How can I be successful when nothing is going right?
Monthly Archives: October 2016
Hope for all the world
Can Jesus bring peace and justice?
Inside Israel Oct 2016
Letters To God
Two times every year, the Israeli post delivers special letters to Jerusalem’s Western Wall. The Western Wall is the outer support wall from the original Temple, a holy site for Jews as well as Christians. It is also the site where the Dome of the Rock stands – a holy site for Muslims. These letters arrive from all over the world addressed to “God,” “Our Heavenly Father,” and “the Holy One.” Rabbis stuff them into the cracks in between the stones of the wall. During the Jewish High Holiday season, these letters are respectfully treated, as they contain prayers and concerns from people.
http://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Letters-to-God-delivered-to-Western-Wall-468324
Please pray for those who sent these letters that they would find their answers and comfort in the One who has saved and delivered us from sin – Jesus the Messiah!
Remembering Shimon Peres
Shimon Peres, Israel’s ninth president, passed away at the age of 93. He was the last of the founding fathers of Israel, having served in the government since the 1950s, even being mentored as David Ben Gurion’s political protégé. He was born in Poland and immigrated to Israel when he was 11, in 1934. Before studying at New York University and Harvard in the 1950s, he was a part of the Haganah in 1947, as leader of defense acquisitions in Israel’s newly developing army. During his political career, he served in almost every major post of Israel’s leadership including Defense Minister, ForeignMinisterand Education Minister. In 1994, he received the Nobel peace prize along with Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat for their diplomatic achievements in the Oslo Peace Accords. After Rabin’s assassination in 1995, Shimon Peres became the acting Prime Minister for two years. From then on, he continued to be elected to different Knesset portfolios until 2007, when he became Israel’s ninth president – an office he held until 2014. He was married for 75 years and he and his late wife have three children.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4854441,00.html
Please pray for Shimon Peres’ family as they mourn his loss.
Palestinian President Abbas Attended Peres’ Funeral
After months of not talking and a stalled peace process, the Palestinians extended an olive branch when President Mahmoud Abbas attended Shimon Peres’ funeral along with some of his deputies. Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas had a few words and shook hands. President Abbas commended Shimon Peres and described him as a partner in peace along withYassar Arafat and Yitzhak Rabin. He also recognized Shimon Peres’ efforts to forge a sustainable peace between Israelis and Palestinians since the signing of the Oslo Accords until the final moments of his life.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4861448,00.html
Please pray for more opportunities for discussion and ideas for the peace process.
The World’s Oldest Bar Mitzvah
The world’s oldest man, Yisrael Kristal, has just had his Bar Mitzvah at the age of 113. He missed his opportunity to be Bar Mitzvah at the correct age of 13 because of World War I. He survived the Holocaust where he lost his first wife and two children, and then immigrated to Israel in 1950 with his second wife and now has numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. This special ceremony is normally to mark the coming of age of a young man at 13, but for Yisrael Kristal, it demonstrated his love for God’s word, which he has had all his life.
http://edition.cnn.com/2016/10/02/middleeast/bar-mitzvah-oldest-man/index.html
Please pray for many, like Yisrael Kristal, who lost so much during the Holocaust, that they would see God’s love and salvation in Jesus – the best gift of all.
The High Holidays
During the Jewish High Holidays, Israel takes on a different feel—more signs of kindness, joy, and hospitality and yet for many people, they are wondering if God will be pleased with them and forgive their sins. Please pray with us during this season that many would hear about, read, speak and feel the gift of salvation that can be had by all. Jesus is the true forgiver of sins by His sacrifice and atonement for all. His blood covers our sins. We are working and praying hard for our ministries to reflect this message!
Can Your Church be Missional and Attractional?
This article reflects a tension with which many Baptist Churches grapple. Our BUV Mission Catalyst and Church Health & Capacity Development Teams exist to support Victorian Baptist Churches to be more missional.
Karina Kreminski had a conversation with a few friends recently where this dichotomy came up yet again; Can we be both missional and attractional?
It seems like this is still a question that practitioners are wrestling with and I think that is a good thing. It’s not a simple question to answer but here is an initial thought to start discussion.
To think about this, maybe we need to ask two things; firstly, what do you think is the purpose of the church? Secondly, how would you then organise the church around this purpose?
