What will most Sydney Anglicans do about attempts to introduce gay marriage or euthanasia?
Given our track-record… Not much.
There will be complaints about it from pulpits. A few letters to the Herald. A few in-house blogs at Sydney Anglicans. The Archbishop will make the most of the media opportunities he has. But that will be all. Lots of bark but not much bite.
If you wanted proof of this just look at the recent debate over the introduction of Ethics in place of Scripture. As the Premier announced the changes she noted that 730 of the 745 community submissions were in favour of Ethics continuing. So for all the protests you might have heard at Synod or on this website - only 15 were sufficiently bothered to write a submission. If you were sitting in Cabinet what would you conclude?
What would it take to end our political passivity? Why expect that our contribution to debates like euthanasia or gay marriage will be any different?
There is a real danger that the right ministry priority of proclaiming the Gospel in our churches ends up silencing any prophetic engagement to the world around. I don't underestimate the complexity of the church/state relationship and the difficulties any such engagement brings. It is much simpler to sit back and feel besieged, tut tut as the world around you changes, and look forward to the return of Jesus when all will be well. And frankly who has the energy to campaign such unpopular causes when there is so much to be done to put our own house in order?
As evangelicals this lack of social engagement is odd and may betray a lack of love for the city around us.
Let me suggest 6 things that might be done differently:
1. Pray - start with the Lord's prayer - your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Pray for our leaders that they will rule with justice.
2. Some of our people will need to enter the political fray. Perhaps some of the best and brightest university students. Maybe the 50 year old barrister. They'll need support. When the Labor Party debates gay marriage next year at their Conference will we be passive bystanders or have seats at the table?
3. Have someone in each parish that takes on important issues as 'ethical hobbies' they are informed about and engage with.
4. Lets not just be seen as reactionary negative wowsers but also look to see where we can genuinely act for good in our society, promoting good relationships and justice.
5. Lets be theologically driven as we think about politics. We need to speak graciously and in love to the complexities of the world around us. That can start in our pulpits but must not end there.
6. Let's also decide when we need to speak bluntly. What issues would be serious enough to name from the pulpit and say - you should not vote for a party that has this at the heart of its agenda.
