41:
49:
124:, "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." The group has met with fellowships of other nations at points. A retreat held in Sydney in June 1985 included the Prime Ministers of
215:
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
60:
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. The group, at first known as the Federal Parliamentary Christian Fellowship, was initiated by the
645:
906:
211:
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.
243:
The first of events was held in 1986 and was said to have extended from breakfast, through to morning discussion groups, then lunch. It was attended by 350 people, including the Prime
Minister of the Solomon Islands
101:
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
275:
259:
The event often features music, with the choir of local schools performing, such as
Canberra Grammar singing in 2000. The centre-piece of the event is the public recital of
92:
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
733:
40:
931:
515:
117:
as a result of their mutual attendance at the group. In 2010-2020, it was said to have about 60 to 75 members, perhaps a quarter of all
Parliamentarians.
371:
715:
132:
where "solidarity with
Christians in leading positions in the Pacific and Asian regions allows us to break out of some pretty partisan conflicts."
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The
Fellowship hosts an annual National Prayer Breakfast. The ecumenical event is often addressed by the
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29:
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were co-chairs of the
Fellowship. The 2023 breakfast the keynote speakers Danny and Leila Abdallah of
102:
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this way." In 1992 It was held at St
Christopher's Catholic Cathedral. In 2023 it was held at the
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577:
44:
Senator Matt O'Sullivan and David Smith MP have been the co-chairs of the Fellowship, since 2022.
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125:
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was considered the mainstay of the group and, at that point, was the only member of the
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to regularly attend. Rudd had formed a good relationship with conservative independent
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268:
193:
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139:
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907:"'I could see the remorse': Danny Abdallah visited his children's killer in prison"
264:
199:
32:, from small informal prayer gatherings to the annual National Prayer Breakfast.
859:"Ecumenical Service at St Christopher's commemorates opening of 46th Parliament"
734:"PM attends service for new parliamentary year at Canberra's St Nicholas church"
286:, sharing their story of forgiveness after the loss of three of their children.
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saying it "has the potential to sow the seeds of anarchy among young people."
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25:
271:, with one reporter noting uplifting themes, warmth, and "real fellowship."
578:"Analysing Conscience Votes in Parliament: Do Churches Influence the Law?"
520:
884:
120:
The group has no statement of belief and, as disclosed by one member,
340:"As Australia becomes less religious, our parliament becomes more so"
256:. It was the largest assembly ever to back the Members' Dining Room.
964:
135:
Parliamentarians who have participated through its history include:
967:, a UK thinktank for debate about the place of religion in society.
948:
954:
47:
39:
646:"ScoMo and Albo to unite in online prayer event - Eternity News"
129:
252:, dominated by themes of peace from his time working with
669:
Pyne: Rudd supported me during wife's difficult pregnancy
905:
Mageros, Adriana; 2023 - 1:57pm (13 November 2023).
461:"Senator Tate president of parliamentary fellowship"
85:. Its first secretary was the longtime Labor Whip,
69:in 1968. The first organisers were reported to be
549:"Katter prepares to throw his support behind Kev"
951:, hosted by Members of the European Parliament.
763:"The politics of the National Prayer Breakfast"
52:Speakers and guests at the prayer event in the
516:"Abbott attacks Rudd on religion in politics"
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480:
478:
476:
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207:Church Service for the new Parliamentary year
89:, who only stood down from the role in 1975.
8:
543:
541:
539:
434:"Christian body calls 'Red Book' subversive"
930:: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (
666:ABC News (Australia) (13 November 2013),
576:Donaghey, Corrie; Galloway, Kate (2011).
391:"Frank Crean – man of hope and passion"
327:
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716:"Prayers for beginning of Parliament"
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690:
676:from the original on 12 December 2021
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338:James, Jonathan D. (20 August 2017).
24:, involves a number of gatherings of
7:
596:"More than just a light on the hill"
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366:
364:
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224:Australian National Prayer Breakfast
885:"National Prayer Breakfast website"
825:MacKay, Malcolm (1 November 1986).
248:, the keynote address was given by
960:About prayer in the UK Parliament.
644:Abbott, Rebecca (8 October 2020).
488:"A contest of ideas, not ideology"
18:Parliamentary Christian Fellowship
14:
788:Castle, Philip (20 August 1986).
306:Interior life (Catholic theology)
582:James Cook University Law Review
389:Austin, Alan (4 February 2009).
790:"Christians pray in Parliament"
991:Religion in the British Empire
263:. In 2019, the co-chairs were
1:
827:"Books: Buchman, the MRA man"
230:Governor-General of Australia
296:Catholic Church and politics
220:of St Nicholas in Canberra.
1007:
22:Parliamentary prayer group
981:Christianity in Australia
949:European Prayer Breakfast
601:The Sydney Morning Herald
493:The Sydney Morning Herald
301:Christianity in Australia
808:"Early prayers at House"
698:"Crowd of MPs at church"
416:"Secretary to step down"
238:Leader of the Opposition
986:Parliament of Australia
624:"Politician's Programs"
955:Similar UK initiative.
57:
45:
311:Religion in Australia
218:Greek Orthodox Church
103:Members of Parliament
54:Australian Parliament
51:
43:
30:Australian parliament
814:. 16 September 1986.
20:, also known as the
722:. 19 February 1992.
704:. 26 February 1969.
630:. 8 September 1986.
246:Sir Peter Kenilorea
95:The Little Red Book
28:politicians in the
812:The Canberra Times
794:The Canberra Times
767:The Canberra Times
720:The Canberra Times
702:The Canberra Times
628:The Canberra Times
604:. 22 December 2007
557:. 22 November 2007
496:. 26 November 2007
465:The Canberra Times
438:The Canberra Times
420:The Canberra Times
378:. 9 November 1968.
376:The Canberra Times
372:"Religion for MPs"
58:
46:
847:. 1 January 2001.
769:. 16 October 2019
740:. 8 February 2022
524:. 27 January 2007
284:I4Give Foundation
254:Moral Re-Armament
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65:front-bencher,
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554:The Australian
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467:. 29 May 1985.
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440:. 12 May 1972.
425:
422:. 28 May 1975.
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75:National Party
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914:. Retrieved
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771:. Retrieved
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678:, retrieved
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274:As of 2023,
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265:Luke Gosling
258:
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210:
200:Michael Tate
134:
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100:
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916:13 November
869:27 November
773:27 November
744:27 November
738:NEOS KOSMOS
651:28 November
608:22 December
561:26 November
528:26 November
500:26 November
400:27 November
349:27 November
276:David Smith
146:Bob Baldwin
122:Bruce Baird
111:Labor Party
67:Frank Crean
63:Labor Party
975:Categories
890:3 November
680:9 November
395:Crosslight
322:References
316:Secularism
188:Kevin Rudd
170:Sussan Ley
158:Bob Katter
142:(National)
115:Bob Katter
107:Kevin Rudd
87:Gil Duthie
79:Mervyn Lee
196:(Liberal)
184:(Liberal)
178:(LIberal)
172:(Liberal)
154:(Liberal)
148:(Liberal)
26:Christian
926:cite web
674:archived
290:See also
36:Overview
911:skynews
841:"Music"
521:The Age
202:(Labor)
190:(Labor)
166:(Labor)
81:of the
73:of the
56:, 2023.
232:, the
965:Theos
584:: 85.
932:link
918:2023
892:2023
871:2023
775:2023
746:2023
682:2017
653:2023
610:2007
563:2007
530:2007
502:2007
402:2023
351:2023
278:and
267:and
236:and
130:Fiji
128:and
77:and
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