New federal hate speech laws- impact on religious freedom?

Associate Professor Neil Foster shares his opinion on the ‘“Hate Speech” laws –

“After the dreadful terrorist incident at Bondi on December 14 2025, where 15 folk from the Jewish community were murdered, the Federal government has introduced new ‘hate speech’ laws at the national level.

Whenever there is a proposal to target ‘hate speech’ there is always a potential danger that unpopular religious views will be caught up in the ban. However, it seems that the recently enacted changes will have little impact on religious freedom in Australia, except where religion is offered as a reason to justify calls for violence against others.

In this post I will try to spell out what the changes are, and why they seem to be a reasonable response to the danger of terrorist violence. …”

He does note that, “Perhaps surprisingly there is no clear definition of ‘hate group’ provided in the amendments.”

– Read it all at Law and Religion Australia.

170 Years of Moore Exhibition

From Moore Theological College:

“The Donald Robinson Library is celebrating the College’s 170th anniversary with a special exhibition on the Lower Ground Floor, featuring archival items from across the College’s history.

The display starts with Thomas Moore and the College’s early days in Liverpool, followed by items showcasing its growth and expansion.

The second part of the exhibition features documents from the lives of three key Principals (Nathaniel Jones, T.C. Hammond and D.B. Knox), alongside informal photographs and student-led publications giving an insight into the College’s communal life.

On display now until 19th June.”

Source: Moore College.

The influence of reading

Ian Carmichael – with Matthias Media from the start (when they were known as St Matthias Press!) – shares some thoughts about reading:

“It will, I’m sure, come as no surprise to you that I am a reading enthusiast. But I don’t mean I read enthusiastically; I don’t. I generally find reading quite hard work (especially reading whilst remaining awake – which I concede is the more effective of the two modes of reading). No, I am a reading enthusiast because I believe wholeheartedly in its benefits. I am confident of its benefits generally and its benefits for our growth and maturity as Christians.

An organization in Australia called Australia Reads is on a mission to get more Australians reading, and they’ve published a significant report into the reading habits of Aussies in the hope of revealing potential strategies for achieving that mission.

I have now read that report. (See, their mission is working already!) …”

– Read it here.

Admittedly, this is could be a plug to buy books from Matthias Media (their New Year sale ends tomorrow!), but it’s also encouragement to church leaders to set an example in reading.

Photo: Ian and Stephanie Carmichael.

The Long Road to the English Bible: William Tyndale’s life and legacy, part 1

A new resource from Tyndale House.

Tony Watkins hosts a new Tyndale House Podcast series as 2026 marks the 500th anniversary of the publication of William Tyndale’s New Testament.

“This is the first episode in our new series exploring William Tyndale’s life, Bible translation, and legacy. Tony Watkins interviews experts in the sixteenth century and the history of the Bible. In this first episode, they explore the history of Bible translation prior to William Tyndale and the cultural context in which he lived and worked.”

– See it here – or direct on YouTube.

Will the new Archbishop of Canterbury be any different?

“The election of the Rt Revd and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury will be confirmed at St Paul’s Cathedral on the 28th January.

She inherits a Church and a Communion in crisis.

It is profoundly regrettable that the lack of decisiveness of Mullally’s predecessors will now become her problem. The failure to deal with progressive teaching at home and abroad, and the fallout that comes from decades of prioritising the reputation of the institution over and above the needs of victims of abuse, means Sarah Mullally has a very full inbox. …”

– Sadly, the writer of this opinion piece at Anglican Futures does not have high expectations.

Where we complementarians can get it wrong with preaching

“Over my past 26 years of ministry, I have become increasingly aware of a problem in the way complementarians teach about who should be allowed to preach.

Let me be clear—I am a complementarian, and I believe that a faithful application of 1 Timothy 2:11–15 includes a prohibition against women authoritatively teaching (now referred to as preaching) to a mixed congregation. I also believe that women who have the gift of preaching should be encouraged, trained, and given appropriate contexts to exercise that gift. I want to affirm and train women in this area.

However, complementarians often speak about 1 Timothy 2:11–15 in isolation from 1 Timothy 3:1–7. …”

– Fiest published in the ACR’s Synod 2025 Journal, Moore College’s Dean of Students Mal York points us to the full context of what Paul says about who should preach.

Image: Mal York preaching at Moore College chapel.

How did we get here? How 1776 culturally and intellectually shaped the post-Christian West

From The Pastor’s Heart –

“Wisdom for pastors seeking to preach and lead well in a post-Christian age.

So much of our culture judges events in isolation — a single moment, a single failure, a single decision — detached from what led to it and what flows from it. But history doesn’t work like that. Events emerge from long trajectories, and they reshape the future in ways no one fully controls or intends.

We’re joined by Archie Poulos, Head of the Ministry Department at Moore Theological College, to reflect on Remaking the World: How 1776 Created the Post-Christian West by Andrew Wilson.

Wilson’s argument isn’t that everything changed overnight in 1776, but that the events clustered around that year give us a window into the forces that have shaped the WEIRDER world we now inhabit — Western, Educated, Industrialised, Rich, Democratic, Ex-Christian and Romantic.

We explore why reading history as an ecosystem rather than isolated episodes matters, why Romanticism isn’t just a past movement but our present operating system, and how Christian faith — offers a deeper, more hopeful way to understand our moment.”

– Watch or listen here.

Anglican Heroes: Josephine Butler — Church Society Podcast

From Church Society:

“Ros Clarke talks to Sarah Allen about the life, faith and work of 19th century social reformer Josephine Butler.”

– Listen here.

