Rod Benson inspecting New Zealand's Tasman glacier before it disappeared due to dangerous climate change

Rod Benson is an ethicist with the Tinsley Institute,  and Public Affairs Director for the NSW Council of Churches.  An ordained Baptist minister, Rod is married to Michelle and lives in Sydney, the centre of the known universe. He has in the past kept fish, dogs and rabbits, but none have survived. Well, that’s not quite true.  The latest pet, Toby the Dachshund, has yet to be rushed to the vet.  Fingers crossed.  His three children, on the other hand, seem to be doing okay.

Rod’s passions include political theology, vegetable gardening, literature and poetry, but do not extend to philately or extreme sports. Occasionally he dabbles in social media.

As well as providing lobbying, media and research support for Baptist churches and pastors in NSW and around Australia, and representing Baptists in various contexts, Rod has a personal interest in climate change action, justice for Palestinians, religious freedom, and gambling reform.  To this end, he is part of the management teams of the Australian Religious Response to Climate Change, the Ecumenical Accompaniment Program in Palestine and Israel (Australia), and the recently established NSW Churches Gambling Taskforce (chaired by Rev Bill Crews), and he is helping to kick off the new Freedom 4 Faith movement to promote and defend freedom of religion. Rod broadcasts short political commentaries each Sunday on Sydney radio 2CH (after the news at 9am, 12 noon, 2pm and 5pm), transcripts are posted to this blog.

If you’re interested in online articles about politics, ethics and religion, here’s a selection Rod plated up earlier for your reading pleasure. If you possess the courage and fortitude to follow his personal tweets, click here. Or there’s his more sedentary “official” Baptist tweets here.