Christian Today article “Uniting Church in Australia highlights less-uniting stance” from 30 August explained the theological and practical dispute of the evangelicals within the Uniting Church over the same-sex policy of the Uniting Church.
A huge conference was held last week of the Assembly of Confessing Congregations. Christian Today has been reliably informed there will not be a separation within the denomination, rather formative creative expressions of evangelical thought and practise.
Already the largest Queensland congregation within the Uniting Church, New Life Church in Robina (Gold Coast) have removed any image of the ‘formal’ Uniting Church in Australia. More to come.
Hillsong goes alone
Hillsong has formally left the ‘Australian Christian Churches’ so as to establish itself under Australian State law as its own ‘denomination’ similarly to other ‘main line denominations’.
Two thirds of the people attending Hillsong Church each weekend live in countries beyond Australia. Pastor Brian Houston explained – “There are pastoral staff in twenty-four nations around the world, representing 123 campuses and locations, with 263 different church services on any given weekend. We consider it to be 'One House, with many rooms.”
"For this reason, we are now registered by the Australian Department of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, as a recognized denomination with the ability to credential pastors in our own right. This recognition alleviates the issues that would occur if, for example, a concern arises that affects the credential of a Hillsong Church youth pastor in one of our campuses in Europe. The Australian ACC cannot be expected to have adequate information to address this issue or even know who the person is, let alone the resources to appropriately deal with the issue on a personal or pastoral level."
(This news information has come from Eternity magazine, The Christian Post, Christian Today Australia, and our Hillsong connects).
Former Governor General Bill Hayden
85 year old former Governor General Bill Hayden has been baptised. The Brisbane Catholic Leeder reported - “There’s been a gnawing pain in my heart and soul about what is the meaning of life. From this day forward I’m going to vouch for God.”
He was baptised and welcomed into the Church at St Mary’s Church, Ipswich, west of Brisbane on September 9. He had witnessed “so many selfless acts of compassion by Christians over his lifetime, and deep contemplation while recovering from a stroke,” - that prompted his decision.
The history of Bill Hayden, originally a Queensland policeman, succeeded Gough Whitlam as leader of the ALP following a Labor defeat in the 1977 election. In 1983 he resigned as leader, making way for Bob Hawke who went on to win the election. Hayden’s classic statement - he could have won, as a “drover’s dog” could lead the ALP to victory – remains as one of the iconic Australian political statements.
(This news information has come from News.com, Eternity, The Australian, Eternity magazine)
Ramon Williams - a documentary movie
Christian Today has run quite a number of feature articles on the astonishing Christian media ministry of Ramon Williams – earlier this year we ran such an article on 19 February – “Ramon Williams the Lion of Christian media medically retires”
Now Ramon Williams has been invited by Richard Attieh, of the Australian Television and Media Group, to have a documentary movie made of his life and ministry. In short for well over 55 years Ramon Williams has photographed and distributed Christian media across the world with the theme being - “Telling others what the Lord has done”. End.
Christian Today invites “Christian news” for this regular space.
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He mentors young writers and has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children. Dr Tronson writes a daily article for Christian Today Australia (since 2008) and in November 2016 established Christian Today New Zealand.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html