But there were other surprises for me at St Silas. I met one of the grandsons of the 29th Governor of NSW. His name is Dr Michael Reader-Harris. His grandfather was The Right Hon Baron Wakehurst, who served from 1937 to 1946. I was informed by Michael, that he was the last Governor of NSW appointed by the Crown. NSW began to choose and appoint their own Governors after his tenure from that time onwards. He told me about some of his photographic collections and other fascinating stories. I suggested that he come to Australia and do a series of talks about his grandfather. When I get home, I will ask the Governor if she may be interested in bringing Dr Reader-Harris to Sydney to give an insight into this amazing Governor’s story.

I also discovered another piece of really important personal historical information. One secret in my family tree was a Scottish ancestor named Colin Campbell. He is the father of my Kabi Kabi grandmother. I had no idea where to look for this ancestor. Imagine my delight and surprise to discover that the church, St. Silas was started by three Campbell brothers. And very close to the suburb where I am staying here in Glasgow, Anniesland, is a place called Butany on the Kelvin River. This is where they sent their convicts to Botany Bay. I now have information to begin the search for his ancestors. But wait! There’s more! I had a bite to eat with a young couple at church. The husband is a doctor. His wife is a teacher. Her nee name is Campbell. No wonder I feel at home here at St. Silas! It was great to feel loved and belonging especially when I was also grieving the loss of my cousin.

On Monday afternoon I had the privilege to address the faith community, both in-house and online. The topic was about the funds divesting the funds and asset portfolios that the Church and other faith communities uses to invest in the fossil fuel industries and other climate-destroying industries. I took the privilege of reminding them that the Church is also wedded to the dispossession and destruction of Indigenous peoples throughout the world, because of the power and evil actions that were wrought with such brutal force because of the Doctrine of Discover. These were Papal edicts of the 12 -14 centuries. These doctrines gave nations to invade, slaughter and annihilate the so-called pagans enjoying their freedoms in their sovereign lands and territories. I suggested that a reinvestment strategy should include Indigenous peoples. We would be very pleased to be the recipients of those divestment funds.

I also included that apologies and restitution needs to be made by the church to all Indigenous peoples, in a spirit of repentance based on the Zacchaeus principles. I pray that the Church will be obedient to His Spirit and that they may see the value that investing in the lives of people is a more Biblical principle.

Prayer

Ancient of Days, My soul is still weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word. Help me find courage and fortitude in your word because the unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple, including a simple fool like me. I am laid low in the dust; preserve my life according to your word. I live among a people who have rejected You. They give lip service but have drifted so far Your ways. I will cry out to the heavens and the earth today. May they be my witness and that they may judge these people who destroy your Creation and turn their backs on Your ways and Your sacred laws. Heaven and earth, you be the jury. Listen to God’s case: “I had children and raised them well, and they turned on me. The ox knows who’s boss, the mule knows the hand that feeds him, But not the Australian people. These people don’t know up from down. They act so shamefully! And openly! They are like misguided God-dropouts, staggering under their guilt-baggage, They are Criminal gangs, a band of trespassers and looters. Ancient of Days, even Your people have walked out on You. They have turned their backs on Your Word and your sacred laws. Many Indigenous people know, that Your laws are written in the land, the sea, the waters, the air and sky. They enjoy their trivial religious games. Their monthly conferences, weekly gatherings, their special meetings. Meetings, meetings, meetings!—can You stand any more meetings in Your Name? Meetings for this, meetings for that. I believe that you hate them! We have worn you out! Aren’t You sick of all this religion, and more religion, and more religion while they go right on sinning? When they put on their prayer-performance, will you be looking the other way? Will you be listening to them? Ancient of Days, they have been tearing people to pieces. They have been ripping up your scared lands! Your creation! They are blowing up Your sacred sites and places. And in Your church, all their hands are bloody. Ancient of Days, don’t forsake us. Give us strength to say no to wrongdoing. Teach us again to learn to do good. Empower us once again to work for true justice for our people and for all people. Teach us again to heal and care for our lands and repair our climate crisis. We admit that we have failed to stand up for the homeless. The widow. The refugee. We don’t even stand up and support the prisoner. Our single mothers. The defenceless and voiceless ones among us. Ancient of Days, let me confess our shortcomings, our offences and our faults again today. Ancient of Days, only You are able to keep us from stumbling and to present us before our Creator’s glorious presence without fault and with great joy through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages. We sincerely ask you to be gracious and restore our dignity as Your people. I ask these kindnesses in Jesus name, our Ancestor in the faith. Amen.

Ray Minniecon is a descendant of the Kabi Kabi nation and the Gurang Gurang nation of southeast Queensland. He is also a descendant of the South Sea Islander people, with deep and abiding connections to the people of Ambrym Island. He leads Scarred Tree, an Aboriginal, Torres Strait and Australian South Sea Islander ministry based in St John’s Glebe, Sydney.