Dear Friends,
Thank you for your prayers for the General Synod/Te Hīnota Whānui of our church which met in Hastings last week, with Tikanga Pākehā members gathering for the Tikanga Pākehā Conference on the Saturday beforehand. Alongside myself, with Edwin Boyce, Diocesan Manager in support, our Christchurch members were: (Clergy) The Reverends Toby Behan, Lucy Flatt, Kofe Havea, and (Laity) Byron Behm, Vivienne Jackson, Jessie McLeod, and Sue Robb.
Reports on significant matters at the Synod can be found on the Taonga website. Currently the first six items featured on the site are about the Synod. One highlight of our meeting was a presentation to Synod members by Fr Greg Boyle and Mr Steve Avalos, who work in Los Angeles in rehabilitation of ex-prisoners and gang members. Here is the livestream of that presentation.
A highlight of deliberations across both the Conference and then the Synod was the election of Bishop Justin Duckworth, Bishop of Wellington, to be Senior Bishop of Tikanga Pākehā and Archbishop of our whole church, sharing in the Primacy of our church with Archbishops Don Tamihere and Sione Ulu’ilakepa. Please pray for Archbishop Justin and Jenny Duckworth as Justin takes up this role with its many extra responsibilities.
On Saturday morning, on a perfect blue sky May Day, it was delightful to be present with friends, family and fellow congregants of the Reverend Dr John Fox and Ms Emma Larkin for their marriage in St Christopher’s Church, Avonhead.
It was good to be in the Transitional Cathedral on Sunday morning and in St Mary’s Church, Timaru on Sunday afternoon for the formal launch of the Diocesan Prayer Community. I thank Archdeacon Mark Chamberlain for his work in developing the Community to the point of its launch. So far, we have 160 people signed up, including 34 clergy and 126 lay people, spread across 30 ministry units of the Diocese. It is not too late to join—here are more details about the Diocesan Prayer Community! Let’s be faithful in prayer for the Regeneration of our Diocese.
On Monday morning you may have read an article in The Press about the continuing financial challenges the Cathedral Reinstatement Project faces. I can assure readers here that considerable work is happening as we face the challenges—work that is not much to write about in public media, but which is daily and weekly focused on our financial situation. The next significant stage in that journey is a special meeting of our Diocesan Synod on Saturday 22 June 2024 in the Transitional Cathedral. Please pray for this event and for the preparations being made for it.
The situation in Gaza continues to yield tragedy after tragedy, including civilians killed by Israeli bombs earlier this week which even Israel has described as an unfortunate accident. There is no peace which will come when bombs and rockets (fired from Rafah to Israel) are used instead of words, repentance, and forgiveness. There should be an immediate ceasefire—a complete cessation of all acts of violence and of all talk of threats of violence—and a genuine commitment to finding a way to a just and lasting peace. Tragic, terrible violence is not confined to this part of the world. Also, in the news this week has been the killing of Christians in Pakistan. War in Ukraine and in Sudan continues. More than ever we who follow the Prince of Peace must pray and work for peace between all conflicting peoples, everywhere.
Last night, in company with about 300 other people, Teresa and I had the pleasure of listening to Dr Alistair Reese speak at an ecumenical event hosted by the Transitional Cathedral and organised by the Venn Foundation and the Karuwhā Trust. His topic was He Tatau Pounamu: The Treaty of Waitangi: A Covenant of Reconciliation. Alistair in this talk (which is available in book form) gently challenged Pākehā about taking hold of the kairos moment we are in as a nation—a moment in time in the providence of God where we can reaffirm a Christian understanding of Te Tiriti as a covenant or agreement in which God plays a role in its formation and its implementation; and where we can, if we choose, work for fulfilment of the intentions of Te Tiriti in respect of a just partnership between Māori and Pākehā, including a restoration of that which Māori have lost since 1840.
On Saturday morning 8 June, beginning at 10am, at an event organised by the Diocesan Council for World Mission, at Holy Trinity, Avonside, Teresa and I are speaking about our visit to the Diocese of Western Tanganyika in 2023. All are welcome. Details elsewhere in this e-Life.
Later that day we will be in Temuka for 125th celebrations of worship, mission and ministry in St Peter’s church and surrounding districts. Details for this weekend (dinner Saturday evening, service Sunday morning) can be found elsewhere in this e-Life.
This Sunday is Ordinary 9 and Te Pouhere Sunday. The gospel for Ordinary 9, Mark 3:20-35. Elsewhere I have made this comment about this passage, “This passage is framed (i.e. beginning and ending) by references to Jesus’ family. In the middle is some tricky material about Satan and the Holy Spirit. Jesus may even be mad. Fasten your seatbelts, the exegetical ride could be wild!”. Several gospel passages are available to choose from for a focus on Te Pouhere: John 15:9-17 or Matthew 7:24-29 or Luke 6:46-49 or John 17:6-26. The passages from John focus on our unity with God and our loving union with one another. The parallel passages from Matthew and Luke challenge us to be a church with strong, well-built foundations.
Arohanui,
+Peter