To answer the first question, we need to think about who God is since he is the creator of the church and establishes the purpose. God is purposeful, intentional and missional. This is because God is love and the love of God always extends outwards rather than focuses in on itself. God created a world, people and gave them a mission; to take care of and steward the earth. God called one man, Abraham, to be a blessing to the families of the earth. We also see that God creates a nation, Israel to be a light to the nations. Ultimately God revealed his missionary heart when he came to us in the form of a human, for the sake of the world. And now, God has called a group of people who are in Christ, called out of darkness into his light in order to proclaim the marvellous and might deeds of God. This is the church. Mission seems then, to be not a compartment but an essential quality in God and we can even see this missionary nature like a thread woven in the story of God as portrayed in the bible.
Missional is not a fad word or a concept without theological weight. Biblical scholar Chris Wright in his magnum opus The Mission of God writes;
“The Bible renders to us the story of God’s mission through God’s people in their engagement with God’s world for the sake of the whole of God’s creation. The Bible is the drama of this God of purpose engaged in the mission of achieving that purpose universally, embracing past, present and future, Israel and the nations, “life, the universe and everything”, and with its centre, focus, climax and completion in Jesus Christ. Mission is not just one of a list of things that the Bible happens to talk about, only a bit more urgently than some. Mission is, in that much- abused phrase, “what it’s all about”.
The church essentially then is the expression of a missionary God who defines his church. The church is the instrument that God uses to accomplish his mission. We are outward oriented rather than inward oriented.
That does not mean that we cannot be attractive.
There is nothing wrong with making sure that our church services are welcoming, our preaching is good and any programs that we run are helpful. There is nothing wrong with inviting people to come to our church gatherings and small groups. Christianity is supposed to be attractive. Jesus said that as we let our light shine through our good works people will glorify the Father (Matthew 5:16).
To answer the second question, how would we organise the church if we believe that its purpose is to be externally oriented? It means that we would make mission the “organising principle” of the church. It means that our goal is not our own edification but everything we are and do is for the sake of others because we reflect a missionary God.
So all of our attractive programs, events and activities must be organised around this purpose. Our gatherings have the purpose of encouraging and equipping God’s people to be on his mission. Our gatherings, while they bring us comfort must never simply rest there. George Hunsberger, another theological heavyweight, puts this well;
“The church is the bearer to all the nations of a gospel that announces the kingdom, the reign and the sovereignty of God…it is not meant to call men and women out of the world into a safe religious enclave but to call them out in order to send them back as agents of God’s kingship”
So missional does not marginalise the church gathering, however, it does reorient the purpose of the gathering. We gather in order to be sent back out into the world. It is never solely for our benefit. So if we the church ask people to “come to us” it is for the purpose ultimately, of sending people out again into the world to live for the sake of others as Jesus did.
However, if our primary identity and function as the Church is for the sake of church members, we have a problem. If most people are primarily searching for a church to belong to which has good preaching, an attractive worship style and effective programs, rather than primarily a place where discipleship for the sake of others is practiced, we are in trouble. This sadly shows perhaps that the false narrative of consumerism threading our culture is still trumping the narrative of the reign of God which tells a story of cruciformity, radical discipleship and service for the sake of others.
Our responsibility as church leaders is not to pick paradigms, structures and models that are pragmatic, give “results” or make people comfortable, though these things are not always contrary to the reign of God. We are not owners but stewards of God’s church, so as a leader it’s worth wrestling with those two questions;
What do you think is essentially the purpose or nature of the church? Secondly, how would you then organise the church around this purpose?
This article is by Karina Kreminski and appeared on her blog. It is reposted with permission. You can read more from Karina here https://www.facebook.com/karinakreminski1/
Can Your Church be Missional and Attractional?
This article reflects a tension with which many Baptist Churches grapple. Our BUV Mission Catalyst and Church Health & Capacity Development Teams exist to support Victorian Baptist Churches to be more missional.
Karina Kreminski had a conversation with a few friends recently where this dichotomy came up yet again; Can we be both missional and attractional?
It seems like this is still a question that practitioners are wrestling with and I think that is a good thing. It’s not a simple question to answer but here is an initial thought to start discussion.
To think about this, maybe we need to ask two things; firstly, what do you think is the purpose of the church? Secondly, how would you then organise the church around this purpose?
