ࡱ> ceb%` MKbjbj"x"x 8^@@MC)))))4.********.......$/h18@. -** - -@.**U.--- - **.- -.---** pfQ$)--.k.0.-)3-")3-)3-D*+h-+T=,***@.@.-***. - - - -|D|  Organisation Name: FULL GOSPEL ASSEMBLY MELBOURNE If this is a group submission, briefly describe the objectives and activities or affiliation of your organisation. Full Gospel Assembly Melbourne (FGAM) is a Christian Church organisation providing pastoral care to members from diverse multi-cultural backgrounds, including Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Vietnam, Australia, Hong Kong, Mainland China, Taiwan, Korea, PNG, Indonesia and Europe. Approximately how many members are in your organisation? 450 Is your organisation affiliated with or associated with any religious or interfaith or civil or community organisations? FGAM is one of the churches within the denomination of Associated Christian Ministries (ACM), which links approximately 60 churches across Australia. FGAM is further affiliated with International City Church in Brisbane as well as with a network of Asian Churches across the Melbourne Metropolitan area, representing approximately 2,000 members. Is your organisation an interfaith organisation? No. We are a Christian Church. Have you participated in any interfaith service or activity during 2007/2008? No. Is there an interfaith body in your area, either locally or regionally? We are not aware of such an organisation in our area. Did you participate in any of the group consultations held in all states and territories for this report? No. Note: This Submission has been prepared in consultation with the Elders and Pastors of the congregation and it specifically addresses Points 2 and 3 of the 7 issues identified in the Submission Template. A further aspect of the Submission is provided under the final Section 8 Additional Areas of Concern or Interest 2 Religion and the State the Constitution, roles and responsibilities This is about assessing existing legislative protection of freedom of religion and belief, and its practice and expression in Australia, as expressed in the Constitution. Within this, what are the roles and responsibilities of spiritual and civil societies and do these need to be codified in law? Section 116 of the Commonwealth of Australian Constitution Act states that: The Commonwealth shall not make any law for establishing any religion, or for imposing any religious observance, or for prohibiting the free exercise of any religion, and no religious test shall be required as a qualification for any office or public trust under the Commonwealth. 2.1 The Constitution 1. Is this section of the Constitution an adequate protection of freedom of religion and belief? As we understand the Australian Constitution, it did not set out to protect the freedom of religion and belief, as those matters were outside the responsibilities of Government. At the time the Australian Constitution was created the population was overwhelmingly Christian in outlook, as reflected in the reference to Almighty God in the Constitution. Section 116 was included in the Constitution to restrict the Government from interfering in matters of religion and from creating its own religious body. That Section, therefore, does not aim to protect the freedom of religion and belief. It was not intended to. Freedom of religion and belief is protected by the natural human rights of individuals, as recognised in the history of the British Isles, which provided its Christian history as the basis for the nation of Australia. There is, therefore, already adequate protection of freedom of religion and belief passed to us from the pre-existing legal system which we inherited. No further laws or Governmental interference was needed at the time of Federation, nor is it needed now. 2. How should the Australian Government protect freedom of religion and belief? The main protection of religious freedom by the Australian Government was put in place at Federation, by Section 116. That provision restricted, rather than encouraged the Governments interference on matters of religion. The best way for the Australian Government to protect freedom of religion and belief is to respect its responsibility not to interfere in matters of religion and belief. 3. When considering the separation of religion and state, are there any issues that presently concern you? We are of the understanding that the Australian Government is obligated to respect the Christian religion as its first and foremost responsibility. As we understand it, the Australian people who voted for the Australian Constitution which created this great nation declared themselves to do so humbly relying on the blessing of Almighty God. (Refer to the opening paragraph of the Australian Constitution) Australia does not have separation of religion and state. Australia has an avowed commitment to the Christian god. We note that each session of the Australian Parliament starts with prayer to the same God. We also understand that one of the questions in Australia's citizenship test is about the basis of Australia's values. Possible answers are (a) teaching of the Koran; (b) the Judeo-Christian tradition; (c) Catholicism; (d) Secularism. According to the Australian Government, the correct response to that questions was (b) the Judeo-Christian tradition. We understand, therefore, that Australia is a Christian nation, legally, on the basis of its Constitution and on the basis of its Parliamentary practice. We are therefore surprised that you suggest there is separation of religion and state. We do not find that phrase in the Australian Constitution, and Australia is based on its Constitution, not the words used by the media or by others. 4. Do religious or faith-based groups have undue influence over government and/or does the government have undue influence over religious or faith based groups? We are particularly conscious of the Victorian Governments Religious Vilification legislation and we see that legislation as evidence of governments seeking to have undue influence over religion. 