Released on behalf of National Church Leaders in Australia

Heads of Christian Churches meeting in Sydney last week acknowledged and supported the various calls from church groups and other Australians for prayer in this time of severe drought, including a National Day of Prayer on 26 November.

The heads of Churches called for all Australians to pray for:
      • desperately needed rain
      • those who are severely drought affected, and
      • commitment to responsibly care for all our natural resources.

“We invite all Australians to express their solidarity with those who are suffering by taking a few moments to pray or to join a local worship service where prayers will be offered,” said Archbishop Phillip Aspinall, Primate of the Anglican Church.

Archbishop Philip Wilson, President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, said, “At a time when our political leaders and climate experts are giving close attention to the economic consequences of this drought, we should remember the many people on farms and in small businesses who are suffering often in a deeply personal way.  Local Churches are already providing practical and personal support, and will continue to do their utmost.  Our prayer shows that Australians stand together in the face of adversity.”

“We need to seek God’s guidance as to how we can better manage Australia’s water resources at a time when climate change is upon us.  This too will be part of the prayers on 26 November,” added the Revd Gregor Henderson, President of the Uniting Church in Australia.

The Church leaders acknowledged the recent statement of Queensland Church leaders: “We are very conscious of the life and death needs that beset so many people around this world every day and we in no way intend that much needed prayer be deflected from these situations.  At the same time we recognise that water is an urgent and immediate need affecting so many of us here and now in the most basic ways.  So it is with the confidence that Jesus urged upon us that we simply go to God with this need.”

Many resources for prayer are already available from local church groups, and links and resources will also be gathered and posted on the web pages of the National Council of Churches in Australia, at www.ncca.org.au

This statement is made on behalf of the following leaders of Australian Churches:

The Most Revd Dr Phillip Aspinall
Anglican Church

His Eminence Archbishop Paul Saliba
Antiochian Orthodox Church

His Eminence Archbishop Aghan Baliozian
Armenian Apostolic Church

Pastor Brian Houston
Assemblies of God

His Grace Bishop Mar Meelis Zaia
Assyrian Church of the East

The Revd Dr Ross Clifford
Baptist Union

Bishop James Chang Hua Ha
Chinese Methodist Church

Mr Richard Menteith
Churches of Christ

Dr Harry Melkonian
Congregational Federation

His Grace Bishop Daniel
Coptic Orthodox Church

His Grace Bishop Suriel
Coptic Orthodox Church

His Eminence Archbishop Stylianos
Greek Orthodox Church

The Revd Mike Semmler
Lutheran Church

The Rt Revd Bob Thomas
Presbyterian Church

Lyndsay Farrell
Religious Society of Friends

The Most Revd Philip Wilson
Roman Catholic Church

His Beatitude Patriarch Teoctist
Romanian Orthodox Church

Commissioner James Knaggs
The Salvation Army, Southern Territory

Commissioner Les Strong
The Salvation Army, Eastern Territory

Pastor Chester Stanley
Seventh Day Adventist Church

His Eminence Archbishop Mor Malatius Malki Malki
Syrian Orthodox Church

The Revd Gregor Henderson
Uniting Church

Mar Thoma Church