To answer the first question, we need to think about who God is since he is the creator of the church and establishes the purpose. God is purposeful, intentional and missional. This is because God is love and the love of God always extends outwards rather than focuses in on itself. God created a world, people and gave them a mission; to take care of and steward the earth. God called one man, Abraham, to be a blessing to the families of the earth. We also see that God creates a nation, Israel to be a light to the nations. Ultimately God revealed his missionary heart when he came to us in the form of a human, for the sake of the world. And now, God has called a group of people who are in Christ, called out of darkness into his light in order to proclaim the marvellous and might deeds of God. This is the church. Mission seems then, to be not a compartment but an essential quality in God and we can even see this missionary nature like a thread woven in the story of God as portrayed in the bible.
Missional is not a fad word or a concept without theological weight. Biblical scholar Chris Wright in his magnum opus The Mission of God writes;
“The Bible renders to us the story of God’s mission through God’s people in their engagement with God’s world for the sake of the whole of God’s creation. The Bible is the drama of this God of purpose engaged in the mission of achieving that purpose universally, embracing past, present and future, Israel and the nations, “life, the universe and everything”, and with its centre, focus, climax and completion in Jesus Christ. Mission is not just one of a list of things that the Bible happens to talk about, only a bit more urgently than some. Mission is, in that much- abused phrase, “what it’s all about”.
The church essentially then is the expression of a missionary God who defines his church. The church is the instrument that God uses to accomplish his mission. We are outward oriented rather than inward oriented.
That does not mean that we cannot be attractive.
There is nothing wrong with making sure that our church services are welcoming, our preaching is good and any programs that we run are helpful. There is nothing wrong with inviting people to come to our church gatherings and small groups. Christianity is supposed to be attractive. Jesus said that as we let our light shine through our good works people will glorify the Father (Matthew 5:16).
To answer the second question, how would we organise the church if we believe that its purpose is to be externally oriented? It means that we would make mission the “organising principle” of the church. It means that our goal is not our own edification but everything we are and do is for the sake of others because we reflect a missionary God.
So all of our attractive programs, events and activities must be organised around this purpose. Our gatherings have the purpose of encouraging and equipping God’s people to be on his mission. Our gatherings, while they bring us comfort must never simply rest there. George Hunsberger, another theological heavyweight, puts this well;
“The church is the bearer to all the nations of a gospel that announces the kingdom, the reign and the sovereignty of God…it is not meant to call men and women out of the world into a safe religious enclave but to call them out in order to send them back as agents of God’s kingship”
So missional does not marginalise the church gathering, however, it does reorient the purpose of the gathering. We gather in order to be sent back out into the world. It is never solely for our benefit. So if we the church ask people to “come to us” it is for the purpose ultimately, of sending people out again into the world to live for the sake of others as Jesus did.
However, if our primary identity and function as the Church is for the sake of church members, we have a problem. If most people are primarily searching for a church to belong to which has good preaching, an attractive worship style and effective programs, rather than primarily a place where discipleship for the sake of others is practiced, we are in trouble. This sadly shows perhaps that the false narrative of consumerism threading our culture is still trumping the narrative of the reign of God which tells a story of cruciformity, radical discipleship and service for the sake of others.
Our responsibility as church leaders is not to pick paradigms, structures and models that are pragmatic, give “results” or make people comfortable, though these things are not always contrary to the reign of God. We are not owners but stewards of God’s church, so as a leader it’s worth wrestling with those two questions;
What do you think is essentially the purpose or nature of the church? Secondly, how would you then organise the church around this purpose?
This article is by Karina Kreminski and appeared on her blog. It is reposted with permission. You can read more from Karina here https://www.facebook.com/karinakreminski1/
Source: BUV News
News Update – 13 October – Homosexuality, Islam, Discrimination, Domestic Violence, Abortion and Persecution
News Update – 13 October – Homosexuality, Islam, Discrimination, Domestic Violence, Abortion and Persecution
On a wide range of topics this week…
Jenny
_________________________
News Update – 13 October
Australian News
1. Victoria gives ‘multicultural funding’ to LGBTIQA+ groups
2. Polls shows Australians concerned about the rise of Islamic ‘extremism’
3. Legal fund established to defend Christians against claims of ‘discrimination’
4. Two teenagers arrested in Sydney on terrorism charges
5. Senator Abetz: Speech at the Hobart launch of David van Gend’s book
6. Domestic violence – Sen Leyonhjelm questions expenditure and focus
7. Bills in Victoria
8. Senate passes CFA legislation
Overseas News
1. Abortion – being exposed to the facts beings revelation
2. USA: Chief Justice Roy Moore suspended for actions on same-sex ‘marriage’
News Update – 13 October
Australian News
1. Victoria gives ‘multicultural funding’ to LGBTIQA+ groups
The Victorian Labor government has announced that they will give more than $500,000 in funding to nine “culturally diverse” LGBTI groups. This is the first time that grants to LGBTIQA+ groups have been specifically provided under a ‘multicultural banner’. It seems like the Andrews government is trying to find even more ‘reasons’ to provide funding to a greater number of homosexual groups!
