Anglican Church in Australia recently passed a number of resolutions relating to climate change. One of them ‘requests all organisational units within the Anglican Church of Australia to reduce their environmental footprint through best practice energy use, water use, and waste disposal.’ But what is the value of such resolutions? In this briefing, we will argue that they are realistic and helpful. We will also consider what makes people sometimes respond cynically or negatively to resolutions such as these. 2007-10-25T19:25:00+10:00 Social Issues Executive http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/socialissues/068_a_peek_at_apec_divide We guess APEC does not top your list of interesting topics. Some people are annoyed at the disruption to life in Sydney. Most will just stay well away and enjoy the public holiday. But perhaps the following two opposing opinions will help you glimpse the great issues at stake: weekly briefings, law + government We guess APEC does not top your list of interesting topics. Some people are annoyed at the disruption to life in Sydney. Most will just stay well away and enjoy the public holiday. But perhaps the following two opposing opinions will help you glimpse the great issues at stake: 2007-09-03T01:01:00+10:00 Andrew Cameron http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/socialissues/067_investigating_the_intervention Everyone has been stretched over the past few weeks by the Commonwealth Government’s intervention into the affairs of remote Northern Territory (NT) indigenous communities... So many complex issues have emerged that this briefing will have the limited aim of summarising the details, listing some opinions for and against the Government’s action, and offering some provisional suggestions. As always, these suggestions invite further thoughtful reflection together, along with indigenous people, in light of the Scriptures. Everyone has been stretched over the past few weeks by the Commonwealth Government’s intervention into the affairs of remote Northern Territory (NT) indigenous communities... So many complex issues have emerged that this briefing will have the limited aim of summarising the details, listing some opinions for and against the Government’s action, and offering some provisional suggestions. As always, these suggestions invite further thoughtful reflection together, along with indigenous people, in light of the Scriptures. 2007-08-17T01:09:00+10:00 Social Issues Executive