12^th August 2009

Message by the Rev. Professor James Haire during the "Pacific Forum Ecumenical Prayer Service" St. Monica's Cathedral, Cairns, North Queensland. Wednesday 5th August 2009.

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Photo: Deputy Mayor of Cairns, Cr. Margaret Cochrane, Rev. Prof. James Haire and Federal MP Mr. Jim Turnour.

The Fortieth Pacific Islands Forum was held in Cairns, Australia from 5 to 6 August 2009 and was attended by Heads of State and Governments of Australia, the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Papua New Guinea, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Republic of Vanuatu and representatives of Republic of Kiribati and Republic of Palau. New Caledonia and French Polynesia attended the formal session as associate members. 

UnitingWorld together with the Pacific Communities Council of Far North Qld organised a special Ecumenical Prayer Service to pray the Prime Minister of Australia as well as the leaders from the various Pacific Island Nations. The service was held at St. Monica’s Catholic Cathedral Wednesday 5th August 2009 @ 7: 30 p.m.      

Mr. Kenny Reys began the service with the ‘Welcome to Country’ on behalf of the Yidinji Tribe, followed by a welcome by Bishop James Foley  (Catholic Diocese of Cairns) to their Cathedral, surrounded by beautiful stained glass windows with theme of Creation in Genesis Ch. 1 & 2.  ‘The cathedral is a liturgical and prayerful space and has a pervasive feeling of solidarity, serenity and prayerfulness’ (Taken from the St. Monica’s Cathedral website).

The Rev. Dr. Kerry Enright (Director of UnitingWorld) gave a brief introduction regarding the Pacific Forum and the service then the Rev. Bruce Cornish, Chairperson of the Uniting Church in NQ, led us through the service beginning with words from Isaiah 40: 25-31, reminding us that “The Lord is the everlasting God; he created all the world. He never grows tired or weary... Those who trust in the Lord for help will find their strength renewed”.

We praised God with the hymns ‘How Great Thou Art’, ‘Stand up, Stand for Jesus’ and ‘Guide me O Thou Great Jehovah’.  

Pastor Adem Xhafer (President Ministers Network in Cairns), Bishop James Foley (Catholic Church) and Bishop James Leftwich (Anglican Church) led the Prayers of Adoration and Confession, Prayers of Intercession and the closing prayer. All these prayers were heartfelt, inspiring, Spirit led and Christ centred. 
 
Mrs. Marie Bray (PNG), Rev. David Teaurere (Cook Island Christian Church) and Mr. Galuo Seiuli Aisa (Fofoga Samoa) all brought greetings on behalf of their local Communities as well as singing a traditional song in their own language. 

Rev. Tafue Lusama (Program Secretary - Department of Peace and Justice Te Ekalesia Kelisiano Tuvalu) and Ms. Roberta Stanley  (vice-chairperson Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress) read the bible readings: Romans 12: 1-15 & John 2: 13-22.

The Deputy Mayor of Cairns, Mrs. Margaret Cochrane and Federal MP Jim Turnour brought greetings from local the Cairns City Council as well as from the general community of Cairns as whole. Their support for this event is greatly appreciated.

Unfortunately, the Prime Minister of Australia was not able to attend the service, though the Prime Minister of Samoa, Sailele Malielegaoi TUILAEPA, was present as well as other Forum delegates.

The Guest preacher for the evening was the Rev. Professor James Haire. 

The Reverend Professor James Haire AM KSJ MA PhD HonDD HonDLitt HonDUniv is Professor of Theology, Charles Sturt University (CSU); Executive Director, Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture (ACC&C), CSU; Director, Public and Contextual Theology Strategic Research Centre (PACT), CSU, Canberra; Past President, National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA); Past President, Uniting Church in Australia (UCA); and a Member of the Executive, Christian Conference of Asia (CCA).
 
Professor Haire gave  a very inspiring message based on Romans 12 with a particular focus on verse 2a and 16a “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds.... Live in harmony with one another”. 

• “The contemporary reality of many parts of the world is one of deep oppression.   Behind this lies the development of a new ideology which “legitimatizes a culture of violence by invoking God arbitrarily to suit a particular agenda for aggression.   As a result, insecurity, fear and anxiety characterize the lives of many people”.     This culture of oppression manifests itself in many different ways.   There is the structural violence of domineering or negligent governments in relation to their populations.   Corruption and the abuse of power often manifest themselves in violence.   In addition, there are often structural forms of traditional violence, mainly based in patriarchal societies.   These result in gender discrimination, forced labour migration, discrimination against young people and those with disabilities, and discrimination based on race, caste, and class.   Surrounding our very life is the violence against the environment.  
  
  We live in a deeply ambivalent age, an age of high technology and of mediaeval conflict.   In this age we in the church are called to speak of, and to live out, God’s peace for us.   We speak of the wonder of God’s grace, that is, we speak of the wonder of God’s condescension to us.   Our Christian faith and life is built on the inexplicable will of God to be with, and for, humanity.   The mystery is that the triune God chooses not to be God apart from, or separate from, humanity, but rather to make God’s very life intersect with our human life through Christ.   The theological basis of all Christian life, then, is the wonder of God’s condescension, in the intentionality of God to be in solidarity with those who find their self-identity completely within themselves.   Here is expressed the fact that God does not wish to be alone in celebrating the wonder of God’s inexpressible love for humanity.   God in Christ calls into existence an earthly Body of His Son who is its heavenly Head, in order that humanity may responsively rejoice with God in the harmony and peace which God has established for creation.
  
  We are called to a life of praise, the praise of God, which embraces all of our personal and social life, in all its practical, ethical, religious, political and intellectual aspects.   It is a praise which stands counter-culture, over against the idolatrous self-worship of individuals and even nations in our time.   In our time especially we are called to stand against that self-worship, and to stand for the true praise of God, the praise of all our life, in public and in private.   This is the heart of the Christian faith”.

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