The Church decisions on the family
1980 B.B. 116
7. Endorse the resolutions 1-22 of the Conference of Women for the Family and Society held at Macquarie University on 8th-9th March 1980 as a statement of the general position taken by this Church on marriage, family and related matters.
1981 B.B. Min. 109
4. Express disgust at the suggestion that the age of consent should be lowererd to 14, and the hope that no Australian Government will ever agree to such a degrading proposal.
1983 B.B. Min. 123
24. Affirm that men and women have qual status before God.
25. Affirm that while men and women are equal in status, yet they have different God-given roles as laid down in Scripture.
26. Affirm that obedience to these God-given roles are for:
(i) the welfare and stability of the family unit (and therefore society);
(ii) the security and well-being of children within the family unit;
(iii) for the mutual benefit and fulfilment of the emotional, physical and Christian spiritual needs of husband and wife.
27. Affirm that women have the right to be protected from use and abuse by society.
28. Affirm that the mother/wife has the right to the love, help, protection, understanding and spiritual teaching from her husband.
29. Affirm that the mother has the right to claim respect and honour from her children.
30. View with alarm the Federal Government’s seeking to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women, for the following reasons –
(i) the Convention confuses status (equality) with role;
(ii) the Convention undermines the biblical view of the family by –
(a) insisting that there be no distinction between the roles of mother and father,
(b) insisting that the best spiritual, physical and mental upbringing of the children is not in the family unit;
(iii) the State is intruding into areas which the Bible clearly indicates belong to parents alone, and is opposing the accepted teaching of all sections of the Christian Church in this matter.
31. Urge the Federal Government, for the welfare of the nation, not to ratify the above Convention.
1984 B.B. Min. 212
13. View with deep concern the ominous growth of gambling in our community.
14. Regard any increase in gambling facilities as most inappropriate in this “Year of the Family”, believing that the stability of family life may be affected by further gambling opportunities.
1988 B.B. Min. 203
25. Advise the Minister for Education that this Assembly:
(a) (i) Regards instruction in human sexuality as the primary responsibility of parents to be given within the Biblical constraints of chastity before marriage and fidelity within marriage to the exclusion of all other sexual practices and preferences.
(a) (ii) Note an apparent inconsistency in the statement of the Minister for Education, the Hon. B. Littleproud MLA, in his letter of 24 February 1988 (1988 W.B. p.156):
“The Personal Development Programme to which I referred earlier, is firmly based on Christian values and the central importance of the family. It is expected that these values which are regarded as essential for the building of a strong healthy society, will continue to be reinforced when human sexuality education is introduced into the school curriculum.”;
with his reply to W.H. Miller: “You must appreciate that state schools have pupils from a wide range of religious denominations and as a result of this we find it very difficult to present a Christian viewpoint that cannot be guaranteed to be inoffensive to each and every denomination. Nevertheless this should not be misconstrued as being humanistic rather than Christian.”
(a) (iii) Authorise the Public Questions and Communications Committee to formally approach the Minister for Education in relation to the proposed Personal Development Programme, and to take appropriate action, including the issuing of media release(s) through the Clerk of Assembly.
(b) Reaffirm its resolutions from the 1987 Assembly (B.B. 1987 Min.329:14,15,20):
14. Affirm its continuing adherence to the principles expressed in its 1982 Statement, B.B. Min.156, p.67, Clauses 23 to 27 inclusive:
“23. Affirm that it is the right and duty of parents, according to Scripture, to provide their children with an education according to their conscience, and that the State has no right to overrule this right of parents.
24. Express to the Queensland Government the concern of the Presbyterian Church of Queensland that the effect of the “Education Act and Anothr Act Amendment Bill” in its present form, is to weaken the rights of parents in the education of their children by extending the control of the Education Department over all schools, whether receiving State assistance or not.
25. Inform the Queensland Government that this Church regards Part VII(b) and Section 66 of the Bill, in its present form, as a threat to the independence of theological colleges and Bible institutes, and respectfully request that the Bill be amended to rectify this.
26. Request the Queensland Government to withdraw the entire Bill for redrafting in a form which will express the God-given right of parents to educate their children in spiritual and moral matters and exclude any secularist assumptions that all children belong to the State.
27. State its conviction that the authority of all civil governments is derived from God (Romans 13:1) and is therefore limited by God (Acts 5:29), and call upon the Queensland Government to recognise this truth.”
15. Endorse as a matter of broad policy with respect to the Education Act and Another Act Amendment Bill, 1987, the following:
That the Assembly gives profound thanks to God, and expresses its gratitude to the State Government and the Minister for Education for their conspicuous promotion of Christian standards and for teaching in public education and their zealous encouragement of Christian schooling and higher education, and prays for God’s guidance for and strengthening of our Government as they continue to stand for righteousness and true knowledge in education.
20. Request the State Government to add the following Clauses to the “Education Act and Another Act Amendment Bill 1987” in the form herein suggested or in a form to that effect.
