Monday, March 05, 2007

State Election Forum

If you will permit me a brief ad for those around Leichhardt...

On Friday 16th March at 7.00 for 7.30-9.30pm, All Souls, Leichhardt will be hosting a State Election Forum with candidates for Balmain electorate in the upcoming NSW state election (24th March). This will not only be a chance to meet the candidates (or in one case, a representative), ask them questions, and hear them discuss local and state issues, it will also include a chance to reflect a little upon the 'why' and 'how' of our political involvement. The event is not intended exclusively for Christians, so feel free to bring family and friends. It will be held in the All Souls café, next door to the main church building, which is on the corner of Norton and Marion Sts, Leichhardt. There is no entry charge and a light supper will be served. BYO wine. For catering, it would be helpful if you let me know that you're coming.

Here ends the ad. Normal broadcast will resume shortly.

8 comments:

Benjamin Ady said...

wish I could join you

Mister Tim said...

Hope it goes well - I'm looking forward to hearing a report after the event.

Anonymous said...

I'll definitely be there.

Joanna said...

Wow, Byron - I think I like your church! I've been watching the coverage of electioneering in the States and feeling deeply uncomfortable about the use of church services for political speeches. Even for candidates I feel fairly positive about, like Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama, who on Sunday gave speeches in churches to woo black votes. (Oddly enough, I had just been watching an episode of West Wing which dealt with this issue - I watch far too much WW and sometimes reality and fiction blur!) But that doesn't mean I want churches to act as though political ignorance is a Christian virtue. The kind of meeting All Souls is holding seems an ideal approach. And as a service to the community, not just an in-house event...

psychodougie said...

there was a great event hosted by case prior to the last federal election, which i thought was very helpful.
there were representatives, candidates or thoughtful voters from a wide spectrum, however all were Christian.

i found the polychromatic approach encouraging, and was reassured that i wasn't completely out there, as regards what it means to be a Christian voter.

good to see debate being encouraged Byron.

psychodougie said...

i guess that should be case

byron smith said...

jobloggs - I feel the same about using church services for speeches. And yes, the event is aiming to be a service to the community as well as the church - and a chance for those outside the church to have some stereotypes broken down (hopefully) and have a positive experience of the Christian community.

doug - was the CASE event something different to the New College lectures a couple of years ago with Andrew Cameron, Kevin Rudd and John Anderson? If so, I must have missed it. I should have talked to Greg about what he learned from it...

Anonymous said...

if only we had had the prescience not to schedule a BAD leaders' dinner for that night... hope it goes well!