Gathering for the photo is “a practical opportunity of telling the community what we think,” Archbishop Dr Philip Freier told the Synod.

“The Australian government and Opposition believe that they are carrying out the wishes of the nation in applying tough policies to the people in immigration detention. Let our voices be heard in assuring our nations’ leaders that this is not the way to treat refugees and asylum seekers.”

Freiers’ speech balanced social justice concerns and evangelism –especially commending the City on a Hill church plants in Melbourne, Geelong and Maribyrnong.

One of the liveliest speeches in the Melbourne debate on refugees came from Gordon Preece, Director of Ethos, the Evangelical Alliance Centre for Christianity and Society.

“This motion is built on the fact that from both the biblical and Australian historical perspective ‘we’re all boat people’. Biblically we all go back to Noah and he and his family and creation’s finding refuge from the world’s rising tide of violent rebellion (against God and man) in the Ark. Moses, the great liberator of God’s refugee people (Habiru from which Hebrew comes means refugee) is also literally kept safe in a little ark.

“The love command of Leviticus 19 is not only for neighbours but also strangers, refugees like Israel was in Egypt. This experience is repeated in Exile and also in Jesus. Like God’s people before and many refugees since, Joseph and Mary sought to save their child and ensure his future. Refu-Jesus fled Herod’s murderous rage toward the innocents (Mt 2). And Jesus in Mt 25, as the Son of man returning in judgment, judge us on whether we greeted him incognito in other strangers and refugees with a compassionate, gracious welcome.”

Eternity understands that Preece’s “refu-Jesus” line was a highlight of the synod. You can read Gordon Preece’s speech here.

In Sydney, the traditionally more conservative Anglicans are also meeting and a motion to “call on the government to remove children from all forms of detention under Australian jurisdiction, and for the church to commit to pray for the Prime Minister and for the Minister for Immigration in their work”has been moved, and is likely to pass this week.

Two important Bible questions haunt me,” said the motion’s mover, Michael Jensen. “They are ‘Am I my brother’s keeper?’ and ‘Who is my neighbour?’”

“Both of these questions are asked by people seeking to evade responsibility. Cain, the murderer of his brother, simply shrugged his shoulders when God asked him where Abel was,” Jensen went on.

“A lawyer quizzing Jesus about his own salvation wanted to justify himself by narrowing the category of ‘neighbour’ to include just those who lived in his small suburban cul-de-sac.

“It is this narrowing sphere of concern that most concerns me about my own heart, and about the hearts of my fellow Australians. Are the children in detention my responsibility?”

You can read Jensen’s full speech here.

Seconder Geoff Broughton told his story of how he came to support the motion.

“…in March this year… I was happily in my own academic ivory tower as Acting Director of St Mark’s National Theological Centre. You can guess what is coming, can’t you?

“I did not expect the invitation from the organisers of what is now known as #LoveMakesAWay, to join in a prayer vigil in the Immigration Minister’s office the next day with the risk of arrest.

“At this point I would like to proudly say that I had the courage of my convictions. I must confess, instead, that I continued the sinful evasion of Cain and the lawyer, that Michael just spoke of. I evaded the invitation.

“The vigil went ahead and I regretted not considering the request seriously. I had not been faithful to Jesus Christ.

“But a few weeks later in early May I was in the lobby of the electoral office of Tony Abbott at another prayer vigil with other Christian leaders … you’ll be pleased to know, Mr President, that I was not arrested.

“Photos were taken however, and one newspaper clipping is displayed proudly on my mother-in-law’s fridge who lives in the heart of Phillip Ruddock’s electorate.

“It’s been a journey of many years for me.”

Read Broughton’s full seconders speech, here.