Roundup: Church and state, persecution in China, same-sex complementarity, the King James Bible.

Australia’s fading separation between church and state

The debate around religious instruction in Australia’s public schools has gathering pace recently and joining the discussion is bioethicist, author and commentator, and recently named Australian Humanist of the Year, Dr Leslie Cannold.

17 Chinese churches petition parliament for religious freedom

Seventeen churches in China have appealed to China’s lawmakers to provide legal protection of religious freedom after police detained dozens of Christians from a Beijing church that has been trying to hold outdoor services.

Same-sex complementarity

When Jesus says, “This is my body, given for you,” it is among other things a marital remark: he commits himself to be where his body is, to put his body on the line for his bride … Both same- and opposite-sex couples aspire to such commitment, to which the church needs all the witnesses she can find.

Agricultural helpline extends support to gay farmers

A chaplain running a dedicated helpline for gay farmers has received a steady number of calls from men struggling to cope with their sexuality.

King James’s Bible: Power and Glory

As a sacred text, the Bible has a special and unpredictable power. To the oppressed, it can signify rebellion and freedom, yet to the powerful, it may provide a sure foundation for their governance.