James Haire
Encyclopedia
James Haire AM
, KSJ (born 1946, Northern Ireland
) is a Christian
minister of religion
. He is currently the director of the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture
in Canberra
, Australian Capital Territory
, Australia
. He was formerly the president of the National Council of Churches in Australia
and of the Uniting Church in Australia
.
and at Worcester College, University of Oxford
, where he studied on a scholarship classics
and theology
and was a rower
, graduating with a B.A.
(Hons) and M.A.
in theology.
He undertook management training in Britain and Europe, then postgraduate theological studies in Leiden, Birmingham
and Belfast
. His Ph.D.
in theology is from the University of Birmingham
.
of Doctor of Divinity
(D.D., honoris causa) from the Presbyterian Theological Faculty Ireland (PFTI), University of Belfast in 1999, the Honorary Degree of Doctor of the University (D.Univ., honoris causa) from Griffith University
, Brisbane in 2000, the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters (D.Litt., honoris causa) from the University of Ulster
in 2006, and the Honorary Degree of Doctor of the University (D.Univ., honoris causa) from the Australian Catholic University in 2011.
minister
in 1972. From 1972 to 1985 he was a missionary
of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland
, serving in Halmahera
and Sulawesi
, Indonesia
, where he worked as a Lecturer and Principal of a Theological College, and as Professor
of Theology. He served as a Minister of the Halmahera Church, Indonesia from 1972 to 1985, and continues to be a Minister of that Church.
Haire served as Uniting Church Minister of Darwin
City Parish (Northern Territory
, Australia) from 1985 to 1986.
From 1987 to 2003, he was Professor of New Testament Studies at Trinity Theological College, Brisbane, and was Principal of Trinity College from 1992 to 2000. He was also the Dean
of the Brisbane College of Theology
from 1991 to 1997, and President of the Brisbane College of Theology from 1997 to 1999. In addition, he was Professor of Theology at Griffith University in Brisbane, and was Head of the School of Theology at Griffith University from 1993 to 2000. He has examined for higher degrees at various universities in Australia, New Zealand
, The Netherlands and South-East Asia. He is Visiting Professor at two Indonesian Universities, and has been on the Editorial Boards or Advisory Boards of six international theological journals (based in Australia, Scotland
, Ireland
, Switzerland
, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom) and two international theological book series (based in Germany and The Netherlands). In 2009 he became a member of the Center of Theological Inquiry (CTI) in Princeton, U.S.A. In 2011 he became an Honorary Fellow of Emmanuel College, University of Queensland, Australia.
He was co-chair of the National Dialogue between the Uniting Church in Australia and Catholic Church in Australia from 1992 to 2004. He represented the Uniting Church at the Fifth World Conference on Faith and Order of the World Council of Churches
in Spain
in 1993, and was an Official Guest at the Ninth Assembly of the World Council of Churches
meeting in Porto Alegre, Brazil in 2006. Since 2002 he has been a member of the International Joint Commission of the World Methodist Council and the Roman Catholic Church (MRCIC). From 2004 to 2010 he was a member of the Network of Theologians of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches
(WARC), and since 2009 has been a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of "Reformed World" of the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC). He was a Main Speaker at the Maramon Convention
in India in 2006. He was Niles Memorial Lecturer and Keynote Speaker at the Twelfth General Assembly of the Christian Conference of Asia in Chiang Mai, Thailand in 2005, and a member of the Executive and General Committees of the Christian Conference of Asia from 2005 to 2010.
Haire has also been a member of the Advisory Board of the National Institute of Law, Ethics and Public Affairs (later the Key Centre for Ethics, Law, Justice and Governance), and was a member and chairperson of the Griffith Asia Pacific Council.
He was President-Elect of the Uniting Church in Australia
from 1997 to 2000, President of the Uniting Church in Australia from 2000 to 2003 and Ex-President from 2003 to 2006. He was Chairperson of the National Heads of Churches from 2000 to 2003.
Since 2003 he has been Executive Director of the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture
within Charles Sturt University
, of which he is also Professor of Theology and Director of the Public and Contextual Theology Strategic Research Centre (PACT).
Haire served as President of the National Council of Churches in Australia
(NCCA) from 2003 to 2006.
He is a published book author (his work also translated into Dutch and Indonesian), and has had many academic articles and book chapters published internationally.
He retains a deep interest in Indonesian social and church matters. He became a Presidential Friend of Indonesia in 2010.
and Dr. Margaret Haire.
