Freedom Sunday early morning prayer

On Day 4, 17th Assembly members who gathered for early morning prayer marked Freedom Sunday for Kanaky and Ma’ohi Nui. 

Rev James Bhagwan, General Secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches and Pastor Virginia Lavaki led a time of prayer and communion. 

Reflecting on the struggle for truth, justice and freedom, Rev Bhagwan spoke about the oppression and suffering of the Kanaky people and the people of Ma’ohi Nui.

He recalled the 12th General Assembly of the Pacific Conference of Churches which was held in Noumea with a number of Uniting Church leaders and representatives present. 

The theme for the Assembly was ‘Do Kamo – Christ of the Islands transform us into you authentic humanity’. 

“Do Kamo is a Kanak phrase for the authentic human being in a state of permanent becoming – metamorphis - metanoia.”

“On the last day of the 12th General Assembly of the Pacific Conference of Churches in Noumea – the capital of Kanaky-New Caledonia, the youth of PCC member churches gathered around a regional youth leader, Nafitalai, representing young people with disabilities and who is part of the Pacific Australia Emerging Leaders Network, along with some of our young leaders gathered here.”

“Sitting in his wheelchair, facing the representatives of 35 member churches and 11 national councils of churches across the blue Pacific Ocean, he began to strum his guitar and sing an anthem, written by a Jamaican Prophet – named Bob Marley, “Redemption Song”. 

“This question is a reference to the ongoing struggle for freedom and justice for all people. Marley is asking how long people will continue to stand by and allow oppression and injustice to continue. He is calling on people to stand up and fight for what is right, even if it means facing danger or hardship.”

“How long shall they kill our prophets while we stand aside and look?” is one of the lines of Redemption Song which resonate with our reading today and also with the cry for Freedom across this land now called Australia, up north to West Papua and Bouganville, across to Kanaky New Caledonia and east – retracing the path of the sun to Ma’ohi Nui or French Polynesia. 

Rev Bhagwan spoke about the deep frustration and lack of equitable development for the Kanaky people who continue to suffer from the colonial political and socio-economic colonisation by France and about the  50 years of nuclear devastation on the fenua (land) and people of Ma’ohi Nu. 

“The question ‘How long shall they kill our prophets while we stand aside and look?’ is a powerful call to action,” said Rev Bhagwan. “It is a reminder that we all have a responsibility to stand up for what is right, even if it is difficult. It is also a reminder that we must never give up hope, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.”

“What is the cost of the prophetic voice today? What is the cost of the practice of presence today?”

Pastor Virginia Lavaki led a time of prayer, holding especially the people of Kanaky and Ma’ohi Nui in our hearts. 

We pray for peace, we pray for justice and we pray the threads of Christ’s love will be woven through us into the world.