Alcohol
May 11, 2010 | Leave a Comment
Thoughts from John Hebenton
I am listening to presentations about the abuse of alcohol in our society. It is really sobering. It has made me think about my attitude both to drinking and to law reform. We have heard about what the alcohol industry does not want us to know about alcohol:
In particular I want to think about how I can support the 5+ campaign working towards alcohol reform in this country. We can read more about this at the link above. We as a church need to back this, particularly to change a culture that encourages young people to view alcohol abuse as a rite of passage. We as a church need to challenge an alcohol industry that targets children and young people in a way we should be horrified by. But we remain silent. Now is the time to act and to persuade our politicians that change is needed, and they need to lead the way.
The absent three Tikanga context
May 11, 2010 | Leave a Comment
Some more thoughts from John HebentonI was asked whether my comments about the lack of any three Tikanga context referred only to youth. Actually, I would say we are one of the places where there is some kind of three Tikanga youth context. But there is very little three Tikanga context within the wider church. Sure, General Synod is grand, and the bishops get together twice a year, but apart from that there is very little happening. And there is very little commitment to each other as a result. There are issues coming up on this GSTHW agenda that reveal that, the St. John’s College review and resource sharing are two. We are simply not committed to each other. When we meet we seem to firstly seek to preserve what we have and our own mana, rather than being genuinely concerned with the needs of our brothers and sisters (rather than partners) and developing a common mana. We exist as three churches who happen to meet occasionally. Maybe we need to stop using partnership language, and talk about maybe marriage, or some other way which helps us talk in ways that aids our commitment to each other, that helps us realise and live out being one church, committed to each other. I realise I am quite idealistic, but this constitution is idealistic. We can do better.
Tikanga Toru Youth Commission
May 11, 2010 | Leave a Comment
Thoughts from John HebentonThis morning a grand thing happened. The General Synod Te Hinota Whanui passed the third reading of the bill establishing the Tikanga Toru Youth Commission. (Yes we do things the same as parliament, and this now acts as a piece of legislation within our church) Well done Sepi Hala’api’api who moved the bill, and Bishop David Rice who seconded it. My hope is this commission can help establish a three Tikanga context and mind set among young people so that we can become committed to each other in a way that is almost entirely absent from our church at the present. My dream is that the young people can lead the way for our church and help us all understand what a gift our three Tikanga constitution is, and start trying to live it out.
It did have a rocky road. Tikanga Maori asked hard questions and there were all sorts of unstated agendas at play, as always. And some of what plagues us as a church was also at play that is that the three Tikanga is something we do when we have time, instead of being a priority. That is our reality now, but I hope we can change that over the next few years.
Earth Hour Sunday
May 11, 2010 | Leave a Comment
Expression from Sharlene Douglas-Huriwai
Motion 14 presented by Archbishop David Moxon on Earth Hour and Earth Sunday has me thinking of what I can do to help the environment. Part of our 5 fold mission statement says something like ’striving to care for creation’. Having our haahi take this day into consideration and observing a Sunday towards this I hope willl spread the word on how serious that the climate change is. This will draw our communities attention to the need of making changes for climate change. As mentioned from the floor, there are areas in Australia (yep just over the ditch) who have never seen the wonders of rain. Can you imagine what New Zealand would like without the luscious green grass and our beautiful forests, conservation lands and gardens?
Lyndon Rogers, a youth delegate from Diocese of Christchurch spoke of a few ways in which his Diocese passed to support efforts for climate change. Becoming more active, this year Lyndon a young leader in our haahi has flown to places around 2 times per month. Can you imagine the effects that our whole church have on the environment? One of the efforts from Diocese of Christchurch was asking their minita to ‘ride a bike’ instead of driving their car and could be reimbursed for the mileage in which they ride to get to their hui. What great initiative!
Let us think about what we are doing. I mean, how many trees would you have to plant to ofsett your carbon emissions?
