Father Chris | Performing arts
Father Chris
Phone: +61 8 6292 0074
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25.01.2022 My sermon for today on the so-called Parable of the Talents, which I call the Parable of the Three Portfolio Managers. 'So, you see, the appropriation of this Parable of the Three Portfolio Managers as a lesson in obedience and financial responsibility was not accidental. It is so much safer to frame the story as a tale of prudent business practices because that won’t threaten the neo-liberal narrative of personal advancement through diligence and loyalty. But when we read the text that is actually there, not the text as we would prefer to read it, we read a story of defiance and truth-telling, the exposé of a cruel and exploitative master and the nonviolent resistance of an ordinary person. And the outcome is all too familiar the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, and the prophet gets cast out.'
24.01.2022 My sermon today is the last in a series called 'Getting Ready for the End of the World'. https://www.hillsanglicans.com//sermon-sunday-20-december- 'God doesn’t call peoples or individuals in order to give them nice things. Normally, when God calls someone, God makes their life more difficult.'
24.01.2022 I wrote today to my local member and the Minister for Foreign Affairs about Australia's response to the impending annexation by Israel of further territory in the West Bank. This is not a pathway to peace, it is a barrier. If Australia wants to be a good friend to Israel and advance the cause of a 'two state solution', then our government should oppose further annexation. A just peace cannot be enacted while further land grabs are taking place in land designated for a future Palestinian state. If you'd like to send a message to our elected leaders, you can do so by writing a letter yourself, or signing this petition created by Act for Peace: https://actforpeace.good.do/NoToAnnexation/sendemail/
23.01.2022 I know that many of you are taking steps to respond to white supremacy, racist systems and hate speech. Giving $20 today to Common Grace was something I could do, and I encourage you to give as well.
23.01.2022 It was a brisk evening, but we gathered in Murray Street Mall to bear witness to the cruelty and injustice inflicted on Priya and her family. Every step of the way, they have been denied procedural fairness and basic human rights. But there is a community in Biloela and a community here in Perth who want to stand for their dignity, and continue to advocate for their freedom. Please join me in prayer and action to bring this family #HomeToBilo
21.01.2022 Have you been receiving the daily devotionals from Common Grace this Advent? I have been enjoying the chance to read short reflections from different theological traditions, and also the opportunity to hear from First Nations voices. This year, I'm one of the contributors too. I'm not going to tell you which day is mine (mainly because I can't remember). But I encourage you to sign up at https://www.commongrace.org.au/advent_for_the_weary
20.01.2022 Today's sermon is on Matthew 16:21-28. 'I was horrified this week to hear US Vice President Mike Pence, a conservative Christian who believes that the scriptures are the inspired word of God, harness the linguistic power of Hebrews chapter 12 in support of nationalist fervour. By mangling scripture and fusing it with national symbols, Pence exemplified the core dysfunction of modern Christianity, in that it has been the uncritical bedfellow of nations and empires for too long.'
19.01.2022 UnPresidented Times is shaping up to be an amazing show. But the 7.00pm show on Saturday 19 December is now SOLD OUT. There are still tickets for the 9.00pm show. Why not get a feed and some drinks beforehand, then come to the show afterwards? Tickets are selling fast for the remaining show at 9.00pm. Don't miss out! Book here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/pirate-church-unpresidented
19.01.2022 Its good to be back, listening and growing.
18.01.2022 The stories of gender-diverse people are not always told. The stories of gender-diverse Christians are even more marginalised. This episode of Compass is a sensitive look into the experience of two trans people who are Christians - one of them an Anglican priest. It is well worth 24 minutes of your time.
17.01.2022 ' , ; , .' 12:48 Workers need to enter these negotiations in a spirit of collaboration, and in good faith. Employers must take this opportunity to nurture and empower workers, affirming the reality that their profits derive from the hard work of others.... It is not enough to reduce wages and compromise safety in the name of profits. If workers are to absorb temporary pay reductions to help a business stay afloat, then senior personnel need to take significant pay cuts as well. If there are lay offs, this has to include people in management and leadership roles. Share holders need to tolerate lower dividends for a time. If there is a cost to be borne, it must be shared equitably across all levels of a business. We must not pretend that preserving profits for businesses will have a 'trickle down' effect on prosperity for all. The best way to get people spending and supporting other businesses is to keep the minimum wage as high as possible and pay the lowest-paid workers as much as possible. People on lower incomes spend every dollar they receive (trust me, I know!). They create employment for shop assistants and electricians and dance teachers and mechanics - for teachers and solicitors and nurses and farmers. Decreasing the gap between the highest and lowest paid workers has to be a priority if we are to build a prosperous economy for all. I'm glad the union-busting so-called 'ensuring integrity' bill has been withdrawn. It was only ever an opportunity to reduce the bargaining power of workers. Now is the time for workers everywhere to have their say. Join your union, or contribute to the conversation in your organisation. As we are constantly reminded, we are all in this together. All means all. It includes those with significant wealth and resources, not just the lowest paid and hardest working employees. Sacrifices will be necessary. As Jesus said: 'From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.' We are ALL in this together.
