theadvocate.tv
June 2012
“Social media is underused by churches.” Stan Fetting,
Leadership Ultimately, leadership is developed, not discovered. PAGE 13 >>
Crossover Australia Page 7
4 Mabury awarded
Photo: Kevin Evans
Graham Mabury wins volunteer award >>
Sam Childers, The Machine Gun Preacher, recently visited Perth for the first time. News of his work with children in South Sudan has not been readily embraced by some parts of the community while others applaud his sacrificial work and lifestyle. The Advocate spoke with him to learn more about the man behind the machine gun.
SAM CHILDERS: The Machine Gun Preacher PAGE 12 >>
5 Helping kids
YouthCARE helps schools with refugees >>
Doctors get hate mail Members of Doctors for the Family have been receiving hate mail since the group made a submission to the Senate inquiry into marriage equality outlining the health consequences of changing the definition of marriage to include same-sex marriage. Doctors for the Family, is a group of 150 medical practitioners committed to highlighting the health aspects of marriage and family, and ensuring a healthy future for children. Dr Lachlan Dunjey, convenor of the group, said they expected there could be ‘hate speech’ and vilification if they voiced their belief that marriage as currently defined in the Marriage Act 2004, “… the union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life,” provides the best environment for children to grow. “This has already come to pass,” Dr Dunjey said. “Just with a greater intensity than we expected. The hate mail has not let up on several websites
and through email. All the doctors’ names have been put on Facebook and blog sites, and several doctors have been subject to intimidation. Some are distressed.”
The hate mail has not let up on several websites and through email. On the On Line Opinion website, Dr Dunjey wrote of his disappointment and concern
over the response to Doctors for the Family’s submission to the Senate inquiry. “It is disappointing how many interpret our defence of marriage as being an attack on homosexuals,” Dr Dunjey said. “It is marriage that is being attacked and we are simply rising to its defence. In return we are being attacked with abusive language as being homophobic and — ironically — accusations of ‘hate speech’.” Professor Kuruvilla George, a signatory to the Senate submission by Doctors for the Family, resigned his position with the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission after calls by gay activists for him to quit. The values of democracy, freedom of speech and freedom of conscience, held firmly by Australians, are challenged by the fierce response of some in the gay community to the Doctors for the Family legitimate submission to the Senate inquiry. “We realise these attacks probably only come from a section of the gay community, that part which is vehemently
opposed to our right to be heard and any freedom we have to teach our children our values on marriage and family,” Dr Dunjey said. “They see this as a condemnation of their lifestyle and they want to overcome this by ensuring acceptance of homosexuality in schools and charging us with ‘hate speech’ if we dare to say what we believe.”
It is marriage that is being attacked and we are simply rising to its defence. “We are doctors. As responsible members of society we have a right and obligation to express our concerns as we have done in our submission. Others, including other doctors, may disagree with us but for us to be silent would be to fail that responsibility,” Dr Dunjey said.
10 Colson goes home ‘Chuck’ Colson dies, aged 80 >>
Baptist Churches Western Australia is churches working together to do what would be difficult as individual congregations. BAPTIST CHURCHES WESTERN AUSTRALIA