President's pastoral message following attack
In the aftermath of the attack on Helen Haines MP, Rev Charissa Suli has released this message and prayer
October 23, 2026
As we continue to hold Dr Helen Haines MP, her husband Phil, and their family and the Wangaratta community in our prayers, we recognise the profound suffering caused by this devastating attack and the concern it has stirred across our nation.
At a time when many Australians are troubled by hostility, threats and intimidation in public life, we are reminded of our shared responsibility for how we speak about and treat one another. Whatever the motive behind this attack, violence and intimidation have no place in our communities or in public life.
In the Beatitudes, Jesus says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9).
"Peacemaking does not mean avoiding difficult conversations or staying silent in the face of injustice. We are called to speak the truth and challenge injustice without resorting to contempt, hostility or dehumanisation."
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These words are both a promise and a call. The peace of Christ is more than the absence of violence or disagreement. It is a gift that calls us to live differently, recognising that every person is created in the image of God and possesses inherent dignity and worth, even when our convictions differ profoundly.
Peacemaking does not mean avoiding difficult conversations or staying silent in the face of injustice. We are called to speak the truth and challenge injustice without resorting to contempt, hostility or dehumanisation. The words we use matter, even within our own Church. We cannot proclaim the peace of Christ while failing to practise it in how we listen, speak and treat one another.
As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to nurture communities where people can disagree without fear, where justice is upheld, and where compassion and reconciliation shape our way of living together.
This Sunday, I invite congregations and faith communities across the Uniting Church to join in prayer for Helen, Phil, and their family; for those caring for her; and for the Wangaratta community. Let us also pray for those entrusted with public leadership, for peace throughout our nation, and for the courage to live out peace in our own communities.
In these difficult days, may we hold fast to the hope of the risen Christ, who comes to us in our fear with the words, “Peace be with you”.
May that peace bring comfort to all who are grieving or afraid, sustain those who are suffering, and guide us as we seek to live faithfully together.
Rev Charissa Suli
President, Uniting Church in Australia
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