The government’s Media Release said, “The LGBTI Multicultural grants – the first of their kind in Australia – will be managed through the Community Harmony Grant and Capacity Building and Participation programs and will help unite and educate the community to allow all Victorians, of all backgrounds, achieve their full potential.”
See how the Ministers tried to link ‘religious and cultural diversity’ with ‘sexuality and gender’ diversity…
The Minister for Multicultural Affairs said, “Sexual and gender diversity is found amongst people of all faiths and backgrounds, and just as we respect and celebrate cultural and religious diversity, we respect the diversity of gender and sexuality in our community.”
The Minister for Equality, Martin Foley, said, “Strong communities should value and celebrate a range of differences. There should be no barrier to diverse genders and sexualities being counted and celebrated as part of our diverse multicultural community.”
The groups to receive funding include “Muslims for Progressive Values, La Trobe University, North Richmond Community Health Centre, the Greek Welfare Society (PRONIA), the Australian GLBTQ Multicultural Council, Switchboard Victoria, Drummond Street Services, Marhaba and Joy FM.”
Some of the groups to receive funding aren’t particularly ‘multicultural’ – including the homosexual radio station Joy FM! We’d also ask what part of Latrobe University is receiving funding. Is it the group that Roz Ward works for? The Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society is the group that already receives government funding for ‘research’ and running ‘Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria’!
Government Media Release: Supporting Culturally Diverse LGBTI Victorians
Article: Victorian LGBTI groups receive $500,000 in funding, Gay News Network, 5/10/2016.
2. Polls shows Australians concerned about the rise of Islamic ‘extremism’
The Australian National University conducted a poll in July – the poll found that “71 per cent of Australians were ‘very concerned’ or ‘somewhat concerned’ about the rise of Islamic extremism in Australia”.
One of the authors, Director of the ANU Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies Professor Amin Saikal, said that heightened discussion about terrorism under PM Tony Abbott contributed to the result. He also said that ‘issues such as Islamic extremism, terrorism and Islamist ideologies had been used interchangeably and blur the line between violence and terrorism.’
He said people conflated the ideas of extremism and terrorism: “While many Australians fear terrorist attacks and a majority are prepared to compromise their individual rights and freedoms in favour of living in security, they have at the same time conflated terrorism with extremism and have not been able to make a clear distinction between the two.”
Yet the “survey said 55 per cent of respondents were ‘not at all concerned’ or ‘not very concerned’ about being the victim of a terrorist attack.” Around 70% of respondents said “that the country’s Muslims should not be subject to additional scrutiny simply because of their religion.’
It seems that the respondents DID distinguish between ‘extremism’ and ‘terrorism’!
Article: ‘We are not being swamped by anyone’, says Shorten after poll shows majority fear Islamic extremism, SBS, 10/10/2016.
Article: Australia not being swamped by anyone, Sky News, 10/10/2016.
3. Legal fund established to defend Christians against claims of ‘discrimination’
In the USA, the Alliance Defending Freedom assists in defending people against claims of discrimination when they act according to conscience. ADF was actually formed back in January 1994 by a group of 30 Christian leaders from a wide range of Christian organisations, including James Dobson, James Kennedy, Marlin Maddoux, and Bill Bright. See here and here.
In the UK, Christina Concern provide similar legal support to people who are facing legal challenges on faith and conscience issues.
A new group has been set up in Australia, called the “Human Rights Law Alliance” which will help people who have claims of discrimination against them – like the florist or baker who refuse to do flower arrangements or bake a cake for a ‘same-sex wedding’.
The new group has been set up by ACL, and Martin Iles is running the new group. The Australian reported on the group in early September, and Martin said the new group had a ‘soft launch’ in April 2016. The Age just seems to have caught up – running an article this week, delving more into the background of the group, and its relationship and funding arrangements with ACL.
The Human Rights Law Alliance has a website – click here.
