Fostering HOPE
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BI-MONTHLY MAGAZINE OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN THE STATE OF NEW SOUTH WALES AND THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY Fostering HOPE: A poignant story of how God works to change lives DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: THE CHURCH RESPONDS THREE PAGES OF NEWS FROM OUR CHURCHES REPORTS FROM THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY NEWS FROM APWM, JERICHO ROAD, PY “GLORIFYING AND ENJOYING GOD AS CHRIST-LIKE COMMUNITIES TRANSFORMING OUR NEIGHBOURHOODS, OUR NATION AND OUR WORLD.“ SEPT - OCT 2017 EDITORIAL Bi-monthly magazine of The Presbyterian Church in the State of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. Editorial WITH JEOF FALLS PUBLISHER: THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (New South Wales) Property Trust EDITOR IN CHIEF: JEOFFREY FALLS [email protected] EDITOR/JOURNALIST: KAREN FORMAN 0437 591 581 [email protected] PROOF READER (HON): BETTY THOMPSON CHANGES APPRECIATION CIRCULATION: SUZANNE JENSEN I am pleased to introduce some I am always deeply appreciative (02) 9690 9311 changes to the Pulse, and look and thank our God for those who [email protected] forward to hearing your feedback. selflessly serve Him over many years, as you will have read in my DESIGN: Firstly, the Pulse is shorter, be- previous editorials. BEN DAVIS ing 20 pages rather than the 28 On page six you will find a small ar- www.benrdavis.com to 32 pages of recent editions. The ticle on the Annual Assembly Bowls [email protected] reason is based on feedback from Tournament, including the announcement readers, and a desire to ensure that our that long serving secretary, Mr Doug Bennetts PRINTING: readers find articles and information of OAM, has retired after 40 years. I have known WHITE HORSE DIGITAL interest to them, without having to read Doug for many years from Epping Presbyterian through many pages. Church, where he has been attending church for DISTRIBUTION: 91 years. Yes, at the age of 96 years Doug is as SMART MAIL Secondly, we are providing more space sharp as ever and has become the Patron for the for stories and news items from congre- tournament. It was a pleasure to join him and his fellow bowlers for lunch at their tournament Registered by Australia Post gations, which hopefully will provide new ideas for fellowship and outreach. If your on the opening day of the Assembly on July 3. PP2455550/00020 congregation has tried something new They are keen for new bowlers to join them or revitalised something from the past, The Pulse is an internal publication of the in a day that is challenging in accuracy but Presbyterian Church of Australia in New please tell us. We are committed to shar- relaxed in good spirit and fellowship. Enjoy South Wales and the Australian Capital Ter- ing great initiatives across congregations retirement Doug! ritory. We do not accept paid advertising. that encourage others to get to know and The Pulse is a forum for sharing ideas and to place their trust in Jesus. STOP PRESS! encouraging outreach to our local commu- nities, our nation, and the world. Thirdly, on the next page you will read The Presbyterian Church is opposed to the two statements about domestic violence, proposed redefinition of marriage, for rea- GENERAL MANAGER: one being a pastoral statement from our sons that we outlined in two Pulse editions JEOFFREY FALLS new Moderator for 2017-18, David Burke. in May and July last year. These arise from a recent ABC 7:30 Report. As a result of recent announcements by the STATE MODERATOR: Federal Government, I refer you to a state- DAVID BURKE The Pulse is an important communication ment on page six from the Moderator-Gen- media for issues affecting the Church and eral, John Wilson, asking you to vote, and 168 Chalmers St its members. We believe it is important for to vote no to change. Surry Hills NSW 2010 the Church to stand in the public square PO Box 2196 and affirm our position on a range of mat- In His service, Strawberry Hills NSW 2012 ters affecting the world in which we live. Jeof Phone: 1300 773 774 Fax: (02) 9310 2148 Email: [email protected] www.pcnsw.org.au SNAPSHOT of our church today presented The views and opinions expressed in The to the General Assembly: Presbyterian Pulse do not necessarily rep- resent those of the Presbyterian Church of • 12000 members regularly attend about 170 active congregations; Australia in the State of NSW (Church) and • 4500 students hear about Jesus across eight schools; the Church is not responsible for the ac- • 1000 young people and 300 leaders attend Presbyterian Youth camps curacy, currency or reliability of any advice, opinion, statement or other information each year; contained therein. • 800 residential aged care clients and about 800 home care clients are served by 750 full-time, part-time and casual employees; Cover: As we mark Foster Care Week from • 400 students study at Christ College, of whom 130 are studying at least September 10-16, Allowah’s Executive Di- rector of Nursing Scott and his wife Leeanne one Timothy Partnership subject; and celebrate their foster daughter, Jane. Lee- • 400 scripture teachers talk about Jesus in public schools. anne is pictured with Jane while Scott took the photograph. 