Cairns Emmanuel Uniting Church

Why I must continue to say YES to God's Call through the Emmanuel Congregation, affirmed by the Presbytery of North Qld. 

On Friday night 24^th June 2011 after a special congregational prayer meeting was called [following my 3 months suspension] where I was invited to attend and welcomed back to the Congregation, and also after further personal prayer reflection later that night and morning,  I felt called to make a stand and to ‘reject’ the directive to stand aside from being the Minister of the Word to the Emanuel Congregation.   

Three thoughts had come to mind through our corporate prayer discernment from three separate individuals: 

1. "When will this ever end?"
2. "We need to make a stand"
3. "Why do we continue to allow the Synod leaders to hurt us?"

The following passages from Holy Scripture also came to mind as part of my preparation to preach on Sunday: 

“When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 35: 36). 

“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell”.  38…. And anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 10: 28). 

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by a great  cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12: 1). 

In the light of these words, I felt led to make a stance.  Martin Luther’s context and words articulate well for me my position on this matter:  

“Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures or by clear reason (for I do not trust either in the pope [moderator] or in councils alone, since it is well known that they have often erred and contradicted themselves), I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and will not recant anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience. May God help me. Amen.”

Why I must continue to say YES to God's Call?

I still strongly feel God's Call to be the Minister of the Word at Emmanuel. Particularly noting that on the 19th and 20th June 2009 after a presbytery consultation with the Emmanuel Congregation, the following recommendation was made:

"The Presbytery Consultation Team" [comprising of the Rev. Bruce Cornish, Mrs. Jan Bryde, Rev. Glenn Loutitt], "affirms the continuation of the call of Rev. Dr. Hedley Fihaki in the Cairns Emmanuel Congregation". 

Here I stand, so help me God.

The Polity of the UCA (Rev. Dr. Hedley Fihaki).