Christian Israelite Property Trust Bill 2007
Reverend the Hon. Dr Gordon Moyes: I support the Christian Israelite Church Property Trust Bill 2007. The purpose of this bill is to constitute a statutory corporation to hold property on behalf of the Christian Israelite Church and divest in statutory corporation any property that is currently held in trust for the benefit of the church. I further understand the purpose of this bill is to specify the functions and powers of that statutory corporation. The bill creates an ongoing structure to support the religious and charitable activities of the church.
Over the years I have taken it upon myself when a similar bill has come before the House to give honourable members the benefit of my understanding of the background and beliefs of the Christian Israelite Church in an historical context so that they can make an informed decision. I do so again today. The Christian Israelite Church was founded in 1822. John Wroe, the founder of the church, was born about the same time that Captain Cook first came upon the eastern shores of Australia. As a young man living in Yorkshire and later in Lancashire, John Wroe was very much moved to preach the Bible as he understood it. During the course of his ministry, John Wroe travelled widely to many countries, including Australia, the United States of America, France, Germany and other countries in Europe, establishing churches as he went. From 1822 to 1863 he visited Sydney on five occasions and spoke in the extant Christian church, which in recent years has celebrated its 150th anniversary, or sesquicentenary. I make the point that the history of the Christian Israelite Church is almost concurrent with the history of the 150 years of responsible government in New South Wales.
I will mention briefly the beliefs of the Christian Israelite Church. The church practises lay leadership that is, it does not have a professional ordained ministry. The ministers are lay people who are unpaid for their ministry. Men usually do not shave and, therefore, have long beards typical of the Old Testament Israelite people. For a reason I cannot understand, some of the unpaid preachers still wear frock coats, perhaps as a tribute to the traditions followed in the earlier part of this colony. It is interesting to note that from the nineteenth century women played a leading part as unpaid ministers within the Christian Israelite Church. In 1908 Hannah Giddy was probably the first full-time female preacher of any denomination in Australia. Over the years many others have followed her. The Christian Israelite Church emphasises the second coming of Christ, believing that body, soul and spirit will be raised from the grave and a reunion will take place at the second coming of the Lord Jesus. The church members emphasise Old Testament teachings and often refer to their houses of worship as sanctuaries or even synagogues. They look forward to the prophecy of the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. If honourable members visit the old Sydney church up in Taylor Square, as I have, they will see over the door the text:
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The text, which comes from the apostle Paul in first Thessalonians chapter 5, in one sentence sums up the teachings of the Christian Israelite Church. Of all the countries, the church is strongest in Australia—although these days it has only about 1,000 active adult parishioners. It is one of the oldest denominations in this country, having been established in the 1840s. In Sydney the main church is in Campbell Street, Surry Hills, near Taylor Square. The story goes that Taylor Square was originally the site of wheat fields. The people wanted a quiet place away from all the noise and bustle of Sydney town. So they went up to the wheat fields of Taylor Square, Darlinghurst, purchased in Taylor’s paddock a block of land, raised money and built their church. That church has been in use continuously for the past 150 years.
In earlier days the church owned many other properties. It had churches in Sydney, Pitt Town, Liverpool, Camden, Penrith, Dural, Wilberforce, Goulburn, Paddys River, St Albans, Maitland, Grahamstown, Singleton, Mittagong, Berrima, Bowral, Kempsey, Penrith, Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat, Hobart, Launceston, Adelaide and other places. The largest congregation in the Christian Israelite Church, according to information I have received from church members over the last few days, would be the New South Wales Singleton congregation. As the Parliamentary Secretary said in the lower House, Singleton’s congregation has a church brass band and choir that frequently stages performances in the local area, including Christmas performances in nursing homes. The church produces a range of publications and broadcasts services over the radio and on the Internet. Other main congregations of the church are in Sydney, Hornsby, Penrith, Terrigal and Melbourne.
In relation to this bill, I understand the church holds six significant properties. I note the Parliamentary Secretary in the other place referred to four or five properties, but I have been informed there are six properties: a church in Kempsey, a church in Singleton, a church in Campbell Street, Sydney, a residence in Strathfield, a church in Melbourne and a church in Terrigal. The Christian Israelite Church is a genuine Christian church. It is not a sect. It emphasises Old Testament roots of the faith and looks forward to the New Testament fulfillment of prophecy concerning the second coming. I hope that honourable members find my excursive helpful in encouraging them to support the bill, which will be of specific benefit to the Christian Israelite community and their families. I have much pleasure in supporting this bill.