MARCH 2008 FEBRUARY 2014

‘God‘God ofof life,life, leadlead usus toto justicejustice andand peace’peace’

During their pilgrimage for peace, WCC delegates attached prayers for peace on the iron fence near the border between South and North Korea. By Paul Titus t a time when the world fellowship, the World Council of alongside Bible study, workshops conversations Lana attended was says while it is called the faces economic, Churches stands in solidarity with and social activities,” Diana says. one on children's rights which demilitarised zone, it is a highly ecological, and the people and the churches in All members of the Assembly explored how to expand children's militarised space where missiles spiritual challenges the Korean peninsula, and with took part in large plenary sessions role in the Church and how to are poised and new bunkers are AChristians should be all who strive for justice and focused on the global challenges keep children safe both in the still being built. communities of peace,” the Assembly stated in that churches have to face Church and the community. “Though it is 60 years since compassion and healing. its summary. together - mission, unity, peace Other conversations focused the ceasefire there is still a This is the message that the The Assembly is the highest and justice. There were also on prayer, mission in changing palpable sense of fear in the World Council of Churches governing body of the WCC, and smaller ecumenical conversations contexts, contemporary demilitarised zone,” Tony says. (WCC) offered congregations it meets every seven years. The that provided in-depth discussion evangelism, climate change, “Now there is a new generation around the world after its 10th 10th Assembly ran from Oct 30th on critical issues. Other topics overcoming poverty, and the growing up who have no personal Assembly in Busan, South Korea. to Nov 8th and a number of New were explored through Middle East. Madang focused on experience of the war so it will The theme of this Assembly Zealand church people, including exhibitions and workshops, more specific topics such as post- be interesting to see what progress was 'God of life, lead us to justice seven members of Te Hahi referred to with the Korean word conflict reconciliation in Sri they can make. The opportunity and peace' and in its final Weteriana, attended the event. 'madang'. Lanka, politicisation of religion, to be hosted by the Korean statement it also reaffirmed that, Te Taha Maori tumuaki Rev efore the main Assembly, South Sudan, nuclear energy, the Methodist Church also enabled despite their differences, the 345 Diana Tana was the official Diana joined fellow Te 100th anniversary of the churches that make up the WCC representative of Methodist Taha Maori members Armenian genocide, and the our team to learn more about intend to continue moving Church of NZ. Diana says the Bella Ngaha and Lana rights of stateless people. Korean churches and build forward together. Acknowledging Assembly was a wonderful Lazarus at a Pre Assembly Delegates spent the weekend relationships between MCNZ and the host country, the Assembly experience and extremely well gathering that put forward in the middle of the Assembly KMC.” held up the difficult search for organised. resolutions to the Assembly on time away from the conference Lana was with a section of unity and peace in Korea as a “It is an incredible issues facing indigenous people venue exploring the the delegates that remained in model and a sign of hope. opportunity to gather with in the Church and around the contemporary history of Korea. Busan over the weekend. They “We are not allowed to close Christians from all over the world, world. Several NZ Methodists looked at the modern history of our eyes to harsh realities or to make friends, and learn about Methodist Church of NZ including Prince, Rev Tony South Korea, including the rest our hands from God's what is happening at the coal face Mission and Ecumenical Franklin-Ross, and Soana democratisation of the political transforming work. As a in communities and ecumenical secretary Rev Prince Devanadan Muimuiheata were part of a group system during the 1970s and organisations around the world. also attended a Pre Assembly on that went to Seoul and then on an 1980s, and they visited a nuclear “One of the exciting things Mission, migration and ecumenical pilgrimage of peace plant and Buddhist-Confucian about the WCC Assembly is the multicultural ministry. to the demilitarised zone between temple. INSIDE way that business is conducted Among the ecumenical South and North Korea. Prince See Page 11

‘DEFROCKED’ METHODIST - PAGE 2 DRAMA THEOLOGY - PAGE 6

REFUGEES AND MIGRANTS - PAGE 10 2 TOUCHSTONE • FEBRUARY 2014 NEWS Building bridges in Rome By Cory Miller is a world away from the Waikato diplomatic role, in which he helps working. If churches would join biggest highlight of the job, being New Zealand's own region, where he served as bishop to strengthen the links between with God, in peace, we would be able to fight for justice.” Anglican knight is making it his for more than 20 years. the two churches. He will more credible and more One of the critical projects mission to help forge a Nevertheless, inside this enclosed welcome people to the Vatican effective,” he says. on the agenda is modern-day centuries-old rift between two ecclesiastical state of the Vatican, and offer support to the many His willingness to work in slavery or human trafficking. of the world's oldest groups of David continues his work for the pilgrims who make their way into unity with others undoubtedly David says there are estimated Christians. church as an ambassador, for the the ancient city. helped David earn his New to be over 20-million people Archbishop Sir David world's 84-million Anglicans to David says Anglicans must Zealand knighthood, and it led enslaved across the world. Moxon, named in this year's New the Roman Catholic Church. take the initiative in reaching out him to pause for thought before “Together, at the Vatican, we Year Honours list as a Knight In his role as the Archbishop to the Roman Catholic Church. accepting the hefty title. are developing an action plan that Companion of the New Zealand of Canterbury's Representative “Because the Anglican David's family was with him tackles and deconstructs this Order of Merit for his services to the Holy See and as director Church split from the Catholics in Rome, when he received the underground world of human to the New Zealand Anglican of the Anglican Centre in Rome, in the 16th century, we believe it news of his honour. However trafficking. We are providing Church, will soon become the David is responsible for building is our responsibility to try and David says he didn't say yes those stuck in this world with a Anglican Church's representative bridges between the Roman close this rift and join forces straight away. “I thought about way to exit slavery.” to the Vatican. Catholics and the Anglicans. when we can, to tackle today's it for sometime, talking it over It's an invigorating but tough David's appointment to Rome He sees it as a largely challenges and issues.” with my family before I decided job, especially when you consider For David, unity is key to it was the right thing to do. We that every second month David achieving the Christian vision. decided accepting it was the right has to make the long commute “We are meant to build way to recognise the Church, and Christ's vision together. We can't its purpose in New Zealand. to New Zealand to spend time fight injustice effectively when “I am not a lone stranger. I with his family. we are separated.” represent the people of my And despite the challenges, However, David admits congregations. This award David says he is enjoying his ecumenism is not always honours them.” role. “It's inspiring to be able to popular. At present the only other In Rome, David uses this be a part of this moment in the church body to have a formal passion to help others in his fight church's history and to have a presence in Rome, is the against injustice. Alongside the chance to work alongside the Methodist Church. other churches he finds strategies Pope and the people around him. “People feel it's too hard,” and develops action plans to help “The Pope is proving to be a David says. But he hopes by achieve the common vision of a remarkable transformation agent living an ecumenical example, more just world. for the church, truly living what things will soon change. “My most important task in he preaches. He is big on “To those who challenge this job is playing a part in the solidarity with the poorest of the ecumenism, we say look more justice, development and peace poor. It's invigorating to be closely and see just how it is projects and initiatives. It's the involved in the fight for justice.” Archbishop Sir David Moxon.

