Leading with love: women are taking the church into the future
In Australia, and beyond, women are taking on religious leadership in ways that would have been unthinkable decades ago.
But change and faith is a complex brew. And for every breakthrough, there's backlash.
And the arguments aren't just theological – they're personal too, touching on tradition, culture, and what it means to be faithful in a changing world.
So, what happens when the drive for gender equality meets the weight of sacred tradition?
GUESTS:
Pastor Sue Westhorpe last year was one of two women ordained for the first time into the Lutheran church.
last year was one of two women ordained for the first time into the Lutheran church.
Rev. Charissa Suli, President of the Uniting Church in Australia, the youngest and first person of colour to hold the office.
This episode of God Forbid was made on Gadigal land and in Naarm.
Technical production by John Jacobs.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
14 minutes ago
- News.com.au
PM casts doubt over Brisbane Olympics
Olympics: Australian Prime Minister has casted doubt over Brisbane's Olympic games plan, saying that they will need to host the event in multiple locations.
News.com.au
41 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Australia jumps in global World Economic Forum ranking for closing the gender gap
Australia has recorded its best ever gender equality ranking in a major global report, but the government is being warned not to rest on its laurels. After placing 24th last year in the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report, Australia has jumped 11 places and is now 13th out of 148 countries. It is Australia's best result since the report began in 2006 and a far cry from our country's record low 50th place in 2021. The ranking jump is attributed to improvements in female political empowerment, economic participation and educational attainment. Australia ranked well in education, with joint first in literacy rate, primary education enrolment and university enrolment. Minister for Women Katy Gallagher said it was a 'fantastic result' for Australia. 'When the Albanese Labor Government was first elected in 2022, we said that improving the lives of women and girls was one of our key focuses, and today's result – our best ever – shows we are delivering on that commitment,' Senator Gallagher said. 'Whether it is investing in women's wages and economic opportunities, investing in sexual and reproductive healthcare, or investing in policies to address women's safety and tackling gender-based violence, our government is backing up words with action.' Parenthood chief executive Georgie Dent celebrated the 'meaningful' changes by the government, but called on them to continue the 'significant work' still to do on measures such as parental leave. 'These results show us that government policy can and does make a tangible difference in achieving the goal of true gender equity and they underscore the need for us to go further,' Ms Dent said. 'We're calling on the Albanes Labor Government to build on this progress by increasing paid parental leave entitlement to 52 weeks at replacement wage, with superannuation included – bringing us in line with international best practice.' Ms Dent also called on the government to cement its promised universal childcare reforms. 'These measures will bring us closer to achieving true gender equity in Australia and in doing so will improve outcomes for children, boost workforce participation, support families and strengthen communities and our economy,' Ms Dent said. Senator Gallagher acknowledged there would still be more work to come, but insisted the result showed that the Albanese government was 'shifting the dial'. 'We know there is always more work to do, and this report will help to inform our work on gender equality over the next three years,' she said.
ABC News
2 hours ago
- ABC News
John Tucker, Andrew Jenner to seek preselection to run as National Party candidates in the Tasmanian state election
Looking for a return to Tasmania's Parliament, John Tucker says he feels "vindicated". "I think that our politicians need to have a good, hard look at themselves and think about how they can learn how to work with people … I don't think that the Liberal Party knew how to work with us," Mr Tucker said. The former Liberal MP blew up Jeremy Rockliff's first government when he and fellow backbencher Lara Alexander quit the party over concerns about debt and transparency. While the pair signed a supply and confidence agreement to allow the Liberals to govern in minority, that relationship ultimately deteriorated. It prompted Mr Rockliff to call an election in March last year. While voters rejected Mr Tucker's independent tilt at that election, he has put his hand up for National Party preselection this time around, in the seat of Lyons. "I think that I'm a good fit with the Nats coming from a rural and regional area … I'm a farmer," he said. While he had promised to leave politics if he wasn't re-elected, he has now said regional Tasmanians were still not being heard. Preselection for the Nationals is open until next week, with the party aiming to run candidates in Bass, Braddon and Lyons. "I do think that there is a big opportunity there for us to pick up more people or pick up more votes — it's what I'm hearing on the street," Mr Tucker said. Former Jacqui Lambie Network MP Andrew Jenner will seek preselection to run as a National Party candidate in the seat of Lyons. Nationals Senate leader Bridget McKenzie has been in Tasmania this week, in an attempt to help the local branch gain traction in the early stages of the campaign. She told reporters on Thursday the Nationals would focus on primary industries such as salmon and forestry, as well as health and education. "It's been very, very clear over recent weeks that the two major parties have been more focused on each other and power in parliament than actually focused on the needs and interests and concerns of everyday Tasmanians," Senator McKenzie said. The party is opposed to the Macquarie Point stadium, but Chair of the National Party Tasmania Branch Pip Allwright said the party would consider the stadium 2.0 proposal, and see how the "figures all stacked up". Asked what would be considered a successful result, Ms Allwright said the party would love "one or two" MPs elected in each of the divisions it was standing candidates. She said it was a "completely different kettle of fish this time", citing help from Senator McKenzie and the party's youth wing. "We went in very green last time … we're far more professional [now]." While the National Party has branded itself as the voice of regional Australia, it has struggled to gain a foothold in Tasmania. Political analyst Richard Herr described it as a "chequered history". Dr Herr said the Nationals were not able to establish themselves in Tasmania when the party formed on the mainland in the 1920s. "Essentially the Labor Party established itself as an effective representative for rural interests and it occupied that space," he said. Queensland National premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen toured Tasmania during his ill-fated push to become prime minister in the 1970s and 1980s, and later resided in the state after forming a close friendship with businessman Peter Murray. In recent decades, a Tasmanian affiliate to the federal National Party has been registered, and deregistered several times, most recently in 2013 and 2018. Dr Herr said the Nationals had struggled to find a niche in Tasmania. "We are the only really small, regionalised part of Australia, so the politics tends to be a bit more personal, a bit more local," he said. Pauline Hanson's One Nation and the Jacqui Lambie Network — both minor parties that have appealed to disaffected voters — have decided not to field candidates in this election. Dr Herr said the Nationals may have seen a "window of opportunity", with the other minor parties not running candidates. Election analyst Kevin Bonham said he expected former JLN voters to "go back to Labor". However, he said the "unusual circumstances" of both major parties supporting the Macquarie Point stadium — Labor was opposed to it on principle at the previous election — could make a difference to the Nationals' chances. Dr Bonham said the party would need prominent candidates but questioned whether the Nationals could be successful in Tasmania. "In general in Tasmania, there's not much demand for a separate rural branded party — I think that's particularly because the distances are smaller — the bush is not so isolated."
