2009 General Assembly – Mini Timetable at a glance

A "quick glance" timetable for the 2009 General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in NSW, to be held at the Performing Arts Centre and Audrey Keown Theatre, PLC Boundary Road, Croydon NSW in July, is as follows:

Monday 13^th July 7.00pm Assembly Opening and Public Worship

Tuesday 14^th July 9.30am Lord’s Supper

11.00am Assembly Business

2.00pm Presbyterian Women’s Association, and continuing Assembly business

3.50pm Australian Presbyterian World Mission, and continuing Assembly business

7.00pm Bible Exposition – Sandy McMillan, and continuing Assembly business until 9.30pm close

Wednesday 15^th July 9.30am Bible Exposition – Sandy McMillan

10.00am Auditor’s Report and Trustees, and continuing Assembly business

1.00pm GAA Remit Overture to Amend Article 2.1 (Elders) and continuing  Assembly business

7.00pm The Bush Comes to the City

Thursday 16^th July 9.30am Church Schools and continuing Assembly business

12.50pm Ballots

2.00pm Bible Exposition – Sandy McMillan, and continuing Assembly business until 9.30pm close

Friday 17^th July 9.30am Continuing Assembly business until 1.00pm close

* There is a half hour morning prayer meeting before the start of Assembly at 9.00am on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

** A 10 minute devotional occurs at 2.00pm on both Tuesday and Wednesday and 9.30am on both Thursday and Friday.

Lunch is at 1.00pm each day (can purchase on site) with Dinner at 5.30pm (own arrangements)

The Pulse marks first birthday

The April 2009 edition of The Presbyterian Pulse magazine marks the first birthday of the monthly magazine which has become the flagship of the Presbyterian Church of Australia in NSW. First published by Presbyterian Church Offices in April 2008 as part of a communications strategy aimed at improving communications between the office, churches, ministers, presbyteries, Assembly and the various Assembly committees, the Pulse, which replaced the former Church Offices Newsletter, now has an international readership.

Since that first edition, between 13,000 and 14,000 16-24 page printed editions have been provided free to every church family each month, with the exception of January which is a “holiday”. The Pulse has also been available in an electronic format via the Presbyterian Church of Australia in NSW’s website, www.pcnsw.org.au, from the first day of each publishing month.

For further information about the magazine, contact Karen Forman by email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 0437 591 581. For circulation/delivery enquiries contact Suzanne Jensen by email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 1300 773 774.

Church calls for freedom of religion

The Presbyterian Church of Australia has lodged a submission to the Federal Government’s Freedom of Religion and Belief in the 21st Century Project, calling for a review of government policies and legislation.

 Moderator General of the PCA, Rt Rev Robert Benn, said the submission was in response to what the Church saw as increased hostility toward religion and persons of religious faith in sections of the Australian population, along with laws at a State and Territory level acting against freedom of thought, conscience and religion.

“The Article 18: Freedom of Religion and Belief report offers no substantial conclusions relating to freedom of religion that we can endorse,” he said. “There is an urgent need for the Federal and State governments to review their policies in this area.

“The submission is made, therefore, praying to God on behalf of all who are in authority in this nation, that we may be at liberty to lead quiet and peaceful lives in all godliness and dignity (I Timothy 2:2)”

The Church has recommended that government policies and legislation be reviewed to ensure that it adheres to the following principles:

Religion is communal in nature, and the free exercise of religion requires freedom of persons to associate in self-governing faith communities, including faith based schools and other organisations with a faith based mission or purpose.  This includes freedom of positive selection, ie, the right to advertise for and select staff sharing the beliefs, values and codes of conduct of that faith based school, organisation or community. 

Religion is not solely a “private” affair, but rather includes many “public” dimensions, including those of “worship, observance, practice and teaching”, extending to the right to engage in apologetic, social welfare and evangelistic activity. 

Freedom of religion includes freedom of conscience in the provision of goods and services.  The law should not compel people of faith to undertake or participate in activities contrary to their conscience. 

Further, it specifically recommended that:

Religious vilification laws, if enacted, ought to be limited to proscribing behaviour which incites people to acts of physical violence and intimidation, and that proceedings in such cases be initiated only by public authorities.  Existing state laws which go beyond this ought to be repealed or amended.

Abortion-related laws must not require medical practitioners against their conscience to refer patients to medical practitioners willing to perform abortions.  Existing state laws which go beyond this ought to be repealed or amended.

Existing exemptions for faith communities and faith based schools from anti-discrimination laws must be preserved and extended to ensure that  freedom of positive selection is maintained, ie the right to advertise for and select staff sharing the beliefs, values and codes of conduct of that faith based school, organisation or community.

Mr Benn said religious freedom meant freedom for people of all faiths. “To undertake the FRB Project with a focus on the Islamic Faith would undermine the integrity of the project,” he said.

“We reject any notion that the FRB Project should somehow be slanted towards protecting Muslim sensitivities.  Freedom of religion cannot be considered without its relevance to each of the religions.  It would be unfortunate if Muslim groups were seen to obtain preferential treatment not available to other immigrant groups including persons of Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh and other faiths or indeed no faith at all.  Freedom of religion should apply indiscriminately to all people of religion.  In this the best interests of the Islamic community will be served.”

Church announces bushfire appeal

Bushfire tragedy: how you can help

The Presbyterian Church has launched an appeal to raise funds to support congregations affected by the Victorian bushfires. Moderator General of the PCA, Robert Benn, is urging congregations to donate to the appeal and also to pray for the victims of the fires which swept through Victoria at the weekend.

“Although Presbyterian congregations in the main escaped with little damage, and no loss of life is recorded amongst our membership, some have suffered the loss of life in their wider circle of family and friends, and some have had their homes destroyed,” he said.

“Presbyterian Church of Victoria Moderator Douglas Robertson and Assembly Clerk John Wilson have been in touch with ministers in most of the places most affected by the bushfires including Whittlesea minister Evan Prentice congregation and Neil Chambers whose congregation was evacuated from the ESA Campsite in Marysville shortly before it was destroyed by fire.”

Mr Robertson said the Church had been deluged with offers of assistance.

“Of course we can pray, we must always pray, but James the brother of our Lord reminds us that we must also look for practical and immediate ways to help,” he said. “If a brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack of daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace and be warmed and filled', without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit?" (2:15 RSV).  

“To this end we are working with Church Offices to establish a fund which we propose to use in two ways: (1) for the minister at Whittlesea to distribute at his discretion in consultation with an advisory committee, and (2) for the Red Cross appeal being promoted by the government.”

Anyone wishing to make a contribution should make cheques payable to “Presbyterian Church of Victoria” and send them to 156 Collins St, Melbourne 3000 with an indication that the money is for “Victorian Bushfire Relief”.

Christmas greetings

The team behind the production of The Presbyterian Pulse would like to take this opportunity to extend our greetings to our valued readers, contributors and supporters and wish all a safe, happy, healthy and blessed Christmas.

The bumper 24-page December-January edition of the Pulse will be distributed in the second week of December.  The magazine will not be published in January and the team will be taking a short break. The first Pulse for 2009 will be published in February, with delivery to our churches slated for the last week of January.