Is the Anglican Church selling out Tasmania?

"The Anglican Church in Tasmania is proposing to sell over 120 properties to fund its projected obligations to provide redress for survivors of child sexual abuse. 

This sacrifice expresses the church’s desire to provide restorative justice, recognition and support to survivors for the wrongs they have experienced by past leaders of the church.

So, who is responsible for paying for these wrongs? As the current members of the church didn’t perpetrate the wrongs, one might think they should not have to pay.But the church should pay, because taking collective responsibility for past wrongs is not only right it is profound and powerful."

 Anglican Diocese of Tasmania. 

Congregations throughout Tasmania are reeling. Many congregations and communities are desperately searching for ways to have their churches removed from the list or buy out to set up as community churches and chapels. 

In a nut shell, the Dioceses has decided to sell off half of the Church's properties! Predominantly in small rural areas and of buildings of historical significance. Claiming those earmarked are 'unsustainable' in the long term. Although a cynical mind might add that these will also be the easiest to sell and at higher value than later built structures. Forgetting of course that congregations have waxed and waned since the 1950's. Yes things are currently in a period of decline, but that may change. People often return to something familiar and safe when times become difficult. 

There have been claims that a building is just a building, but I'd beg to differ. These churches have historically been the epicentre of communities, generation upon generation. If the church is failing to fill the pews - then perhaps it is a failing of the church(s) to remain current and relevant. If religion is no longer relevant in today's society why then the phenomenon of the mega-church or the growing success of Riverlink in the Tamar Valley. 

These examples make it clear that there is still a need and willingness to connect to faith. Which means the failing is with us - as a church. 

The only real way to keep these assets within the Anglican family, is to fill those pews. Night / evening services for those unable to be there on Sunday's due to family, sport, work or other commitments. Run High Anglican Services AND more 'middle of the road' services out of the same church. 'All creatures great and small' services for those who's families include the furred and feathered. Younger clergy - and perhaps more 'Gosford Anglican' style 'rebels'. 'Secular' services open to those families and friends who belong to other denominations and even atheists. 

For the Anglican Church to survive, grow and survive - it is not enough to have a structure. The Anglican Church MUST reengage with community, from within the community itself. It is little wonder that churches / congregations such as St. Andrews at Evandale are struggling to survive - in fact this probably one won't - which is utterly mind boggling for a busy and growing town, with an enormous weekend market and tourist destination, but churches like this one, don't stand a chance when the local Reverend is forced to divide time and energy across multiple churches in multiple towns, rather than 'of the town, in the town'.

Yes, Bishop Condie is correct, there must be redress for the sins of the past - but NOT at the expense of neutering the Anglican Church in Tasmania. 

For those of us wishing to voice our displeasure:

Attention: The Right Revd Dr Richard Condie
Bishop of Tasmania

Anglican Diocese of Tasmania

Level 1, 125 Macquarie Street
Hobart TAS 7000

GPO Box 748
Hobart TAS 7001 

Phone: 03 6220 2020
Email: registry@anglicantas.org.au

Last thing, if your community is in the firing line - I'd love to hear from you.

The God Argument.

 Recently I've been reading A. C Grayling's 'The God Argument: The Case Against Religion and For Humanism'. 

Whilst it's an intriguing argument and well written, it is a little irritating. Admittedly I'm only halfway through, but the supposition that religion and humanism cannot co-exist is rubbish. As is the assumption that the Bible, when not taken literally means that one must be an 'apologist'. At this rate might be needing an elephant size pooper-scooper.

However, pages 66 and 67 "...The standard arguments for the existence of God..." have me thinking. That's thinking - not leaping to conclusions and I'm sure these will crop up in some future blogs. So here they are as listed within the text:

Telological Argument.  The argument for design ('intelligent design' falls in here; puppy-poo-bag anyone? )
Ontological Argument. God exists by definition. 
Cosmology Argument. Attempts an empirical basis for the existence of God. "...the world cannot be it's own entity..." 
Moral Argument. There can not be morality unless there is a God. Yep, the favorite argument of fundamentalists. This is the one used to justify their zealot ideology, bigotry, homophobia, misogyny and even in some cases white supremacy. These people are not Christians, but rather use it to justify their lack of humanity, compassion and control issues.

So whilst I'm still mulling over these points, I'd like to hear read your thoughts on each of these points. Feel free to DM them to me via twitter @VacuousNess

Safe Schools and Gender Fluidity

Safe Schools and Gender Fluidity: Conservative Christian Hype v’s Reality.

