Religion and Society @ Damascus College Ballarat
  • Home
  • Unit 1
    • Early Start >
      • Spirituality
      • Can Religion Be Defined?
    • Outcome 1 The nature and purpose of religion >
      • Truth Narrative
      • Understanding Human Need
      • Theories Explaining Religion
      • World Distribution Of Major Belief Systems
      • The Nine Aspects of Religious Traditions >
        • Rituals in Society
        • Religious Festivals of Life
        • Islam (Sunni)
        • Judaism (Orthodox)
    • Outcome 2 Religion through the ages >
      • The Nature of Religion In the Ancient World
      • Ancient Religions Research
      • Australian Indigenous Religion
    • Outcome 3 Religion in Australia >
      • History, Statistics and Relationships >
        • Historical Perspectives
        • Sacred Spaces
        • Statistics of Religion
        • Government Policies
        • Religious Leaders
        • Australian Spirituality
        • Personal & Community Stories
        • Ecumenism
        • Interfaith Dialogue
        • Future of Religion in Australia
      • Personal Meaning / Tensions >
        • Personal Religious Identity
        • Who is your God?
        • Stages of Faith Development
        • Tensions and Ethical Positions
    • Revision and Exam Preparation
  • Unit 3
    • Early Start R&S 3/4 >
      • Holiday Homework
    • AREA OF STUDY 1 Responding to the search for meaning
    • AREA OF STUDY 2 Expressing meaning
    • AREA OF STUDY 3 Significant life experience, religious beliefs and faith
  • Unit 4
    • AREA OF STUDY 1 Challenge and response
    • AREA OF STUDY 2 Interaction of religion and society
    • Unit 3&4 Exam Preparation
  • Year 12 Certificate
    • Early Start Certificate 12
    • Term 1
    • Term 2 & 3
  • VCAL RE
    • VCAL 11
    • VCAL 12

AUSTRALIAN RELIGIOUS LEADERS The Role of Religious Leaders

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Religious Australia is generally well-led by its leaders who understand the complexities of a complex civil society. There were, however, calls for comprehensive orientation training for clergy from overseas who are now serving in Australia, whose numbers are increasing. There have been limited initiatives in delivering programs that prepare leaders for living and serving in the Australian community and within the Australian context, including looking at meeting the needs of second generation Australians and language requirements. Respondents from Muslim and Hindi communities raised the need for imams and priests who are equipped and trained in the Australian context.

There were also calls for all religious leaders to be trained in the changing nature of religious Australia, to consider other faiths respectfully and to appreciate the role multifaith activities can play in building social cohesion.

Religious leaders have a transnational role to play in assisting their communities to improve, promote, and overcome conflicts from the past and present involving various countries of origin. They can also help to ensure that the transnational flows of charities, money and other forms of capital build social cohesion.

Do Australians Trust Religious Leaders?

Find quotations / data that show a lack of support for religious leaders.
Find quotations / data that show support for religious leaders.
Write a paragraph that answers the question: Do Australians trust religious leaders?
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By ABC Religion and Ethics’ Nick Baker with photographs by Teresa Tan

RESEARCH 

Research one of the following Australian Religious Leaders or another in association with your teacher

CHOOSE FROM THE FOLLOWING LIST : an initial link is given. You may need to search harder

  • Catholic:  Frank Brennan
  • Catholic: Bishop Paul Bird 
  • Baptist:  Tim Costello  
  • Anglican:  Glen Davies              
  • Uniting Church:  Stuart McMillan 
  • Orthodox: Archbishop Stylianos 
  • Islam: Ibrahim Abu Mohamed 
  • Judaism (Reformed): Karen Soria
  • Judaism (Orthodox): James Kennard  
 
  1. Record a brief description of the role this person plays within their religious tradition and the community.
  2. Describe the religious and/or social issues that this person is concerned about.
  3. Name whether these issues are concerns within their own community, concerns between other religions or traditions, or concerns with the general society.
  4. Find and record a quote from one of the person’s speeches/articles that capture the contribution they have made to religion in Australia.
  5. Evaluate the work they do in promoting religious belief and practice in Australia. 



SOME HELPFUL RESOURCES: ​

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