2 The 2Pulse THE PULSE NEWS Domestic violence: Our response BY JOHN MCCLEAN A story on domestic violence among The Presbyterian Church was mentioned in It affirms that “The model of love in the Christians on theABC website and on the first story under the catch-all phrase of Bible is Jesus' suffering for others, the very TV’s 7.30 Report on July 19 triggered an ‘evangelical Christians’. opposite of abuse” that “any attempt to use the Bible’s teaching as a pretext for abuse is avalanche of responses. Many side issues emerged on subsequent a distortion of its message.” days. Some commentators and individuals The report, headlined “Submit to your hus- accused the ABC of anti-Christian bias. The same Assembly adopted clear guide- bands”: Women told to endure domestic Others defended the ABC. lines for dealing with domestic violence as violence in the name of God, was based on part of Breaking the Silence. All ministers, US research, which subsequent commen- In response to increasingly divisive points elders and ministry leaders are familiar tary both supported and challenged. of view, the ABC made the following state- with this material from regular training. ment on July 21: The introduction to the ABC story said: A follow up story from the ABC noted the “Theology professor Steven Tracy is one Presbyterian response. “Research shows that the men most likely to of, if not the most authoritative and wide- abuse their wives are evangelical Christians ly cited voice on this topic in America. We Anyone in a Presbyterian church facing do- who attend church sporadically. Church lead- do not have the figures for Australia, as mestic violence or abuse should seek help from ers in Australia say they abhor abuse of any pointed out in the piece. We also pointed their minister or elders, from a trusted friend kind. But advocates say the church is not just out that regular church attendance made at church, or from the Conduct Protocol Unit. failing to sufficiently address domestic vio- men less likely to be violent. Again, this lence, it is both enabling and concealing it.” has all been included in the reporting.” The full statement on domestic violence can be found on the Church website (pcnsw. Because of the number of Christian denom- In 2015, the NSW Presbyterian Church org.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Do- made a statement about domestic violence mestic-Violence-Statement-July-2015.pdf). inations, the story was a ‘catch-all’, but the making it clear that God was opposed to main focus of the research was that men abuse and violence in the family and that He Breaking the Silence information and re- who identified as evangelical Christians (but particularly warned husbands to be consid- sources can be found at www.breakingthe- who did not attend church regularly) were erate to their wives and treat them with re- silence.org.au or by contacting the CPU on involved in a high rate of domestic violence. spect (Ephesians 5:28–30; 1 Peter 3:7). (02) 9690 9325. A pastoral statement We have a duty to protect, care and give re- domestic violence or abuse have any justifi- assurance to victims and potential victims. cation in Christian teaching. from the Moderator Church should be a place where they feel safe and know that they will be helped. Please talk confidentially with your pastor, or, on domestic violence if appropriate, contact Jericho Road directly. We have a duty to protect church members BY REV DAVID BURKE from those whom the Bible describes as We are here for you. wolves (Acts 20:29) and who would harm It is a sad fruit of the God’s people. PERPETRATORS AND POTENTIAL Fall that close domestic PERPETRATORS relationships such as We have a duty to challenge perpetrators marriage and family can about their behaviour, to call them to con- Hear us clearly: there is zero tolerance for fession and repentance and to offer them your abusive behaviour. We flatly reject any be marred by domestic help to change their ways. violence and that church- attempt to use the Bible or Christian teach- es can be implicated or ing as an excuse or justification for domes- Let us teach all that the Bible says about do- tic violence or abuse. Your abuse is never in DAVID BURKE involved in this. mestic relationships according to God’s de- sign.