One point made by Martin is that “unfortunately, the human rights law centres are part of the problem”. As we’ve repeatedly reported, those centres are taking cases based on enforcing the anti-discrimination laws, not supporting freedom as a whole, and then do not assist the people who are defending themselves against those complaints!
Article: Christian fighting fund to bankroll legal action for same-sex marriage objectors, The Age, 5/10/2016.
Article: Human Rights Law Alliance formed to fight for essential freedoms, The Australian, 2/9/2016.
4. Two teenagers arrested in Sydney on terrorism charges
The ABC reports, “Two 16-year-old boys facing terrorism-related charges after their arrest in Sydney yesterday have been refused bail, with NSW Police saying they were about to commit an Islamic State inspired attack.
“The teenagers were arrested by the NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team at Bankstown in Sydney yesterday, in the lane behind a Muslim prayer hall. They were found in possession of two large bayonet-style knives, bought earlier that day, and religious notes that allegedly pledged allegiance to Islamic State.”
“One of the boys is the son of a convicted terrorist, the ABC understands. The pair did not appear in Parramatta Children’s Court this morning and did not apply for bail, and it was formally refused. They are due to return to court in December, unless they apply for bail before then….”
Article: Terrorism-related charges laid against 16-year-olds after Sydney arrest, ABC, 13/10/2016.
5. Senator Abetz: Speech at the Hobart launch of David van Gend’s book
Senator Eric Abetz gave an excellent speech at the Hobart launch of David van Gend’s book, Stealing from a Child: The Injustice of ‘Marriage Equality’ on 7th October.
You can read Eric’s speech online…
After noting that every sentence in the book is ‘meaty’ and is worth underlining, Eric stated, “In David van Gend’s masterful work, “Stealing from a Child – The Injustice of ‘Marriage Equality’”, we are treated to a tour de force which steps through an issue of current media interest with genuine sensitivity combined with unassailable hard evidentiary support which comprehensively debunks the glibness, the shallowness, and the hollowness of the case which seeks to deconstruct our society’s foundational institution – an institution which pre-existed the nation-state, parliaments and courts – an institution which has the same basic components of father, mother and child in all cultures, be it our own Judeo-Christian culture, the Indigenous culture, the Pacific Islander culture, or the Muslim world view.
“The threat to our society and the irreparable damage to the next generation are well set out, in language easy to understand, and backed up with 463 footnotes. Those 463 footnotes highlight the depth of reading and research undertaken by our author. Those 463 footnotes provide the support and underpinning to his 236 page treatise. …
Read the rest of his speech!
6. Domestic violence – Sen Leyonhjelm questions expenditure and focus
Senator Leyonhjelm has questioned the money spent, and the focus of the actual programs, on dealing with ‘domestic violence.
Senator Leyonhjelm planned to ask questions about the spending at Senate Estimates hearings.
He is concerned that the domestic violence framework is based on an “ideologically-driven agenda which denies female participation in family violence, contrary to a vast body of research both here and overseas.”
Senator Leyonhjelm also criticised the ‘ever-expanding definitions’. He cited the ‘announcement of new domestic violence guidelines for magistrates and judges released last week by Attorney General George Brandis. These include criticising a partner’s appearance or housework skills or even remaining silent’. He said, “The ludicrous, ever-expanding definitions of domestic violence make a mockery of this serious social problem.”
We regularly hear how the courts, including the Family Court, regularly take the woman’s side even when there is compelling evidence that the man is innocent and that abuse has been meted out by the woman.
We’ve also mentioned the ‘One in Three’ website, which shows academic research that finds one in three victims of domestic violence are men.
Article: Vested interests ‘have taken over domestic violence debate’: Leyonhjelm, Bettina Arndt, The Australian, 26/8/2016.
7. Bills in Victoria
As I write this, I haven’t heard there has been no news about whether the Legislative Council has considered either of the TWO Bills that we are concerned about.
One is a Bill to allow people to change the ‘Sex’ on their birth certificate, and also to allow them to use any ‘Gender description’ they choose. If passed, there would be NO requirement for sex reassignment surgery, or hormones or even counselling. The description could be changed every 12 months, and there would be no requirement for a married person to divorce before being allowed to legally change their sex on their birth certificate.
The second Bill is the one relating to the REMOVAL of exceptions for religious organisations and Christian schools that allow them to apply their Christian principles of faith and sexuality in employing people.
See our Latest email on contacting your FIVE Members in the Legislative Council, on these two issues, complete with contact details.
