Parliamentary Christian Fellowship

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The Parliamentary Christian Fellowship is a cross-party grouping for MPs and Senators. Its activities include meetings for prayer and Bible study followed by a discussion.{{Cite web |last=James |first=Jonathan D. |date=2017-08-20 |title=As Australia becomes less religious, our parliament becomes more so |url=http://theconversation.com/as-australia-becomes-less-religious-our-parliament-becomes-more-so-80456 |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=The Conversation |language=en-US}} The group, at first known as the Federal Parliamentary Christian Fellowship, was initiated by the Labor Party front-bencher, Frank Crean in 1968.{{Cite news |last=Austin |first=Alan |date=4 February 2009 |title=Frank Crean – man of hope and passion |work=Crosslight |url=http://crosslight.org.au/2009/02/04/frank-crean-%E2%80%93-man-of-hope-and-passion/ |access-date=27 November 2023 }} The first organisers were reported to be Evan Adermann of the National Party and Mervyn Lee of the Liberal Party. Its first secretary was the longtime Labor Whip, Gil Duthie, who only stood down from the role in 1975.{{Cite news |date=28 May 1975 |title=Secretary to step down |work=The Canberra Times |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110639628?searchTerm=parliamentary%20christian%20fellowship}}

Devoted to fellowship, rather than politics, it has rarely made public statements. However in 1972, its members, drawing on three parties did release a statement against The Little Red Book saying it "has the potential to sow the seeds of anarchy among young people."{{Cite news |date=12 May 1972 |title=Christian body calls 'Red Book' subversive |work=The Canberra Times |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/102020930?searchTerm=little%20red%20book%20christian%20fellowship}}

In the 1980s, the group was said to number about 30, meeting four times in each of the autumn and budget sittings. By 2007, it was said to mainly be attended by socially conservative Members of Parliament.{{cite news |date=2007-11-26 |title=A contest of ideas, not ideology |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/a-contest-of-ideas-not-ideology/2007/11/25/1195975868438.html |accessdate=2007-11-26}} Kevin Rudd was considered the mainstay of the group{{cite news

| title = Abbott attacks Rudd on religion in politics

| newspaper = The Age

| date= 2007-01-27

| url =http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/abbott-attacks-rudd-on-religion-in-politics/2007/01/27/1169788728527.html?s_cid=rss_age

| accessdate =2007-11-26 }} and, at that point, was the only member of the Labor Party to regularly attend. Rudd had formed a good relationship with conservative independent Bob Katter as a result of their mutual attendance at the group.{{cite news |date=2007-11-22 |title=Katter prepares to throw his support behind Kev |newspaper=The Australian |url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22800450-5013871,00.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121217074217/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22800450-5013871,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 December 2012 |accessdate=2007-11-26}} In 2010-2020, it was said to have about 60 to 75 members, perhaps a quarter of all Parliamentarians.{{Cite journal |last1=Donaghey |first1=Corrie |last2=Galloway |first2=Kate |date=2011 |title=Analysing Conscience Votes in Parliament: Do Churches Influence the Law? |url=http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/JCULawRw/2011/5.html |journal=James Cook University Law Review |pages=85 |via=}}

The group has no statement of belief and, as disclosed by one member, Bruce Baird, "they're not confessional. Rather, the meetings, "are quite personal encounters that go to the implication of what it means to be a Christian with a heavy public burden."{{cite news |title=More than just a light on the hill |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/more-than-just-a-light-on-the-hill/2007/12/21/1198175342004.html |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=2007-12-22 |accessdate=2007-12-22 }} The group has met with fellowships of other nations at points. A retreat held in Sydney in June 1985 included the Prime Ministers of Solomon Islands and Fiji where "solidarity with Christians in leading positions in the Pacific and Asian regions allows us to break out of some pretty partisan conflicts."{{Cite news |date=29 May 1985 |title=Senator Tate president of parliamentary fellowship |work=The Canberra Times |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/127013580?searchTerm=parliamentary%20christian%20fellowship }}

Parliamentarians who have participated through its history include:

• Evan Adermann (National)
• Bob Baldwin (Liberal)
• Bronwyn Bishop (Liberal)
• Bob Katter (Independent)
• John Langmore (Labor){{Cite news |date=8 September 1986 |title=Politician's Programs |work=The Canberra Times |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/131837458?searchTerm=%22national%20prayer%20breakfast%22}}
• Sussan Ley (Liberal)
• Scott Morrison (LIberal){{Cite web |last=Abbott |first=Rebecca |date=2020-10-08 |title=ScoMo and Albo to unite in online prayer event - Eternity News |url=https://www.eternitynews.com.au/australia/prayer-is-still-at-the-heart-of-our-nation-especially-in-a-pandemic/,%20https://www.eternitynews.com.au/australia/prayer-is-still-at-the-heart-of-our-nation-especially-in-a-pandemic/ |access-date=2023-11-28 |language=en-AU}}
• Christopher Pyne (Liberal){{Citation |last=ABC News (Australia) |title=Pyne: Rudd supported me during wife's difficult pregnancy |date=2013-11-13 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y21f6eOAsg |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/8y21f6eOAsg |url-status=live |archive-date=2021-12-12 |accessdate=2017-11-09}}{{cbignore}}
• Kevin Rudd (Labor)
• Amanda Stoker (Liberal)
• Michael Tate (Labor)