Honorary Peace Ambassador in 2001. He received an Australian Centenary Medal in 2003, and was appointed a Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia
(AM) in 2006.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
, KSJ (born 1946, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
) is a Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
minister of religion
Minister of religion
In Christian churches, a minister is someone who is authorized by a church or religious organization to perform functions such as teaching of beliefs; leading services such as weddings, baptisms or funerals; or otherwise providing spiritual guidance to the community...
. He is currently the director of the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture
Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture
The Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture is a national Christian ecumenical centre that encourages dialogue and cooperation amongst Christian churches and between Christianity and other faiths, as well as exploring issues relating to reconciliation in Australia and the interface between...
in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
, Australian Capital Territory
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. He was formerly the president of the National Council of Churches in Australia
National Council of Churches in Australia
The National Council of Churches in Australia is an ecumenical organisation bringing together a number of Australia's Christian Churches in dialogue and practical cooperation.It works in collaboration with state ecumenical councils around Australia...
and of the Uniting Church in Australia
Uniting Church in Australia
The Uniting Church in Australia was formed on 22 June 1977 when many congregations of the Methodist Church of Australasia, the Presbyterian Church of Australia and the Congregational Union of Australia came together under the Basis of Union....
.
Education
Haire was educated at the Royal Belfast Academical InstitutionRoyal Belfast Academical Institution
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution, is a Grammar School in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Locally referred to as Inst, the school educates boys from ages 11–18...
and at Worcester College, University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, where he studied on a scholarship classics
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
and theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
and was a rower
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
, graduating with a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
(Hons) and M.A.
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in theology.
He undertook management training in Britain and Europe, then postgraduate theological studies in Leiden, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
and Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
. His Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in theology is from the University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
.
Honorary degrees
He received the Honorary DegreeHonorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
of Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
(D.D., honoris causa) from the Presbyterian Theological Faculty Ireland (PFTI), University of Belfast in 1999, the Honorary Degree of Doctor of the University (D.Univ., honoris causa) from Griffith University
Griffith University
Griffith University is a public, coeducational, research university located in the southeastern region of the Australian state of Queensland. The university has five satellite campuses located in the Gold Coast, Logan City and in the Brisbane suburbs of Mount Gravatt, Nathan and South Bank. Current...
, Brisbane in 2000, the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters (D.Litt., honoris causa) from the University of Ulster
University of Ulster
The University of Ulster is a multi-campus, co-educational university located in Northern Ireland. It is the largest single university in Ireland, discounting the federal National University of Ireland...
in 2006, and the Honorary Degree of Doctor of the University (D.Univ., honoris causa) from the Australian Catholic University in 2011.
Work
Haire was ordained as a ChristianChristianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
minister
Minister of religion
In Christian churches, a minister is someone who is authorized by a church or religious organization to perform functions such as teaching of beliefs; leading services such as weddings, baptisms or funerals; or otherwise providing spiritual guidance to the community...
in 1972. From 1972 to 1985 he was a missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland
Presbyterian Church in Ireland
The Presbyterian Church in Ireland , is the largest Presbyterian denomination in Ireland, and the largest Protestant denomination in Northern Ireland...
, serving in Halmahera
Halmahera
Halmahera is the largest island in the Maluku Islands. It is part of the North Maluku province of Indonesia.Halmahera has a land area of 17,780 km² and a population in 1995 of 162,728...
and Sulawesi
Sulawesi
Sulawesi is one of the four larger Sunda Islands of Indonesia and is situated between Borneo and the Maluku Islands. In Indonesia, only Sumatra, Borneo, and Papua are larger in territory, and only Java and Sumatra have larger Indonesian populations.- Etymology :The Portuguese were the first to...
, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, where he worked as a Lecturer and Principal of a Theological College, and as Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Theology. He served as a Minister of the Halmahera Church, Indonesia from 1972 to 1985, and continues to be a Minister of that Church.
Haire served as Uniting Church Minister of Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
City Parish (Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
, Australia) from 1985 to 1986.
From 1987 to 2003, he was Professor of New Testament Studies at Trinity Theological College, Brisbane, and was Principal of Trinity College from 1992 to 2000. He was also the Dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of the Brisbane College of Theology
Brisbane College of Theology
Brisbane College of Theology, in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, was an ecumenical theological education consortium, comprising St Francis' Theological College , St Paul's Theological College and Trinity Theological College . It was based at Raymont Lodge in Auchenflower and offered both...
from 1991 to 1997, and President of the Brisbane College of Theology from 1997 to 1999. In addition, he was Professor of Theology at Griffith University in Brisbane, and was Head of the School of Theology at Griffith University from 1993 to 2000. He has examined for higher degrees at various universities in Australia, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, The Netherlands and South-East Asia. He is Visiting Professor at two Indonesian Universities, and has been on the Editorial Boards or Advisory Boards of six international theological journals (based in Australia, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom) and two international theological book series (based in Germany and The Netherlands). In 2009 he became a member of the Center of Theological Inquiry (CTI) in Princeton, U.S.A. In 2011 he became an Honorary Fellow of Emmanuel College, University of Queensland, Australia.