8. Senate passes CFA legislation
The Turnbull government has now passed the legislation, with the support of crossbenchers in the Senate, which restores some rights to volunteers in the Country Fire Authority in Victoria. This is about enabling volunteers to have some say, over a policy from the Andrews Labor government that put the unions and professional paid firefighters first.
“The changes will make it unlawful for enterprise agreements to “undermine” volunteers in favour of professional, unionised workers, as the United Firefighters Union was accused of doing in Victoria.”
Article: ‘A dark cloud has finally been lifted’: Country Fire Authority legislation passes Senate, The Age, SMH, 11/10/2016.
Overseas News
1. Abortion – being exposed to the facts beings revelation
Often when people really face the truth of an issue they can change their position.
This article by Ann McElhinney reveals how that change occurred for her.
Ann is a documentary film maker, along with Phelim McAleer – I have previously seen her film relating to global warming… so a film on abortion is not her regular sort of film.
Ann reveals how talking to people who had abortions and finding out what REALLY happens in an abortion shocked her and changed her view on the issue.
The film is about Kermit Gosnell, “who was convicted on three of the murder charges, 21 felony counts of illegal late-term abortion, and 211 counts of violating the 24-hour informed consent law, in May 2013.” (info on Ann and the film at Wikipedia.)
Article: Ann McElhinney – “Making a film about abortion in the US opened my eyes.”
From the email I received from the group:
“The article details some of the facts about abortion she has learned in making the Gosnell movie and writing the Gosnell book. The op/ed contains no opinion — just facts — horrific facts that many in the pro-choice lobby would rather not publicize. Please read and share and don’t forget to leave a comment in the Irish Times comment section.”
Ann spoke at the Pro-Life Campaign conference in Dublin on Saturday, Oct 8th. See details.
2. USA: Chief Justice Roy Moore suspended for actions on same-sex ‘marriage’
Over the years Chief Justice Roy Moore from Alabama has stood up for Christian principles. He previously refused to remove a Ten Commandments statue.
Now he has been suspended for the rest of his term, WITHOUT PAY, because of his position on same-sex ‘marriage’. . .
“A complaint was filed by the Alabama Judicial Inquiry Commission charging Moore with violating judicial ethics in issuing an order in January stating that probate judges in the state “have a ministerial duty not to issue” marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
“In a 50-page judgment Friday, two days after Moore appeared for a hearing in the case, Alabama’s Court of the Judiciary found him guilty of failing to comply with the law, uphold the integrity of the court and “perform the duties of his office impartially.”
Mat Staver, from Liberty Counsel, said, “To suspend Chief Justice Moore for the rest of his term is the same as removal. Staver said that because the commission lacked the votes to fully remove him, “the majority instead chose to ignore the law and the rules.”
In June, Roy Moore spoke at a public meeting about the case… “Welcome to the new world. It’s just changed for you Christians. You are going to be persecuted…”
Now he has seen the result of that persecution.
Mat Staver from Liberty Counsel has written a piece THIS WEEK about the exile of Chief Justice Roy Moore. He gives some key details of the case and some quotes – and announces that Chief Justice Roy Moore will APPEAL against the decision, with the FULL support of Liberty Counsel. [Final article – please read!]
Article: Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore suspended for defiance over same-sex marriage, Washington Post, 30/9/2016.
Article: Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore says Christians will be ‘persecuted’ after same-sex marriage ruling, Altoday, 29/6/2016.
Article: Chief Justice Moore: Exiled, Liberty Counsel, 10/10/2016.
Rich partnerships
How does Jesus help us to develop deep connections with people?
God’s solution to our problem
Does Jesus give us hope for the future?
Violence Against Women – Dowry Related Abuse
Our BUV is a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) union of churches. As we consider how we create safe spaces for those who are victims of Family Violence, we need to give special consideration to other cultures where particular customs and attitudes to women create environments of abuse.
The story below is by Dr Ree Bodde from ‘Think Prevent’ the Victorian Anglican initiative to combat and prevent Family Violence. Think Prevent is committed to being an active bystander against discrimination, sexism, sexual abuse and violence whether at home, on the sports field, at work, in houses of worship or out with friends, family, colleagues or workmates. You can learn more and find some great resources from Think Prevent here.
A Dinka (Southern Sudanese ethnic group) riddle poses that “If you were crossing a river with your cow and wife and there is danger of drowning and you can save only one of them, which one would you save? The answer is “that you save the cow because with it you can marry another woman.”
