Several issues were raised. I'll try to summarize the main ones:

1. The general consensus seems to be that moderation is not needed yet, mainly because the volume of posts to a.r.c. is manageable, and we can use kill-files on those we don't wish to view. O.K.

2. However, there was fairly unanimous concern I think about those who post stuff here, particularly from overseas, and don't bother to visit us and dialogue about their material. I think we've got to deal with that. Should we empower Andrew Bromage, our charter- keeper, to send them a firm note asking them to desist? Then if they don't, we empower all of us to reinforce that message individually so that hopefully they'll get the message?

3. There's a second category of posts (from one person) that troubles us too: he may respond with a one-sentence vilification sometimes then drag 'n drop a lot of proof-texts on his favorite theme which we've all read many times before. I'm not sure we've come to any sort of consensus about how to handle him. (But let us take comfort in the fact that no one else has either). But in my view it's an even worse form of gross - not to say unchristian - discourtesy that we shouldn't tolerate.

4. Then there was a discussion about the purpose of the group. As I read it, we have two broad purposes here: * a forum for the exchange of opinions/ideas about matters religious, particularly as they relate to Australia; and * information/resources/news which are of interest to us, but may not necessarily generate follow-up discussions. Some are ambivalent about some aspects of this second purpose: we'd prefer to see ourselves as a discussion group - even a social/religious club - so please keep the sermons/ articles ('tracts', I think one person described them) off. As probably one of the main contributors (perpetrators?) on this score let me say two things about it. My email runs 20/30 to 1 in terms of positive feedback. However I'm trying to make my posts shorter, and those interested can follow up the full version on our home page. Does that help? This may sound strange to some, but I believe I've been called to exercise a teaching/counseling/ evangelistic ministry on the Net, and I post something to several newsgroups most days. But I always lurk in those places and engage in dialogue, where appropriate, with any responders. All that in addition to 30-50+ emails every day.

As one of those who encouraged the formation of this group, I think we're generally having a good time. (BTW, how did the Sydney picnic go?). But let's all work harder to make this a forum of high-quality debate, exhortation and encouragement. (And, I'll say it again, I hope we pray for one another).

Shalom! Rowland Croucher