General Synod
I have just spent the last week in Christchurch at our General Synod. This is like the parliament of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia. You can find out more from a youth perspective on the above link,
The two big things for me was the role young people have played here, and the election of three primates (chief bishops).
The bishops decision is interesting. Some might see it as splitting our church further apart, and it might. But the hope is that the three will work closely together, and so remove the tension around who is the primate (from which Tikanga they come from) and allow us to get over some of those tensions and work closely together. And it is a recognition that it is very hard for a person from one Tikanga to offer appropriate leadership in the cultural settings of the other tikanga. So Archbishop Brown Turei (te Pihopa o Aotearoa) was able to speak to the reunion of the Maori Battalion in a way that no Pakeha could. And yet Archbishop Brown might struggle in some Pakeha settings. Neither Archbishop Brown or Archbishop David Moxon (Tikanga Pakeha) can offer anywhere near the leadership in the Polynesian context that Archbishop Jabez Bryce can offer. So I think it is a good decision. But I hope they do work well together and model something unique for us all.
The other highlight has been the role of young people here. We had 8 young people (under 30) as delegates, 4 from Tikanga Pakeha, 3 from Tikanga Pakeha, and 1 from Tikanga Pasifika. We also had 10 young people here as Stewards. They were granted speaking rights and did occasionally speak. They have lead worship each morning, and have lead the bible studies, which has included offering a 2 minute reflection each, each morning. WE have been really well received as a result. One consequence was that young people were asked to sit with the new primates at the installation service, to lead then to various places where they were prayed for etc..., and to be the first to speak to them and welcome them as our Primates. And they did so well!!!
And more important, several want to come back next time as delegates. Now we just need to work on parishes and dioceses to elect them. But we are making in roads.
[1] Julian of Norwich, Showings the Long Text, 259, cited in Durka, Praying with Julian of Norwich. 229.
The two big things for me was the role young people have played here, and the election of three primates (chief bishops).
The bishops decision is interesting. Some might see it as splitting our church further apart, and it might. But the hope is that the three will work closely together, and so remove the tension around who is the primate (from which Tikanga they come from) and allow us to get over some of those tensions and work closely together. And it is a recognition that it is very hard for a person from one Tikanga to offer appropriate leadership in the cultural settings of the other tikanga. So Archbishop Brown Turei (te Pihopa o Aotearoa) was able to speak to the reunion of the Maori Battalion in a way that no Pakeha could. And yet Archbishop Brown might struggle in some Pakeha settings. Neither Archbishop Brown or Archbishop David Moxon (Tikanga Pakeha) can offer anywhere near the leadership in the Polynesian context that Archbishop Jabez Bryce can offer. So I think it is a good decision. But I hope they do work well together and model something unique for us all.
The other highlight has been the role of young people here. We had 8 young people (under 30) as delegates, 4 from Tikanga Pakeha, 3 from Tikanga Pakeha, and 1 from Tikanga Pasifika. We also had 10 young people here as Stewards. They were granted speaking rights and did occasionally speak. They have lead worship each morning, and have lead the bible studies, which has included offering a 2 minute reflection each, each morning. WE have been really well received as a result. One consequence was that young people were asked to sit with the new primates at the installation service, to lead then to various places where they were prayed for etc..., and to be the first to speak to them and welcome them as our Primates. And they did so well!!!
And more important, several want to come back next time as delegates. Now we just need to work on parishes and dioceses to elect them. But we are making in roads.
And so our good Lord answered to all the questions and doubts which I
could raise, saying most comfortingly: I may make all things well, and I can
make all things well, and I shall make all things well, and I will make all
things well; and you will see yourself that every kind of thing will be well.
And in these words God wishes us to be enclosed in rest and in peace.[1]
[1] Julian of Norwich, Showings the Long Text, 259, cited in Durka, Praying with Julian of Norwich. 229.
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