Defrocked US minister praises MCNZ's stance on gay marriage Gospel By David Hill marriage. Several State A 'defrocked' US Methodist Conferences do not enforce the minister says his church could policy, however. manifesto for learn from its New Zealand The next General Conference counterpart. will be held in 2016 and election year The United Methodist Church homosexuality is sure to be on By Brian Turner in Pennsylvania ordered Rev the agenda. Looking for a strong lead in Frank Schaefer to hand over his At his trial Frank used the 2014? How about five priorities clergy credentials on December parable of the Good Samaritan that a concerned group of church 19 following a complaint that he as part of his defence. people have entitled a Gospel conducted a same sex marriage “I saw that my son was like Manifesto for 2014. service for his gay son in 2007. the man who had been beaten The five priorities are 1) Every Frank was surprised to learn New and robbed. I couldn't pass by on child counts; 2) Healthy homes leads Zealand Methodist ministers the road for the sake of church to healthy lives; 3) Gross inequality could follow their own cleanliness. It was an act of costs everyone; 4) Correcting a conscience on the matter. compassion.” punitive society; 5) Being a better “That's amazing! That's the Frank says his son grew up world neighbour. way it should be. Why can't we in the United Methodist Church, Underpinning all five priorities do that here in the US?” he says. and felt that the message is the teaching of Jesus and its Frank has been a United conveyed by the church “made The Schaefer family: Brigitte and Frank with their son Tim and daughter Debbie. application to the local and global Methodist Church minister for him feel like a freak and not situation in which we live. 20 years. He was serving at the normal”. He suffered from United Methodists to “stand on “If you are considering Each of the priorities has been Zion of Iona parish in Lebanon, depression and considered the side of Jesus” and declare that leaving the church, then don't. researched and written up by experts Pennsylvania. He says he was committing suicide as a teenager. the United Methodist Church's We need you. If you have already in their field. This material will be surprised that his “act of “The church needs to stop the position on homosexuality is left the church, then come back. released progressively in compassion” in supporting his hurtful language and wrong, as is “its incessant We need you. We need all of you Touchstone throughout 2014 with own son six years earlier would discrimination. We need to demand to determine through to fight against discrimination,” the last material available no later lead to him being defrocked. recognise that all people are of political processes who can be he says. than September 2014. “I informed my Bishop at the sacred worth and have a right to fully members of the body of The planning group has High profile retired minister deliberately called the priorities a time of the marriage and I never be at the Lord's table. They talk Christ”. Rev Dr Tom Ogletree, former heard from him or my about Jesus being the one who Following the Conference, 'Gospel Manifesto' as this underlines dean at Yale Divinity School, is the importance of the teaching and superintendent. So needless to dined with sinners. Jesus never Frank preached at Hollywood also set to face trial by the United say I was not expecting anything called them sinners, the Pharisees United Methodist Church on the way of Jesus as life enhancing (ka Methodist Church in March, for ora) as opposed to life defeating (ka to happen. It was so long ago. did. Jesus called them his theme 'Compassion Trumps conducting a same sex marriage “I felt like I had been rejected friends.” Doctrine'. He shared his mate). for his gay son. Tom describes by the Church. It was a much The day after being experience and his reflection on In this election year, a Gospel defrocked, Frank says he received the parable of the Good the wedding as one of the most Manifesto holds out the vision of more of a traumatic experience what life should be for all in than I thought it would be. After a phone call from California Samaritan. meaningful ritual acts of his life. “It is a shame that the church Aotearoa NZ not just a privileged 20 years of ministry, it is a big United Methodist Bishop Frank's new high profile few. It also mirrors the equality that commitment. It becomes a part Minerva Carcano inviting him to means he has several job offers is choosing to prosecute me for this act of love, which is entirely should prevail globally as well as of your life.” join the California-Pacific to consider from parishes and locally. Frank says the United Conference. bishops in the United Methodist in keeping with my ordination vows to 'seek peace, justice, and May the Spirit that gave rise to Methodist Church first passed its “She said 'we affirm you and Church, Episcopal Church, and this manifesto fuel and fire your statement of belief on what you did'. I told her 'you just the United Church of Christ. In freedom for all people' and with resolve also. homosexuality in 1972 at its made my day, you made my life'. the meantime Frank has speaking Methodism's historic Written by Rev Brian Turner on General Conference, which is It was very emotional.” engagements lined up for the next commitment to inclusive ministry behalf of the Gospel Manifesto held every four years. It later In her statement to the six months where he will deliver embodied in its slogan 'open Planning Group. added a statement about same sex Conference, Minerva called on his message of compassion. hearts, open minds, open doors'.” TOUCHSTONE • FEBRUARY 2014 3 NEWS

