Logos Foundation was an influential and controversial Christian ministry that flourished in Australia in the 1970s and 1980s under the leadership of Howard Carter, originally a Baptist pastor from Auckland, New Zealand. Logos Foundation was initially a trans-denominational charismatic teaching ministry, primarily Protestant but with some ties to Catholic lay groups and individuals.[1]

Early history

It moved for the final time in 1987 to Toowoomba, Queensland, where there were already associated fellowships and a demographic environment highly conducive to the growth of extreme right-wing religio-political movements. This fertile ground saw the movement peak in a short time, reaching a local support base of upwards of 2,000 people, supplemented by a large mail-order support base.[2]

The 1980s move to Queensland

In 1989 Logos controversially involved itself in the Queensland State election, running a campaign of surveys and full-page newspaper advertisements promoting the line that candidates' adherence to Christian principles and biblical ethics was more important than the widespread corruption in the Queensland government that had been revealed by the Fitzgerald Inquiry. Published advertisements in the Courier-Mail at the time promoted strongly conservative positions in opposition to pornography, homosexuality and abortion, and a return to the death penalty. Some supporters controversially advocated Old Testament laws and penalties.[3] This action backfired sensationally, with many mainstream Churches, community leaders and religious organisations distancing themselves from the Logos Foundation after making public statements denouncing them.[1] At times the death penalty for homosexuals was advocated, in accordance with Old Testament Law.[1][3] The Sydney Morning Herald later described part of this campaign when they published, "Homosexuality and censorship should determine your vote, the electorate was told; corruption was not the major concern."[3] The same article quoted Carter from a letter he had written to supporters at the time, "The greenies, the gays and the greedy are marching. Now the Christians, the conservatives and the concerned must march also". These views were not new. An earlier article published in the Herald quoted a Logos spokesman in reference to the call for the death penalty for homosexuals in order to rid Queensland of such people, who stated "the fact a law is on the statutes is the best safeguard for society".[4]

Demise, dissolution and ongoing influence today

The Logos Foundation and Covenant Evangelical Church did not survive long the scandal of Howard Carter's standing down and public exposure of adultery in 1990. Hey (2010) has stated in his thesis, "Suggested reasons for Carter's failure have included insecurity, an inability to open up to others, arrogance and over confidence in his own ability".[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Harrison, John (2006). "The Logos Foundation: The rise and fall of Christian Reconstructionism in Australia" (PDF). University of Queensland Library e-space. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  2. 1 2 Hey, Sam (2011). God in the Suburbs and Beyond: The Emergence of an Australian Megachurch and Denomination (PDF). Queensland, Australia: Griffith University PhD Thesis. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 Roberts, Greg (13 October 1990). "Sex Scandal Divides the Bible Belt". The Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. p. 74. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  4. ↑ Lyons, John (18 November 1989). "God Remains an Issue in Queensland". The Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. p. 29. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
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