Inside Australia’s Hate Speech Backflip and what it means for Faith Communities

A special edition of The Pastor’s Heart –

“A roller-coaster week for religious freedom in Australia.

In just days, sweeping Australian national legislation moved from deeply alarming to not great, but not terrible — after intense pressure from faith leaders across the country.

In this special bonus episode of The Pastor’s Heart, we speak with Michael Stead, Bishop of South Sydney and director of Freedom for Faith, who had a front-row seat as the law was debated, amended, and finally passed late at night in Parliament.

What was originally proposed? Why did faith leaders unite in an extraordinary last-minute letter to the Prime Minister? Which parts of the bill remain concerning — and which dangers were narrowly avoided?

We walk through how the law was actually made — and what it now means for preaching, Bible teaching, protest, and free speech in Australia.”

– Watch or listen here.

The message of the National Day of Mourning for Bondi

“ ‘Today we remember, honour and mourn our fellow Australians who were robbed of their lives on December 14 last year,’ said the Archbishop of Sydney on the National Day of Mourning, ‘and we express our sympathy and solidarity with all who grieve their loss.’…”

– At SydneyAnglicans.net, Russell Powell reports on today’s National Day of Mourning for the victims of the terror attack at Bondi.

Here is a statement from Archbishop Kanishka Raffel.

Communique from the GSFA Primates, 21 January 2026

“We, Primates of the Global South, met in Victoria, Mahe, the Seychelles, from 14-17 January 2026 for our first in person meeting since the inauguration of the GSFA’s Covenant Structure at our First Assembly (9th Trumpet) in Egypt in June 2024.

As we met to pray, worship and take counsel together, the Seychelles national motto ‘Finis coronat opus’ (the end crowns the work) reminded us of the biblical truth that we should be steadfast in those things which are of eternal worth and not be driven off course by passing cultural fashions, so that what we build may be sound and stand the test of time. …”

– Full statement at the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches website.

A new era for Australian evangelical university ministry

The Pastor’s Heart this week:

“As a new year begins, Australian evangelical student ministry is marking a significant leadership transition.

After 23 years of stable and influential leadership, Richard Chin has handed over the leadership of the Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students to Pete Sorrenson. The handover was symbolically marked at the Big National Conference in Canberra last December, where Richard preached the first half of the conference and Pete the second.

We step back to reflect on what the Chin era has meant for Australian evangelicalism. How has campus ministry shaped churches, training colleges and mission agencies over the past four decades? What has changed on university campuses since the turn of the millennium? And what kind of AFES will be needed for the next generation of students?

Long-standing campus leaders Tim Thorburn and Andrew Sennett, offer perspectives from both metropolitan and regional university contexts.

The discussion moves beyond gratitude and legacy to ask harder, forward-looking questions. If many of the theological and ministry convictions once championed by AFES are now mainstream, what is AFES uniquely for today? Are inherited evangelism models still effective on contemporary campuses? How central should international student ministry be? And does Australia’s increasingly fragmented university landscape require more than one model of campus ministry?”

– Watch or listen here.

Courageously Staying in The Church of England

From Church Society –

“Lee Gatiss, Chris Moore and Ros Clarke discuss what it takes to stay in the Church of England and faithfully contend for the gospel.”

– Listen here.

Pray for Iran

A prayer update from Gafcon:

“As the nations groan under injustice and violence, we are called to pray with clarity and hope. Today, let us be especially mindful of Iran and its people, where reports continue of brutal repression, widespread arrests, and the silencing of those who cry out for freedom. Pray for an end to violence, for the protection of innocent civilians, and that the weak, the poor, and the oppressed would be defended and upheld.

Pray that God would intervene in the hearts of those who wield power and weapons: that security forces would restrain themselves, prisoners would be released, and corrupt rulers would be brought to account. Ask for wisdom for world leaders as they consider how to respond, and for justice and peace to prevail where fear and brutality now dominate.

As part of the Gafcon movement, pray with confidence that Christ’s gospel continues to advance even in the darkest places. Give thanks for the many who have turned to Christ in Iran in recent years. Pray for the protection, perseverance, and bold love of Iranian believers, and that through them many more would come to know Jesus, to the glory of God.”

– Source: Gafcon.

Have the bishops put the LLF Travelator into reverse?

“Just over two years ago, an Anglican Futures blogger adopted the concept of the ‘Travelator’ as a way of explaining how the process of changing the Church of England’s practice and teaching about sexual relationships works.

The blog explained how David Porter, the then Archbishop of Canterbury’s Strategy Consultant, ensured that the process would itself become the outcome, by legitimising the questions being asked and preventing any ‘end point’, other than the introduction of blessings and/or same-sex marriage, with the expectation that those who disagree are required to ‘walk together’/ ‘agree to disagree’.

Just like a Travelator – once the first step is taken, there is no way off.

Today, however, some are suggesting that the House of Bishops’ latest statement represents a reversal of the Travelator. If this were true it would be a cause for great rejoicing amongst orthodox Anglicans throughout the Anglican Communion.…”

– Is the LLF Travelator really going into reverse?

Anglican Futures has six reasons why it isn’t.

Faith Leaders “express serious concern regarding the Combatting Antisemitism Hate and Extremism Bill 2026”

A wide range of Faith Leaders, including the leaders of Anglican, Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist, Islamic, Buddhist, and Sikh communities, have written to the Prime Minister expressing “serious concern regarding the Combatting Antisemitism Hate and Extremism Bill 2026, both because of its (perhaps unintended) adverse implications for religious freedom and freedom of expression and the inadequate consultation and review”.

