Father Chris

Whadjuk (Perth) has set out from Hillarys.

Today, more than 200 people are ‘walking the length of Gaza’ to call for:

1. Enduring and Sustained Ceasefire.

2. Immediate flow of life saving food, water, aid, fuel and humanitarian assistance.

3. Release of all hostages – both the Israeli hostages held by Hamas – and the Palestinian hostages held in the Israeli prison system.

4. End of occupation so a just-peace can begin.

You might like to join us for the final section from Walyalup Koort (King’s Square) in Fremantle at 5.00pm.

Or, if you can’t join in, you can donate to this excellent fundraiser: https://chuffed.org/fundraiser/gcpilgrimageswhadjuk

This week, the Prime Ministers of Australia, Canada and New Zealand called for a Ceasefire in Gaza.

This Lent, in over 100 cities will call also call for a Ceasefire. The global movement has four demands:

1. Enduring and Sustained Ceasefire.

2. Immediate flow of life saving food, water, aid, fuel and humanitarian assistance.

3. Release of all hostages – both the Israeli hostages held by Hamas – and the Palestinian hostages held in the Israeli prison system.

4. End of occupation so a just-peace can begin.

Perth is one of the earliest GCPilgrimages , and I invite you to join me for all or part of the route. Together, we will walk in solidarity with the people of Gaza, reflecting on their suffering and praying for a just peace.

Nearly 100 people have already registered. Will you come too? Register here: https://forms.gle/HJYqYMuTmzcfr3Db7

Inspired and led by the local Palestinian Christian community, we have already signed up Catholic, Orthodox, Pentecostal, Lutheran, Anglican, Quaker and Uniting Church pilgrims. We are also honoured that (so far) there will be Muslim, Jewish and Buddhist pilgrims, along with people of good will from no particular religion.

To join us, register here: https://forms.gle/HJYqYMuTmzcfr3Db7

I am voting YES for the Voice to Parliament, and I hope you are too.

Faith Workers Alliance has provided these four simple tips to help us over the next 45 days. Every little bit helps! Each of us has a role to play.

Please don’t get waylaid by negative arguments. Lift up your hearts! Together, we can make positive change for our country.

We honour the work and witness of Father Bob Maguire.

For many Australians, he was the most visible example of a faith worker. His iconic character and wicked sense of humour endeared him to so many people. He inspired us with his deep sense of justice and his commitment to those experiencing poverty and marginalisation.

Despite his occasional disagreements with the church hierarchy, Father Bob lived his vocation in every aspect of his life. He modelled the important place of faith workers in our communities. He was an icon and a hero to many other faith workers.

We cherish his memory and pray for him and all who grieve his loss.

Well done, good and faithful servant.

Members of Faith Workers Alliance voted unanimously to endorse the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

We support the Voice to Parliament.

We stand with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and affirm their unique place in Australian history. We especially honour the work of First Nations faith workers, who have led with such courage and sacrifice.

We invite our members and friends to share this post to show their support for the Voice.

History is calling.

We celebrate Trans Day of Visibility in the name of our God who says 'I am the Bread of Life' and 'I am the Gate', who declares 'I am the Light of the World' and who is described as a 'rock and fortress'.

We praise our God who is a shield against enemies, wind, breath, Cypress tree, refining fire, refuge, fortress, judge, potter, Spirit and Shepherd.

We rejoice with our God who is Guide, Teacher, Sovereign, Creator and Lover.

The God of the Bible, the Church and Christian history is far beyond any gender binary. They call us to follow and serve.

The voices, gifts, passion and faith of Trans and non-binary people are a vital part of our community.

As Christians, we cherish all people and declare them made in the image of God.

Inspired by Christ, we strive for justice for all God's children.

See, now, this is just terrific. This is the sort of thing that will get the Yes vote from 60% to 90%.

Pat is one of your sporty types, and a bit ocker. He’s white and a former Liberal MP. And he’s going for a run, and he’s going to have some good chats on the way.

I once went to a conference where Pat did a speech, and I thought he was a di****ad. I have changed my mind. He speaks to people who are different to me, and he can help them understand why The Voice is important. He is working to his strengths to benefit others.

Go Pat! You’re doing your part!

We need more Pats.

Marathon man's epic quest to step up support for voice Ultramarathon runner Pat Farmer is preparing to run 14,000 kilometres around Australia in support of an Indigenous voice to parliament

I'm so confused. I thought freedom of religion and freedom of speech were so important, they have to be defended at all costs.