Census paints daunting future for NZ churches PUBLIC ISSUES NETWORK By David Hill here,” Peter says. only 22,000 were born in Tonga. The Methodist Church came He observes that a significant “So two-thirds of Tongans in New off lightly compared to other factor shaping Christian memberships Zealand were not born in Tonga and is migration. the chances are they are English Public Issues on denominations in the latest New Zealand census “The Anglicans have never speaking. Will they want to go to a benefited from new Tongan speaking church and sing figures but the migration, it is very Tongan hymns in an environment that Church has some the move in 2014 much a white and they find very strict and very formal? questions to Maori grouping. The “One of the simplest ways to get The Christian Conference of New Zealand today. Some Filipino answer as it looks Methodists have away from family pressures is to go Asia's 'People on the Move' construction workers employed in to the future. benefited from Pasifika to a different church or stop going roundtable in Auckland on the Christchurch rebuild are required Massey and Korean migrants, altogether.” migrants, refugees and asylum to work on Saturdays for no pay, or University (Albany) Presbyterians from Peter acknowledges the success seekers launched the 2014 for the are not being paid for their first religious history Samoans and church youth groups have had in Public Issues Network (PIN). The month of employment. Delayed pay Associate Professor Congregationalists and engaging a wide range of young justice orientation of the roundtable is common. Peter Lineham says the Catholics from people and particularly Pasifika youth. addressed public issues that are The 90 day trial period is being 103,000 New Pasifika, Filipino and These problems are more local and global in scale. used to 'employ' migrant workers Zealanders identified Indian migrants.” pronounced in the Pakeha sections of The abstract issues of below the minimum wage and they themselves as Filipino migration the church, where congregations often international boundaries, sustainable are then dismissed. Migrant workers Methodist in last Peter Lineham alone has contributed have few, if any, young active families. development, climate and free trade who make a complaint face the threat year's census, or 2.4 20,000 to the Catholic “The critical problem is how do have to be countered by practical of dismissal or punitive work percent of the population/. This was Church's numbers. you pass faith on to the next and achievable care for people and conditions. down from around the 120,000 mark Another factor is the “cash value” generation?” nature at home. We live in a woven PARISH ACTIONS TO in the censuses of 1996, 2001 and of being Catholic, compared to other A whopping 206,000 people universe and contributing to the SUPPORT MIGRANTS 2006. denominations, Peter says. ticked the Christian box, but did not healthy fabric of our own AND REFUGEES “This is quite a significant drop. “The numbers of people getting choose a denomination. Peter suspects communities is one of the most Advocacy for the Living Wage But the Methodists have little to married are right down and people are many choose not to be part of a formal important expressions of solidarity campaign will be beneficial to complain about in comparison to other living longer. People are less religion, while others may float and compassion. It is ultimately the migrant workers who are on the denominations,” Peter says. concerned about who will bury them, between churches, seeking the best most likely cure for the lowest incomes although it won't The 2012 census was the first in so they feel they have no reason to be fit. destructiveness of climate change address exploitative practices. which the majority of New Zealanders connected with a church. Peter says he worships regularly and economic exploitation. The CCA conference suggested did not identify themselves as “Identifying yourself as Catholic with three different churches: As the effects of climate change parishes can help by joining existing Christian. About 46 percent ticked the still has cash value as people want Anglican, Baptist and a community disrupt us, we can see the looming migrant and refugee organizations. Christian box this time, compared to their kids to go to Catholic schools church. tragedies of displacement that come Extending an invitation to host 52 percent in 2006. The Anglican and there is a lot of pressure on the The challenge in this environment from food shortages and poverty. a refugee or migrant person or family Church took the biggest hit, losing Catholic school rolls in Auckland. It is for churches to be more flexible The effects of this are grossly uneven to settle is another practical action nearly 100,000 members since 2006 is a major issue in Howick and Orewa and to offer something their given the unequal distribution of and falling to 459,000. where there are two new Catholic community actually needs. The for parishes. It is important to have income in our world and our own guidelines, such as respect for This means the Catholic Church schools.” earthquakes have forced Christchurch society. is now New Zealand's largest The Methodist Church has a churches to ask 'do we need church different faiths and understanding New Zealand 's 'rock star' how to support people who have denomination with 492,000 members, number of issues to consider as it buildings now' and 'how can we economy is measured on economic been traumatized. Rev Prince though it too experienced a drop of looks to the future. Not only is the properly resource our communities'? activity alone, mainly the Devanandan can provide guidance 16,000. Pasifika community in the church Peter would like to see Methodist Christchurch rebuild and dairy [email protected]. “The Catholics overtaking the getting older but increasing numbers Churches “restore power to active lay export, with no accounting for the Anglicans has been coming for a long were born in New Zealand. The census people”. fact that benefits go to relatively few CLIMATE CHANGE time. It has already happened in other figures show there 60,000 New “If it could only be like that it or for the environmental costs. New PIN, Methodist Mission & countries and I've been predicting it Zealanders identified as Tongan but would be a wonderful thing. Zealand has dismal ratings on Ecumenical and the Methodist Trust inequality and this is one of the key Association are working together on challenges for sustainable the Conference 2013 decision for Churches join community to provide development. the church to move toward low Inequality and child poverty will carbon economies. We will make be important for PIN in this election practical recommendations on steps cyclone relief to Tonga year. the Church can take. Members of the Methodist Global interdependence is There is a growing worldwide Church of New Zealand's evident in neoliberal economic movement among churches on Vahefonua Tonga are working policies that drive the flow of human 'divestment' from investments in with the wider Tongan labour. These policies dictate the fossil fuels, and we will include a need for large numbers of migrants briefing on this. community in Auckland to WATER provide relief for the people on to control labour supply and keep wages down. The CCA conference Some parishes have plans for the Ha'apai Islands affected by underscored the global scale of water seminars early in the year. cyclone. migration as well as its local impact, Submissions on National Standards Christian World Service (CWS) including that on indigenous peoples. for Freshwater are due at the has also launched a fundraising appeal Te Taha Maori tumuaki Rev beginning of February. For a poster to support clean-up work in the wake Diana Tana and Dr Arapera Ngaha for notice boards and background of Cyclone Ian. oriented participants to tangata briefing see the Public Issues page Tropical Cyclone Ian struck whenua protocols of hospitality as on the Methodist Church website. Tonga's northern Ha'apai Islands on the spiritual ground for welcome to We will circulate a submission January 11th. Nearly 85 percent of those who come as manuhiri. Early before February 4th. the houses on the stricken islands were migrants to Aotearoa became part CHILD POVERTY destroyed or had major damage. of the community by respecting and Remember the PIN resources, Infrastructure including water, abiding by customary law and covering Income, health and telecommunications and the sole tikanga. housing. Hard copies available from hospital were badly damaged. In stark contrast to the ideal of [email protected] or In Auckland, a Tongan community Volunteers from Lotofale'ia Tongan Methodist Church load food hospitality migrant people often face through Public Issues page on the group, the Ha'apai Relief Committee and emergency supplies for the Ha'apai Islands. exploitative working conditions in Methodist Church website. was set up to co-ordinate the shipment Community Development Trust's establish village community gardens. of non-perishable food, water and network of women's groups CWS has worked with Ama emergency supplies to the Islands. throughout Tonga who help Takiloa for a decade. They know their Vahefonua Tonga's Lotofale'ia Church communities prepare for natural communities well and can help them in Mangere has been used as the disasters and the effects of climate collection site for the supplies. change. organise to do what is necessary to Lotofale'ia administrator Moi “These women have been training rebuild and care for the most Kaufononga says that by January 18th for many years to respond after vulnerable people. three 20ft shipping containers had disasters strike. They are strong Auckland's Ha'apai Relief already been filled and dispatched and women who know what needs to be Committee is also led by women. another three were full and waiting to done now and in the months ahead as Results to 31 December 2013 be sent. they rebuild their communities. They Chairperson Jennifer Latu Salesa, “We received funds from the need funds to make it happen,” says deputy chair Amelia Schaaf, and Auckland City Council's and the CWS international programmes secretary Makalita Kolo are all from 6 Mths to 12 Mths to Department of Pacific Island Affairs coordinator Trish Murray. the Ha'apai Islands. 30.6.13 31.12.13 to cover the shipping costs,” Moi says. Ama Takiloa has run workshops Contributions to Vahefonua “We could quickly fill another four on how to deal with storms and Tonga's relief efforts can be sent to: containers but we are not certain how tsunamis, and they support women Income Fund 5.52% 5.91% we would cover the cost of shipping throughout Tonga to improve their Methodist Church of NZ, PO Box Growth and Income Fund 4.28% 4.39% them.” livelihoods. One of their projects is 931, Christchurch 8140. Please mark Vahefonua Tonga is also collecting to repair and maintain water tanks to as 'Tongan Cyclone Fund'. Income Distributions for the quarter totalled $3,439,308 cash donations to provide relief aid. make sure water is safe. Donations to the CWS Tonga By January 20th they had collected In the days after Cyclone Ian, Ama Cyclone Appeal can be made by direct $22,500. It will be donated to the Free Takiloa helped supply food and water deposit online at Wesleyan Church of Tonga's relief to Ha'apai. Long term they plan to fund. give financial support to more than www.cws.org.nz/donate or by CWS works closely with its 800 households, repair water systems, post to CWS, PO Box 22652, partner, Ama Takiloa, the Tonga distribute seeds and plants, and Christchurch 8140. 4 TOUCHSTONE • FEBRUARY 2014 OPINION Behind the headlines after Nelson Mandela's death To the editor, Some who sang and danced would have been Nelson Mandela's passing late last year led to the children and grandchildren of 60,000 Africans reflection on our New Zealand's history and the who in 1956 were forcibly removed from their deep division within our nation over the 1981 homes in dawn raids to be transported and dumped Springbok tour. in what we now know as Soweto. In that same NZ Herald columnists and letter year 200 brave women demonstrated writers wrote justifying the stand they against pass laws and apartheid. That took at that time. A significant convert was the year before Nelson Mandela on the issue was Ross Meurant. In1981 was tried for high treason. he was second in command of the In the coverage of Mandela's death notorious Police Red Squad. He now we did not learn from the media that acknowledges that at the time he was in 1958 the Methodist Church joined captive of the police culture. others in the campaign against All After Mandela's death television Black teams selected on racial lines newscasts showed black and white touring South Africa. South Africans standing together in Nor were we reminded of a honour of his passing. Along with Methodist man of character who their grieving in song and dance Des Webb halted his All Black career after Africans expressed their pride in his achievements. playing one test against the 1959 British Lions in No man is an island, however. Had not both Wellington. Des Webb refused selection for the former President De Klerk and Nelson Mandela 1960 All Black tour of South Africa. He worked each possessed the maturity to negotiate and as a practicing solicitor until he died prematurely reconcile 20 years ago there would have been at the age of 52 in 1987. nothing to celebrate. Laurie Michie, North Shore Geering response nails it To the editor, many who feel threatened by his scholarship. Your response to the critics of your interview If, at his age they still have a 10th of his with Lloyd Geering was spot on. Nothing more really needs to be said. passion, I will be very surprised. It is very sad to think that there are still so Elizabeth Duncan, Nelson Evolution is all around us To the editor, God who had a male gender, existed, disembodied Thank you for your Lloyd Geering interview 'out there', and intervened on request, in human From the backyard in the October issue of Touchstone. affairs we now conceive of a God present in all From the backyard One of your correspondents in the December of creation always and intimately involved in all issue stated that “we haven't seen anything affairs as more of a caring, challenging, loving evolving yet.” I, on the other hand, watch evolution partner than a wrathful judge. Made of with amazement. I could not understand a God who demanded Take just two examples of evolution in living payment for forgiveness. organisms: One is intestinal worms in sheep. They For me, this evolution began when the old have evolved strains which have now defeated image of God was no longer sustainable. It began Gillian Watkin the most advanced of pharmaceutical vermifuges. with hearing Lloyd Geering and recognising a Memoriesmemories are fickle things. We our friend who came with us from Another is 'super bugs' in hospitals, which have common awakening of new spiritual vigour. can have a very clear idea of what Waipukurau went to find shelter. By evolved antibiotic resistance in much the same The likes of John Spong, Marcus Borg and has happened, only to find someone the car park overlooking the beach way. others added to this as did our Church study series else has a completely different view. was a shelter shed, just like the ones We could look at the evolution of the human 'Living the Questions'. I have also been greatly As people get older or if someone we used to have at school. So now brain to deal with complex processes that were challenged by presbyters who are inspired by special dies there is a danger that my memories of Porangahau have considered extremely difficult 50 years ago. progressive theology and modern knowledge. memory will disappear. It is a real been updated. One example is the typewriter keyboard. Ian Harris's article in the December Touchstone worry and it is important to take good It was my memories of being at Young children today quickly master the keyboard is an example of evolution of Biblical stewardship of what should be Porangahau that called me to go there. when people of my mother's generation went understanding. remembered. Memories are fickle. They make us through long periods of training and constant Keep it up! We will learn much more from Just after New Year we decided who we are. They call us back to the practice to achieve the same results. Tell me that's thinkers who challenge us than we will from 'yes' to go and find Porangahau. It is a past and on to the future, often beyond not evolution. men. My God has evolved immensely. From the Brian Kendrick, Nelson small beach settlement well south of pain and suffering. Cape Kidnappers. Nearly 20 years They can loom large and almost ago I attended a Rural Ministry stifle us but at times they make our Vision of ecumenical unity lives on Conference at Waipawa hosted by the hearts sing. Memories are more about To the editor, faith and providing spiritual guidance, into Hawkes Bay Rural Ministry Group. feelings than facts, and, like feelings, It was encouraging during the course of 2013 dictating another believer's relationship with God Never in my wildest imagination did they just are. to see positive reflections on Christian ecumenism on one's own terms. I think I would end up living in this I can be amazed by how the words in Touchstone. Few more understandable grievances against part of the world. of a long forgotten song or line of As someone brought up in a CV parish that some churches exist, despite the inherent worth From that time I remembered poetry can just appear at the right draws largely on two denominational traditions, of their mission. windy country roads with hills and moment. How wonderfully are we I understand that different faith heritages can both I recall one national gathering where a church dips. We were welcomed onto the made. (Psalm 139). stimulate and create tensions. leader compared two denominations' processes. marae and we saw a wilderness beach. What a wonderful organ our brain Where this enriches one's understanding of "That is not to say one is better or worse than This trip showed how my memory is. Among the joys of being older (and Christianity's diversity, it was to be welcomed. another," he said, "they are just different". had fooled me. there are some, contrary to those who Where it promotes exclusive understandings of This was a refreshing contrast to times where The drive on the Porangahau Road think they will wither and die after church and denigrates other perspectives, one people have shown disdain toward individuals or out from Waipukurau takes 40 minutes 50), are the new discoveries that we starts to doubt the commitment of those involved denominations because their approach was and is quite a smooth road for this make when we take the time to reflect to the nature of CVs and to Christian unity. different. part of the world. Porangahau has a and ponder. Christ's church, like wider society, contains As the Rev Tony Bell observed in his April broad, white sandy beach. It was busy I have always loved those different personalities and perspectives. Many 2013 Touchstone column (for which I thank him) with people, traffic, boats, dogs and passages in the gospels where Mary find this challenging but it is still something to people fishing. pondered. Thinking deeply doesn't be embraced. there are reasons why a national Uniting Church did not emerge out of the ecumenical drive of the Like so many small towns, there come easily when you are young and Society includes the healthy and sick, the is a church, a pub, a school, a small in a hurry but even then, memories employed and unemployed, the higher-income 1970s. and lower-income worker, the senior manager There are also reasons why this frustrated shop and a mix of bachs, camping and patterns are being laid down that and the junior entrant, the introverted and many CV members and left its legacy, including grounds and permanent houses. Along you will understand much later in extroverted. for myself. with all those at the beach, children your life. All have legitimate places within society and, There may even be, as Tony suggests, and dads were fishing off the bridge. Memories are fickle but they are in principle, so they also should within the church opportunities that situation has provided for our The day was windy and cold, and the footprints of our journey. of whatever type. This likewise applies to era. Perhaps by understanding these differing denominational affiliation. perspectives, renewed progress may be made on Apologies Helen When relationships break down, people may this issue in the future. In the December edition of Touchstone, we neglected to include the name of the insist their understanding of faith and/or church I, for one, sincerely hope that will prove to author who wrote the well-researched 'From the Archives' article on Auckland is the only proper way to follow Christ. be the case. street names with Methodist connections. The author was Helen Laurenson. This goes beyond testifying to one's Christian Jed Baker, Wellington Kindly accept our apologies, Helen.

Postal PO Box 931 Editor Paul Titus Advertising Pieter van den Berg Circulation Karen Isaacs Christchurch Phone (03) 381 6912 Phone (03) 310 7781, Fax (03) 310 7782 Phone (03) 381-4315 Fax (03) 366-6009 Mobile (021) 655 092 Email [email protected] [email protected]@xtra.co.nz E-mail [email protected] Printer The Ashburton Guardian Opinions in Touchstone do not necessarily reflect Production Julian Doesburg [email protected] Ad Deadline 15th of the month preceeding publication the offical views of the Methodist Church of NZ. Publisher The Methodist Publishing Company Letters Deadline 15th of the month preceeding publication Subscription Changes 10th of the month preceeding publication TOUCHSTONE • FEBRUARY 2014 5 OPINION

CONVERSATION WITH THE CONNEXION

Greetings all as we begin President Rex Nathan and vice president Jan Tasker

anotherAfter the surge andyear the rush of shoppers activitiesSanta Claus, or did the Three Wise Men and of tragedy subsided, Christmas Day and Boxing Day the gifts they carried still have some One death on our roads is one too many, came and went. We can now sit back, reflect significance today? often caused by someone making a mistake. and analyse just what exactly took place, We would like to believe it was the third When you study the causes, every one of why and what were the reasons for the suggestion but in reality we think not. What those accidents was avoidable. We trust you were able to have some increase in business activities. we certainly can be assured of is that the As well as the death toll resulting from quality time with family and friends over However, let us remind ourselves the giving and receiving of gifts still has a those accidents, there were a significant the Christmas and New Year period. very reason there is a Christmas Day. prominent stance in the life of Christmas number of injuries with people being Two interesting matters caught our This from Luke Chapter 2: The angels celebrations although we are very much hospitalised and some being maimed for the attention during the Christmas New Year said to the Shepherds, ”Do not be afraid; for aware that some poor families were not so rest of their lives. period. see - I am bringing you good news of great fortunate to be part of the celebrations. What is concerning at present is the Both involved prominent news media joy for all the people. To you is born this The second and most interesting headline significant number of road deaths that have headlines. One announced retailers' record day in the city of David a Saviour, who is was the road deaths in New Zealand during occurred since the beginning of 2014. sales with queues trailing out into the streets, the Messiah, the Lord.” 2013. On the one hand good news but on Already the number of deceased has supermarket aisles packed with shoppers, From Matthew Chapter 2: The three wise the other hand, not so good. exceeded the equivalent period for last year. car parks full and overflowing. Business men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, Last year's road toll resulted in 254 deaths Not a very good omen considering the owners were smiling because their profits “Where is the child who has been born king on NZ roads, the lowest it has been in 60 authorities have reduced the speed tolerance were up substantially. Shoppers becoming of the Jews? For we have come to pay him years. This was certainly an achievement to rate from 10 kph to 4 kph during December frustrated not able to find a car park, or homage.” On entering the house, they saw take note of in that the result is a reduction and January. having to wait hours for someone to move the child with Mary his mother; and they of road deaths by 35 percent in the last five All we can say is take care on the roads out. Parents with young ones encountering knelt down and paid him homage. Then years. and be ever vigilant for anything untoward stressful moments. opening their treasure chests, they offered What is not good news is that those 254 that may happen during your travels. It has been some several years since the him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. deaths resulted in an equal number of families May God bless you all as you prepare business community has enjoyed a busy and Did the increase in sales result from: a - if not - more being affected. We can imagine for another year of activities within your profitable period that this most recent one return to the business confidence of the good the traumatic scenes that devastated families synods, parishes, congregations, boards and has been. old days, or perhaps was it the influence of and friends had to endure during their time committees. Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement Why our children

