National Day of Mourning

Feburary 22, 2009

I cannot be sure whether the state or federal government was responsible for organising the 'service' that eventually transpired at the Rod Laver Areana, and I'm not sure whether it was 'driven' by ministers, secretaries or civil servants; but in any case it became clear very early on that we (i.e. the Presbyterian Church) would have no independent role to play in it, nor any opportunity to write or deliver our own contribution. If we were to be involved at all it would be as part of a collective contribution which would be organised through the Premier's Multi-faith Advisory Group (see elsewhere on this site for some information on this group).

Regardless of what the actual content of that segment of the service would end up saying, I could not with a clear conscience commit either myself personally or the church as its representational head, to involvement in what would almost certainly be, or be percieved to be, an inter-faith act of prayer. My email to the secretary of MAG explaining this is reproduced below in full.

At the end of the day, MAG produced a statement which sadly justified my decision not to participate, also reproduced in full below.

In it, all reference to God was eventually removed, which is marginally better than the 'transcendent reality' that was included in an early draft; prayers would be offered to nobody or nothing in particular; and any element of thanksgiving, even for the sacrifical and tireless efforts of the emergency services personnel, would have been omitted but for the lobbying of Maureen Postma, Gen Sec of the Victorian Council of Churches, to keep it in.

I was pleased to see that the Anglican and Catholic churches at least got an opportunity for independent contributions that were not manipulated by either government or multi-faith ideology. Again this was engineered by the lobbying of Maureen Postma (perhaps with others at VCC), without which it appears as if the government might have limited any and all faith input to that one multi-faith statement that was so bland as to be meaningless. It was little more than a repitition of the same secular sentiments of sorrow and hope that were expressed by each and every one of the 7 political speakers (if I counted accurately).

My overall assesment of this service was very powerfully tainted by the government's almost unbelievable decision to hold it on a Sunday morning at 11am, exactly at the time when almost every Christian church in the land would be holding its regular act of public worship.

The Christian church, in a wide range of its different manifestations, has been at the heart of every bushfire ravished community since they were first settled by Europeans. I know of at least 3 church buildings that were lost; 2 Christian camp sites; a counselling centre and a drug rehabilitation centre, to say nothing of the personal losses of active Christian church members in the area.

The Christian church has also been front and centre in the emergency response and will continue to be there for the long term recovery.

Yet, by its choice of timing, the government made it as difficult as possible for committed, active, church going Christians either to attend or to watch it on the TV. While heads of churches could be excused from other Sunday committements to participate, the vast majority of Christian ministers, pastors and priests would not be able to do so. Nor would it be reasonable to ask them to close down services that have run without interuption through all manner of national and international disasters, including war. At times like this, more people turn to the church, not less, and the regular serivce of worship becomes all the more important to provide stability, security and comfort not just for its own members but also for the wider community.

Dear Vanessa,

Some time ago, the Presbyterian Church of Victoria took the decision that it could not in any official capacity participate or allow its officers to participate in any acts of interfaith worship or prayer.

We are happy to engage in interfaith dialogue and to share with our neighbours of all faiths or none in the practical aspects of developing a peaceful and harmonious community, recognising that we share many moral values in common and can often work towards good outcomes in partnership with one and all.

In particular, at a time of great public sorrow such as this, we recognise that all people suffer, regardless of faith, and that we can share with all faith communities in feeling and expressing both compassion and charity for those most deeply affected by the bushfires. Hence I was willing, on behalf of the Presbyterian Church, to add my name to a public statement of condolence and encouragement.

However, to suppose that we can share in either worship or prayer is an entirely different matter which we believe would require us not only to compromise our own faith, but also to invite others who do not believe in Jesus to compromise their faith while we worship God in Christ and offer prayers in His name.

For this reason the Presbyterian Church of Victoria will not be represented in the national / state service being planned for Sunday morning in the Rod Laver arena, but I do wish to convey to you our good will for the outpouring of public mourning and sympathy that will be expressed.

At our own church services throughout the state we will pray for all people who have been caught up in this tragedy; victims and their extended families; communities laid waste; emergency services under almost unimaginable pressure; councils and governments; counsellors and charity workers, whether professional or volunteer.

With every good wish,

Douglas

________________________

Rev Douglas Robertson

Senior Minister

The Scots' Church, Melbourne

tel: (03) 9650 9903

mob: 0414 338 121

Moderator

Presbyterian Church of Victoria