The man behind the CEV,  the “Giant of Bible translation” dies.

Eugene Nida, the giant of Bible translation in the twentieth century, died in hospital in Brussels on August 25. He was 96. Conveying the news in a brief message, his widow Elena said, "My adored husband has passed away 10 minutes ago. Thank you for your prayers. He was a saint. The Lord is with him."

Can you tell what Christians think from the media?

If you live in different parts of Australia you would get a radically different picture of how the churches are dealing with same sex issues from the media this week.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that two ministers in the Uniting church have become Sydney’s first openly gay ministers in a major Christian denomination. Meanwhile the Sunday Mail in Adelaide reported the departure of a lesbian priest who feels she was persecuted in the Anglican church.

Ben Gilmour was inducted as minister of Paddington Uniting Church in July, and says that being open about his sexuality was a matter of integrity. ''I feel as though I'm on the right journey,'' he said. ''It's about walking the path that's in front of you with the light that you've got.''

Nicole Fleming was inducted as minister of Balmain Uniting church in July, and says that sexuality ‘was a non-issue for her congregation, which was united in its focus on social justice.’

On the other hand, the article reports that Reverend Ben Gilmour changed his denomination to become one of the first openly gay ministers in Sydney. He found it necessary to leave his position of 10 years as an Anglican minister on the north coast of NSW, since it had “made homosexual ministers the dividing issue of our time” and he knew that “if I was going to continue on the track I was, I wouldn't be licensed,'' he said.

A news story out of Adelaide also speaks to the issue, with lesbian priest Ali Wurm this weekend past conducting her final service at Semaphore St Bede's Anglican Church, which she says, “bullied and persecuted her”. The article reports that Ali Wurm stepped down from her position as priest rather than conceal her sexuality in order to conform with the more conservative and influential elements of the church.

An earlier Adelaide Sunday Mail article from June suggested a connection between the resignation of Reverend Ali Wurm and the Dean of Adelaide, Sarah Macneil’s announcement that she would step down. It suggests that tensions within the Diocese of Adelaide about how to respond to a global moratorium imposed by the church on same-sex unions and the ordination of clergy in same-sex relationships were contributing factors in the women's departures.

Jeffrey Driver Adelaide Anglican Archbishop told the Sunday Mail "the Anglican Church of Australia maintains a traditional approach to human sexuality."

Jesus didn’t say just love Christians: Costello

Joshua Maule

Arriving at the Dadaab refugee camp near the Kenyan-Somali border, Tim Costello's heart broke. Some 400 thousand people fleeing famine in the Horn of Africa - a population the size of Canberra - sheltered in tents and makeshift huts beneath the hottest sun in the world. "You fly in and you see a city that's in the desert," World Vision's CEO said. "It's like a lunar landscape around and you think: 'Why are people living here?'"

Rice grows in the centre of Sydney

Karen Mudge

Saturday night saw the Entertainment Centre in Sydney come alive with up to 3 500 youth, from 71 youth groups across Sydney, all there to learn what it means to ‘Know. Love. Experience’ as Christians.

In how many languages can you read a whole Bible? Think of an answer before you read on.

By Andrew Mathewson

The latest figures, covering 2010, show that The complete Bible has now been translated into 469 languages and the New Testament into 1,231, according to 2010 figures. Bibles have become available in ten more languages and New Testaments in 27 more than this time last year. The latest Scripture Language Report (SLR), the authoritative guide to the annual progress of worldwide Bible translation, published annually by United Bible Societies, measures the progress made by UBS and other Bible translation agencies in the past 12 months.

Living in a world of worry

Michael Jensen on our uncertain times

If there’s any one emotional state that is characteristic of our experience of the contemporary world, it has to be worry.
If we know how to do one thing, it is to worry.

Economic Gospel Wins Christian Book Of The Year

One of the nation's leading economists has won the Christian Book of the Year award with a book he regards as one of his most significant contributions to civic life in Australia.

Emeritus Professor Ian Harper of Melbourne Business School, now a partner with Deloitte Access Economics, won the first prize for ‘Economics for Life', awarded at the 31st Australian Christian Literature Awards on Thursday, 18 August 2011 in Melbourne.

Climate debate: the believer

In Part 2 of our Climate Change Debate, John Cook a leading campaigner on  climate change and, yes, a Christian too, puts the case for taking action.

The book of Deuteronomy establishes a robust method for determining truth: “A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses” (Deut 19:15). This principle of relying on multiple witnesses is seen throughout Scripture. Jesus instructs His disciples to use multiple witnesses when rebuking a sinning brother or sister.
In John 5, Jesus cites the testimonies of John the Baptist, His own miracles, His Father’s voice and the Old Testament as verifications of His identity. On the day of Pentecost, Peter cites the many witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection.
Scientists adopt a similar principle in their quest for greater understanding. Just as an Old Testament judge required multiple witnesses, scientists look for multiple sources of evidence. Our understanding is considered robust when scientists have found independent measurements all pointing to a single, consistent conclusion.

Chinese community launch Noah’s ark

Has Noah’s Ark been found on Mount Ararat? The World premiere of “The Days of Noah: Apocalypse”, a movie that makes that claim,  was held in the Sydney Opera House concert hall Tonight (Sunday).

The movie contains impressive footage of large amounts of timber buried beneath rocks and Ice towards the top of the mountain. It follows a Chinese/Turkish expedition that finally manages to penetrate inside the wreckage of a large timber construction, made of massive beams and indeed shaped like a ship.

Immigrants and asylum-seekers find help through Salvos Legal

Suzanne Schokman

When the Salvos launched their new commercial law firm, Salvos Legal, immigrants and asylum-seekers were first off the rank seeking free legal services.

In fact, this group forms the bulk of cases represented by Salvo Legal, set up to provide free legal advice and representation to people in need. Funding for the operation comes from commercial legal services offered by a team of  90 full-time and volunteer staff. 

SU hearing day three

Suzanne Schokman

11 August The High Court hearing on Federal funding for school chaplaincy ended today, with defendants, Scripture Union QLD and the Commonwealth making their presentations.

SU QLD CEO, Tim Mander, said that it was “highly complex, revolving around the key issue of Commonwealth power, and where it can spend its money.”

Queensland shifts on direct federal funding for chaplains

Suzanne Schokman

10 August Canberra –   Up until yesterday, QLD and South Australia, together with the Commonwealth, supported the current model of federal funding for school chaplaincy programs.

On the second day of the High Court hearing that will decide the fate of this model, the state governments presented their case, and saw Queensland change its position.

When christians get it right in the media

Blogger St Eutychus says this has been a good week for Christian witness in the media

So. I’ve banged on about how Christians have a responsibility to use a mass media platform, if provided, to talk about Jesus in a winsome and engaging way. I’ve said that there are certain representatives in the political field who don’t do this well, and certain people who do.

And now, I have an example. This is how you go into an essentially hostile environment.

Testing time for School Chaplains as court case starts

Suzanne Schokman

Canberra, 9 August 2011 -   Federal funding for the school chaplaincy program hangs in the balance, as Toowomba man, Ronald Williams, takes his challenge before the High Court over the next three days.

Census: Atheists and Christians want you to fill in question 19

Question 19 “what is (your) religion?” has become the most controversial part of this year’s census which most Australians will fill in tomorrow night.

Both the Atheist Foundation of Australia (AFA) and the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) are campaigning to make sure this question gets filled in, but they want different answers, especially from people who are nominally Christian.