Centre for Public Christianity

The Centre for Public Christianity (CPX) is an Australian not-for-profit media company that supplies mainstream media and the general public with material about the relevance of Christianity in the 21st century.^[1] The Centre has no denominational affiliation and seeks to represent historic Christianity as defined by the Nicene Creed.

History

CPX was established in 2007. John Dickson and Greg Clarke^[2] were its first directors, with Richard Grellman Chairman. Initial funding from Mission Australia helped get the venture started.^[3] After support from Hammond Care, CPX signed a memorandum of understanding with Bible Society Australia.^[4] Simon Smart has Executive Director since 2018.^[5][6]

Activities

Writers from CPX have contributed articles to The Sydney Morning Herald,^[7] The Age,^[8] and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).^[9]

CPX has an online resource library featuring interviews with writers, scholars and commentators.^{[citation needed]} CPX releases a weekly 'Life & Faith' podcast.^[10]

CPX runs the annual Richard Johnson Lecture, a series that aims to "highlight Christianity’s relevance to society and positively contribute to public discourse on key aspects of civil life."^[11]2018’s speaker was Nick Spencer, Research Director of Theos, a think tank in London.^[12]

The Centre has produced popular and academic works exploring the relevance of the Christian faith, including Public Christianity: Talking about faith in a post-Christian world,^[13] 10 Tips for Atheists and other conversations in faith and culture^[14] and The Wisdom of Islam and the Foolishness of Christianity.^[15] In 2013, Smart co-authored a book with Jane Caro, Antony Loewenstein and Rachel Woodlock called For God's Sake: An Atheist, a Jew, a Christian, and a Muslim debate religion.^[16]

In 2009 CPX released an historical documentary called The Life of Jesus^[17] that was shown nationally on the Seven Network.

In late 2015 CPX began work on a documentary: For the Love of God: How the Church is Better and Worse Than You Ever Imagined.^[18] The project considers the impact of Christianity on the world, both good and bad. It combines on-location filming with interviews with experts, including Marilynne Robinson, Rowan Williams, Alister McGrath and Miroslav Volf.^[19] The documentary was released in May 2018.

References

1. "Centre for Public Christianity". Centre for Public Christianity. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
2. "Greg Clarke to head new national Bible Society". sydneyanglicans.net. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
3. Stephens, Mark (15 July 2018). "The Parachurch Down Under: A Case Study". Christian Scholar’s Review. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
4. "New Alliance Brings CPX and Bible Society Together". biblesociety.org.au. 14 September 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
5. "Simon Smart - ABC News". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
6. "Product Details - Pan Macmillan Australia". panmacmillan.com.au. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
7. "The generation brought up on self-esteem is struggling". 13 April 2017.
8. Zwartz, Barney (2 December 2017). "Faith: When it comes to religion, as for gender, 'vive la difference!'". The Age. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
9. "Finding the holy in Hollywood". Radio National. 1 December 2017. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
10. "Life & Faith Podcast - Centre for Public Christianity". publicchristianity.org. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
11. Payne, Matthew (15 March 2018). "Christianity's Unique Contribution to Western Civilisation: 2018 Richard Johnson Lecture with Nick Spencer". The Gospel Coalition | Australia. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
12. "Christianity's Unique Contribution to Western Civilisation: 2018 Richard Johnson Lecture with Nick Spencer - The Gospel Coalition - Australia". thegospelcoalition.org. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
13. Smart, Simon (April 2011). Public Christianity: Talking about faith in a post-Christian world. Centre for Public Christianity.
14. Moore, Natasha (June 2016). 10 Tips for Atheists and other conversations in faith and culture. Centre for Public Christianity.
15. Shumack, Richard (April 2004). The Wisdom of Islam and the Foolishness of Christianity. Island View Publishing.
16. Caro, Jane; Loewenstein, Antony; Smart, Simon; Woodlock, Rachel (July 2013). For God's Sake: An Atheist, a Jew, a Christian and a Muslim debate religion. Macmillan Publishers.
17. "Scenes from the Life of Jesus documentary - Centre for Public Christianity". April 2009.
18. "For the Love of God: How the Church is better + worse than you ever imagined". Centre for Public Christianity. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
19. "'We need to be honest about the failings of the church'". eternitynews.com.au. 7 March 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2018.