16.01.2022 I stand in solidarity with those protesting the murder of George Floyd, and with Bishop Mariann and our colleagues in the Diocese of Washington. It is blasphemy to misuse a bible and church building as the backdrop for a message antithetical to the teachings of Jesus. White supremacists and purveyors of violence need to stay right the hell away from our texts and sacred spaces. They are not yours to exploit to advance your quest for power and dominance. ... We follow someone who lived a life of nonviolence and sacrificial love."
16.01.2022 As we continue to reflect on systemic discrimination and injustice for Aboriginal and Torrest Strait Islander people, the Perth Anglican Social Responsibilities Commission (of which I am a part) has offered the following statement.
15.01.2022 I am a priest. I am a worker. I am a recipient of the JobKeeper stimulus payment. I receive payment of about $84,000 per year for the work I do....Continue reading
13.01.2022 The treatment of Priya, Nades, Kopika and Tharunicaa has been vindictive in the extreme. This is not about legal niceties or about supposed 'border protection'. This is about a family who sought safety from Australia, and who were provided with it by the Queensland country town of Biloela. They worked and paid taxes. They became beloved by the community. But they have been targeted by the Federal Government, who have made them into high profile scapegoats. This is a sin that ...cries out to heaven for justice. If you are in Perth, and it's safe for you to do so, I invite you to join me tomorrow evening at 5.30pm in Murray Street Mall to publicly declare our opposition to this cruelty, and to affirm our support for just, equitable and safe treatment of people seeking asylum. Of course, you and I will both be wearing face masks, physically distancing and ensuring personal hygiene. We will do so out of love for one another - and out of love for this beautiful family who just want a safe, quiet life amongst a community who misses them and wants them home. Here's the event link for tomorrow night: https://www.facebook.com/events/219177672675518/
11.01.2022 Robodebt was a cruel, ideologically driven attack on the poor. Information from the Department of Human Services points to numerous needless deaths of people who were targeted by the scheme. Its intention was to foster shame amongst people who had received government benefits, and to perpetuate a narrative that people who receive welfare payments are liars, criminals and thieves. It failed thanks to a grassroots coalition who thoroughly discredited the scheme and exposed its ...agenda. It's quite a few years since I've been on a government welfare payment, and I hope I don't need one again any time soon. But if the time comes, I will not be ashamed to draw support from the collective to get me through a rough patch. No one should be made to feel like dirt because they access communal support. Until there is universal employment, we need to ensure a simple, accessible form of income support without ideological agendas attached. Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me. Matthew 25:40
10.01.2022 I love these small acts of defiance because they remind us that history is not a static discipline. It is good to contest the prioritisation of particular narratives in our public spaces. Sometimes this is done with new symbols and language, like Yagan Square and the new WA Museum Boola Bardip. Sometimes it is done by exposing inconvenient truths, such as these actions by The Statue Review. Its not a question of whether anyone likes or agrees with the action. The important thing is that we talk about the legacies of violence and dispossession. Do we want to decorate our public spaces with the names and images of those who were complicit in such acts? Or is it time to start telling a new story?
09.01.2022 Facebook has inconveniently discontinued the 'notes' app. So you will need to click through to read today's sermon on Matthew 16:13-20. https://www.hillsanglicans.com/news/sermon-sunday-23-august
08.01.2022 Opposition to abortion is not the only element of a Pro-Life moral position. To be truly Pro-Life, one must have concern for people in aged care facilities and those with immune disorders. Pro-Life means you are on the side of those in poverty and those without access to medical care. Defence of life in all circumstances is the moral foundation. It is no sin to be concerned about the use of tissue from a foetus that was voluntarily terminated. For some people, this concern is... grounded in deep ethical principles. One doesn't have to share those principles to understand that they are sincerely held. But during a global pandemic which has led to enormous loss of life and livelihood, is it wise to question the ethics of one of the potential vaccines? Is it gracious to write an open letter, foster a media frenzy and sow confusion? Mud sticks, and there will be people who latch on to this letter by the three Archbishops and delay or avoid a vaccine. Was this letter truly a Pro-Life act? I think not. What's more, when faith leaders make what appears to be an ill-timed and reckless intervention during a massive community crisis, are they proclaiming good news? Have they endeared people to their faith, and drawn people to the God they serve? I doubt it. Just as the organs from a person killed in a tragic accident can give life to another, so might the cell lines of a foetus from fifty years ago. When a vaccine becomes available, even if there are concerns about the source of some of the cell lines used in development, it will be a Pro-Life act to receive the vaccine. To be vaccinated will be to protect and defend vulnerable lives. I will have no hesitation receiving the vaccine from Oxford or any other source.
08.01.2022 I encourage you to follow Boorloo Justice if you are in Perth. This page amplifies the voices of Aboriginal leaders in this area.
