http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/socialissues/ en andrewcameron@sydneyanglicans.net Copyright 2008 2008-06-16T00:03:00+10:00 http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/socialissues/1351a We produce a free weekly Social Issues briefing. Each briefing is about two pages long, and gives some background information on an issue that has recently been in the news. It will offer some ways of thinking about it, and perhaps acting on it, as Christians. about, why social issues We produce a free weekly Social Issues briefing. Each briefing is about two pages long, and gives some background information on an issue that has recently been in the news. It will offer some ways of thinking about it, and perhaps acting on it, as Christians. 2005-11-23T01:19:01+10:00 Social Issues Executive http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/socialissues/392a Find out more about us... about, why social issues Find out more about us... 2005-06-25T01:24:00+10:00 Social Issues Executive http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/socialissues/076_beyond_homophobia_toward_new_terms_of_debate 2008-06-16T00:03:00+10:00 Andrew Cameron http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/socialissues/074_caring_for_children_now_and_in_future In early May NSW Attorney General John Hatzistergos introduced the Miscellaneous Acts Amendment (Same Sex Relationships) Bill 2008 into the Legislative Council of the NSW parliament. (This NSW State Bill is not to be confused with a recent Federal Bill introduced by the Federal Attorney General, Senator Robert McClelland; see link below.) John Hatzistergos described how the Amendment Bill is a further step in a long process of NSW legislative reform. family + society In early May NSW Attorney General John Hatzistergos introduced the Miscellaneous Acts Amendment (Same Sex Relationships) Bill 2008 into the Legislative Council of the NSW parliament. (This NSW State Bill is not to be confused with a recent Federal Bill introduced by the Federal Attorney General, Senator Robert McClelland; see link below.) John Hatzistergos described how the Amendment Bill is a further step in a long process of NSW legislative reform. 2008-06-02T08:37:00+10:00 Social Issues Executive http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/socialissues/073_the_china_syndrome As the opening of the Olympic Games on 8 August approaches, world attention is on China, and this attention is persistently on issues other than sport. Human rights abuses and environmental concerns are top of the list. All of this begs the question: should Christians be more active on these moral issues? law + government As the opening of the Olympic Games on 8 August approaches, world attention is on China, and this attention is persistently on issues other than sport. Human rights abuses and environmental concerns are top of the list. All of this begs the question: should Christians be more active on these moral issues? 2008-05-12T00:13:03+10:00 Social Issues Executive http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/socialissues/73_the_churches_and_sexual_wholeness Archbishop Jensen has recently decided not to take his Sydney bishops to the Archbishop of Canterbury’s forthcoming conference in Lambeth, London. Do the grounds for the boycott—in this case, differing views over the place of homosexuality in our fellowship—mean that conservative Christians and Anglicans are ‘homophobic’? Are they obsessed with sex? Has the Anglican church now split? Archbishop Jensen has recently decided not to take his Sydney bishops to the Archbishop of Canterbury’s forthcoming conference in Lambeth, London. Do the grounds for the boycott—in this case, differing views over the place of homosexuality in our fellowship—mean that conservative Christians and Anglicans are ‘homophobic’? Are they obsessed with sex? Has the Anglican church now split? 2008-02-10T23:03:00+10:00 Andrew Cameron http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/socialissues/the_hearing_of_sorry_71 Why was an expression of regret so inadequate for many indigenous people? What makes it seem imperative for them to hear the word ‘sorry’? What is so important about this word? In this extended briefing, we will try to understand why it seems so important for ‘sorry’ to be heard from the lips of the nation’s leader, and we will consider the sticking-points against saying it. We will confine our attention to the issue of the Stolen Generation, although some of what follows may apply to other ways in which white colonials harmed indigenous people. Why was an expression of regret so inadequate for many indigenous people? What makes it seem imperative for them to hear the word ‘sorry’? What is so important about this word? In this extended briefing, we will try to understand why it seems so important for ‘sorry’ to be heard from the lips of the nation’s leader, and we will consider the sticking-points against saying it. We will confine our attention to the issue of the Stolen Generation, although some of what follows may apply to other ways in which white colonials harmed indigenous people. 2007-12-16T23:05:00+10:00 Andrew Cameron http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/socialissues/the_queen_and_the_humanity_of_marriage_70 The Queen's celebration of sixty years of marriage is bound to become increasingly unusual as people marry later and as more marriages dissolve in separation and divorce, despite increasing life-spans. weekly briefings, family + society The Queen's celebration of sixty years of marriage is bound to become increasingly unusual as people marry later and as more marriages dissolve in separation and divorce, despite increasing life-spans. 