Presbyterian Church of Australia

Moderator's Comments Documents & Links Who is Jesus? Safe Church

Debate or theatre?

Moderator's Comments - Posted 1 March 2018

I love our political process and I love the freedom we have in Australia to engage in it. There are many places in the world where old men cling to power without regard to the people. By comparison, Australia’s democratic governance is transparent, consultative and accountable.

Mind you, it’s not always easy to understand what’s going on: is it debate or charade, argument or theatre? Last month I represented the Presbyterian Church of Australia in Canberra, pleased at how our MPs make themselves available to speak with us when we press them (admittedly, through minders at first). It’s a privilege to exchange ideas with MPs, to raise our concerns, to engage debate. The conundrum, though, is the theatre of the “bear pit”, heightened by the daily ritual of Question Time. Reasoned argument and meaningful debate are excluded from this hour and a half spectacle.

Under strict medical circumstances

Moderator's Comments - Posted 31 October 2017

(John and Paula Wilson are leading the reformation tour on behalf of our denomination, in John's absence past Moderator General, David Cook writes this month's column).

When abortion law reform was introduced through Australian State Parliaments in the 1970's, it was done so, 'under strict medical circumstances'.
Most of us believed this was a necessary reform and that probably there were valid grounds for 1 or 2000 abortions each year in Australia. That figure has now grown to 180000 to 200000 abortions each year!

I am now hearing the same argument for the proposed introduction of legislation allowing the termination of adult life, 'under strict medical circumstances'.

The Presbyterian Church of Australia offers this package of three church history videos to assist your church

The Presbyterian Church of Australia offers this package of three church history videos to assist your church – particularly in its small-group ministries – to help celebrate the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s posting of his 95 Theses, and the subsequent Protestant Reformation … 31 October 1517.

There are three consecutive video sessions (each lasting about 50 min) followed by suggested discussion questions. Ideally, they’ll be of most benefit during the last two weeks of October and the first of November, but they’ll be available for as long as they are being used. Our prayer is that this might be a means of blessing for many people in our churches and that also it might promote a sense of unity across the PCA, as in our home group meeting we realise that other home groups in different places might be doing likewise.

Synopsis:

Why the Reformation still matters - a three-fold exploration of some of the principles of the 16th century Reformation

Martin Luther - (1) the struggle in his heartScripture: Romans 1:7-17

How the Reformation brought clarity regarding how we’re clothed with God’s righteousness – an alien righteousness of God declared as a gift, as distinct from where Luther had come from … a background of earned merit to appease an angry God by doing good and filling up on grace delivered by the church. We close with application on how we feel about ourselves and our sense of worth before God, and how we too can be right with God.

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You can download this video by visiting the website and selecting 'Download' from below the video. This is a large file. We recommend that you use a high speed connection only for downloading.

Martin Luther - (2) the struggle against his churchScripture: 2 Timothy 3:10-17

Moving from soul struggle to church trouble, and Luther’s break with Rome. A look at what 31 October marks as a 500th anniversary this year, and what all the fuss is about. What’s the significance of his posting 95 theses on the chapel door, and what his first major arguments and debates with church officials were all about (i.e. his famous stands at Leipzig and then Worms). Overall, the theme is another great principle of Reformation: how do we trust the words of Scripture and why? i.e. bouncing off Luther’s: ‘A simple layman armed with the Scriptures is superior to both Pope and Councils.’ The application will ask questions about our trust in Scripture and our willingness to let the truths and principles of Scripture change and rule our life, because they are the very words of God.

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You can download this video by visiting the website and selecting 'Download' from below the video. This is a large file. We recommend that you use a high speed connection only for downloading.

John Calvin - developing the church’s theologyScripture: Acts 2:38-47; 1 Tim 3:14-16

Shifting from first generation reformers to the second, and to Calvin’s special contribution. Overall, the theme is another great principle of Reformation: the church - what do we view as the true church of Christ and why? i.e. bouncing off Calvin’s grand objectives in writing his 1536 Institutes: ‘(a) To convince the King of France that evangelicals were not heretics but rather they were the true church, and (b) to build up the church by the simple teaching of the doctrines of faith.’ The application will ask questions about our view of the church, the value of belonging to such and our willingness to let true gospel preaching of the church and the fellowship of the church edify us in godliness (Calvin’s great aim).

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You can download this video by visiting the website and selecting 'Download' from below the video. This is a large file. We recommend that you use a high speed connection only for downloading.

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How do I run this video from my laptop to display it on my TV … what do I need?

John P Wilson (Moderator-General)

Presbyterian Church of Australia