[Linux-aus] Request for Grant from Linux Australia for Ubertweak

[Donna Benjamin]

I support the grant request.

It's a relatively small amount of money - to cover a shortfall due to
changed circumstances, and the overall aim of the camp seems to fit
within the LA charter.  Elspeth's email below puts aside my own concerns
about the overtly religious nature of the project.

As Pia said on IRC last night
"it is another community that can be benefitted by FOSS with our
support"

- Donna


On Wed, 2006-09-13 at 07:28 +1000, Elspeth Thorne wrote:
> Tim Ansell wrote:
> 
> >On Tue, 2006-09-12 at 12:41 +1000, Elspeth Thorne wrote:
> >  
> >
> >>Ubertweak is a Christian camp for high school kids that 
> >>is run (at present) twice a year in Winter and Spring, and has been 
> >>running since 1996. Our parent organisation is Scripture Union 
> >>Queensland. 
> >>    
> >>
> >
> >I have to admit that as a non-Christian this makes me a little uneasy. 
> >
> >I thank you for being open enough to clearly mention in the proposal
> >that you are a Christan camp.
> >
> >>From your website it appears that the camp is clearly for the promotion
> >and furthering the Christian faith.
> >
> >For example, on the Leader section:
> >        It is a requirement of Scripture Union camps that leaders be
> >        committed christians involved in annual scripture union
> >        leadership training events.
> >and on the A Day in the Life of section:
> >        9:00am Where else should God be but first in our lives, and our
> >        day.
> >Thanks for your time.
> >
> >Tim Ansell
> >  
> >
> 
> True, our parent organisation is a not-for-profit Christian 
> organisation, and we have to abide by their rules, specifically with 
> regards to training of leaders and the like.
> 
> On the other hand, many of the kids who come along are *not* christian, 
> have no desire to be christian, and that's just fine. We are not 
> evangelistic; we encourage discussion, yes, but we're not out to stomp 
> on anyone's personal beliefs. There are quite a few aethists and usually 
> a pagan or two along to camp, some of which come back in following years 
> for the computing material. I personally find the view of camp as a 
> vehicle to promote Christianity repungant. Reconnecting exisiting 
> Christians with their local communities, yes; new Christians? Not so 
> much. I do not think that a decision on religion should be made in an 
> artificial environment, particulary not in such a short-lived 
> environment, and Scripture Union policy is to not encourage such 
> committments.
> 
> On the website information: Yes, we have a bible study first up in the 
> morning. However, the time spent on this is quite a bit less than spent 
> on the more technical side of camp. Also, most of the non-christians who 
> have come on camp have found the studies informative, not an attempt at 
> conversion. We aim for education, not conformity.
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Elspeth.
> 
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-- 
donna benjamin                      linux.conf.au
conference director                 MEL8OURNE2008
www.mel8ourne.org                   must.be.there
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