Outspoken

'Dear Christians. Some PPL are gay. Get over it. Love God.'On 24 July 2013, Father Rod Bower put up these words on the roadside sign of his Gosford parish church. He also posted them on Facebook. Within minutes a social media revolution was underway - the post was shared thousands of times - and this passionate advocate for social justice arrived on the public stage. Today he has close to 65,000 followers on social media, many of whom are agnostic. He uses his platform to raise questions about our ethical framework, and to highlight injustice. Calling Peter Dutton, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, a 'Sodomite' attracted anger from the community and also from within the Anglican Church, something Father Rod is used to.Conscience of our nation or disruptor? For a man of peace, Father Rod never backs away from a fight. He has even chained himself to the Prime Minister's gates to highlight the plight of asylum seekers on Manus Island. Then again, this adoptee and former butcher was never likely to be wholly conventional.Outspoken illuminates the life and work of the man behind those signs.