God is the Judge of the World

From Phillip Jensen:

“The climax of Paul’s great Athenian sermon is the call of God for all people to repent. But there are some strange elements in this call. One important element is its timing. Another is in the judgement ‘by a man’.

Let’s listen afresh to Paul’s great gospel statement.”

– Here Phillip and Peter Jensen discuss, including the difference between repentance and remorse. Who will judge the world? Why is the Resurrection so important?

The faith of our fathers and my hope for Australia

Andrew Hastie, Federal Member for Canning in Western Australia, shares this thoughts for Australia Day.

Regardless of one’s political persuasion, this is worth reading. It’s also worth contemplating how we might gently point people to true hope in Christ, in whatever realm of life we find ourselves.

And it’s also a reminder to pray for members of Parliament.

“Let me share a memory that gives me hope for my country, from the Sydney suburb of Ashfield, where I saw my father weave together a people from vastly different ethnic groups. And I will offer my thoughts on the kind of politics that will let us repair a fraying nation.

This hope is a gift from my father. At Bondi Beach in 2025, we saw how one man’s hatred was passed to his son. Decades earlier, in Ashfield, my father passed to me his love for others as he faithfully served his church community. His example is why I do not despair for our country and our future. …”

– Read it at his Substack.

Photo: The front doors of Ashfield Presbyterian Church.

Richard Johnson’s Address to the Inhabitants of New South Wales

 

This Australia Day, give thanks once more for the Rev. Richard Johnson, Chaplain to the First Fleet and first Chaplain to the Colony of New South Wales.

In 1792, Johnson wrote a tract designed to be distributed widely in the Colony. He gives his reasons for doing so:

“My Beloved,

I do not think it necessary to make an apology for putting this Address into your hands; or to enter into a long detail of the reasons which induced me to write it.

One reason may suffice. I find I cannot express my regard for you, so often, or so fully, as I wish, in any other way.

On our first arrival in this distant part of the world, and for some time afterwards, our numbers were comparatively small; and while they resided nearly upon one spot, I could not only preach to them on the Lord’s day, but also converse with them, and admonish them, more privately.

But since that period, we have gradually increased in number every year (notwithstanding the great mortality we have sometimes known) by the multitudes that have been sent hither after us. The colony already begins to spread, and will probably spread more and more every year, both by new settlements formed in different places under the crown, and by a number of individuals continually becoming settlers. Thus the extent of what I call my parish, and consequently of my parochial duty, is enlarging daily. On the other hand, my health is not so good, nor my constitution so strong, as formerly. And therefore I feel it impracticable, and impossible for me, either to preach, or to converse with you so freely, as my inclination and affection would prompt me to do.

I have therefore thought it might be proper for me, and I hope it may prove useful to you, to write such an address as I now present you with…”

Johnson’s warm pastoral tone, and his urgent call to trust Christ and to turn from sin, are clearly evident in this Address.

Download An Address to The Inhabitants of The Colonies Established in New South Wales and Norfolk Island as a PDF file here.

(Photo: Richard Johnson’s Address – copy held by Moore College.)

Mentoring 2026

From David Cook at The Expository Preaching Trust –

“Ian Healy believed that one aspect of Shane Warne’s  genius was that he always looked for feedback and who better to give it than his wicketkeeper, Healy.

The Trust makes available preaching mentors, men and women who have had many years of preaching and training experience to give feedback on preaching.

Mentors are available free of charge on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis.

Comments from mentees:

‘…mentoring is the hour each week when I slow down and sharpen the saw. I want to make sure I keep growing sharper in my preparation rather than getting dull over time’.

‘Preaching mentoring is one of the most valuable things I receive, I am a teacher of God’s people, as I am mentored, I have the privilege of being a learner myself’.

One of our mentors, Jenny Salt, adds her encouragement …”

– Read the encouragement here.

A Missing Ingredient in our Sermons and Studies: Biblical Theology

“Imagine a small group of believers gathered in a sweltering church hall after a long day’s work.

As the Bible opens there’s excitement. But there’s also some confusion. Each person brings a different takeaway from the study. One clings to ‘their verse.’ One wonders how the ancient story connects with today. Another debates a fine theological point.

These differences and confusion arise because something is missing: a sense of the grand story God is telling, a thread binding every biblical text and lesson together; in a phrase, we’re missing biblical theology. …”

– At The Gospel Coalition Africa, Fredrick Imbayi reminds of the need for Biblical Theology.

In Sydney, where we are blessed with so much good preaching, it’s easy to take this for granted.

Related:

When the Lights Came On: An Appreciation of Graeme Goldsworthy.

Men Meeting the Challenge Conference 2026

The Men Meeting the Challenge conference for 2026 is coming up at The Kings School on Saturday 14 March.From the organisers:

“This year’s theme, ‘Burn Your Boats: Join the Mission, Change the World’ speaks directly into the lives of men who are juggling work, family, church and many other responsibilities. While life is busy and full, this conference provides an opportunity to pause, refocus, and be reminded of the greater mission God has called us to.

‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.’ (Matt 16:24)

Men Meeting the Challenge exists to encourage and equip men to follow Christ faithfully in the everyday realities of life. It is your conference, shaped by and for men who desire to live with purpose, integrity, and gospel conviction.”

– Details and booking here, including a promo video and other resources.

God is the Father of the Nations

From Phillip Jensen:

“Fathers are so important in life, even in this anti-patriarchal age. For fatherhood is derived from God the Father. He is the provider and protector of us all, who knows our needs before we even ask. He is not far from us, and he is open to our prayers.

This is an important point in Paul’s logic as he attacks the inconsistency and incoherence of Athenian idolatry.”

– Peter and Phillip Jensen continue their discussion based around Paul’s speech at the Areopagus in Acts 17.

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