In 1997 Tasmania became the last Australian state to decriminalize consensual homosexual acts between adult men. There was nothing remarkable about this, except the length of time it had taken. The push toward gay law reform in Tasmania, commencing, in the 1970’s.

What this meant and what I witnessed amongst my own teenage peer group, was not only uncomfortable but also painful to watch.

There are two things, which resonate the loudest, to this day:

1.     During the height of the AIDS crisis, information and education was not provided to Tasmanian students, or was restricted to HSC (now TCE) students only. Despite the fact that HIV was no longer a ‘gay disease’ but was now virulent amongst the heterosexual community. Thus placing all sexually active Tasmanian teens at risk.

2.     Almost all of my LGBT friends did not ‘come out’ until they were old enough to leave Tasmania. Many forming ‘camouflage relationships with sympathetic friends of the opposite gender.

Imagine for one moment living and growing up in this environment. Unable to be open and truthful about whom, you are. Then consider how this would affect your own mental health.

Luckily, nationally, this is no longer the case. What I see now amongst the peer groups my teenage niece and nephews is quite the opposite. They are able to be open, honest and comfortable with themselves, their sexuality and relationships – whatever that might be and to the greater extent, their peer groups are completely accepting.

Unfortunately, in Australia we are now witnessing a rise from the fundamentalist Christian Conservative, politicians, press, Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) and shock jocks such as cranky pants Latham. Lyle Shelton is becoming incredibly vocal, particularly when it comes to the Safe Schools Program*.

The tactics these individuals and groups employ are nothing short of outright lies and blatant shock tactic misinformation. They’ve included untruths such as One Nation claiming primary school childrenare being taught masturbation.

"...Aaaannnnd then Mrs Mentula said, Swallow don't Spit and always wear your raincoat when it's raining!"

So what is the truth?

In a nutshell Safe Schools began in Victorian Govt Schools in 2010, thanks to the Safe Schools Coalition. It has since become a national program. 

• Safe Schools is a voluntary program, not a curriculum (absolutely not compulsory). 
• Safe Schools is run at the discretion of principals, teachers and the school community, with schools able to use as little or as much of the resources as they choose.
• The program was devised and originally available to Govt secondary schools, however, it is now accessible to non-Govt and primary schools. 
• Safe Schools DO NOT teach gender fluidity. 

What is Safe Schools is:

A program, which assists schools to create and foster a supportive, inclusive and safe environment for LGBT students. The aim is to tackle bullying and harassment and prevent self harm and suicide.

Why?

LGBT people have the highest rates of attempted suicide and suicide in Australia.

The rate of self harm and suicide is sixtimes higher in same sex youth, than within their heterosexual peers, with the first suicide attempt at around 16years of age. These youngsters aren’t self harming and attempting suicide because the are LGBT, but because they are being bullied, harassed, beaten up, threatened etc. within their own schools and no child learns or reaches their full potential in such environments.

Those who publically sprook false information and outright lies about the Safe Schools program, particularly within the public domain, do so with only one agenda and that is to force their brand of ultra conservative ideology onto a secular Australia. In so doing they are using the very mechanisms Safe Schools aims to remove from Australian schools.

When they attack programs such as SafeSchools, they are using the health and well being of Australian youth to forward their cause. This is child abuse and this is before we even consider the impact of gay conversion therapy, a practice must become illegal in every state and territory.

Whilst these groups represent less than 1% of Australian Christians, let us not forget or turn a blind eye to what is occurring in the USA. Particularly whilst the Australian Tax Office continues to consider groups such as the ACL to be ‘Religious Organizations’ – they are not, they are political lobby groups and must be taxed and held accountable accordingly. They should never be allowed to use Australia’s younger generations to be used as cannon fodder in their intolerant zealot cause. 

To those conservatives wishing to use religion as an excuse for all this, I say. For decades secular Australia had to tolerate Christian studies in Govt schools and even quite recently (then) Prime Minister Tony Abbott, placed Chaplains in schools; instead of mental health professionals. So to these people and organisations, my answer is simply; if you don't like programs such as Safe Schools, simply remove your offspring, home educate, or find schools which do not use such programs and do not force your fundamentalist Christian views on the other 99% of Christians you don't represent nor secular Australian society. 

*Same Sex Marriage (and homosexuality) we will discuss another day. 
Image: original drawing by VacuousNess