Church authorities in Western Australia have temporarily lifted a ban on primary school scripture material from Sydney's Anglican Youthworks. The turnaround follows a review last month that found many teachers are unhappy with the approved syllabus, Religion in Life, and want to keep using the Youthworks Connect resource in the classroom.

Controversial new guidelines that will keep known sex offenders within church congregations were revealed by Sydney Diocese's Professional Standards Unit Director, Philip Gerber, at a meeting hosted by the NSW Provincial Media Commission last month.

Federal Minister for Education Brendan Nelson admits he does not read his Bible regularly, mainly doing so when times are tough, and regrets that others do not as well.

It was a cold Monday, the night of August 9, and the clock had just struck 10pm. It was the end of an exhaustive debate at a special meeting of Sydney's Standing Committee, and a consensus had finally been reached. No law would be introduced at Synod allowing lay people the right to administer the Lord's Supper.

The Marriage Amendment Bill 2004 was passed in the Senate on 13 August by a vote of 38 to six, nine days after the Great Hall at Canberra's Parliament House overflowed with more than 1000 Christians, politicians, academics and concerned community members who gathered to express their support for ‘traditional' marriage.

On July 4 Donald Robinson Village (DRV), the newest Anglican Retirement Village at Kirrawee, celebrated independence by commencing its own 5pm Sunday church service.

Jason*, 17, from South-West Sydney, has a history of criminal behaviour including assault and drug use. After a series of cautions he was put into detention. While inside, Jason incited more violence. The teenager was put through a rehabilitation scheme run by the Department of Juvenile Justice. After a week, he was chosen to take part in Anglican Youthworks' Challenge Program, the result of a new partnership between Youthworks and the NSW Government.

In 1970 Ralph Bowles' father died. It was, says Ralph, a period of very great turmoil. In the midst of that pain and sadness, Ralph, aged 17, placed his life into the hands of his Heavenly Father. And Ralph couldn't wait to share the good news. He recalls, “very early on I was active in bringing some of my school friends to faith and into the life of the local church.”