2010

At Brisbane, and within the Assembly Hall, Clayfield College, Brisbane, at 7.30 pm on the 23June 2010 on which the General Assembly being duly constituted.

INTER ALIA:

MINUTE 99

99. Deliverance as a Whole

The deliverance as a whole was approved as follows:

That the Assembly:

1. Give thanks to God for the commitment of the Late Rev Don Smith to the work of the Public Questions and Communications Committee, and for his commitment to the extension of the Kingdom of Heaven.

2. Commend membership of the Public Questions and Communications Committee to Assembly Commissioners when nominating members to Assembly Committees.

3. Encourage Sessions to appoint a Community-Interest Contact Person, (with email access) within the Congregation, to be a link with the Public Questions and Communications Committee, and to promote activity within the community by the Congregation.

4. Commend the Public Questions and Communications Committee web site http://www.answerstolive.com/ to the Church.

5. Commend the period of prayer and fasting in October, with Prayer Notes supplied by the GAA Church and Nation Committee, to Sessions for use in the life of Congregations.

6. Appoint Mrs Mendy Campbell, Mr Don Lewis and Rev. David Niven to represent the Presbyterian Church of Queensland at the Annual General Meeting of DrugARM.

7. Request the Representatives of the Presbyterian Church of Queensland, as an ordinary member of the Drug Awareness and Relief Foundation (Australia) (DrugARM), to take all appropriate action to change the policy of DrugARM in relation to accepting support from funds generated by gambling, and to bring a report to the 2011 Assembly.

8. Commend DrugARM to the prayerful support of the Church.

9. Request Presbyteries and Sessions to be aware that there are ongoing moves to decriminalise abortion in Queensland and to establish a good working relationship with their local Member of the Legislative Assembly.

10. Note that leading up to Christmas 2009, Family Radio FM96.5 ran a series of spots highlighting the Presbyterian Church of Queensland in Brisbane.

11. Request the Public Questions and Communications Committee to continue to highlight the Presbyterian Church of Queensland by the effective use of the Media in pre-evangelism.

12. Write to the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, with a copy to the media, expressing concern as to the state of affairs of human rights abuse in relation to freedom of religion and freedom of assembly (in particular such abuses against Christians) in China, Cuba, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Somalia, The Sudan and Zimbabwe; requesting the Australian Government to take all appropriate action in addressing the situation in these countries, so that the citizens may live in peace with freedom of worship and of association.

13. Note that the Queensland Parliament has added a Preamble to the Constitution of Queensland as follows:

 “The people of Queensland, free and equal citizens of Australia:

(a) intend through this Constitution to foster the peace, welfare and good government of Queensland; and

(b) adopt the principle of the sovereignty of the people, under the rule of law, and the system of representative and responsible government, prescribed by this Constitution; and

(c) honour the Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the First Australians, whose lands, winds and waters we all now share; and pay tribute to their unique values, and their ancient and enduring cultures, which deepen and enrich the life of our community; and

(d) determine to protect our unique environment; and

(e) acknowledge the achievements of our forebears, coming from many backgrounds, who together faced and overcame adversity and injustice, and whose efforts bequeathed to us, and future generations, a realistic opportunity to strive for social harmony; and

(f) resolve, in this the 150th anniversary year of the establishment of Queensland, to nurture our inheritance, and build a society based on democracy, freedom and peace.

Effect of preamble:

The Parliament does not intend by the preamble to:

(a) create in any person any legal right or give rise to any civil cause of action; or

(b) affect in any way the interpretation of this Act or of any other law in force in Queensland.”

14. Note that the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) has released the draft K–12 Australian Curriculum in English, mathematics, science and history for online viewing and consultation. It is available at www.australiancurriculum.edu.au. For K-10, the consultation closed on 30 May 2010; and for the senior secondary years, the consultation will close on 30 July 2010. This consultation website enables everyone to read, review, download or print the draft Australian Curriculum. It also enables individuals and groups to provide feedback by commenting directly on the draft curriculum and completing an optional online survey.

15. Advise Members of the House, who are considering making a submission to the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority, of the following:

15.1. We have a responsibility as Christians and as citizens to contribute to public debate and bear faithful witness, whether in the courts of kings or in the public square (Jer 36:1-32; Acts 17:17).  In so doing we follow the example of the apostles and prophets before us, even if it means that we must at times be critical of the decisions or actions of political rulers (eg, I Kings 18:18; Mark 6:18; John 19:11), for God’s call is to evangelise and teach entire nations(Jer 1:5; Acts 2:14; 9:15; 17:22; Matt 28:18-20).  The Word of God gives us the standards according to which we ought to make judgement and expose that which is evil (I Cor 6:2; Eph 5:8-14; II Tim 3:16), always remembering that the ultimate Judge is the Lord (I Cor 5:12-13; cf Matt7:1; Rom 2:3). 

15.2. The private and public education of children is a long-standing concern of Scripture (Deut4:9-10; 6:7-9; 11:19; 31:12-13; Ps 78:5; Prov 6:20; Acts 5:42; Eph 6:1-4; II Tim 3:14-15;cf II Chron 17:7-9; Neh 8:1-7).Scripture teaches that all wisdom, knowledge and instruction comes ultimately from God (Ex 4:12; 24:12).  There is indeed benefit in being educated in the best that the world has to offer (Dan 1:4), but what is most important is the wisdom of knowing and following the ways of God (Dan 1:8-21).  The best education is one that trains and teaches children the Truth, the Way and the Life, and we know that all of these are in Jesus Christ our Lord (John 14:6).  Thus, we are admonished to set our minds on that which is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy (Phil 4:8) and to avoid the deeds of the sinful flesh(Gal 5:19-21).  These revealed truths provide us with the standards by which we should assess and comment on the proposed national school curriculum.

16. Request the Public Questions and Communications Committee to provide a summary of ethical decisions of the Assembly, since Church Union, to the Clerk of Assembly for distribution to Sessions, Presbyteries, Standing and Special Committees, Emmanuel College, Fairholme College, Grace College, PMSA, PresCare, St Andrew’s Toowoomba Hospital, and any other appropriate organisation(s).

Extracted from the records of the General Assembly by me- (Rev) R Clark- Clerk of Assembly