Tag Archives: Australia

I’m a Baptist minister and I’ll be voting ‘yes’ for same-sex marriage

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I am a Christian, a person deeply formed by the Church and its gospel. Even more, I am a Baptist minister. For the past 35 years I have given my life to understanding, living and proclaiming the message of Jesus. It is because of this, not in spite of it, that I’ll be voting “yes” in the upcoming plebiscite on same-sex marriage.

There is nothing that goes to the heart of human identity as much as our sexuality. It is that God-given reminder, persistent and powerful, that we are made for relationship — intimate, covenant relationship. When our need for intimate communion with another human being is violated through the horrors of sexual abuse, cheapened through sexual infidelity, or invalidated through sacraments of love that exclude, it is not only our rights that are threatened, but our identity as those created in God’s image.

Full report: Sydney Morning Herald

Time has come for gay marriage: Queensland priest | Cootamundra Herald

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One of Brisbane’s leading priests says it’s time for Australia’s politicians to “step up to the plate” and do their jobs by legislating for marriage equality.

St John’s Anglican Cathedral Dean Dr Peter Catt will on Saturday address a marriage equality rally, where he’ll be one of several speakers calling for the federal government to hold a free vote for gay marriage.

Noting he encounters some opposition from conservatives within his church, but also much more support, Dr Catt said it made no sense to withhold marriage from same-sex couples.

“This is the next evolution,” he said. “Marriage has become more and more of a celebration and a commitment of the love between two people.”

“I think society is more than ready for that expression of marriage and the polls back that up.”

Read more: Cootamundra Herald

Christians in Australia support marriage equality  |The Guardian

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A majority of Australian Christians support same-sex marriage and think parliamentarians should vote on the issue as soon as possible.

A Galaxy Research poll of 1,000 Australian Christians has found 54% support marriage equality and 49% do not want the law to be changed to allow civil celebrants to refuse their services to same-sex couples based on conscientious objection.

It also found 61% do not like having conservative religious groups presenting their views on same-sex marriage as though they are speaking for all Christians in the country.

Source: Most Christians in Australia support marriage equality and want a free vote | Australia news | The Guardian

WATCH: Gay Christians speak out – “Here I am”

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A new documentary is showing the lives, loves, struggles and experiences of LGBT Christians as they really are – not the stereotypes they are often portrayed as.

Parents, children, partners, couples and supporting pastors and psychologists speak from the heart about the experience of coming out in a Christian environment.

“It was my idea after a mother with a gay son asked what she could do to help others,” says the Here I am video’s producer John Wallace.“

Coming out can be a difficult time for Christian families, individuals and those close to them. They often feel completely alone in the world,” he explains.

“I thought we need more resources and it grew from there. I think it’s timely with the debates going on at the moment.”

Source: Sme-same

Telstra withdraws from (Australian) marriage equality debate allegedly due to church pressure

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Allegedly under pressure from the Catholic Church, Australia’s largest telecommunications provider will not be participating in the public campaign in support of same-sex marriage, a new report suggests.

According to The Australian, Archdiocese of Sydney business manager Michael Digges approached a number of companies who had given permission for their logo to be used in a newspaper advertisement in support of marriage equality in May 2015.

Source: Mashable

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