In the aftermath of a 6.3 earthquake that has devastated the New Zealand city of Christchurch and seriously damaged the Anglican Cathedral, the Archbishops and Standing Committee of the General Synod/te Hinota Whanui of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia has issued the following statement:
We are receiving reports of multiple fatalities, many casualties, extensive damage, evacuation and major trauma to thousands of people.
We are aware that the spire of the Anglican Cathedral has collapsed.
We, along with so many other people in this country, immediately turned to prayer for all those who are so seriously affected.
We have also contacted our wider Anglican Communion around the world and asked them to pray with us.
We reach out in this prayer to the people of the city of Christchurch and the wider Canterbury region, asking the God of all the earth to give everyone the strength and endurance that they need to survive and to recover.
We pray also for all those who are involved now so dramatically in civil defence activities, hospital services and community organization as people begin to try and process what has happened and to work out the way ahead.
We pray for our Prime Minister, our Government, the Mayor and City Council of Christchurch as they respond to this tragedy.
We also, along with New Zealanders throughout the land, pledge ourselves, in whatever way is useful to come to the assistance of this stricken city.
May God guide and guard us all.
Archbishops David Moxon, Brown Turei and Winston Halapua, and the Standing Committee of General Synod/te Hinota Whanui.
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