He was co-chair of the National Dialogue between the Uniting Church in Australia and Catholic Church in Australia from 1992 to 2004. He represented the Uniting Church at the Fifth World Conference on Faith and Order of the World Council of Churches
World Council of Churches
The World Council of Churches is a worldwide fellowship of 349 global, regional and sub-regional, national and local churches seeking unity, a common witness and Christian service. It is a Christian ecumenical organization that is based in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland...
in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
in 1993, and was an Official Guest at the Ninth Assembly of the World Council of Churches
World Council of Churches
The World Council of Churches is a worldwide fellowship of 349 global, regional and sub-regional, national and local churches seeking unity, a common witness and Christian service. It is a Christian ecumenical organization that is based in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland...
meeting in Porto Alegre, Brazil in 2006. Since 2002 he has been a member of the International Joint Commission of the World Methodist Council and the Roman Catholic Church (MRCIC). From 2004 to 2010 he was a member of the Network of Theologians of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches
World Alliance of Reformed Churches
The World Alliance of Reformed Churches is a fellowship of more than 200 churches with roots in the 16th-century Reformation, and particularly in the theology of John Calvin...
(WARC), and since 2009 has been a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of "Reformed World" of the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC). He was a Main Speaker at the Maramon Convention
Maramon Convention
The Maramon Convention is a Christian convention held at Maramon, Pathanamthitta, Kerala, India annually during the month of February on the vast sand-bed of the Pampa River next to the Kozhencherry Bridge...
in India in 2006. He was Niles Memorial Lecturer and Keynote Speaker at the Twelfth General Assembly of the Christian Conference of Asia in Chiang Mai, Thailand in 2005, and a member of the Executive and General Committees of the Christian Conference of Asia from 2005 to 2010.
Haire has also been a member of the Advisory Board of the National Institute of Law, Ethics and Public Affairs (later the Key Centre for Ethics, Law, Justice and Governance), and was a member and chairperson of the Griffith Asia Pacific Council.
He was President-Elect of the Uniting Church in Australia
Uniting Church in Australia
The Uniting Church in Australia was formed on 22 June 1977 when many congregations of the Methodist Church of Australasia, the Presbyterian Church of Australia and the Congregational Union of Australia came together under the Basis of Union....
from 1997 to 2000, President of the Uniting Church in Australia from 2000 to 2003 and Ex-President from 2003 to 2006. He was Chairperson of the National Heads of Churches from 2000 to 2003.
Since 2003 he has been Executive Director of the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture
Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture
The Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture is a national Christian ecumenical centre that encourages dialogue and cooperation amongst Christian churches and between Christianity and other faiths, as well as exploring issues relating to reconciliation in Australia and the interface between...
within Charles Sturt University
Charles Sturt University
Charles Sturt University is an Australian multi-campus university located in New South Wales, Victoria, and the Australian Capital Territory. It has campuses at Bathurst, Canberra, Albury-Wodonga, Dubbo, Goulburn, Orange, Wagga Wagga and Burlington, Ontario...
, of which he is also Professor of Theology and Director of the Public and Contextual Theology Strategic Research Centre (PACT).
Haire served as President of the National Council of Churches in Australia
National Council of Churches in Australia
The National Council of Churches in Australia is an ecumenical organisation bringing together a number of Australia's Christian Churches in dialogue and practical cooperation.It works in collaboration with state ecumenical councils around Australia...
(NCCA) from 2003 to 2006.
He is a published book author (his work also translated into Dutch and Indonesian), and has had many academic articles and book chapters published internationally.
He retains a deep interest in Indonesian social and church matters. He became a Presidential Friend of Indonesia in 2010.
Family
He has been married to the Revd Mary Haire since 1968 and they have two children, Julia Haire and Miriam Cameron. He is one of five children of the Reverend Professor James (Jimmie) HaireModerator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland
The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland is the most senior office-bearer within the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, which is Northern Ireland's largest Protestant denomination....
and Dr. Margaret Haire.
Honours
He became a KSJ (Knight of St John) in 2000, and a RotaryRotary International
Rotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help...
Honorary Peace Ambassador in 2001. He received an Australian Centenary Medal in 2003, and was appointed a Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(AM) in 2006.