|PIC1|The President of the NSW Council of Churches, Deaconess Margaret Rodgers, chaired proceedings and the Parliamentary host, the Rev. Hon Fred Nile MLC welcomed those present, adding that Parliament House was a fitting venue for such a Memorial Lecture to someone who was not afraid to tackle members of Parliament on many issues, the Rev Bernard G.Judd.
The Secretary, Rev Bruce Thornton OAM presented the apologies, prior to Mr Ray Hoekzema of the Christian Reformed churches, opening in prayer.
Rev John Edmondstone OAM spoke of the ministry and forthrightness of the Rev Bernard G.Judd from his personal involvement with him in the Religious Department of Radio Station 2CH. (CDs of Rev Bernard Judd's comments on history are still heard on 2CH and are available from Rev Edmondstone: johnhed@pnc.com.au)
Dr Stephen Judd is the Chief Executive of HammondCare, an independent caring agency that works with all denominations, but is not owned by any. "This enables us to be flexible and means that we are able to move anywhere to meet identified need. We are also innovative in our approach to aged care and in the services we provide – we seek to lead rather than follow."
Dr Judd commented: "This is the 3rd Bernard Judd Memorial Lecture. Now, you might be wondering what a Bernard Judd Memorial Lecture looks like. Me too! I found a clue by checking out the two previous lectures. In 2005 Archbishop Peter Jensen gave the first Lecture on "The Protestant Conscience". In that first lecture Jensen said "Evangelism remains our first social duty ... if you love your community and your nation ... a revival of the gospel remains its most pressing need.
"In the second lecture, in 2007, the Reverend Tim Costello spoke on "Evangelicalism and Politics" and reminded us of the active and reforming engagement in politics of William Wilberforce in the Eighteenth Century. Costello argued for a strong and uncompromising advocacy by evangelicals in a world where human trafficking is rife and children are dying daily of easily preventable diseases. Costello concluded: "the great challenge for us as 21st Century Evangelicals is to look afresh at our faith and ask what the Lord does indeed require of us.
"So, one of your previous lecturers has spoken about the pre-eminence of Evangelism; the other of social action. Which is it to be? Evangelism or social action? Given the name of this Lecture, I feel I should ask: How would Bernard Judd have answered that question? Well, he was of the view that 'gospel and Christian social service were the two oars that powered the Christian life'. Jesus in his lifetime preached the gospel AND healed the sick.
"Jesus did not do one or the other: he did both. Bernard rejected the idea that these two ideas were mutually exclusive: continuing the idea of the Kingdom of God as a rowing boat with two oars, it was essential, he said, to pull on both oars, not one alone, unless you wanted simply to go around in circles."
Dr Stephen Judd spoke on "The provision of social service in Australia and the role of Christian charities"; "The Nationalisation of Compassion"; "The first challenge: Government-charity relations"; "The Second Example: Government contracts"; "Finally, the issue of Advocacy"; "The Rudd Government and the COMPACT"; "The Second Challenge"; the Third Challenge:"The Challenge of Identity" and "WHO AND WHY: why does it matter?"
The "Third Bernard G.Judd Memorial Lecture", presented by his son, Dr Stephen Judd, was truly indicative of the man and his beliefs.
The full text of the lecture "Faith, hope, and charity" can be found on the NSW Council of Churches website: