Celebrating a Constitution! Really?

 Gate Pa – Te Pouhere Sunday 2013

Readings:

Hebrew Scripture:      Isa 42:10-20  

Epistle:                        2 Corinthians 5:14-19

Gospel:                        Luke 6:46-49

What I want to say:

explore why we would want to celebrate a constitution

examine the roots of Te Pouhere

            early church – Paul

            Te Tiriti o Waitangi

explain some of my experience of being three Tikanga

What I want to happen:

People to be better informed about Te Pouhere and think about how we might live it out.

 The Sermon

          1.      Introduction:

today mark signing both our church constitutions

      first signed June 1857

      second May 1992

[why would we want to celebrate Te Pouhere? (Ask)

      a.  radical nature both constitutions

                  led the world

                  both have got us into trouble

      b. honours who we are – not all European descent

                  English not first language of our church

                  other ways of seeing the world than ours

                  other ways reading biblical text from ours

      c. honour history- first church – Te Haahi Mihinare – Maori church]

          2.      Roots – Te Tiriti o Waitangi:

last year talked about history church which led to this new constitution

this time look at central place of Treaty Waitangi in new constitution

1984 Te Pihopatanga asked for Commission looked at place of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in life our church

      reported in 1986

-          Te Kaupapa Tikanga Rua – Bi-Cultural Partnership

-          does have role church

-                bicultural partnership

why on earth something signed 1840 have any relevance to us as church today?

first – ours

            Sir James Henare reminded Bishop Paul Reeves in commemorations 1981

“You were largely responsible for the signing of the Treaty. It is up to you to make it work.”

what mean by that

            Missionaries saw influx settlers about come our way

            greatly worried about what that would mean for Maori

worked with others England persuade British Govt offer treaty as way forward

called meeting Waitangi

Henry and Edward translated text Treaty – using biblical Maori

explained it – encouraged signing of it

after signed –

Colenso made copies

missionaries responsible taking around much country for others sign

without us, without Anglican church, highly unlikely there would have been a treaty

many ways it was our creation

Maori look to us to make it work

A. more than contract

covenant between them and Crown

many those signed

well taught by missionaries

covenant sacred word

therefore sacred agreement

cannot be easily put to one side

covenant set out how two people live in this land.

B. covenant between two sovereign nations

            Declarations of the Confederation of United Tribes – 1835

            Recognised 1836

        

C. designed control influx of settlers coming this way.

because declaration of independance British Govt had no authority over Europeans settled in NZ

do what liked

already great deal concern about activities New Zealand company

Treaty designed way bringing those settlers and settlers to come under British rule of law.

all about terms and conditions by which Europeans could come here

how can we structure this so has least negative impact on Maori

hope was that by regulating relationships between Maori and settlers both could benefit

see this as purpose in conversation occurred at Waitangi on 5^th Feb

Missionaries - Treaty seen as a way of:

            giving British Government authority over Europeans came NZ

                        actions and activities governed by British Law

            Maori authority over their land and all things Maori – guaranteed

                        protected by British Govt

                        rights and privileges - protected

because of Treaty we are welcome here

under terms of treaty

without Treaty we are simply overstayers in someone else’s country

so if Maori say to me – should go home

            I can say, I am home.

            Through Treaty welcomed me in 1840,

                        said I could call this place home

to which say – then honour the covenant

why those part Commission said

treaty has place

structures relationship

we special responsibility as Anglicans ensure treaty, covenant is honoured

if we are to do that , need start with own house.

          3.      Paul.

during the heated debate – a lot scripture cited

Paul used a lot

Galatians – neither Jew nor Greek, slave or free etc…

      used mean all be one

some of us suggested issue not whether we are one

      but how

      honouring those different from us (the majority)

interesting thing about Paul writing church struggling with same questions

Jewish Christians – answer simple – all become Jews

Paul had some pretty big fights about this

The way forward was not all to be same

but for all to see other as beloved of Christ

treat them as such

whether Jew Gentile, slave or free, male or female

understand no-one more important than any other

nor any culture or language more right with God – any other

I think he seems got what Pentecost was about more any other leaders

How then build church does that

recognises and honours all cultures and languages

allows Gospel speak to critiques each cultures?

how build our house foundation rock?

our constitution is our answer to that

is it perfect?

      no

do we live it out well?

      no

God is at work in it – leading us to discover how to be church

today we celebrate Te Pouhere

hear invitation to seek to live it out more fully

work in partnership with Tikanga Maori brothers and sisters

have grace learn about the love God through them

seeke to serve them

honour and love them

support them in their ministry among Maori in Tauranga Moana.