anglican focus

The news site of the Anglican Church Southern Queensland: nourishing and connecting our faith community

Slavery

Features The Rev' John Newton Features

Tough Questions: Does the Bible endorse slavery?

“…whilst certain verses taken out of context can appear to justify slavery, the overall witness of the Bible points in the opposite direction. Far from endorsing slavery, the Bible, as a whole, makes the practice untenable. It is little wonder that plantation owners went to such lengths to prevent slaves from reading the full canon of scripture and drawing their own conclusions,” says The Rev’d Charlie Lacey from St Andrew’s, Springfield

Features

“By shopping more ethically, we can help eradicate global trafficking”

“Outland Denim is based on Tambourine Mountain in our Diocese’s geographical area. They manufacture and market jeans and other clothing items. They are scrupulous about their material supply chain and pay their Cambodian employees fairly. Seventeen per cent of their employees in Cambodia report having been rescued from trafficking,” says parishioner The Rev’d John Martin from The Parish of Robina

Features

The pearl of great price

“Still popular now, jewellery makes great presents for loved ones. Yet if you pick up a necklace or earrings from a jewellery shop or market stall or ‘cheap’ shop, can you be sure that the workers in the supply chain were treated well? Fair Trade treats artisans, workers and farmers as if they are of immense value – just like the pearl,” says The Rev’d John Martin as Mother’s Day approaches, with the anglican focus editor giving away a beautiful pair of Fair Trade pearl earrings to a reader

Features

Early missionary societies: history, medallions and a banknote

“Dr David Livingstone has long been a hero of mine. In 1841 he was sent as a medical missionary to South Africa by the London Missionary Society. Recently, I was the successful bidder at an online auction for a medallion celebrating the centenary of the London Missionary Society in 1895. It is a beautiful medallion and it motivated me to learn more about the society,” says Dr Peter Lewis