Bishop John

Associate Professor Stuart Piggin (Macquarie University) has been so kind as to allow me to post to our website the notes from his public lecture, William Wilberforce, the Clapham Cabinet, and ‘Liberating the Captives’ in Australia, given on 26 March 2007 at Parliament House, Canberra, to celebrate the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade.

 William Wilberforce is best known for his fight to abolish the Slave Trade in British ships. In his public lecture Professor Piggin talks about William Wilberforce’s involvement in The Clapham Cabinet and the impact that he and the abolition of the slave trade had on Australia. This is church and society; gospel and culture at its thoughtful best.

 William Wilberforce was a member of The Clapham Cabinet

 a group of well-connected Christians of evangelical persuasion who, conspired together for time and eternity at Clapham Common just outside of London. Great Christian enterprise has often been the work of friends who share a passion for the Kingdom.

 William Wilberforce was a Liberator of the Captives.

Mr Wilberforce was sure society was not working in a way consistent with the Kingdom of God and desired to change everything to make it so… after 21 years of struggle, he succeeded in abolishing the slave trade, he asked, what can we abolish next? The gospel must result in the liberation of all, mustn’t it?

 William Wilberforce had a great influence on Australia.

What did Mr Wilberforce do for Australia?… Wilberforce’s influence on Australia summarised…He and his friends at Clapham have influenced an army of ministers, missionaries and teachers, as well as lawyers, farmers, and businessmen to make the colonies the base for their own labours. This godly army abolished transportation, elevated a convict population, and transfused gospel values into your commercial institutions, your banks and newspapers, and your legal system.

Stuart Piggin’s public lecture notes are available here.

See also information on the movie, Amazing Grace, based on the life of William Wilberforce, here.

 Read about William Wilberforce and his friends in the founding of the Church Missionary Society here.

 I was recently interviewed by ABC News Tasmania, along with Archbishop Adrian Doyle, regarding Attorney General Lara Giddings’ recent announcement that she wanted to “work with Greens Leader Nick McKim on rewriting his private member’s bill ” and that “she has the Department of Justice resources at her disposal.”

As the story reported, I am surprised and disappointed by this.

I’m quite dismayed that we would use these resources in this sort of way when we have people in real anguish in our community

We have massive social issues in Tasmania and I’m quite dismayed that we would use these resources in this sort of way when we have people who are in real anguish in our community

Our community is judged by the way we care for the least of our people in terms of least resources and those who have the most need for our love and compassion

Catholic Archbishop of Hobart Adrian Doyle said of the bill,

I think particularly in the light of the fact that this bill was put forward just last year by Mr McKim, and thrown out rather decisively as it was in the Lower House, it never even went to the upper house, I think we’ve got a lot of other issues that we need to be concerned about

My final comment on the fact that the legislation will be revisited,

We’ve looked at this twice, we’ve come to a clear decision and nothing has changed. Say no to this and yes to caring for the Tasmania community in terms of mental health and housing. Let’s get our priorities right here and build a healthy Tasmania

For more on this article and the radio broadcast see Euthanasia debate: Church questions priorities.

See also Euthanasia: birth, death & life Editorial

The Mercury had an excellent Editoral in today’s paper (24 June 2010), titled: Births, deaths and political marriages. My thanks to Philip Young of the The Mercury for emailing the editorial, as below: 

THE Labor State Government has lost none of its zeal for radical change.

It has been punished by voters and become a rump in State Parliament. Its Budget reveals that the economy is fragile and government finances are stretched. Already Labor has been forced to wind back its controversial education reforms.

Yet how does it start its new stint in government? By announcing the most ambitious program of social legislation ever attempted.

Deputy Premier and Attorney-General Lara Giddings wants to make Tasmania the first state in Australia to legalise euthanasia. She wants to allow surrogate mothers to have babies for childless women and she wants to introduce a Charter of Rights, the biggest change to Tasmania’s legal and constitutional arrangements for many decades.

None of this featured in Labor’s recent failed election campaign yet Ms Giddings says she believes there is strong support for the changes in Tasmania.

If that is true, why did Labor not highlight these ideas before the March election, when it was so busy raising the spectre of the Greens and their hidden agenda for radical change?

The State Parliament rejected euthanasia legislation just a few months ago yet here it is again, back on the agenda of the new “progressive” Labor-Green love-in that now governs this state.

Legalised euthanasia redefines the very nature of our society and its principles. The legislation is extremely difficult to frame. Yet such is the know-it-all self-importance of Tasmania’s politicians that they believe Australia’s smallest state parliament should lead the national debate, a debate which is sure to be deeply controversial.

At least euthanasia generates passions. The Charter of Rights is less a debate than a campaign by lobby groups. It is not an issue that preoccupies most voters and it would not stand a chance in a referendum.

If a Charter of Rights is so popular, why has the Federal Government shelved its own plans for a national version?

This newspaper opposes a Charter of Rights because its gives too much influence to the legal system and unelected, unaccountable judges. No one believes that politicians get it right all the time but at least they can be voted out and it is through this democratic system and in parliament that decisions should be made about legislation.

Tasmania is a small and vulnerable state with a lot of work to do to strengthen its economy in difficult times. It needs sensible, down-to-earth policies and clear planning to restore business confidence and reassure voters that a minority government can work for them.

It needs a government that manages change carefully and capably, not one addicted to ambitious reforms that cause enormous upheaval and often fail to meet expectations.

After years of change, the education system has to be stabilised, crowded hospitals need more support and infrastructure must be fixed. These are the issues that have preoccupied voters. The Government should focus less on social engineering and more on helping get Tasmania back on its feet.

In her proposed Charter, Ms Giddings wants to enshrine the right to housing, health and education.

Instead of indulging in such lofty aspirations, it would be better to get on with the business of providing real housing and good hospitals, schools and social services.

See also New life in death Bill

I enjoyed the very good game this morning against Serbia but the 2 – 1 win was not enough to get us through to the next round. Well done Socceroos. Enjoyed the Aussie crowd scenes too. Thanks SBS for fine coverage of the world game  🙂

And now for the World Cup?  Go Argentina!

My Prayer Pilgrimage around Tasmania is now in its fourth week  Chris Sadler (My prayer partner and driver) and myself have enjoyed being on the road meeting and praying with the people of Tasmania.

The map below shows where I have been so far in June.

This week (week starting Sunday 20 June) I am visiting the parishes of Moonah, Bellerive,  West Coast, Wynyard, Circular Head, Burnie, Penguin and Ulverstone, and the Heartz Ministry project.

See Prayer Pilgrimage – week #3 and Prayer Pilgrimage Schedule.

Revd Robert Stanley writes,

Please continue to pray for Bishop John and Chris Sadler (his driver and prayer partner) as they travel around Tasmania serving God’s church. Please pray for safety in their travel, faithfulness in their service and the love of Jesus in their hearts. Please also pray for our state of Tasmania, that God will unlock her shackles and see people turn to Jesus during this time of dedication and commitment to prayer.

See also  Prayer Pilgrimage Purposes & Prayer-final text, Pilgrimage launch – Pentecost Sunday, Prayer Pilgrimage is underway – PTL!, Visiting the prisoner-visiting Jesus, Prayer fuel: our corporate culpability, Praying 4 the heartbeat of God, Praying 4 Parliamentary Leaders, Pilgrimage within a pilgrimage and Sistine Chapel inspires prayer.