Joyful celebration welcomes 17th Assembly President

The Uniting Church in Australia has installed its 17^th President, Rev Charissa Suli, in a joyous, spirit-filled celebration at a packed St Stephen’s Uniting Church on Gadigal land in Sydney.

The historic appointment of Rev Suli as the youngest and first person of colour to lead the church nationally was joyfully celebrated by hundreds of people from around the country who filled the Church, while many more watched the streamed service live.

It was a vibrant, poignant and memorable service filled with symbol, prayer and joy-filled song.

The harmonised sounds of the Tongan National Conference choir rang through Church and the worship band led the congregation in praise, with people invited to sing in their own language, a celebration of the cultural diversity of the church and the appointment of Rev Suli as the UCA’s first President of Pacifica heritage and Tongan descent.

Speaking after receiving the symbols of ministry from the retiring President Rev Sharon Hollis, Rev Suli acknowledged the significance of the moment.

“As I look out into the room tonight, I see a glimpse of God’s kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven, the singing of choirs, the gathering of God’s people from different parts of the world and this nation.”

“Tonight, we see a glimpse of God’s powerful love in how we have come together to sit side by side and stand in solidarity tonight, all in the name of love and mutual respect.”

Referencing the biblical story of Esther, who was chosen to be queen and later realised she was called to save her people, Charissa said the felt both the honour and the weight of responsibility in taking up the role of President.

“Like Esther, I feel the profound responsibility and honour of this and office, that God has placed me here, you the Uniting Church has affirmed me in this position, for a purpose, for such a times as this, to stand on the shoulders of giants who have come before me and continue to weave together our diverse threads into a tapestry of love and unity.”

In the installation prayer, Charissa knelt and was prayed over by retiring President, Rev Sharon Hollis, the General Secretary (Interim) Rev Lindsay Cullen, the Chair of the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC) Rev Mark Kickett and the President’s Chaplains, Rev Kath Merrifield, Jordan Sumner and Rev Seungjae Yeon, and Rev Phil Newton and Rev Dr Jason Kioa, representing the Presbytery of Sydney which will have pastoral charge of Charissa during her Presidency.

The new President was greeted by dignitaries and representatives including a number of past Presidents of the Uniting Church, who were present, Dr Jill Tabart, Rev John Mavor, Rev Dr Dean Drayton, Rev Alistair Macrae and Dr Deidre Palmer.

A blessing was sung as part of the release of ties of Rev Hollis as retiring President.

In her proclamation of the word, Rev Suli reflected on her 17^th Assembly theme, Threads of love, Weaving Christ’s love across cultures and boundaries. Shaped by her vision for the Uniting Church, Rev Suli said the theme was a reminder to herself and the church that whatever we do in word and deed is rooted in the deep love of God found in Christ.

The theme draws upon the honoured Tongan tradition of weaving the fala (mat), Paul's Letter to the Colossians (3:14) and the Samaritan woman’s encounter with Jesus in John’s Gospel.

Charissa said although the Samaritan woman was invisible to others around her, Jesus sees her and crosses cultures and boundaries, cutting the threads of prejudice and division, to make a simple connection.

“Whatever her past, real or imagined in the eyes of others around her, Jesus looks at her and reflects what he sees in her. And he sees her human dignity and informs her that she is loved.”

“Jesus sees us with the same eyes, friends!”

“So often in our society Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People are frequently whitewashed in the media. Our LGBTIQA+ people are stigmatised as harmful and scandalous. Women are frequently invisible. I often hear that CALD communities are told they are the problem in the church. People with disabilities or carers of people with disabilities are made to feel inhumane.”

“In this story, Jesus has a different perspective on people who are often marginalised by the dominant culture.  They are visible in Jesus.”

“Jesus sees you even with all our flaws and faults!  He doesn’t chastise you, and every time we take a step back from Jesus, he comes back and offers life giving water.”

We too are called to cross cultures and boundaries and weave threads of love and unity, said the President.

“When we do this work collectively, we become a Christian community that guides people to the life-giving water, helping them discover and declare that Jesus is the Messiah, the Saviour of the world,” said Rev Suli.

Present at the installation alongside 17^th Assembly members, were members of Charissa’s family and community from across the country and the Pacific, representatives of overseas church partners, ecumenical and interfaith leaders.

Each of Charissa’s family members played a role in the service. Charissa’s mother and her son, Liekina Vaka Kamisese and Azariah Inoke Suli, lit the candle for the opening of the service. Her daughters, Susitina, Latu and Liekina were involved in singing, and her husband Langi did one of the Bible readings.

Park Church Congregation Choir travelled from Queensland to sing the Anthem, ‘Zadok the Priest’. A number of Uniting Church and ecumenical leaders read the Prayers of the People prepared by Rev James Bhagwan, General Secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches

The gathered community left with hearts filled and eyes raised to God’s goodness, inspired by President’s message that despite the challenges we face, we are called to embody Christ’s hope and renewal.

“You have a story to tell!  No matter where you come from. You have Good News to share so I urge you to go out into the world and weave Christ’s love like you’ve never woven before and testify to the love that you’ve found in Jesus Christ.”

“It is my prayer that God will always be part of your lalanga (your weaving) and your talanoa  (your conversation) in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen.”

The service is also the opening worship for the 17^th Assembly meeting which began at Novotel Parramatta this afternoon. Members will continue to meet over the next five days.