Gospel in Society Today (GiST) Committee

The Gospel In Society Today (GIST) Committee is appointed by the Presbyterian Church of Queensland’s State Assembly to engage with questions being asked by people in our society, responding from a framework that understands and expresses the Gospel of Jesus. The committee has developed a series of papers addressing such issues. The GIST Team also provides a web site and newsletter where you can keep up to date on published papers, stories, and articles. See links at right.

Philosophy Of Ministry Purpose

Our two-fold purpose is to equip believers in PCQ congregations to:
a) live faithfully for Jesus in a secular society and
b) engage in gospel-hearted apologetics that point to the great hope we have in Jesus.

Scope
Our scope is limited to the areas of ethics, public policy and cultural engagement that impact significant numbers of Queenslanders.

Approach
We believe the gospel of Jesus Christ should shape all areas of life, and therefore our approach is to provide engaging, accurate and winsome material that is informed by Evangelical, Reformed, Christ-centred theology and includes both implications for believers and principles of engagement with those not yet believing.

Branding
For ease of communications, both within the PCQ and externally, the PCQ will adopt the simple title ‘The Gospel in Society Today’ and use the acronym ‘The GiST team’.

Summary Statement
The two-fold purpose of The GiST is to equip believers in PCQ congregations to a) live faithfully for Jesus in a secular society and b) engage in gospel-hearted apologetics that point to the great hope we have in Jesus. Our scope as The GiST is limited to the areas of ethics, public policy and cultural engagement that impact significant numbers of Queenslanders. We believe the gospel of Jesus Christ should shape all areas of life, and therefore our approach as The GiST team is to provide engaging, accurate and winsome material that is informed by Evangelical, Reformed, Christ-centred theology and includes both implications for believers and principles of engagement with those not yet believing.

See the GiST Philosophy of Ministry › (30KB PDF)

GiST Issues Papers:

See also www.gist.org.au ›

• The Gospel, Gender and Sexuality:
  Full paper  › (400KB PDF)
  Summaries › (100KB PDF)
• Domestic Abuse as Possible Ground for Divorce: A Resource Paper.
  For a copy of this paper please contact us at secretary@gist.org.au or via www.gist.org.au ›
• The Gospel and Welcome to Country / Acknowledgement of Country › (1 MB PDF) Help and Guidance for PCQ Ministers, Elders and Congregation Members.
• Examining a Christian Posture Towards the World  › (700KB PDF)
• The Gospel & Voluntary Assisted Dying › (250KB PDF)
• The Gospel, Religious Freedom & Ruddock Report › (80KB PDF)
• The Gospel of Jesus Christ › (150KB PDF)
• The Gospel & Abortion › (70KB PDF)
• The Gospel in Humanity › (180KB PDF)
• The Gospel & The Environment › (300KB PDF)

PCQ Publications:

• Report on Domestic Violence › (300KB PDF)

GIST Publications:

• Conscience and Freedom of Conscience: Maybe Not What You Think: Parts 1-4 › (120KB PDF)
• COVID-19: Praying and Processing Through Grief › (30KB PDF)
• COVID-19: Vaccines and Gospel Wisdom › (110KB PDF)
• COVID-19: Suffering and Christ › (60KB PDF)
• Drought and Bushfire: A Prayer for Our Country › (30KB PDF)
• GiST Stories: Living for Jesus in the Corporate Workplace › (50KB PDF)
• Speaking Well of Jesus › (80KB PDF)
• GiST Stories of Abortion & Hope  › (80KB PDF)
• Living for Jesus in the ‘New Australia’ › (70KB PDF)
• #MeToo Movement › (35KB PDF)
• Same Sex Marriage Plebiscite statement (100KB PDF)
• Welcoming Gay People › (60KB PDF)
• Changed Marriage Act - PCQ Response › (160KB PDF)
• PCQ Religious Freedom Submission › (100KB PDF)
• GiST PCQ Termination of Pregnancy Submission › (150KB PDF)
• Approaching Government in accord with the WCF › (Report 2014 240KB PDF)