churches of christ social justice network blog
Our denomination social justice network have a new blog.
Welcome to the Churches of Christ in Victoria & Tasmania SocialJustice Network Blog Site. We will post issues of social justice fromAustralia and around the world for dialogue and conversation. Staytuned.
You might want to check it out. The motions that have been put forward to get our churches to engage in thinking and action on certain issues has been outstanding from the social justice committee.
I look forward to see what their blog adds to the world 
August 3rd, 2006 at 5:29 pm
Lance, but the fact is that news.com.au has the power and the right to determine what they will and will not publish, whether it be by way of feedback or not. And as long as they have a policy and implement it consistently I don’t see a problem.
Now, that is not to say that you can’t disagree and say that you would run your site differently. And overall, I think that moderation used for the purpose of stifling criticism or whatever is facile.
As you have pointed out plenty of times Lance, many churches in the F2F world rely on written or unwritten rules requiring behaviour to be within certain boundaries. In fact, many people consider that allowing behaviour which is outside those boundaries is in fact unChristian. So it should be no surprise that people carry over those real world expectations to the online world.
August 3rd, 2006 at 9:41 pm
Dan I dont have a problem with the blog owner having right/responsibilit/ or belief to do what they like with their blog. But censorship is always a problem;if the issue is swearing/language - is “bloody”in,and “bugger” out or is it the other way about!Is blasphemy in (god gave israel their land therefore its ok to bomb,blast and burn anyone else), or out.
Its fequently easier and more convenient to get ones knickers in a knot about language than to respond to the content of whats being said.
Much of the comment on churches on this blog as I’ve followed it - whether or not AOG,Hillsong,Syd anglicans,orwillow creek( i dont quite understand hamos position either)etc arise out of people’s experience,research or the state of their liver.
Whats the problem with exposing/confronting the penis theology of a jensen or the brutality of a houston or the money grubbing of a joyce m?Just an extension of tossing the market out of the temple isnt it?
What is interesting in this thread, is that this is the first time that CofC have been the subject of any kind of a critique (swearing or not).Like the AOG,the willow creek mob etc they also lack checks and balances in their governance compared to other “heritage” (must say have never heard the owrd before so hope I know what itmeans)churches.Its therefore not surprising that staff and officers of CofC will be concerned about a blog or anything that is not “under control”
I dont have too many worries about language, what would worry me would be any attempt to direct/control/censor the “content” of the discussion. I know that this is not where you’re moving and for my part appreciate the opportunity to participate in the issues which are tossed about, without too many restrictions.
August 3rd, 2006 at 10:24 pm
“Here I stand, I can do no other” - martin Luther
All I can say is ‘Thank God’ for ‘SignPosts’- allowing people to communicate and share openly.
The CoC Pastor is now using ‘Christian Restraint’ as an excuse for his rationale for evryone playing “nicley”, and not speaking out.
This is a cop-out.
I have a well researched book published in (circa 1971) where a journalist investigated the Contemporary (Hi-Fi) Church movement. It is called “Praise the Lord and Pass the Contribution” by Alan Bestic.
The exact same things regarding profuteering from faith, the religious trade, spiritual maniupluation that were happening then - are still happening now…
Why…?
1) Lack of easy access to information (ie. internet)
2) Lack of courage of mainsteam Church Leaders to speak out, ask questions and name people and organisations.
Atleast the Internet is changing things.
Pesonally I thank God for people like Lance- for rattling me from my spiritual/psychological slumber and getting me to think about things. No thanks to these ‘restarined’ mainstream Church pastors.
“Evil Prevails when good men do nothing”.
August 3rd, 2006 at 11:14 pm
“Evil Prevails when good men do nothing”.
Those bloody men get the blame for everything….
Alan, I agree with most of your points. Our comments policy here (for better or worse) is evidence of our views on this stuff. But we have certain freedoms that others don’t. FWIW I am glad that there are “safer” places around on the net than signposts also discussing these things - because some people need that in order to engage in the discussion.
August 4th, 2006 at 3:04 am
“Those bloody men get the blame for everything…”
And they damned well should. Losers.