2007-11-25T23:01:00+10:00 Andrew Cameron http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/socialissues/smaller_carbon_footprint_we_can_do_it_069 The General Synod of the Anglican Church in Australia recently passed a number of resolutions relating to climate change. One of them ‘requests all organisational units within the Anglican Church of Australia to reduce their environmental footprint through best practice energy use, water use, and waste disposal.’ But what is the value of such resolutions? In this briefing, we will argue that they are realistic and helpful. We will also consider what makes people sometimes respond cynically or negatively to resolutions such as these. environment The General Synod of the Anglican Church in Australia recently passed a number of resolutions relating to climate change. One of them ‘requests all organisational units within the Anglican Church of Australia to reduce their environmental footprint through best practice energy use, water use, and waste disposal.’ But what is the value of such resolutions? In this briefing, we will argue that they are realistic and helpful. We will also consider what makes people sometimes respond cynically or negatively to resolutions such as these. 2007-10-25T18:25:00+10:00 Social Issues Executive http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/socialissues/068_a_peek_at_apec_divide We guess APEC does not top your list of interesting topics. Some people are annoyed at the disruption to life in Sydney. Most will just stay well away and enjoy the public holiday. But perhaps the following two opposing opinions will help you glimpse the great issues at stake: weekly briefings, law + government We guess APEC does not top your list of interesting topics. Some people are annoyed at the disruption to life in Sydney. Most will just stay well away and enjoy the public holiday. But perhaps the following two opposing opinions will help you glimpse the great issues at stake: 2007-09-03T00:01:00+10:00 Andrew Cameron http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/socialissues/067_investigating_the_intervention Everyone has been stretched over the past few weeks by the Commonwealth Government’s intervention into the affairs of remote Northern Territory (NT) indigenous communities... So many complex issues have emerged that this briefing will have the limited aim of summarising the details, listing some opinions for and against the Government’s action, and offering some provisional suggestions. As always, these suggestions invite further thoughtful reflection together, along with indigenous people, in light of the Scriptures. Everyone has been stretched over the past few weeks by the Commonwealth Government’s intervention into the affairs of remote Northern Territory (NT) indigenous communities... So many complex issues have emerged that this briefing will have the limited aim of summarising the details, listing some opinions for and against the Government’s action, and offering some provisional suggestions. As always, these suggestions invite further thoughtful reflection together, along with indigenous people, in light of the Scriptures. 2007-08-17T00:09:00+10:00 Social Issues Executive http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/socialissues/66_how_to_start_relating_to_politics Being able to freely cast your vote is not a privilege enjoyed in every part of the world. With a Federal election on the way, Australians become more aware of our ability to participate in the democratic process. weekly briefings, law + government Being able to freely cast your vote is not a privilege enjoyed in every part of the world. With a Federal election on the way, Australians become more aware of our ability to participate in the democratic process. 2007-08-03T00:01:00+10:00 Andrew Cameron http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/socialissues/65_the_peak_oil_society Assume we have passed the point where half the planetary oil has been used. With billions of people now using oil, the remaining half will last nowhere near as long as the 150 years it took to use the first half. bioethics, environment Assume we have passed the point where half the planetary oil has been used. With billions of people now using oil, the remaining half will last nowhere near as long as the 150 years it took to use the first half. 2007-06-25T00:01:00+10:00 Andrew Cameron http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/socialissues/64_climate_change_4_what_next This briefing on climate change will be the last in our series for the time being. It will outline the directions that some future community discussions will take. It will also suggest a discussion that we may need to have with the most voiceless members of our community—our children. weekly briefings, environment This briefing on climate change will be the last in our series for the time being. It will outline the directions that some future community discussions will take. It will also suggest a discussion that we may need to have with the most voiceless members of our community—our children. 2007-06-11T00:01:00+10:00 Andrew J Cameron http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/socialissues/63_climate_change_part_3_how_sceptical_is_too_sceptical The amount written on climate-change presents us with a difficult knowledge-problem. Some knowledge-problems are to do with too little information: some datum is missing that will unlock the puzzle. This knowledge-problem is the opposite: there is too much information, and the mystery resides in how to meaningfully stitch it together. weekly briefings, environment The amount written on climate-change presents us with a difficult knowledge-problem. Some knowledge-problems are to do with too little information: some datum is missing that will unlock the puzzle. This knowledge-problem is the opposite: there is too much information, and the mystery resides in how to meaningfully stitch it together. 2007-05-07T00:01:00+10:00 Andrew Cameron