Scroll down for a variety of websites containing articles, essays or videos to discuss; and groups to join or support. Australian Evangelical Alliance does not necessarily endorse all the views of all authors or speakers. Links are provided to stimulate thought and discussion. (Some links may require you to hold down your CTRL button when clicking to activate properly.)
- FederalElection.com.au
Statistics, videos, polls, and comment from a variety of sources in one website.
- Calling for Christian non-conformity
A group of Australian Christians from different backgrounds, including Anabaptists, has produced a ‘confession’ concerning what it means to follow Jesus in today’s embattled world.
- Kevin Rudd, 'Faith in Politics'
A much-discussed article published in The Monthly, No. 17 (October 2006)
- Tim Costello, 'Faith in Politics'
A recent article by Tim Costello, former minister at Collins St Baptist, former Director of Urban Seed, CEO of World Vision, and always the brother of Peter Costello, Federal Treasurer.
- Amanda Lohrey, 'Putting Faith in Politics'
Amanda Lohrey's piece in The Age, June 17, 2006, is an edited extract from Quarterly Essay 22 — Voting for Jesus: Christianity and Politics in Australia, Black Inc.
- Sojourners on YouTube interview American Politicians on Faith, Ethics, Poverty...
The mission of Sojourners (www.sojo.net) is to articulate the biblical call to social justice, inspiring hope and building a movement to transform individuals, communities, the church, and the world.
- Centre for an Ethical Society - including CES Election 2007 Social Justice Survey Analysis
The objective of the Centre for an Ethical Society is to promote Christian Social Justice within Australia’s democratic traditions and co-operate in the development of a more just and compassionate community.
- John Howard Yoder on Christ the Transformer of Culture
A seminal essay on how the practices of the apostolic community can function as a paradigm for ways in which other social groups might operate. Published in Theology Today 48:1 (April 1991)
- Oliver O'Donovan, 'Government as Judgment'
An important article by one of the most important British theologians writing on politics and ethics today - published in First Things 92 (April 1999)
- Tom Wright, 'Paul's Gospel and Caesar's Empire'
If Paul's answer to Caesar is the empire of Jesus, what is an empire under the rule of this new lord? How does Paul's gospel line up with Caesar's empire?
- Douglas Farrow, 'Three Meanings of Secular'
A useful piece by Evangelical theologian, Douglas Farrow. It is said that we live in a secular society. But what is meant by “secular”? All relevant usages of the word, deriving as it does from saecularis ('of an age', or 'of a generation'), point to a concern with the affairs of our time, as opposed to some other; to a concern with this world of ours, as opposed to some other. But a great deal hangs on the nature of the contrast. There are, Farrow believes, three possibilities, two of which have considerable currency today, one of which does not: the supersessionist, the liberal, and the eschatological - published in First Things (May 2003)
- Kim Fabricius, 'Ten Propositions on Political Theology'
A stimulating guest entry on Benjamin Myers's 'Faith and Theology' blog (Wednesday, 4 April 2007) from a minister at Bethel United Reformed Church in Swansea, Wales, (and chaplain to Swansea University).
- Tom Wright, 'The New Testament and the 'State''
An antidote to simplistic treatments of the 'standard texts' Christians use when speaking about politics as though there were a New Testament 'doctrine of the State' - published in Themelios 16.1 (1990)
- Jurgen Moltmann, 'Political Theology'
"Political theology is therefore not simply political ethics but reaches further by asking about the political consciousness of theology itself. It does not want to make political questions the central theme of theology or to give political systems and movements religious support. Rather, political theology designates the field, the milieu, the environment, and the medium in which Christian theology should be articulated today."
An early article from the important German theologian, published in Theology Today 28:1 (April 1971)
- Make Poverty History 'Report Card'
This policy report card is based on the policies the Make Poverty History coalition would like to see adopted to improve Australia’s aid program and help reduce global poverty.
It is a record of the poverty-related policies that individual parties have supported publicly (including in some cases a commitment of specific dollar amounts).
- Ekklesia Think-Tank
Ekklesia is an independent, not-for-profit think tank and media service that examines the global role of religion in public life and advocates transformative theological ideas. Ecumenical and Anabaptist-influenced, its work is shaped by a strong theological and political critique of ‘Christendom’ – the historic collusion of institutional churches with governing authority and vice versa. Ekklesia explores post-Christendom approaches to: social justice, peacemaking and nonviolence, environmental action, the politics of forgiveness, welcoming policies for migrants and displaced people, open communication, restorative justice, a positive Christian approach to sexuality, economic sharing, non-compulsion in religion, respectful dialogue with those of competing convictions, advocacy of the evangel (good news), and church as a subversive alternative community.
- Micah Challenge
Micah Challenge is a global movement of Christian agencies, churches, groups and individuals which aims to deepen people’s engagement with the poor and to help reduce poverty as an integral part of our Christian faith.
- TEAR Australia
TEAR Australia is a movement of Christians in Australia responding to the needs of poor communities around the world. TEAR's motivation comes from the belief that God loves all people, and in Christ offers them the opportunity of a new life. TEAR believes that God is just, and has particular care for the poor and those who suffer as victims of injustice. (TEAR Australia was begun by Australian Evangelical Alliance and is now incorporated separately.)
- Center for Public Justice
An independent American organization for policy research and civic education, whose mission is to equip citizens, develop leaders, and shape policy.
- Nurturing Justice
Critical reviews, analysis and theologically-informed commentary on Australian society by Bruce Wearne
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