Uniting Church Aussie Flag ban

Flag ban on veteran's coffin.
March 01, 2005
From: AAP
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,12410755-1702,00.html

THE RSL is distressed at a decision by a Victorian Uniting Church minister not to permit a World War II veteran's funeral at his church if the Australian flag was draped over the coffin.
Reverend Dr Wes Campbell refused a request by the family of 81-year-old veteran George Richard Vipond to have the flag on the coffin during the entirety of church service component of his funeral.
The decision was a "disgrace", RSL Victorian state president David McLachlan said.
"We are very disappointed with what's happened at St John's," Mr McLachlan said.
"For a veteran not to be able to have an RSL ritual in his own church is distressing."
Mr McLachlan said Mr Vipond, who was a member of the St John's congregation for about 40 years, served in World War II and for the past 20 years has been a hospital liaison officer in Heidelberg for returned servicemen.
"His contribution to the Australian community has been quite outstanding," Mr McLachlan said today.
"He would be horrified and totally distressed to know this was happening.
"It's an absolute disgrace."
Dr Campbell said a full "pastoral ministry of the church" had been offered to the family with the flag to be draped over the coffin as it was taken out of the church.
The family was also told they could conduct the normal elements of an RSL service, namely the poppies and playing of The Last Post, in a quiet area within the church grounds, but not inside the church itself.
Dr Campbell said the family refused the offer and had now decided to hold the funeral at St Thomas' Anglican Church at Moonee Ponds tomorrow.
Dr Campbell said it was commonplace in a Christian service to cover the coffin with a white cloth - a symbol of baptism and a "sign of God's love for all people of all nations".
"I understand the flag is clearly a very, very powerful symbol and has many emotional attachments," Dr Campbell said in Melbourne.
"It is the flag of one nation and in that sense belongs within the the framework of an Australian ceremony ... but my judgment is, it is not a church ceremony."
The Moderator of the Uniting Church in Victoria and Tasmania, Reverend Sue Gormann, said the church did not have a policy on the placement of the Australian flag on coffins during funeral services.
She said it was instead left to individual ministers to decide what they felt comfortable with.
"In this case what really is the central point is not if the Australian flag was going to be draped on the coffin, but when the Australian flag was to be draped on the coffin," Dr Gormann said.
Dr Gormann said the church stood by Dr Campbell's decision.