The Parliamentary Christian Fellowship sponsors the ecumenical church service at the start of each Parliamentary year; as this was a goal of the fellowship since its beginnings. The church service is rotated annually across different denominations.{{Cite news |date=9 November 1968 |title=Religion for MPs |work=The Canberra Times |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/136954417?searchTerm=canberra%20parliament%20ecumenical%20church%20service#}}

The inaugural Parliamentary service was held at St Andrew's Presbyterian, close to the Parliament on 25 February 1969. Ten clergymen took part in that service, with the organiser, Mervyn Lee, saying "it is right and proper for members of both sides of the Parliament to be drawn together to worship in this way."{{Cite news |date=26 February 1969 |title=Crowd of MPs at church |work=The Canberra Times |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/107080508?searchTerm=parliament%20church%20service}} In 1992 It was held at St Christopher's Catholic Cathedral.{{Cite news |date=19 February 1992 |title=Prayers for beginning of Parliament |work=The Canberra Times |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/133931847?searchTerm=canberra%20parliament%20ecumenical%20church%20service}} In 2023 it was held at the Greek Orthodox Church of St Nicholas in Canberra.{{Cite web |date=2022-02-08 |title=PM attends service for new parliamentary year at Canberra's St Nicholas church |url=https://neoskosmos.com/en/2022/02/08/news/australia/pm-attends-service-for-new-parliamentary-year-in-at-canberras-st-nicholas-church/ |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=NEOS KOSMOS |language=en}}

The Fellowship hosts an annual National Prayer Breakfast. The ecumenical event is often addressed by the Governor-General of Australia, the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition.{{Cite web |date=2019-10-16 |title=The politics of the National Prayer Breakfast |url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6440678/the-politics-of-the-national-prayer-breakfast/ |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=The Canberra Times |language=en-AU}}

The first of events was held in 1986 and was said to have extended from breakfast, through to morning discussion groups, then lunch.{{Cite web |last=Castle |first=Philip |date=20 August 1986 |title=Christians pray in Parliament |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/119469845?searchTerm=parliamentary%20christian%20fellowship |website=The Canberra Times}} It was attended by 350 people, including the Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands Sir Peter Kenilorea, the keynote address was given by Kim Beazley Sr, dominated by themes of peace from his time working with Moral Re-Armament.{{Cite news |date=16 September 1986 |title=Early prayers at House |work=The Canberra Times |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/131838788?searchTerm=parliamentary%20christian%20fellowship}} It was the largest assembly ever to back the Members' Dining Room.{{Cite news |last=MacKay |first=Malcolm |date=1 November 1986 |title=Books: Buchman, the MRA man |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/130625280?searchTerm=%22national%20prayer%20breakfast%22}}

The event often features music, with the choir of local schools performing, such as Canberra Grammar singing in 2000.{{Cite news |date=1 January 2001 |title=Music |work=The Canberran |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/252318136?keyword=%22national%20prayer%20breakfast%22}} The centre-piece of the event is the public recital of Lord's Prayer. In 2019, the co-chairs were Luke Gosling and Amanda Stoker, with one reporter noting uplifting themes, warmth, and "real fellowship."{{Cite web |date=2019-07-03 |title=Ecumenical Service at St Christopher's commemorates opening of 46th Parliament |url=https://www.catholicvoice.org.au/ecumenical-service-at-st-christophers-commemorates-opening-of-46th-parliament/ |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=Catholic Voice |language=en-AU}}

As of 2023, David Smith and Matt O'Sullivan were co-chairs of the Fellowship.{{cite web |title=National Prayer Breakfast website |url=http://nationalprayerbreakfast.org/ |accessdate=2023-11-03}} The 2023 breakfast the keynote speakers Danny and Leila Abdallah of I4Give Foundation, sharing their story of forgiveness after the loss of three of their children.{{Cite web |last1=Mageros |first1=Adriana |last2=2023 - 1:57pm |date=2023-11-13 |title='I could see the remorse': Danny Abdallah visited his children's killer in prison |url=https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/i-could-see-the-remorse-danny-abdallah-shares-journey-to-forgive-drunk-driver-who-killed-three-of-his-kids-in-the-oatlands-tragedy/news-story/0e558e4251552d439e5ee5cf71563f1d |access-date=2023-11-13 |website=skynews |language=en}}

• Catholic Church and politics
• Christianity in Australia
• Interior life (Catholic theology)
• Religion in Australia
• Secularism

{{reflist}}

• [https://prayerbreakfast.eu/about European Prayer Breakfast], hosted by Members of the European Parliament.
• [http://prayerforparliament.com/ Similar UK initiative.]
• [https://www.parliament.uk/about/how/business/prayers/ About prayer in the UK Parliament.]
• [https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/ Theos], a UK thinktank for debate about the place of religion in society.

Category:Christianity in Australia

Category:Parliament of Australia

Category:Religion in the British Empire

Category:Christianity and politics