The installation will take place at the Adelaide Convention Centre before 2,000 people and will mark the public beginning of the church’s 9^th National Assembly which meets until July 22.

In his Presidential address Professor Haire comments on issues facing both church and nation.

On reconciliation he says Australia "cannot truly move on until we too have gone through a national rite of true reconciliation. In this let us truly have peace. Let us all abandon care for our own, self-centred, agendas—our calculating coldness." Professor Haire’s comments come as the assembly debates a proposal to support a treaty between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians.

On economic factors he attacks the "totalitarianism of economic rationalism". "In Christian terms, a society … defined and based on the totalitarianism of economics can be described as no less than an Evil Empire. Governments, State and Federal, which turn politics into nothing more than economics willingly play into this system."

In the face of the challenge of economic forces Professor Haire says, "Are human beings to be measured primarily, or even solely, as consumers and value-adders? What does it say about human life if the fundamental factors required for human existence are to be totally at the mercy of the market—the Great International Croupier?"

On the regional crisis engulfing many Asian and Pacific nations Professor Haire says, "At this point in time each faces the greatest crisis in their histories as independent nations. Particularly in relation to the Moluccas, it is absolutely the duty of the Australian Government to do even more now, in terms of international advocacy, humanitarian aid, and the reception of refugees."

Professor Haire also issued a strong call on Australian churches to "get on" with church unity: "I challenge us tonight to engage in the search for Christian unity, not just with long-established denominations, but with all groupings, in as determined a way as we can. Do we take Christian unity seriously? Will we give our all for its achievement?

"I challenge every Australian church, and indeed every overseas church, represented here tonight: Ask no longer; ‘Is it safe to move into serious unity negotiations?’ Only ask: ‘Is it safe to stand before the Lord separated from my sister or brother?’ Ask no longer: ‘Which church do I belong to?’ Only ask, ‘Whose Church do I belong to?’"

The Uniting Church Assembly meets every three years. It is the main policy stetting body for the Uniting Church, Australia’s third largest church.

• Topics on the agenda include reconciliation, mandatory sentencing, the issues of role, place and ordination of gay and homosexual people in the church.
• International church leaders from Fiji, Solomon Islands, Timor, and Ambon will also be at the Assembly.
• James Haire was born and educated in Ireland. He was a missionary in Indonesia for 13 years (the Mulukus – Ambon) and has written the standard text on the religion and culture of the region. In Australia he has been Professor of New Testament theology at Griffith University Theological College.

In the last two weeks Professor Haire’s perspective on Indonesian concerns has been sought by international radio and television current affairs – BBC, CBS, CNN and European television. He recently appeared on Foreign Correspondent, interviewed by Jennifer Byrne.