an opportunity for New Zealand Byneed Joohong theKim Bibleme to a Buddhist temple near our By Brian Chamberlin neither the Democrats nor the aim is to achieve a solution that I was born in a rural town in town. There she made an offering We Methodists are good at Republicans have been benefits the majority of people. 1962 nine years after the Korean and prayed. I couldn't understand pointing out what is wrong in particularly helpful in the WTO. Dire predictions were made by War. At that time most families in what she was praying for but now I society. We are not as good, I believe that the current US opponents of trade liberalisation Korea were struggling with poverty, know she prayed for the family, for however, at putting forward Administration is back in the before the Uruguay Round. particularly in rural areas. a good harvest, and for her children ideas to solve those problems. ring because its influence in the These proved groundless, as the Statistics show the average The campaigns we are Pacific is being overtaken by gains made far outweighed and their prosperous future. running to 'Let the Children the Chinese. The US cannot losses. annual family wage was US$87, Looking back on this time, I Live' and pay a living wage have afford to be left out of any Critics make much of the equivalent to US$22,400 in 2011. conclude that, like the other merit. We may be able to make agreement that frees up trade in fact that draft agreements are Worse, however was people's townspeople, my mother's religion some progress by adjusting the region. not released to the public for spiritual well-being as superstitious was syncretic and superstitious. They salaries and tax rates but those The potential gains for New debate. This is simply not thoughts, ideas and beliefs prevailed. took whatever looked helpful. two mechanisms can only take Zealand and the poorer countries possible, as drafts change There was a shaman and fortune No wonder, my own spirituality us so far. in the region would come constantly. No agreement would teller in my town who was the The only way to make real through better access to wealthy ever be made if each draft had was confused. I saw Mother pray mother of my friend and they lived and watched her listen to a shaman progress is to grow the economy. markets and lower tariffs on the to be approved by the public in a block away from our place over a The best way to do this is to products we export. For every country involved. who appeared to have authority and increase exports, an area where example, eliminating tariffs on New Zealand has been well hill. She used to have a ritual that power. I heard and read stories of a we have made great advances meat we export to Japan could served by outstanding trade included her shamanistic dance world under the sea, of the kingdom over the last 20 years. The save NZ $90m a year. ministers from across the performed with the help of a above the mountain, of the noble GATT Uruguay agreement and Consumers in importing political spectrum and very drummer. She did it always at night with supernatural power living in the trade agreement with China countries would be able to buy talented officials over the past because it was believed that the the mountain, of three-grandmother have both been very important. better products at lower prices. three decades. Present minister spirits move in darkness. Many goddess, of cruel punishment in Hell, The Uruguay Round enabled Alan Bollard (former NZ Tim Groser and his team are nights I fell into sleep with the sound and all sorts of scary stories of us to make huge progress, Reserve Bank Governor and experienced and competent. of the drum coming in over the hill. witchcraft, dark spirits, bad spirits, especially in dairy exports. In now an APEC official), They will not let New Zealand My mother went to the shaman return for being able to set high described a TPP agreement as down. and the messengers in black from at times and asked to hear her internal prices for their milk, the an opportunity for people in The New Zealand public has Hell. fortune. Sitting on mother's lap I Europeans accepted curbs on poorer countries to be four times the ultimate protection in that I was not only confused, I was watched the shaman as she grabbed production, so we faced much better off than their parents were. any agreement made has to be scared. I had lots of nightmares - less unfair competition from I was very distressed when approved by our Parliament. No a handful of rice and scattered them being chased by wild geese that kill subsidized dumped products in I read the suggested resolution politician is going to vote for an on a small table, and counted grains the rapidly growing Asian to Methodist Conference 2013 agreement that does not improve one by one, two by two, or three by people, for example - until I began markets. that stated “Conference supports our economy. three. She repeated the weird process to attend church, listened to Bible After GATT became the the ongoing involvement of I am convinced that a a couple more times which, I thought, stories at Sunday school, and found World Trade Organisation Public Issues Network (PIN) in successful TPPA has the was quite boring. Then she gave peace in Jesus Christ who is the a network of organisations potential to help our government (WTO) in 1993, further mother some words but I don't Saviour. negotiations for an enhanced expressing deep concern about and businesses to provide the remember what they were. This is the reason I am keen to global agreement were put in the TPPA and its implications resources necessary to reduce encourage children's ministry. Today place. Since then no agreement for Aotearoa New Zealand; and poverty. It has even greater Another time Mother went to see has been reached, mainly that PIN continues to raise issues potential to lift the standard of the shaman, and she did a liturgy to children are exposed to all sorts of because wealthy countries are regarding the TPPA for living in the poorer countries in call the spirit of my father, who had weird, horrible and dreadful images not prepared to make Conference.” the Pacific. died a year earlier. As I sat by my and stories. concessions to poorer countries. I presented an amendment Brian Chamberlin is a mother's side the shaman danced and Teaching our children the Bible The intractability of the debt- that added the words: “That PIN parish steward in shook a bamboo stick with green is very important. If we don't teach ridden Europeans has forced the also considers the advantages Whangaparaoa Parish. He has leaves and tiny bells on it. I still our children the Bible, something countries in the Pacific to look that could come from a TPP represented New Zealand in remember her powerful jumps and else that we don't know and don't elsewhere. The proposed TPPA settlement for New Zealand, and trade negotiations as a member want, might occupy their minds. Let agreement is not as significant especially for poorer countries of Federated Farmers, as thumps. Eventually she delivered as a WTO agreement would be in the region.” The amendment special agricultural trade envoy, some words to Mother, presumably the children live, spiritually as well. but it could be a useful second was carried without dissent. and as agricultural counsellor from the spirit of my father, though Rev Joohong Kim is presbyter at prize. It is surprising to see the Concessions have to be at the New Zealand High I was too young to remember them. Crossway Community Church, US in the discussions because made in trade negotiations. The Commission in London. One day Mother piggybacked Christchurch. 6 TOUCHSTONE • FEBRUARY 2014 NEWS AND VIEWS

