What we believe and why we believe it.
- That the Holy Scriptures, as given by God, are Divinely inspired, infallible (entirely trustworthy), and the supreme authority in all matters of faith and practice.
- In one God, eternally existent in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
- In our Lord Jesus Christ, God manifest in the flesh, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles and atoning death.
- In the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, in His personal return and the judgement of the world by Him.
- That all have sinned and are justly exposed to the wrath of God.
- That redemption from the guilt, penalty and power of sin is possible only through the death and shed blood and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
- In the necessity of the work of the Holy Spirit to make the death of Jesus Christ effective to the individual sinner, granting him repentance towards God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, enabling the believer to live a holy life and to witness and work for Him.
- In the resurrection of the body, the eternal blessedness of the righteous and the eternal punishment of the wicked.
- That every believer is baptised into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit and thus being members of one another, are responsible for keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, loving one another with a pure heart fervently.
Statement by the Board of Gladstone & District Christian Broadcasting Assn Inc about the marriage reform debate.
1 Statement on the Marriage Reform Debate
- As a Christian organisation, Gladstone & District Christian Broadcasting Assn Inc defines marriage as the union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life.
- We acknowledge the plurality of views and beliefs about the definition of marriage. We respect those with different beliefs to our own, and uphold their right to speak and act in accordance with those beliefs.
- In line with the universal human right of freedom of religious expression, and as a broadcaster licensed to serve the Christian community, we regard our particular role as being to inform listeners (about this and other issues) from a Christian perspective, having regard to the intersection between theology, historical church practice and culture.
- Accordingly our coverage
- will engage in and promote discussion that is informative, fair, educative, and not inflammatory;
- will be respectful of all persons and not promote hate speech, ridicule or other forms of vilification;
- will encourage Christians to take part in community discussions in a like manner, and to vote in accordance with their conscience.
- In providing content on this issue our aim is to be informative rather than coercive. While our statement of faith regarding marriage is clear, our role as a broadcaster is to inform rather than advocate.
- In this regard we will
- not taking advertising of a political nature in relation to the Plebiscite,
- clearly state relevant affiliations of interview guests,
- ensure commentary is clearly identified as such, and
- seek to cover Christian perspectives on the marriage issue in a fair and balanced way.
2 Background to the statement
Gladstone & District Christian Broadcasting Assn Inc is a Christian NFP community broadcaster and media organisation.
Gladstone & District Christian Broadcasting Assn Inc is licensed specifically to provide specialised programming for and by the Christian community of interest in Gladstone Region.
Gladstone & District Christian Broadcasting Assn Inc operates under the Gladstone & District Christian Broadcasting Assn Inc Constitution, including a Statement of Faith.
As a licensed community broadcaster Gladstone & District Christian Broadcasting Assn Inc complies with the Community Broadcasting Codes of Practice.
Gladstone & District Christian Broadcasting Assn Inc is a member of Christian Media and Arts Australian (CMAA) and embraces the CMAA diversity statement (attached).
2.1 Support for conventional marriage
The Statement of Faith of Gladstone & District Christian Broadcasting Assn Inc includes that Biblical marriage is a holy relationship ordained by God and is the union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life.
Consequently Gladstone & District Christian Broadcasting Assn Inc supports the current definition of marriage and does not support a change to the present law.
2.2 Serving our community of interest
Gladstone & District Christian Broadcasting Assn Inc serves the Christian community of the Gladstone Region by providing programming specific to its needs and interests. This includes discussion of a wide range of topics from a Christian faith-based perspective in a manner and at a depth not generally provided by other media.
2.3 Fair and balanced coverage to inform Christians
In the present debate about marriage reform, while upholding the traditional Biblical view of marriage consistent with our Statement of Faith, Gladstone & District Christian Broadcasting Assn Inc will seek to provide a fair coverage of the range of views on the marriage issue, especially as they relate to the need for Christians to be well informed while considering their faith response to this legislative and culture issue.
2.4 Respect for diversity and freedom of religious expression
Gladstone & District Christian Broadcasting Assn Inc upholds the importance of diversity in the Australian community. As a Christian community broadcaster, and part of the broader community broadcasting sector, we embrace the diversity policy of Christian Media and Arts Australia (CMAA), which includes the following:
It follows from CMAA’s establishing principles that, as a Christian organisation, we believe that all people are created in the image of God and therefore are to be respected, dignified and honoured as image-bearers of God.
CMAA is committed to following the example and teachings of Jesus who specifically reached out to people across boundaries of religion, race, culture, disability, moral norms, economic circumstance and other types of difference.
CMAA is committed to likewise treating all people with respect and dignity, and moreover to working for beneficial outcomes for all.
The Policy, which informs Gladstone & District Christian Broadcasting Assn Inc’s approach, recognises that our pluralistic democracy is well served when faith-based broadcasters (and like organisations) responsibly participate in public discourse, exercising the right to religious expression, within the rule of law.
On behalf of the Board,
Gladstone & District Christian Broadcasting Assn Inc
24th August 2017
3 Attachment: CMAA Diversity Statement
The following is the diversity statement of Christian Media an Arts Australia (CMAA)
Diversity
CMAA supports and celebrates the principles of diversity which are hallmarks of the community based broadcasting sector.
CMAA believes that diversity is served and strengthened when:
- organisations that represent particular Communities of Interest [as provided by the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (C’th)] are enabled to freely and genuinely serve and represent that community, while
- recognising and actively supporting the rights of comparable communities of interest to do likewise, such that
- mutual respect between diverse communities is upheld as a hallmark of Australia’s pluralistic democracy.
The Christian Media and Arts Community – core beliefs
The community represented and served by CMAA derives its core beliefs from the Christian Bible and the traditional teachings of the Christian Church through history.
CMAA’s core statements of faith are the Nicene Creed and the Apostles Creed. Members must attest to at least one of these statements which are set out in the Constitution, and can be seen at https://mediaarts.org.au/members
Basis of CMAA’s diversity policy
It follows from CMAA’s establishing principles that, as a Christian organisation, we believe that all people are created in the image of God and therefore are to be respected, dignified and honoured as image-bearers of God.
CMAA is committed to following the example and teachings of Jesus who specifically reached out to people across boundaries of religion, race, culture, disability, moral norms, economic circumstance and other types of difference.
CMAA is committed to likewise treating all people with respect and dignity, and moreover to working for beneficial outcomes for all.
Serving our Communities of Interest
CMAA members are bound to provide unique programming to serve the Christian community.
As their sector representative organisation (SRO), CMAA is likewise bound to specifically support the needs of Christian believers. This includes support for theological teaching, ministry and pastoral care.
For this reason adherence to the Christian religion, active participation in the Christian community and training in, or demonstrated knowledge of Christian theology (including practices of the Christian church), are expectations for board members, staff and volunteers both in CMAA and throughout its membership.
The free exercise of religion is an essential aspect of Australia’s diverse democracy. The cause of diversity is well served when organisations which support people and communities of faith are enabled to do so, including the right to make employment choices based on appropriate religious adherence.
Policy outcomes
With regard to its own operations and those of its members, CMAA will advocate outcomes such that:
- All people will be regarded with respect and dignity as image-bearers of God himself, regardless of race, religion, sexuality, gender, marital status, or any other attribute.
- In pursuit of a diverse community media sector, the right of faith-based organisations to make employment, programming and other decisions consistent with the tenets, teachings, beliefs and values of their faith will be supported and defended.