They conclude, “We offer these views in a constructive spirit and stand ready to engage further with all parties to develop appropriate amendments to ensure an appropriate legislative response to hatred and extremism.”

Download the PDF file here.

This is an important letter and deserves wide distribution.

It would also be good to share with your Federal Member of Parliament for their information.

Federal “Hate Crimes” Legislation

Freedom for Faith have added more to their web page of concerns about the proposed Federal Hate Crimes legislation, including the above video from Mike Southon, Executive Director of Freedom for Faith.

If you have concerns about the proposed legislation, this would be a very good time to urgently contact your Federal Member of Parliament – and also to share that page with others.

“Coalition condemns hate speech laws as ‘unsalvageable’”

From a Canberra Times article – mainly on political opposition to the Federal Government’s proposed “hate speech” laws –

“Religious leaders have urged the government to halt and rewrite the laws, saying it may open people up to prosecution over past remarks in its current form.

Anglican Bishop Michael Stead said the reform created a ‘minefield of definitions’ about hate and the bill included a retrospective element in relation to banned groups.

Dr Stead told a parliamentary inquiry on Wednesday the bill could be expanded to claim Christian teaching caused serious harm, leading to a Christian organisation being listed as a hate group. …”

– Read the full report here.

Churchgoers vow to stop donating to collection plates if cash goes towards slavery reparations

“Six in 10 Anglican churchgoers would divert their donations elsewhere if Church [of England] funds were allocated to slavery reparations, a new study has found. …”

– Report from GBNews.

Gafcon: G26 Bursaries Needed

A prayer request from Gafcon:

“As we look ahead to the G26 Bishops Conference in Abuja, Nigeria in March, let us commit ourselves afresh to prayer for God’s financial provision. Pray that the Lord would supply the resources needed to fund additional bursaries, so that bishops are not prevented from attending because of cost.

Pray especially for bishops from the Global South, many of whom are deeply committed to biblical faithfulness but lack the means to fund their travel. Ask that no voice is missing from this historic gathering due to limited finances.

Pray that God would stir generosity among his people—individuals, churches, and partners—to give sacrificially and joyfully. Give thanks for what has already been provided, and ask that the remaining need would be met in full, for the strengthening of Christ’s Church worldwide.

Please give at www.gafcon.org/G26Bursary.”

Source: Gafcon.

Hillsong: mega church in mega property deal

“Hillsong’s sprawling campus in NorWest Sydney is being made to pay its way as a proposal for a huge $1bn development is lodged.

Some 900 units are planned for the site, plus commercial buildings are planned for the site, which benefits from being opposite the Norwest metro station.…’’

– Thanks to John Sandeman for the story.

Image: OpenStreetMap.

Archbishop of Sydney supports calls for a national inquiry into the Bondi Massacre

Here’s a Media Statement from the Archbishop of Sydney:

Media Statement
“This act of evil … deserves the most thorough investigation and response”

The terrorist attack on Jewish Australians celebrating Chanukah at Bondi Beach on 14 December 2025, has produced an outpouring of grief, prayer and support for our fellow Australians in the Jewish community.

This act of evil is an extraordinary event in our history, which has ongoing impacts for all Australians, and therefore deserves the most thorough investigation and response.

Since the attack, the solidarity of communities of faith with the Australian Jewish community has demonstrated our unanimity that all Australians, whatever their faith or cultural background, are entitled to live free from the threat of violence. Our own Christian response is informed by the biblical commands to ‘live peaceably with all, as far as it depends on you’ and to ‘overcome evil with good’ (Romans 12:18, 21).

I commend the State and Federal governments for their actions so far, including the announcement of the Richardson Review into the performance of Australia’s federal intelligence and law enforcement agencies. It will be important to identify any gaps or obstacles to the effective discharge of their duties that may exist.

However, we must go further. I urge our national government to acknowledge the voice of those directly impacted – the families of the victims and the survivors of the attack – and to heed their calls for a national inquiry.

The attack at Bondi represents the culmination of a period of rising antisemitism across the nation, including the firebombing of places of worship, education and commerce, as well graffiti attacks, and destruction of property including in residential areas.

Antisemitism, with its long, tragic and unique history is a threat to all Australians because it suggests that one part of the community is less entitled to the safety and respect that should be enjoyed by all and protected by all.

A national inquiry is an appropriate and essential part of a comprehensive response and recognises the singular and ignominious place that this horrific event now holds in our national life. The lives of 15 innocent Australians demand nothing less.

Archbishop Kanishka Raffel
7 January 2026.

– Source: SydneyAnglicans.net

Image: Archbishop Raffel at the Great Synagogue in Sydney, 18 December 2025.

Church’s net zero crackdown forces parish to rip out new boilers

“The Church of England has ordered a parish to rip out new gas boilers because they are not ‘sustainable’.

Christ Church Chineham, in Basingstoke, Hants, spent £18,200 last year replacing two failing gas boilers, with the new ones expected to last for at least two decades.

But the parish will now be forced to remove the system and pay for an eco-friendly replacement after a church court ruled it had not ‘adequately explored more sustainable options’ before installing them. …”

– Report from The Telegraph, via Anglican Mainstream.