Reflecting on 25 years since the Bridge Walk

One of my favourite urban walks anywhere in the world is the short walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Unfailingly, I feel my spirits lift as I join strangers crossing the old Coat-hanger, taking in some of the most stunning views the Emerald City has to offer. On Wednesday this week, I crossed the famous …

A short history of the NSW Baptist Social Issues Committee

An address to the Baptist Historical Society of NSW by Rev. Rod Benson, 4 November 2010. Part of the large crowd gathered to listen to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's historic apology speech to members of the Stolen Generations in Canberra, 14 February 2008. Introduction The year is 1968, the year of my birth. There are …

Statement on Aboriginal reconciliation

The following statement was adopted by resolution of delegates to the Queensland Baptist Convention Annual Assembly on Thursday 11 September 1997. The statement was moved by the General Superintendent of the Baptist Union of Queensland Rev. Dr Stan Solomon and seconded by Senior Pastor Rod Benson of Flinders Baptist Community Church in Ipswich, Queensland. It …

Praying when life is unfair

A sermon by Rod Benson Luke 18:1-8 Paddy was driving down the street in a sweat. He had an important meeting to attend, and he was running late, and he was having great difficulty finding a parking spot. Looking up to heaven, he said, โ€œLord, take pity on me. If you find me a parking …

Should Christians support the death penalty?

As I write, Australian citizens Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, two of the infamous โ€œBali Nine,โ€ face imminent execution by firing squad in Indonesia on drug trafficking convictions. Other Australians have faced similar fates, including Kevin Barlow and Brian Chambers, executed in Malaysia in 1986 for drug trafficking; Nguyen Tuong Van, hanged in 2005 for …