Category: Australia

Revd Dave Smith on the Pandemic and Social Justice in Australia

Reverend Dave Smith, also known as Father Dave or the Fighting Father, is an Anglican priest who served as parish priest for 30 years in Sydney’s inner-west. It was here he became known for his work with at-risk youth and was nominated three times for Australian of the Year.

He took up professional boxing in 1996 to help fund his youth programs and is currently Australia’s oldest active professional fighter. Father Dave is also well known for his social justice advocacy and inter-faith work. He is the father of four children and the author of two books, the most recent being “Christians and Muslims can be friends” (2020)

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Your Peacemaker E-News

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I am pleased to be able to share with you news of my recent visit to Australia, as well as current and future projects. Thank you so much for being a member of the Peacemaker Team. (Photo of Revd Ian Smith, Executive Officer of the Victorian Council of Churches and the Right Revd Philip Huggins, President of the National Council of Churches in Australia)

Read the latest Peacemaker e-News here

Australian Lecture Tour

 

IMG_2988-2In March, I was invited to give a series of lectures on a biblical perspective on Israel and the Church in several theological colleges, churches and conferences in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, Australia. I was also interviewed for several local and national radio stations and led the staff devotions for World Vision Australia.

The tour was sponsored by Fighting Fathers, the Palestine Israel Ecumenical Network, Friends of Sabeel Australia, the Surrender Conference, World Vision Australia and the Peacemaker Trust. Continue reading →

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

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While in Melbourne recently, David Rutledge, a national radio presenter for the Australian Broadcast Corporation (ABC), interviewed me for a Radio National Breakfast programme aired on Good Friday. David wanted to interview me about Christian Zionism and its destructive influence in the Middle East, about antisemitism and Israel. We  also discussed the work of Peacemaker Trust and the meaning of Easter. David had clearly researched the subjects carefully and his questions were challenging but fair.

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Seen here with Revd Dave Smith, vicar of Holy Trinity, Dulwich Hill, Sydney

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Church and State

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During my visit to Melbourne I was introduced to some very special people.  I enjoyed a breakfast with the Right Revd Philip Huggins, Assistant Bishop of Oodthenong, in the Diocese of Melbourne and Rev Ian Smith, Executive Officer of the Victorian Council of Churches. Bishop Philip is also President of the National Council of Churches in Australia. He has a strong interest in and actively contributes to welfare and multi-cultural issues and activities. We spoke of his forthcoming visit to Ramallah and burden for justice and peace in Israel-Palestine.

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Politics in the Pub

I was a delight to be invited by the Palestine Israel Ecumenical Network (PIEN) to give a presentation at the Royal Oak Hotel while in Melbourne recently. They asked me to talk about the historical roots and political agenda of Christian Zionism.

My presentation was based on two of the chapters from my book, Christian Zionism: Roadmap to Armageddon?

Christian Zionism Master Theology (part 2)
Christian Zionism Master Politics (part 3)

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3CR Community Radio Melbourne

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While in Melbourne recently I recorded an exhilarating interview with Robert Martin for 3CR Community Radio. We discussed the destructive impact of Christian Zionism on achieving a just and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians. We had way too much fun making the programme.  Listen to the programme here

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Sunday Night with Lynn Arnold

 

The Revd Dr Lynn Arnold, the former Premier of South Australia and CEO of World Vision Australia, interviewed me for 1079 Life  during the recent lecture tour of Australia. 

Lynn is an Anglican priest and a former Australian politician who represented the South Australian Branch of the Australian Labor Party, serving as Premier of South Australia between 4 September 1992 and 14 December 1993.

After leaving politics, Arnold served as Chief Executive at World Vision Australia from 1997 to 2007, and for Anglicare SA since March 2008.

In 2003 he was appointed Regional Vice President of World Vision International for the Asia Pacific Region, based in Bangkok, Thailand. In October 2006 he was appointed Senior Director (Board Development & Peer Review) for World Vision International, heading a team assisting World Vision boards and advisory councils in the development of their governance capacity and also for administering Peer Review programs in World Vision partnerships.

In November 2013 he was ordained a deacon in the Anglican Church. In December 2014 he was ordained priest in St Peter’s Cathedral, Adelaide.

You can listen to the three part interview here.