5. Would a legislated national Charter of Rights add to these freedoms of religion and belief? We do not believe so. Since our freedoms of religion come to us as a pre-existing right which the British culture had in place long before Australia was discovered, and that British legal understanding came to Australia at its creation, we see no reason to meddle with what has worked effectively for centuries. Please remember that Section 116 of the Australian Constitution clearly aims to restrict Government interference in matters of religion, so it is inappropriate for Governments to ignore that restriction and seek to legislate on matters of religion, even if in a Charter of Rights. Note that many of our members have come to Australia from nations where Governments have legislated regarding religion, including Malaysia and China. We are aware of the way Governments can use legislation to oppress people of faith. We therefore value and seek to defend the provisions of Section 116 of the Australian Constitution so far as they restrict the Government from involvement in matters of faith and religion. 2.2 Roles and responsibilities 6. a) What are the roles, rights and responsibilities of religious, spiritual and civil society (including secular) organisations in implementing the commitment to freedom of religion and belief? Through the past 1,000 years of British history, freedom of religion and belief has been a natural right, recognised in society, protected by Kings and Queens and fought for by the people. That privilege is enjoyed now, as it has been for centuries. The British came to respect and be committed to the specific religion of Christianity. Legal, Parliamentary and social practices involved prayers, worship and acknowledgment of the Christian God. We refer you to the British national anthem, which was for most of Australias history also the Australian national anthem. It says, God Save the Queen. The society which Australia inherited from the British and willingly put in place for itself is one that is also completely committed to the religion of Christianity. All freedoms, including the freedom of religion and belief, are subject to acknowledgment of the Christian God. All freedoms come from him. Therefore Australian society, both religious and civil, must acknowledge the Christian God and uphold the moral and social principles which he gives us. When peoples religion or beliefs prompt them to violate the moral and social principles which we have from the acknowledgment of the Christian God, then those actions will be out of order. They will be so, not because of religious attitudes, but because they will involve the breaking of the Australian law, since the Australian law is based on the moral and social principles passed to us by centuries of acknowledgment of the Christian God. All Australian organisations simply need to obey those laws which come to us as the product of our Christian heritage. There is no need for any other instrumentality or imposition to be made than what is already in place. b) How should this be managed? Maintaining the law should be managed as it always has been, by law abiding citizens, appropriate prosecution of felons, and an effective and honest judiciary. 7. How can these organisations model a cooperative approach in responding to issues of freedom of religion and belief? The starting point is acknowledgment of the forgotten fact that Australia as a nation is built upon the values laid down by the Christian god. That is not simply some sentimental notion, but the legal reality of Australias heritage and the explicit statement of its Constitution. While Australians pretend that they are not a Christian nation with a very clear Christian heritage, built on Christian principles, under the authority of the Christian god they will become mired in confusion and opposing moral and legal standards. The only way forward is to maintain what has been our heritage for the past centuries, and to defend what is in place legally within our Constitution. 8. How well established and comprehensive is the commitment to interfaith understanding and inclusion in Australia at present and where should it go from here? The interfaith process in Australia is muddied by confusion about Australias heritage and the significance of the Christian god in our legal structures. Interfaith tends to assume that all religions have equal voice in Australia. That cannot be so when the Australian Constitution and the on-going practice of the Australian Government clearly involves acknowledgement of the Christian god. Trying to create an interfaith culture in the face of our legal reality is like a man trying to have a mistress live in his home, alongside his wife. We have not divorced the Christian god. We cannot mock his legal position. Because the Australian people have lost sight of their legal situation, they have failed to communicate it to people of other faiths, giving those other people the impression that Australias morality, legal structures and spiritual basis is up for grabs. This is not the case. We do not need and will not make place for a morality, legal system or spiritual basis which displaces the Christian god. We simply cannot have such a situation, or we mock our own existence. We are Australians, based on a heritage and Constitution. If we ignore those things, then we are not Australians any more. Many of the members of our organisation chose to live in Australia specifically because of its Christian heritage and the Christian nature of its legal structure and Constitution. We do not approve of any attempts to undermine that in any way. 3 Religion and the State - practice and expression The emergence of a multi-faith Australia has brought issues regarding religious expression to the fore in debates, politically and culturally. This area is about balancing the expectations of faith-based organisations with civil society organisations. 