There’s a Stay in Touch column in the SMH, here , which includes some stuff about synod. The article itself is not too bad, but in the space for comments there are some derogatory things said about the Jensens. I’ve added some comments in response, others might like to check it out and comment as you see fit.

[quote author="Gordon Cheng"]Excellent presidential address at synod today.

I thought Peter’s emphasis on the importance of biblical theology in the mission, and the continued emphasis on the need to change the Anglo culture of a lot of our Anglicanism, were highlights. I expect the emphasis in the reporting is going to lie elsewhere, but if others miss the point I hope and pray that we don’t.

The address is here .

As a non-Anglican (you can all stop throwing garlic at me now), I found much in the Archbishop’s address to resonate with.

However, I must take him to task on one comment. “Church can become merely a religious club for people who still like the Rolling Stones.” I’d be happy if the congregations which I know liked the Rolling Stones. The ones that I know are more like religious clubs for people who still like Perry Como or Bing Crosby ...

We in Perth are past Bing and Perry - I think we’re a club for people who like the Carpenters.

...but not necessarily THE carpenter....

G’day,

Well done to Peter Denham who made his debut speech last night!!! I’m still waiting for the right moment (was denied last year by a motion to end a debate).

Yours in Christ,
Mark

We in Perth are past Bing and Perry - I think we’re a club for people who like the Carpenters.

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

It’s not worth it! Consider a life of drug abuse first!

Ummm
If you hadn’t worked it out.
The previous post was me.

[quote author="Owen Atkins"]Ummm
If you hadn’t worked it out.
The previous post was me.

I have used my Jedi powers to make sure that everyone now knows.

Yours in Christ,
Mark

[quote author="Mark Tough"]G’day,

Well done to Peter Denham who made his debut speech last night!!! I’m still waiting for the right moment (was denied last year by a motion to end a debate).

Yours in Christ,
Mark

What a great debut question and then contribution tonight…

I am impressed Mr Tough. (It is cool to say that, although I don’t want to get confused with another Peter on here).

I have used my Jedi powers to make sure that everyone now knows.

Whoa man, don’t go there! Those Jedi Knights are Tough!!

So, what did you ask Toughers?

[quote author="Mark Tough"]G’day,

Well done to Peter Denham who made his debut speech last night!!! I’m still waiting for the right moment (was denied last year by a motion to end a debate).

Yours in Christ,
Mark

And now he’s started, Peter contributed well again tonight.  And Mark took his chance too with helpful contributions.
I had intended to move an amendment to a motion on the business paper; as soon as I arrived I went to Robert Wicks with my amendment, only to find that the mover had got together with another person who wished to amend it and between them they had rewritten the motion to cover what I wanted to say so my amendment would have been superfluous; the great thing is that it now says what I wanted it to say.  The Synod will have to wait for another day (and more likely another year) to hear my contribution!  I’m sure it will survive.

[quote author="michael jensen"]So, what did you ask Toughers?

G’day Michael,

I hope that you’re well. I asked why the Diocesan Education Policy required an affirmation of the Christian faith from Council Members but not teachers. I then made a speech in response to the answer I received arguing that Christian schools purporting to teach a Christian worldview need to have Christian teachers.

Yours in Christ,
Mark

P.S. It was good to meet you last night Jean.

I enjoyed the discussions re Anglican education last night; a lot of questions and statements revolved around the statement of faith, and to be honest I think that the schools that don’t require it from their board AND teachers just aren’t trying hard enough.  I’m on the board of a SASC school, and I had to sign such a statement, and so do all of our teachers.  When the school started in 1998, we were overwhelmed with applications from overtly Christian (of many denominations) applicants; a few years ago, our head master commented at a board meeting that he feared that we would soon be in the position where we would have to choose between a very good teacher, or a Christian teacher, we would not be able to get a very good teacher who was a Christian.  That day has fortunately not arrived as yet.  From time to time, the head master will suspect that the persons faith is not as sincere as they would have him believe, but they certainly say all the right things and they happily sign the statement of faith (introducing the statement of faith as a requirement for boards and/or staff would not change this!).
At a SASC conference a few years ago, some of the heads and boards (mainly of older schools) stated that they don’t require that their staff be Christian or make a statement of faith, because it would make it impossible to get good staff; virtually all of the people from the newer schools disagreed.
What does everyone else think?

Well from my observation from my time working at an older school, it was really hard to find especially Maths teachers who fit the profile we were after. Though the school wanted to have Christian staff, it also had an obligation to the parents to provide them with teachers who were qualified. Not as easy as it sounds.