The practice of dowry (bride price) though seldom discussed, flourishes across certain cultures in Victoria and elsewhere in Australia. Dowry related abuse toward women and children is a problem that has existed for some time. Recently, law makers and practitioners have begun tackling this social problem impacting families and communities.
A Sudanese faith leader recently explained to me the logic that informs dowry “a daughter has been brought up by her family and is their source of income. The only property parents have is their daughter. You give away your daughter for dowry and then you are financially set,” he said.
Another spoke of a direct connection between dowry and domestic abuse. “In paying for dowry,” he said, “a wife is the husbands property and can beat her for not being good at chores, for answering back, asking for financial support.” He added, “wives under the dowry custom become a slave to the husband’s family, so that even if the husband dies, the wife cannot remarry without the consent of the husband’s family. "
In a visit to a South East Melbourne faith community earlier in the year, I was shocked and profoundly saddened to learn that 3 women had been murdered as a result of dowry-related violence over the last 5 years.
Some men’s willingness to break the silence about dowry-related abuse against women and girls is significant as it embodies the fundamental recognition that it is a problem overwhelmingly for which men are responsible.
Men have a moral obligation to change attitudes and behaviours that are negative towards women and girls. Specifically, that females are property and, replace these with norms of respect and equality.
While some men are part of the problem, all men are part of the solution.
Dowry and the ownership of women by men is not unique to South Sudanese culture. Indian women face similar issues, where this is common practice and where women and girls are vulnerable to culturally sanctioned exploitation and abuse. See recent media here
For help or information regarding domestic violence, call the Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service on 1800 737 732, or visit 1800respect.org.au
Lifeline: 13 11 14 www.lifeline.org.au
White Ribbon www.whiteribbon.org.au
Source: BUV News
Violence Against Women – Dowry Related Abuse
Our BUV is a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) union of churches. As we consider how we create safe spaces for those who are victims of Family Violence, we need to give special consideration to other cultures where particular customs and attitudes to women create environments of abuse.
The story below is by Dr Ree Bodde from ‘Think Prevent’ the Victorian Anglican initiative to combat and prevent Family Violence. Think Prevent is committed to being an active bystander against discrimination, sexism, sexual abuse and violence whether at home, on the sports field, at work, in houses of worship or out with friends, family, colleagues or workmates. You can learn more and find some great resources from Think Prevent here.
A Dinka (Southern Sudanese ethnic group) riddle poses that “If you were crossing a river with your cow and wife and there is danger of drowning and you can save only one of them, which one would you save? The answer is “that you save the cow because with it you can marry another woman.”
The practice of dowry (bride price) though seldom discussed, flourishes across certain cultures in Victoria and elsewhere in Australia. Dowry related abuse toward women and children is a problem that has existed for some time. Recently, law makers and practitioners have begun tackling this social problem impacting families and communities.
A Sudanese faith leader recently explained to me the logic that informs dowry “a daughter has been brought up by her family and is their source of income. The only property parents have is their daughter. You give away your daughter for dowry and then you are financially set,” he said.
Another spoke of a direct connection between dowry and domestic abuse. “In paying for dowry,” he said, “a wife is the husbands property and can beat her for not being good at chores, for answering back, asking for financial support.” He added, “wives under the dowry custom become a slave to the husband’s family, so that even if the husband dies, the wife cannot remarry without the consent of the husband’s family. "
In a visit to a South East Melbourne faith community earlier in the year, I was shocked and profoundly saddened to learn that 3 women had been murdered as a result of dowry-related violence over the last 5 years.
Some men’s willingness to break the silence about dowry-related abuse against women and girls is significant as it embodies the fundamental recognition that it is a problem overwhelmingly for which men are responsible.
Men have a moral obligation to change attitudes and behaviours that are negative towards women and girls. Specifically, that females are property and, replace these with norms of respect and equality.
While some men are part of the problem, all men are part of the solution.
Dowry and the ownership of women by men is not unique to South Sudanese culture. Indian women face similar issues, where this is common practice and where women and girls are vulnerable to culturally sanctioned exploitation and abuse. See recent media here
For help or information regarding domestic violence, call the Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service on 1800 737 732, or visit 1800respect.org.au
Lifeline: 13 11 14 www.lifeline.org.au
White Ribbon www.whiteribbon.org.au