1. What are some consequences of the emergence of faith-based services as major government service delivery agencies? As outlined in Section 2, we recognise that Australia is a Christian nation, because it exists on the basis of the Australian Constitution which clearly identifies the Christian god as the only religious being impacting this nation. While it is appropriate for faith-based organisations to administer services to their members and to function as delivery agencies on behalf of the government, those other faiths must take their place, legally, as holding less significance in this nation than Christianity. The governments willingness to engage those other faiths may mislead them into assuming legal or social privileges beyond what is theirs according to the Australian Constitution. 2. How should government accommodate the needs of faith groups in addressing issues such as religion and education, faith schools, the building of places of worship, religious holy days, religious symbols and religious dress practices? Issues affecting faith groups should be dealt with as sympathetically as possible, with the over-riding reality of the Christian standing of Australia as the basis. Religions which wish to impose practices, morality and legal frameworks inconsistent with the values passed to us through acknowledgment of the Christian god cannot be allowed to impact this nation. Religions should not be allowed to have dress forms that conceal their identity or which enable them to become a threat to security in society. While individuals may worship as they please, they cannot claim their faith as protection from the moral and legal standards upheld by this nation, in accordance with the values passed to us from our Judeo-Christian heritage and acknowledgement of the Christian god. 8 Additional areas of concern or interest What additional issues do you think are relevant to and affect freedom of religion and belief in Australia? Many of our members have come to Australia or been born in Australia to parents who came to Australia because of the Christian heritage and values of the nation. While some Australians may wish to distance themselves from their Christian heritage we hold to it keenly and object to all attempts to undermine it or remove it. We are proud of Australias Christian heritage and are proud of those Australians who voted for the Australian Constitution with its clear acknowledgment of the Christian god. We remind you that the Australian Constitution commits this nation to the Christian god by the opening paragraph, which says, humbly relying on the blessing of Almighty God. We further remind you that the Australian Parliament commits each session to that same God. Australia IS a Christian nation. It always has been. No matter what people may think, Australia still is a Christian nation. The Australian Constitution still acknowledges the blessing of Almighty God. The Parliamentary sessions still involve prayer to the same God. While we support the idea religious freedom, we do not wish for Australia to become anything other than what it is. We believe there is no better moral and cultural base on which to build a successful nation than on the values given to us from the Christian god. So as Australia moves forward, allowing diversity of culture and thought, we must maintain our moral and social basis. We have a legal obligation to do so, since our only legal commitment is to Almighty God, not any other religion. We want it to be known that we uphold the Australian Constitution. We object to the idea that other religions are equal to the worship of Almighty God. We require Australia to operate by its legal base, the Australian Constitution, and maintain the central place accorded to Almighty God. We believe that all other religions should be required to submit to Almighty God, by way of having to submit to the legal and moral standards which come to us from Christianity. We do not deny those religions the right to flourish, but we do deny their right to break the law, set up their own laws and courts, allow a morality that offends Christian values, or otherwise oppose the place of the Christian god as the god of Australia. Legally, Australia is not a secular society. Australia is legally a Christian nation. Therefore all other religions must accept their place under the constraints which Christianity imposes. This is not a matter of religious superiority or petty religious jealousies. This is the only way we as a nation can establish a moral and legal base for our existence. We must choose one path and one standard. That has been done for us by our ancestors. Now we must stick to it, requiring other values to come into line with the morals and legal values which we have in place. Australian Religion in the 21st Century must be conformed to the core values which we uphold. We are not undecided. We are not seeking to become stuck in the mud of competing values. We have our religion. We have our god. We have our heritage. These things work and have worked at an exemplary level for all of our history. We dare not lose them. We appeal to the Australian people and our Governments to protect and preserve who and what we are as a nation. 6  } + y z  i j o u v MVW&)-JM%7>^ !"ShZOJQJhj$hAc5OJQJhj$OJQJhAchAc5OJQJhAchAcOJQJhAchj$OJQJhAcOJQJE456   } ~  * + y z ~  gdAcMK i j n o u v <&'tuipJgdAcLM~())-`RS "###$gdAcS#$((**R+s+,,7//5379:o<<<<===t>@@?BABBBB CLKMKhAchVkOJQJhfhAc5OJQJhfOJQJhZOJQJhAchAcOJQJhZhAc5OJQJ#$$O%%&'((s*Q+R+s+t+,,,,--.6/7///r0`1A2345gdAc55556637478/999::w;<===>>t>u>??j@AvABCgdAcCrDEFGGHI~IIJJKKLKMKgdAc 6&P 1h:p>. 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