But a webinar presenting different sides of an issue cannot be advertised in a church publication! Instead, the offending face of a le***an woman is replaced with a picture of a sunset, and an apology is offered.

This makes me so glad that this censored le***an (and remarkable human rights campaigner) will be speaking in Perth next Monday evening at St George's Cathedral.

Jayne will be talking about her work to end conversion practices, and we'll also hear from a local survivor of those practices. The WA government are rightly going to ban conversion practices, but we're not there yet - so why not come along and get up to speed?

To ensure safety, registrations are mandatory via this link: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/ending-conversion-practices-an-international-perspective-with-jayne-ozanne-tickets-528970614347

I'd love to see you there.

Anglican archbishop apologises for promoting gay rights campaigner in newspaper ad Anti-conversion therapy campaigner and gay Anglican Jayne Ozanne has met the Pope, but the archbishop advised Sydney clergy against attending her talk.

I wish this was an isolated incident. I wish that faith workers didn't need to speak out publicly about unsafe working conditions and breaches of their privacy.

But it isn't.

I know a union can't fix everything.

But I'm certain we can only change things with a collective movement.

If you're a faith worker, now is the time to join Faith Workers Alliance. Let's make it better for everyone.

Priest says church failed to effectively support him after su***de attempt A Catholic priest says a lack of effective support from Bishop of Bunbury Gerard Holohan after he tried to take his own life goes to the heart of problems within his diocese.

My friend and colleague, Michael Wood has written a book entitled Practicing Peace. It is informed by his work over many years in helping communities to make decisions and address issues with punching anyone in the face (literally or metaphorically).

The Perth launch of his book is on Friday 8 July in Kingsley at 5.30pm. You should go.

Book Launch: Practicing Peace - Theology, Contemplation, and Action St Anselm's Anglican Church invites you to the launch of Michael Wood's book, "Practicing Peace: Theology, Contemplation, and Action".

This article has my name in it, but the most important quote is actually from Dr Renae Barker.

"But the presumption under Australian law that faith workers are not employees is a "rebuttable presumption", Dr Barker says.

She believes change is in the air."

I assure you, change is in the air. And if you're a faith worker, you should be part of it.

faithworkers.org.au/join

Father Chris Bedding was suspended from his church for blasphemy, but he says he's one of the lucky ones They're viewed by Church organisations as 'spiritual servants' but a growing number of faith workers regard themselves as God-smiths entitled to the same working rights as anyone else.

It was good to be on 'God Forbid' on ABC Radio National over the weekend. We discussed the shortage of priests and ministers in Australia.

Praying for priests: the shortage of clergy in Australia Australia — much like the rest of the world — is experiencing a critical shortage of priests. Churches of various faiths are struggling to fill vacancies. So why aren’t more people answering the call? Join James Carleton and the God Forbid panel this week as they consider the growing problem o...

This week - yes it is 2022 - the national body of my church debated and defined the word 'chastity'.

Fortunately, we have access to a new resource to help us navigate these unprecedented times.

Here at Pirate Church, we see ourselves as humble servants of the institutional church - always ready to lend a helping hand.

We've prepared this sample sermon especially for our Anglican friends. We're just trying to do our bit.

This Sunday, I’ll be getting my preach back on in the Perth CBD.

My sermon is called ‘Midwives of Life and Liberation’

INTRODUCING OUR SPEAKER:
This Sunday, 15th May, we're delighted to welcome Father Chris Bedding as our guest preacher who's sermon will be on the theme 'Midwives of Life and Liberation'.
Father Chris Bedding is Executive Officer of Faith Workers Alliance, the national, interfaith trade union for people who work in ministry. He has been honoured to conduct the memorial service for International Workers Memorial Day each year at Solidarity Park. He is a strong advocate of workers rights and social justice more broadly. Now an Anglican ‘worker priest’, he is looking forward to a temporary gig at St Andrew’s Subiaco - an iconic LGBTI+ affirming parish. He also works as a freelance trainer, consultant and performing artist.
We look forward to hearing from Chris, and sharing in our usual time of prayer, song and reflection.

Everyone welcome.

If you missed Holy Heretics last night on ABC Perth radio, you can listen to this excerpt.

Fortunately, all the important people are busy at General Synod so they won't be listening.

