This is my latest article in Evangelicals Now….
Sydney Anglicans are taking a strong stand against the new conversion therapy laws introduced by the New South Wales Parliament.
The Sydney Anglican archbishop, Kanishka Raffe (pictured) made the following clear declaration: “I want to say this clearly and publicly to you all, that I will stand by any clergy person or church worker who finds themselves brought before a tribunal or court because of this poorly conceived law … We must not be silenced or intimidated from teaching God’s good plan for human sexuality and relationships. We will insist on the freedom to do so respectfully, but without fear, we will obey God. We can do nothing less.”
The New South Wales Presbyterian General Assembly of the Presbyterian church passed a motion unanimously in support of the Sydney Anglican stance – including offering support to ministers who may be dragged before the law courts.
Both denominations, in taking such a stance, have set themselves on a collision course with those who are seeking to use the law to silence the voice and practice of Biblical Christianity. Those who advocate the suppression of conversion therapy tend to use the most extreme examples, which Biblical Christians would also disagree with. However, these are either extremely rare or non-existent in Australian society.
So, what is the intention of those who have framed this law? The archbishop said it was a ‘poorly conceived’ law. There are those who would disagree – such as the Australian Christian social commentator, Steve McAlpine, who pointed out that the law “was conceived with exactly the results in mind that it is now getting; uncertainty, fogginess and a lack of clarity that leads to inaction. It was conceived precisely to stare down the churches and dare them to do anything else other than self-censor.” It is good that the Anglicans and the Presbyterians are refusing to bow to this intimidation.
Meanwhile, Sydney Anglicans have also welcomed and supported the recent announcement regarding the future of the Anglican Communion from GAFCON, one of the groupings representing Biblically orthodox believers in the denomination.
While acknowledging that the Anglican Church of Australia remains constitutionally in communion with Canterbury, Sydney Anglicans are aligned with GAFCON’s vision for a re-ordered, Biblically-faithful Anglican future. Although it is yet to be seen how that will play out in the context of the wider Anglican community in Australia – which tends to be much more liberal.