The Dean of Brisbane’s St John’s Cathedral, Peter Catt, has announced the formation of a new Christian lobby group, A Progressive Christian Voice (APCV), to paint a broader picture of Christian views in the Australian political sphere.

Catt told Eternity this week that while he believed ACL did a “good job” of representing its constituents, the organisation’s monopoly on Christian lobbying has given the impression that ACL “speaks for all, or even the bulk of Christians”.

“APCV has been formed to ensure that more than one Christian voice is heard in the public square,” says Catt.

The timing of the group’s launch in late August this year suggests one of the key items on their agenda is gay marriage. While APCV is currently without a position statement, it seems gay marriage is one of the only policy issues that it has a firm view on so far.

“On issues such as gay marriage, ACL represents a minority view. We hope APCV will ensure that the alternate Christian view gets an airing…my sense is that our membership would be overwhelming in support of [gay marriage].”

ACL’s Queensland director Wendy Francis says the establishment of APCV could be a way of getting more Christians involved in public policy. She says Christians have been absenting themselves from the political sphere for too long.

“The more people involved in politics, the better,” says Francis.

“ACL doesn’t own the political space when it comes to Christianity, and there are a number of people who say they’re Christians who would agree with a much more liberal interpretation of scripture, which is not where we’re coming from.”

According to Francis, it’s important for young people in particular to “face up” to the different Christian perspectives and make a choice about where they stand.

“Now more than ever they need to form a strong and secure position of what they believe and why they believe it.”

Warden of Trinity College in Melbourne, Andrew McGowan, described in the media as a “leading liberal theologian’, says the launch of APCV is a good idea.

“It’s probably necessary for a move like this – it’s a more accurate expression of the diversity of Christian views. There are disadvantages, being the implication that Christians can’t speak with one voice. But thoughtful opinion expressed carefully and charitably in the public arena, though different, can be positive in that we’re not all seen simply as Christians who ‘fall into line’”.

McGowan says while it would seem from a surface view that the ACL’s conservative voice is better organised and more united, both the conservative and the progressive side are “less monolithic when you get on the ground and talk to real people.”

“There may be a stronger coherence on the conservative side. Those who associate themselves on the progressive side are probably divided too, but there will be issues where many progressives will agree.”

Whether ACL and APCV can work together on those issues where their membership agrees is yet to be seen. But both Francis and Catt are cautiously optimistic.

Catt: “I think we are agreed that Christianity has a lot it can offer Australian society. We might disagree on detail but I have a sense that we all want to see a society that will enable human flourishing. I am sure there are many issues where we will see comments that are in agreement.”

Francis: “Both Peter and I have worked together in the past. We’ve both appeared at inquiries in the past – he’ll give his view, I’ll give mine. It does cause confusion in the public space. And you will have media jumping on what Peter says, because that’s their favoured position too… I’ll seek to work with Peter to obtain a good outcome where we do agree – and there will be those things – I’m sure about that.”

ACL has been operating since 1995 and claim 15,000 members. Catt says APCV had 60 members upon start up with people joining “in good numbers”.

Regardless of membership numbers, McGowan says the primary concern of both ACL and APCV is impacting public opinion.

“That means they should be most concerned about the impact on people who will never be their members, whose choices in their own daily lives make a difference at the polling booth.”

Featured image: JJ_Harrison