“Nothing in this Act shall operate:
A. to authorise or permit the Governor in Council or the Minister or any Council or body operating pursuant to this Act to impose any requirements in relation to the teaching of any religious philosophy or to require special educational qualifications of any person to teach any religious philosophy or to restrict in any way the nature, content or extent of the training of such religious philosophy or to affect any course accreditation by reason of the inclusion in such a course of religious philosophy.
B. to enable the exercise of any power or right of the Governor in Council, the Minister, a Council or other body operating under this Act in such a way as the inclusion in the students’ course of any religious philosophy might adversely affect the selection of such student for entry into any higher education institution.
C. to exclude the conferring of an award by any religious denomination upon any person in connection with training undertaken by that person in a tertiary education institution conducted by that religious denomination for the purpose of qualifying persons to promote the religious philosophy of that religious denomination.”
1989 B.B. Min. 279
9. (a) Affirm that God instituted marriage and the family on the Biblical method of ordering society (Gen.2:21-25); Ephesians 5:21-6:9) and that child abuse and other activities weakening the family are against the will of God.
(b) Note the proposed action of the Minister for Justice in introducing legislation to strengthen the penalties which may be imposed on persons convicted of a child pornography offence; and commend the Minister.
10. Urge the Minister for Justice to resolve the matter of video-taping of evidence by minors in child abuse cases.
11. (a) Caution communicants and Sessions that families may be falsely accused of child abuse (sometimes anonymously) and that such families may experience great difficulty and stress while attempting to establish the truth.
(b) Draw to the attention of Mininsters and Elders the need for sensitive pastoral care for families accused of child abuse.
(c) Commend for study the book “The Child Abuse Industry” by Mary Pride.
(d) Note the 4 Corners program screened on 13th and 14th February re Child Abuse and write to the Director of the ABC asking that it be re-screened.
12. Express its desire for the Minister for Family Services to continue to examine the possibility of introducing legislation to raise the legal age for leaving home; and advise the Minister accordingly.
(1990) B.B. Min. 241
5. Encourage all parents of school age children within the Presbyterian Church of Queensland to:
(a) View Protestant Christian Schools as a viable alternative for education;
(b) Use every lawful means at their disposal to oppose and avoid Human Relationships Education in Queensland State Schools.
1993 B.B. Min. 227
6. Note that –
Dr Ifor Thomas, Medical Superintendent of the Royal Womens Hospital, Brisbane and the Rev. Dr Rod Duncanson, M.B., Ch.B, M.R.C.G.P., Dip.Obst.,B.Th, concur with the following statement quoted from the letter of Dr Graeme Hughes, Senior Lecturer in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of NSW, of 16/5/92.
“As with any drug or hormone, the combined oral contraceptive (The Pill) affects most organs of the body. The Pill does not select out the ovary and only work on that organ. It affects other pelvic organs including the bowel, the uterus, the bladder and so on. However its contraceptive action depends on its amazing ability to stop ovulation, (i.e. the production of eggs from the ovaries). It does this by suppressing hormones normally produced by the pituitary gland in the brain. The Pill affects the uterus by thinning the lining of that organ. It affects the mucus at the cervix by making it thick and resistant to bacteria and sperm. The Pill affects the breasts by making them produce more milk glands. (Despite recent publicity there is no evidence that it causes cancer.)
The Pill can be associated with many side effects, but it does not cause miscarriages or abortions. It cannot do that as there is no egg to be fertilised. The Pill stops ovulation. Occasionally women do get pregnant because they have not taken the Pill reliably, or they may not have absorbed it. In these cases, when there is a breakthrough ovulation, the lining of the uterus is normal and the cervical mucus is normal. It is ovulation that makes these organs normal. When there is no ovulation (no egg) there is no stimulus to make the uterine lining lush and juicy. The mucus at the cervix is also fertile, even if she becomes pregnant because of failed Pill taking.
So it is the fact that ovulation is stopped that causes these changes, rather than these changes causing embryos to abort.
There is one way to take the Pill that may cause abortions. The so called ‘morning after the night before’ pills. If four or five pills are taken daily for three or four days after sexual intercourse, this may cause a miscarriage. This use is not recommended by the manufacturers, and can lead to harmful side effects.
Sometimes, for breast feeding women, a Mini Pill is advised for contraception. This pill contains only the one hormone Progesterone, and works by making the cervic hostile to sperm.
The Pill certainly does have side effects and is not the choice of contraceptive for every woman, but the actions are clear and have been well researched and documented. There is no argument among scientists that it works by abolishing ovulation.”
1993 B.B. Min. 227
15. (i) Note that the Queensland Law Reform Commission is reviewing the law in Queensland relating to consent to medical treatment of people under the age of 18, and that:-
(a) Written or oral submissions should be received by 15 June 1993.
(b) An information paper discussiong a number of the issues which will need to be addressed by the Commission is available upon request from the Commission’s offices.
(c) The Commission’s contact is: Wayne Briscoe, Commissioner, PO Box 312, Roma Street, Brisbane Q 4403, phone (07) 227 4544, Fax (07) 227 9045.