Atheists believe in community service HONEST TO GOD By Ian Harris Three atheists joined members of Pitt Street Methodist Church on Saturday to serve a Heaven for cats, community Christmas meal for about 100 local street people and residents of local flats. dogs and budgies They were members of the 'Do pets go to heaven?' a centre, the sun and planets Secular Education Network and newsroom colleague asked one revolving around it, and heaven the Association of Rationalists day. The question came out of above them all. and Humanists. David Hines left field. One big question for the belongs to both groups and is In the daily routine of a church was how to relate Jesus also a member of the Pitt Street secular newspaper, journalists to the world as they conceived church, and he invited the are not normally given to it. The answer was to have him secularists and humanists to join speculating about life in a world come from heaven (which the Christmas celebration. beyond, and made him divine), be David says many atheists especially not for pet born as a baby would like to take a more visible, cats, dogs and (which made him community-supportive role. The Friendly atheists (from left) David Hines, Peter Harrison and Paul Bennett dinner, in the church basement, serving Christmas dinner at Pitt St Methodist Church. budgies. human), fulfil his is a twice-yearly event, and our children. The Rationalists another friendly atheist' T-shirt The question ministry, be several church members were were welcomed. Similarly I that some of the rationalists wore. would be easier to crucified, rise from delighted to have the atheists welcome people of religion here. He says it was inspired by the answer if there were the dead and return joining them this time, making a “We are about equality and 'Just another friendly Aucklander' a heaven to go to. to heaven. That record team of 39 helpers. ensuring that people are able to promoted by former All-Black But physically completes the circle, Peter Harrison posted the hold their own beliefs without John Kirwan (as reported in the speaking, there is and in the church's event on the Secular Education pressure or coercion. We promote NZ Herald) not. Nor hell. Nor teaching he blazes Network Facebook page. He says a tolerant and multicultural David hopes to print more of purgatory. Nor Ian Harris the trail for all "This was an excellent perspective in which all are them, for future use by the limbo. One by one, and in Christians to follow. But not opportunity to exhibit many of welcome." Association of Rationalists and reverse order, during the past for dogs, cats and budgies. the values we should be teaching David designed the 'Just Humanists and other atheists. 500 years their credibility as Today, that neat scheme of parking lots or eternal rest things has disintegrated. In the homes somewhere out in the 16th century the Protestant Theology shines through student drama vast blue yonder has crumbled, reformers dismissed both By Rev Ikilifi Pope though they still have purgatory, where the naughty Wesley College is not Trinity imaginative power in the minds but not damnable could be College so it is not generally of many people. purified by suffering before associated with theologising or That has not always been going on to heaven, and limbo, with 'talanoa' (dialoguing so. Till comparatively recently, where unbaptised babies and theology) but delegates to heaven and hell were the those who had no knowledge Methodist Conference 2013 ultimate choices and ultimate of Christ could sit out eternity were able to appreciate an destinies confronting people. outside hell. inspirational piece of They were convinced both were theologising in form of the By the end of the 19th as real as Earth itself. That was century hell had lost most of Wesley students' drama Shine. readily accepted because the In many aspects Wesley its terrors, and the word is used pre-scientific understanding of College is like a 'younger today mostly metaphorically or the universe and its brother' to Trinity College in jokes. Heaven as a real place representation in religion within our Te Haahi Weteriana lingered longest. But in 1999 dovetailed neatly one with the Pope John Paul II finally family. The two colleges share other. the same blood and values in Wesley College drama students perform Shine during Methodist relegated that, too, to the realm The biblical story of of metaphor, announcing that their veins. I believe they Conference 2013. creation, for example, describes could work more closely in it had no physical location but metaphor of building life on 'shine' in biblical terms to the world as it was conceived was a state. Most Westerners preparing inspirational church to be before and during the time leaders and theologians for strong foundation rather than share the love of Christ with had reached that conclusion weak one like sand was others. of Jesus. Earth was a flat disc decades before he did. the Church. enveloped above and below by My experience viewing contextualized as a challenge Shine and drama theology That was inevitable. Old and inspiration for both young enable us to consider seriously a watery universe. What kept representations of the universe Shine has led me to this everything from being people and church leaders. our orders of service and ways have been superseded by perspective. In my opinion inundated was the firmament, This was one of Shine's vital of worshipping on Sunday discoveries that show the Shine is a sensational piece of messages. morning. Shine is also hints a solid arch much like an art work. It binds together I imagine that Michelle is at the way of 'churching' we upturned mixing bowl, holding universe to be steadily sociological issues, cultural neither a lay preacher nor a should attempt in back the waters above the earth. expanding. Earth is a speck of values and the way of life of theological student, and I contemporary society and new Mountains around the rim dust in a galaxy of 100 billion young people today. presume she does not have ways to share and preach the of the earth held the firmament stars, which itself is a speck in It identifies with the social formal training in theology or good news in creative ways up, and into it were set the sun, myriad galaxies. and work experiences of preaching. However, she was that can effectively touch and moon and stars. The firmament As a result, heaven, in the young people in the Church educated at Wesley College attract young people. had windows, which way it was once imagined, has and it highlights their strengths where she was nurtured with Shine won the hearts of occasionally opened to let in a collapsed into earth and the and struggles. Shine speaks biblical foundation and the around 200 Methodist deluge of water from above it, divine into the human. Today from the heart to share ethos of Methodist Church. Conference members who causing floods. There were also the pivotal issue for the church honestly the struggles facing Therefore, her life watched it. I have heard a lot chambers from which the wind is how to re-imagine its young people in the contexts foundation and work of positive feedback from and snow were occasionally let traditional message, centred on of the church and their philosophy I suggest was friends and others who saw loose. Jesus the man who also families. shaped within the Christian the play, and I encouraged Pillars supported the Earth somehow conveyed Godness, It encourages the Church context of Wesley College. them to include the drama on from below, and located among in terms that make sense to to view young people as Moreover, she has enough their conference report to their them was Sheol, the abode of people of the 21st century. treasures and to invest in them knowledge of biblical and local church. the dead. Above the firmament That will not happen as long for the future benefit of their theological writings to convey The Methodist Church and was heaven, the dwelling place as it clings to the imagery, families, the Church and the a message that is capable of Wesley College should be of God. This was the reality as world view and paraphernalia community as a whole. changing the lives of young very proud of themselves for Jesus understood it to be, so of a world that has gone for I have been a student of people and the Church's way producing a PhD student in naturally he began his ever, as is implicit in liturgies, theology, and I am convinced of doing things. drama. Hopefully Michelle distinctive prayer: “Our father prayers and much preaching that Shine producer Michelle Michelle is now a PhD opens the door for drama in heaven…” every Sunday. Jesus' followers Johansson uses the tools of student in drama at Auckland theology to be part of modern In the second century after could start by teasing out what theologizing to articulate her University and drama teacher church liturgy and order of Christ, Ptolemy put forward a it means for them that, for art work. It carries biblical for Wesley College. She uses service for Sunday morning. quite different model of the Jesus, the kingdom of heaven materials and delivers her expertise in drama to This would give energy to the universe and it became standard was a vision for the Earth - 'akonaki' (disciplinary preach informally the good sermon and a practical means in the church for 1500 years. where, incidentally, cats, dogs message) and practical faith. news of the Bible and help to do serious outreach for the But it still had the Earth at the and budgies do belong. For instance, the gospel young people to stand tall, or congregation. TOUCHSTONE • FEBRUARY 2014 7 NEWS AND VIEWS

