Church throws halal barbie - Local News - Gold Coast, QLD, Australia

Church throws halal barbie - Local News - Gold Coast, QLD, Australia

AFTER months of disharmony over a proposed Islamic school on the Gold Coast, the Dream Centre Christian Church at Carrara will throw some halal sausages on the barbie and invite their new Islamic neighbours over.
Invitations have been sent out to the Muslim community and civic leaders to attend an Aussie Barbecue Day on Sunday, March 29, in a bid to rebuild bridges.
Tensions flared in Carrara earlier this year as residents and church members rallied against an application for an Islamic school at 19 Chisholm Road, close to the church and the Croatian club.
The Dream Centre joined the campaign, citing social planning concerns, but the Gold Coast City Council silenced critics by approving the controversial school.
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Dream Centre pastor Rod Gilchrist yesterday said the church had opposed the development but denied the barbecue invitation was a policy backflip.
"It was never an issue of not wanting to be friends," he said.
"We just felt the proximity of the school to a church and the Croatian club was not smart from a social planning perspective."
He said the church respected the council's decision and was now ready to move forward.
"It's not so much a backflip -- we accept the approval and now we want to work on living co-operatively side by side," he said.
"We are neighbours now and while we can't unscramble the egg, why not make a metaphorical omelette?"