(ii) Encourage members of the Church, Sessions and Presbyteries to make submissions to the Commission.
(iii) Advise the Commission, with a copy to the media, that the Assembly is opposed to any action which would:
(a) undermine the status of a parent with the child,
(b) encourage or assist immoral behaviour.
(iv) Advise the Commission, with a copy to the media, of the following resolutions of the Assembly:-
(a) 1989 BB Minute 279.14
Regard instruction in human sexuality to be primarily a responsibility of parents, to be given within the Biblical constraints of chastity before marriage and fidelity within marriage, to the exclusion of all other sexual practices and preferences.
(b) 1980 BB Minute 116
Affirm the Biblical teaching of the Right to Life, especially as this applies to the unborn child, that all life is sacred to God, and that human life is a gift of God from conception.
(c) 1983 BB Minute 123,.20,21
20. Affirm that abortion is always unacceptable, except where at least two competent medical authorities (other than the one under consideration to perform the abortion) deem the abortion essential to protect the life of a mother or of her prenatal child (or children), when threatened with immediate death, should the pregnancy continue.
21. Affirm that if and when the rare contingency mentioned in clause 20 should ever arise, everything medically possible also be done to try to ensure the continuation of the lives of all that are thus being threatened.
(d) 1991 BB Minute 203.17
17. (a) Affirm that in relation to the issue of prostitution, we have a moral obligation to our neighbour, and to proclaim Christ as the Saviour who sets free and cleanses the sinner.
(b) Declare prostitution is not a ‘victimless crime’ for it essentially destroys a human being’s personal worth by corrupting such human being into ‘merchandise to be traded’.
(c) Advise the Premier, Leader of the Opposition, Leader of the Liberal Party, Criminal Justice Commission, the Minister for Health, the Minister for Justice, Minister for Local Government, and the Media that the Assembly:-
i Strongly opposes any relaxing of the laws relating to prostitution (male or female) or soliciting.
ii Request the introduction of laws which prosecute those who use male or female prostitutes.
iii Strongly opposes the setting aside of special areas for use for the purpose of prostitution.
1994 B.B. Min. 199
9. Reaffirm 1989 BB Min.279.14:
“Regard instruction in human sexuality to be primarily a responsibility of parents, to be given within the Biblical constraints of chastity before marriage and fidelity within marriage, to the exclusion of all other sexual practices and preferences.”
1997 B.B 83
7. That the Assembly respond to the report “Children and the Legal Process” issued by the Australian Law Reform Commission and publicised in media reports (eg Courier Mail 20th May 1997) by stating that:
“Children are God’s creation, gifted to their parents who are responsible to care and provide for them, although perhaps delegating some tasks such as education etc. Furthermore children have the right to be shown God’s love and care through creation, providence and redemption in light of the Scriptures, which care involves discipline.”
And convey this to the appropriate media and Federal Government Ministers.
1998 B.B min. 67
1. Note and endorse the Committee’s submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties on the “Enquiry into the Status of the United Nations Conventions on the Rights of the Child.”
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2007 B.B. MIN. 99
11. Note that the Moderator, the Clerk and the Convener of the Public Questions Committee, issued a statement in the name of the Church, endorsing the stand of the Government introducing the amendment strengthening the Marriage Act 1961 to define marriage as the union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life; and to confirm that unions solemnised overseas between same sex couples will not be recognised as marriages in Australia; and amendment of the Family Law Act 1975 to prevent inter-country adoptions by same sex couples under multilateral or bilateral agreements or arrangements. Also expressing concern that the payment of the “Baby Bonus” in a lump sum may not be in the best interests of all families, and that there may be a possible greater benefit if it is paid in instalments. (COA 19 April 2007, Minute 06/398).
14 April 2007
CL 06 Statement on Marriage (Refer Min. 99/11 above)
Prime Minister
Leader of the OppositionThe Hon Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition
Marriage and Family
The Presbyterian Church of Queensland supported the amendment strengthening the Marriage Act 1961 to define marriage as the union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life; and to confirm that unions solemnised overseas between same sex couples will not be recognised as marriages in Australia, and amendment of the Family Law Act 1975 to prevent intercountry adoptions by same sex couples under multilateral or bilateral agreements or arrangements.
The Church is also supportive of the Government’s moves to direct the Governor-General not to sign into law the ACT legislation establishing recognition of same sex unions, as well as moves to counter recognition of same sex unions in Tasmania; as both of these actions undermine the status of marriage.
We are encouraged by moves by the Government to support and strengthen family life. However we are concerned that the payment of the "Baby Bonus" in a lump sum may not be in the best interests of all families, and that there may be a possible greater benefit if it is paid in instalments. If the "Baby Bonus" encourages one woman to keep a pregnancy to term rather than have an abortion, then it is worthwhile. The other concern in this area is that the short term financial benefits of having a baby, may encourage an increase in the number of unmarried mothers becoming pregnant.
Yours faithfully
Rt Rev Rudi Schwartz (Rev)Ron Clark
Moderator Clerk of Assembly