Christian approaches to war in the light of the biblical command not to kill

A public address by Rod Benson, 12 March 2009 Thank you for the kind invitation to address this gathering of the Council of Christians and Jews in what is a very beautiful Sydney building, the Great Synagogue. It has not escaped my notice that, two days after the Rudd Government reversed the previous Government’s policy …

Speech at Retail Trading Forum

Australian Technology Park, Sydney, 12 March 2014 I bring you greetings from the Baptist Churches of NSW and the ACT, and from the NSW Council of Churches. My name is Rod Benson. I am an ordained Baptist minister, ethicist, and Public Affairs Director for the NSW Council of Churches. I was interested to read some time …

Speech for service at Richard Johnson Memorial

Transcript of a speech by Rev Rod Benson at the 226th Anniversary Service of the first Christian service of worship on Australian soil, at the Richard Johnson Memorial, cnr Bligh and Hunter Streets, Sydney, Monday 3 Feb 2014. Your Excellency the Governor, fellow ministers and pastors, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, I bring you greetings …

Speech for Work-Life Balance Forum

Speech by Rev Rod Benson at a Sydney Alliance-organised event in Sydney, 13 November 2012 I stand here today on behalf of Baptists throughout NSW to assure politicians, business leaders, workers and families that Baptists oppose the further erosion of provisions for restricted trading days. We expect our government to serve and protect the interests …

Immigration and asylum and Baptists

Address by Rod Benson to a meeting of Encore, Morling College, Sydney 7 September 2012 The world today faces a global refugee crisis with up to 40 million displaced people, the majority of whom are women and children.  Australia currently accepts around 13,750 refugees each year as part of total planned annual immigration of around 182,000 …