07.01.2022 This week's sermon is somewhat rambly and goes on rather a lot about history. Be #blessed by it (or not, you do you fam)
07.01.2022 I have been reluctant to weigh in on the comments of Perth's Lord Mayor. Obviously they were crude and offensive. But I wasn't sure I could add much to the outrage, nor offer anything constructive. But my friends at Social.Justice.Church, a congregation in the Perth CBD, have responded with clarity and grace. 'We know that the church has not always been a safe place for LGBTIQ+ people and continues not to be so in many places. But if we can change, so can the Lord Mayor'... Amen.
07.01.2022 Fancy a trip to the Perth hills on Sunday?
07.01.2022 We be pleased to announce our Christmas madness fer 2020! Get out yer pocketbooks and put a mark on the nineteenth day o'December, it being a Saturday and all. ...The shows will be in the eventide, comedy during daylight hours bein' a tool of the Scourge. Ye can get yer tickets soon enough, so don't be wailing about it.
07.01.2022 In the story of nonviolent direct action in the lands we now call Australia, Vincent Lingiari and the Gurindji people loom large. Their resistance and their commitment to nonviolence are iconic. Do yourself a favour and listen to this new arrangement of 'From Little Things Big Things Grow'. It is beyond beautiful, and features (with permission) the voice of Vincent Lingiari and new lyrics in language.
06.01.2022 Let's all just sit with this juxtaposition, shall we?
06.01.2022 I'm leading a trip to the Holy Land! Next year, November 17-30. I'm pretty excited. This is not just any trip. I've worked with Mejdi Tours to develop a unique program. It is based on their world-renowned 'multiple perspectives' approach. For much of the tour, you'll be led by an Israeli and Palestinian guide in conversation, and you'll have the opportunity to hear from a range of local voices about their perspective on the land. We'll see all the important historical sites, ...and also spend time with peacemakers who are committed to justice. Oh, and I'll be there too - mainly for the jokes. And the food. You can join the tour from anywhere in the world. The cost of the tour is based on numbers attending, and you'll be responsible for your own airfare. Many people will want to add on extra days, and I encourage that. Of course, thinking about international travel at the moment is very weird. You're probably wondering about safety and vaccines and, let's be honest, whether your money will be safe. So here's the good news: at the moment, we're just collecting expressions of interest. You don't have to put money down until August - we'll know by then if we need to pull the pin, and obviously I won't be putting you or myself at risk. So, if you're interested, click the link below and read more. If you're REALLY interested, click where it says 'INTEREST FORM' and register your interest. https://www.mejditours.com/open-tour/pilgrimsandpeacemakers/
05.01.2022 My sermon today debunks the idea that 'where two or three are gathered in my name' is a lovely saying for when hardly anyone shows up to something. It's actually about how to kick someone out of church. It's terribly cheerful and upbeat, I hope you enjoy it.
05.01.2022 This is hopefully the end of a long struggle for the Yindjibarndi people and their right to self-determination and sovereignty. Lets hope this enables the people to feel secure and connected to Country, and empowered to determine their own future.
04.01.2022 This Sunday, I am looking forward to being one of the hosts for Bridges to Peace - Interfaith Gathering. We look forward to welcoming Ken Hayward, who will contribute to the Listening Circle question 'What Matters?'
04.01.2022 Prisons are expensive, counter-productive and cruel. Prisons do not rehabilitate people who have been convicted of a crime. Many, many criminals don't go to prison! But people of colour, people on a low income and people with disabilities are much more likely to be sentenced to prison. Prisons should be a last resort, for people who are a danger to themselves or to the community. Easy to say, but what's the alternative?... It's called Social Reinvestment. Social Reinvestment is evidence-based. It is cheaper than prisons. It changes communities so that crimes are less common. When communities have secure housing and food sources, steady jobs, access to recreation and education, outlets for creativity and assistance to navigate bureaucracy - they thrive! Who would have thought that the way to reduce crime is to have strong, healthy communities? (Hint: lots of people) Social Reinvestment takes the money we spend on prisons, and puts it into community development. It provides traineeships and scholarships, it pays health and welfare workers, it funds art and sporting activities, it provides programs that divert people from crime into healthier paths. It decreases crime and increases wellbeing. Ending prison sentences for unpaid fines is a good start. It needs to be matched by more policy and legislative change to 'build communities not prisons'. If you want to stay informed about developments in WA, I encourage you to support Social Reinvestment WA. They have campaigned for the change in law about fine defaults. They are Aboriginal-led. They are evidence-based, sensible and realistic. Find out more at: https://www.socialreinvestmentwa.org.au
02.01.2022 Today's sermon is on the parable of the Idiot King (or something). I once accidentally went to Meryl Streep's birthday party at a cabaret club in New York. That is irrelevant to the sermon, but an interesting factoid nonetheless.
02.01.2022 Going live at 11.30am Perth time.