A so-called Wicked Bible has been discovered in New Zealand, hear the Holy Heretics discuss its implications Why has a 1631 edition of the Christianity's Holy Book been labelled "wicked"

We will remember.
We will fight back.

In honour of our Lord’s glorious resurrection, the only foods I have eaten today are chocolate and hot cross buns.

I was also deeply moved, in the stillness of the morning, to catch sight of the Easter Binny.

This is a picture of me ten years ago. Also Werzel and Michael, but obviously I am the main attraction.

Since then I've served one parish as priest for more than a decade. I've travelled to the USA, UK, Sweden, Italy, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and the Holy Land. I've competed in Theatresports nationally, appeared in multiple festivals and won theatre awards.

I've also made friends, been out for dinner, slept in, bought preserves at the farmers market, sung in choirs and played with Barry, the neurotic chihuahua.

Many refugees and people seeking asylum have been imprisoned and abused for this time. Australia has now reached ten years of arbitrary imprisonment which defies international law, denies human rights and destroys lives. There are still people in offshore prisons, languishing in inhumane conditions. Onshore - the lockdown has lasted a decade as well.

Isn't it time to stop the cruelty? Will either of our major parties commit to end this horror?

A Holy Land Tour like no other.

22 November - 6 December 2022

Click here to register and find out more: https://www.mejditours.com/open-tour/pilgrimsandpeacemakers/

As travel becomes more possible - this is an opportunity not to miss. How else will you join a cooking class in Aida refugee camp near Bethlehem? Visit the Tent of Nations, a farm owned by a Palestinian Christian family? Hear from Islamic, Christian, Jewish, Druze and Baha'i perspectives? See all the biblical and historical sites, but also discuss the current geopolitical issues?

Most importantly, this tour incorporates the renowned 'multiple perspective' approach. You won't just hear one voice - you'll hear many.

After pandemic delays, this tour is now definitely going ahead. I am thrilled to partner with Mejdi Tours to share the Holy Land with you.

And please, be assured - there are significant COVID precautions in place and good travel insurance options. Plus, there's a clear policy on withdrawal if the risks change.

So why not click here and register your interest?

https://www.mejditours.com/open-tour/pilgrimsandpeacemakers/

PS: all these photos are mine. I spend three months in Palestine and Israel in 2015. I lived at Tantur Ecumenical Institute thanks to a grant from the National Council of Churches in Australia.

PPS: you can join this tour from anywhere in the world, so long as you can tolerate bulk Australians.

After a couple of hours of hard work, a new piece for strings and narrator has been recorded! Now it just needs editing before next weekend.

It’s called Stations of the Cross, and it’s four movements by Perth composer Ben Clapton.

If you’d like to see (and hear) it - you can join the online retreat on Palm Sunday.

More info: https://www.dayspring.org.au/store/p20/Liturgical_Retreat-_Palm_Sunday.html #/

On this Trans Day of Visibility I’d like to honour the Trans and Nonbinary people of faith in my life.

God is, of course, beyond notions of a gender binary. In our Trans friends we glimpse the limitless creativity of God, reflected in precious human beings.

Equal Voices will have a short service and Q&A at 5.30pm AEDT today (2.30pm in WA). It’s not too late to register your attendance and join in via the link below!

Link: https://uca-nat.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_mwX8BmblRsmHCQi6XMK6WA?fbclid=IwAR3lX8FVGrKWVCwGxSuPz6yKsAEHuO06AKgwO1dnD3smJULxrSrL1zXfOeU

I’m pretty excited that we’re *finally* getting Godly Play Core Training back in WA. The plan is to offer training in Perth, and also in the south west. But we need expressions of interest!

Godly Play is a Montessori based method of faith formation which you can use with people of all ages. Are you interested? Or do you know someone who is?

WA CORE TRAINING
EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST NOW OPEN

Perth Metro Core Training
Saturday 24 September - Monday 26 September 2022
[Queen’s Birthday Long Weekend)

Mandurah Core Training
Thursday 29 September - Saturday 1 October 2022

To express interest click here: https://www.chrisbedding.com.au/godlyplay

If you are in WA (or have friends in WA) could you share this post? Or tag a friend in the comments? It’s been more than two years since the last Core Training, and we are excited to be able to offer this opportunity.

Demonstrating the inherent humility and generosity of Freemasonry.