MOTION 14:EARTH HOUR AND EARTH SUNDAY
May 11, 2010 | 1 Comment
Pretty pleased with this step taken towards addressing Climate Change and its effects. Coming from Pasefika, the issue of Climate Change is a senstive and most important one. Interesting to see that most speakers speaking to this motion were youth delegates, showing how serious we are also about the condition that God’s Creation is in now and how it is affecting our generation and ones to come. I spoke on the how we in the islands are already past the stage of trying to address the effects, and now are in the stage of dealing with our people who are traumatised by Climate Change - in particular the families and vicitms of the tsunami that hit Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga last September. It’s something our ministers now have to deal with in regards to pastoral care - counselling the traumatised. Im not too well-versed with whatever publications, handbooks, studies etc. offered but i strongly feel that our ministers back in the islands have to be prepared to deal with these challenges. GOD BLESS! Sepz Hala’api’api - Polynesia
#GS10 Day 2
May 11, 2010 | Leave a Comment
A brief reflection from Stoney
Had another early morning today and I must say that im getting used to this tiring schedule they are giving us. Today was not as busy as yesterday though mostly because there are less papers and amendments for us to hand out and if you didn’t know, this is the most important part of our stewardship program. We get to photocopy papers and not only that we get to distribute them. What a Job huh!!..lol. So far I have learned how to use the very much complicated photocopy mahine very well. Thanks to Marissa I now know how to photocopy an A4 paper one sided, both sided, 2 pages in one and even 4 pages in one. I also found out that the photocopier can also sort documents and isn’t that amazing!:D Im looking foward to learning how to do that in the next few days. But even while I was enjoying the photocopying I managed to pick up some more importants things. One of the big discussions today was about the Anglican Covenant. Im not well aware of what this covenant is about but during one of the caucus someone said it was something like a contract. I think its more like a set of principles or standards that all Anglicans believe in and live by. Something that we as Anglicans can relate to with other Anglicans all over the world. But anyways back to the discussion on this topic it was interesting to see that most of the delegates come to the same conclusion that they are ok with Sections 1-3 but are not sure about sections 4. The discussion went very well and its good see a little of the unity from the three tikanga. We also have just finished presenting the youth bill for setting up a Tikanga Toru Youth Commission and Im very happy to see that we have the support of all three tikanga. We are now discussing the details of the bill but its great to see that the Synod is recognising the youth and ours needs. Im going to stop here cause I think there are some more stuff for me to photocopy. Duty calls!
#GS10
May 11, 2010 | Leave a Comment
Reflection by Safaira
This is the first time to be in General Synod,so far so good, so exciting to be amongst the elites of the Anglican church. And eye opening for me, as a youth leader back in my own Tikanga polynesia. It has broadened my knowledge in terms of how the Anglican communion works, how important issues are being dealt with. Born as an Anglican i wasnt aware of how this church is well structured along with all its rules and protocols to follow when it comes to meetings, and decisions to be made. Listening and browsing thru the motions being put forward, reports being presented, bills to be passed, i just pray and hope that at the end of the day the whole three Tikanga will go back home satisfied and happy that something has been achieved.
#GS10 Youth Report
May 10, 2010 | 1 Comment
Small Reflection by Vincent Nuku.
The 3 tikanga youth report that was presented at General Synod had a sense of growth, hope and real-life experiences amongst the communities of Aotearoa, NZ and Polynesia. I enjoyed being able to listen to some of the youth stewards and youth reps for synod speak about what 3 tikanga means to them. I felt their stories from my own experiences in the Church. I thought about what the Church has done for me, when I came in.
The youth report was led by Reverend Jo Kelly-Moore and carried on by Reverend John Hebenton, which was excellent and I felt it took steps towards sustaining a future for the Church within a 3 tikanga context. This is through sharing each others cultures and being open to learn through our Anglican Faith. I would like to thank my Manu Karakia Kathleen Winiata for her input into the report and also a big shout out to all the youth stewards and delegates at this year’s 59th Te Hinota Whanui (General Synod).
General Synod 2010
April 24, 2010 | Leave a Comment
Delegates from across the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia are gathering for the 59th Session of the General Synod / Te Hīnota Whānui in Gisborne, 7-13 May 2010.
Team Calendar 2008
February 11, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Our latest Team Calendar is available for download here. It contains all our events and commitments for 2008. Feel free to print and distribute, and contact us if you need any more information about the events in the calendar.