David Bennett, whose journey from gay student activist to a celibate follower of Jesus is chronicled in his book A War of Loves, has called on the conservative Anglican movement Gafcon (Global Anglican Futures Conference) to dissociate itself from new Ugandan laws that increase jail sentences and introduce the death penalty for homosexuality. As a Side B / Gay celibate Christian I am calling on @gafconference to repent and call out the Ugandan Anglican Church of its support for this law. It’s a make or break situation for me that I would break communion over. — Dr. David Bennett (@DavidACBe ..read more

The Other Cheek interviews Steve Dixon, who has just got behind the desk as CEO of the Baptist church’s Bedford College in north west Sydney. Steve, you have just become head of a unique institution – most Australian post-school education provided by churches do theology. You don’t. What does Bedford do? We offer a range of educational opportunities with an emphasis on vocational training with current offerings in business, leadership and management, early childhood education, school-age education, as well as ageing support. In addition to these, we also offer qualifications in training and as ..read more

Deciphering the US Presidential race: Key reading gives clarity on the Donald Trump v Florida governor Ron DeSantis fight to gain the Republican Nomination for US President: Matthew Continetti in National Review pinpoints the differences between the two in this thoughtful analysis. He defines Trump as “populist,” and de Santis as a “technocrat” who will use state power to crush the left – which he describes as ‘woke’. (I don’t normally use that word, but it is integral to DeSantis’ rhetoric.) The Other Cheek endorses neither – this is just to inform readers of what some Christians are doing a ..read more

Pastor Andrew Evans (1935-2023) led the Australian Christian Churches denomination through a period of great expansion, planting churches once every three weeks. Under his leadership, the Klemzig Assembly in Adelaide grew from a church of 150 to a church of thousands, now known as Futures Church. From Pastor Ashley Evans Global Senior Pastor Futures Church Remembering Andrew Evans: A Legacy of Compassion and Leadership It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Andrew Evans, a beloved figure in our community and a man who touched the lives of countless individuals. Andrew, a pasto ..read more

“Outback Historian” Paul Roe on his childhood hero “Greatness on the sporting field is wholly compatible with the highest standards of conduct and I can think of no finer example of these characteristics than Brian Booth.”                                                                                                          &n ..read more

A very practical application for prayer in a time of crisis was recounted by Amy Brown, who lost her job as a result of the attempt by National Party leader John Barilaro get a top job as trade commissioner for NSW in the US. at this year’s Sydney Prayer Breakfast. Drawing on many “months of 5am walks”, Amy Brown told the prayer breakfast how being a believer made a difference in her very public catastrophe. “‘When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives, my brothers and sisters don’t resent them as intruders, but welcome them as friends.’ That’s James chapter one, verse two ..read more

A very practical application for prayer in a time of crisis was recounted by Amy Brown, who lost her job as a result of the attempt by National Party leader John Barilaro get a top job as trade commissioner for NSW in the US. at this year’s Sydney Prayer Breakfast. Drawing on many “months of 5am walks”, Amy Brown told the prayer breakfast how being a believer made a difference in her very public catastrophe. “‘When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives, my brothers and sisters don’t resent them as intruders, but welcome them as friends.’ That’s James chapter one, verse two ..read more

Africa is the place to find Elephants, and Dominic Steele, the host of “The Pastor’s Heart” video cast and a prominent Sydney Anglican Minister, reports on what he calls the “elephant in the room” at the Gafcon 4 conference in Kigali, Rwanda. He means differing views on how the church should respond to LGBTQIA people. “There are real issues to be talked about in regards to sexuality among those who hold to a conservative sexual ethic,” Steele says as he raises this topic – one of several reflecting on a meeting Steel believes will be regarded as a turning point in Anglican church history. “And ..read more

The Church of Uganda, a member province of the Anglican Communion has expressed its gratitude for the Anti Homosexuality Act 2023 now assented to by the President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni. The new act strengthens existing penalties and adds the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality” which includes rape and sex by someone previously convicted for homosexuality. The bill as introduced made “purporting to enter a same sex marriage” punishable by ten years jail, and “promotion of homosexuality” subject to a five year term of imprisonment, later amended to 20 years. During the debate in the ..read more

“And then she said ‘Sometimes I wonder if Jesus had Down Syndrome?’ And the whole place went silent.” John Swinton, Scottish theologian, academic and Presbyterian minister, was telling the story of an incident at a conference in France that impacted him. “And the place just went silent,” Swinton continued. ”What does that mean? Um, and we all began to think, what does it mean when somebody says something like that? What does it mean to say, I wonder if, if Jesus had Down Syndrome? Cause he opened up spaces that weren’t available to other people. He had relationship with people. And it became a ..read more