Source : Perth Now news
The City of Mandurah is turning to prayer to help ensure it has a good future.
It and the Peel Pastors & Leaders Network — a regional collective of Christian pastors, church leaders and faith communities in the Peel region — will be holding Mandurah’s inaugural community prayer breakfast this week.
It has been advertised as an “opportunity to stand together, pray for our city and its people”.
Tickets are $32.80, for which attendees will receive a plated breakfast with muffins or pastries, brewed coffee, a selection of herbal teas and assorted juices.
There will also be a performance by the Foundation Christian College, live art by Zibah Artworks and a panel discussion.
The panel will include mayor Amber Kearns, Federal MP Andrew Hastie, Australian Christians State MP Maryka Groenewald, Pastor Josh Edwards from Eastlake Church and Father Christian Saminal from the Dawesville parish.
Local community and faith representatives will also lead prayers, which Ms Kearns said were an important part of the meeting.
“We’ll be praying for our young people, our businesses, our community and the people who lead and serve Mandurah, before finishing with a prayer for our city,” she said.
“Our theme is ‘Light’, which for me is about hope, kindness and the difference we can make in someone’s life when they need it most.”
Ms Kearns told the Times everyone was welcome to attend regardless of their faith.
The event was about recognising the unseen contribution churches and faith communities made to Mandurah.
“Council has an important role in recognising and connecting with the many different people and groups that make up Mandurah and this is another opportunity to do that,” Ms Kearns said.
“We’ll be talking about Mandurah, what we’re seeing in our community, the support already happening and where people are needing more help.
“I’m particularly interested in how we can strengthen connections between the different organisations working across our city, especially as we head towards Christmas when many see increased demand.”
She said three local churches had estimated they directly invested more than $180,000 into the Peel community, supported more than 7300 people and contributed at least 15,700 volunteer hours.
“That includes practical support for families and children, people experiencing homelessness or financial hardship, domestic violence, mental health challenges, disability and addiction,” Ms Kearns said.
The Mandurah event has been inspired by the WA Governor’s prayer breakfast, which has been held annually for more than 30 years.
It is regularly attended by the Chief Justice, the Governor, the Premier, senior State MPs, the Police Commissioner or his nominee, high school students and business and community leaders. Ms Kearns attended it for the first time this year.
But the city’s decision to hold its version was questioned by former mayor and current councillor Caroline Knight at the October 27 council meeting.
Cr Knight was not at the meeting, but she had submitted questions beforehand that were read out and answered.
She said the event had an estimated cost of $10,000 and wanted to know why it had been organised without being first considered by the council.
“Can the community be sure the conflicts of impartiality have not occurred in the decisions around this event given the relationship of those involved, especially the chamber’s statutory conflict requirements having been avoided by not bringing the item to council for consideration,” Cr Knight’s question said.
“Notwithstanding the many positive aspects of this event, how can council own the risk of an unusual local government event that subsidises a prayer breakfast when it’s never afforded the opportunity to vote on it in chamber?”
CEO Casey Mihovilovich said the breakfast was part of the city’s civic events program and cost it about $4000.
The civic events program was part of the budget and had been reviewed last year.
Ms Mihovilovich said the breakfast was to recognise the contribution and support groups gave to the community.
“They support schools, youth, seniors, families, people experiencing trauma, people rehabilitating from personal complexities,” she said.
“This is intended to connect local church and faith organisations that make a significant contribution to our community, particularly ahead of the festive season when demand for many of their support services increases.”
Ms Mihovilovich said no council members had declared a financial interest in the event.
“The city is working with the local pastor leaders network group to deliver the civic event and has made this a ticketed event to cover majority of costs,” she said.
The council will be asked early next year if it wants to develop a policy for civic events.
The breakfast will be held at the Mandurah Offshore Fishing and Sailing Club on Friday, November 13, from 6.30am to 9am.
Tickets available via eventbrite.