SYLVIA AKAUOLA TONGOTONGO Called to practice restorative justice REFLECTS ON MATTHEW 5 Blessed are the 'restorative justice have the capacity and ability to live to show mercy; to embrace and respect and to keep his commands, decrees practitioners' for they see Christ in out the values and virtues of God's those who are different. and laws; then you will live and everyone. steadfast love, goodness, justice and In so doing, we are light that rises increase, and the Lord your God will Blessed are you who help restore mercy. And because we can, we are in the darkness (Isaiah 58:10) and salt bless you in the land you are entering people's well-being and relationships called to respond to each other with that gives flavour and makes a to possess.” for you are Christ-like. grace, mercy and love. difference in the world. Again, we are called not to pervert We are welcomed to the journey of In the words of the Prophet Micah, We are called to practice restorative justice, that is, not to show partiality 2014 and the month of February with “For we have been shown what is justice and be disciples of the gospel, to the poor or favouritism to the great. readings from Matthew Chapter 5. We good. And what does the Lord require committed to engage in practices that We are called to be fair to all, without start with the teaching of the Beatitudes of us? To act justly to love mercy and humanise and enhance life. In this way that spells out God's blessings for to walk humbly with our God” (Micah we bring hope for all people. Failing seeking revenge or holding a grudge. humanity. 6:8). to do so is like salt that has lost its Arise and shine, for your light has To be blessed is to be guaranteed This calls us to live out and be the taste. come, and the glory of the Lord rises strength, well-being and prosperity, gospel: to be on the side of the weak; The blessings of the Lord and our upon you (Isaiah 60:1). Let your light not in material wealth but in character to value the dispossessed; to be justice call are echoed in Deuteronomy 30:6 shine so others may see your good and in faith. seekers; to give voice to the voiceless; “For I command you today to love the works. Let your actions build justice Created in the likeness of God, we to be peace makers; to be forgiving; Lord your God, to walk in his ways, in the world.

CONNECTIONS

The pleasure of an unexpected conversation By Jim Stuart My dog Milo ensures that he gets and invited me to join him. “Gidday sees them. He said 2013 was the worst very patient, and I headed home. walked at least three times a day in mate,” he said, “have a seat and take year ever in his life. Most of his close Michael gathered his loaf of bread and spite of rain, snow and howling winds. a break from the bloody wind.” friends had passed away during the headed the other way, Yesterday was no exception. A gale He introduced himself as Michael, year. The earthquakes had not only John Lennon of Beatles fame, once force nor'wester was blowing through, originally from Ireland. I sat down, damaged his home but also his life. observed, “Life is what happens while and I was not too keen to go outside. told him my name, introduced him to He said he is determined to keep going you are busy making other plans”. I finally gave into Milo's persistent Milo and said I couldn't stay long. on in spite of it. How true this is. pleas for his afternoon walk. However Thus began a long and fascinating I told him one of my mother's We are told we won't get anywhere I decided to take a different, shorter conversation covering everything from favourite sayings which I find myself if we don't have a plan and priorities. walk. where we lived to bits and pieces from repeating more often these days, 'Old From time to time, however our lives As we approached the traffic light our life stories as the wind continued age isn't for wusses'. He laughed out are interrupted by something we don't around the corner, we came upon an to howl. loud and agreed. We continued talking old man huddled on the low wall in Michael was a professional wrestler for the rest of the hour. expect. These moments can be quite front of a neighbour's property. He had in Ireland before travelling to and There we sat, two old codgers on revelatory if we take the time to be just left the local dairy and was settling in New Zealand. He came from a wall watching the traffic tackle the present and open ourselves to what enjoying a hot pie before embarking County Cork as did my grandfather bridge across the Avon River and they can teach us. on the return journey to his flat battling on my mother's side. He was in his sharing some of life's challenges. This pattern of providence is deeply the wind. mid-80s, his wife had died many years At the end he invited me to stop by embedded in the Methodist tradition. Attracted to the smell of pie, Milo ago and he had lost touch with his son his flat every now and then for a coffee. It is hard to imagine Methodism if immediately went up to his new friend who had married an English lass and He lives a few streets away so I plan John Wesley had not gone unwillingly in high hope of a treat. The man greeted now lived over there. to honour his invitation. We shook to Aldersgate Street where he “felt his us, patted the wall where he was sitting He has two grandchildren but never hands, and then Milo, who had been heart strangely warmed”.

SHARING THE ORANGE By Peter MacKenzie, UCANZ executive officer. Two sisters entered the kitchen groups but generally the outcome concepts like the servant model, Understanding our own at the same time looking for an will depend on whether the parties the meek shall inherit, the least personality and response to conflict orange. There was only one are contentious or collaborative as shall be greatest. The ceding of is a start but we also have to accept orange left in the bowl and a they look for solution. power is the beginning of a that others will react differently robust discussion was held. In the Gospels we hear stories collaborative solution. and try to avoid pushing their After a prolonged debate they of Jesus dealing with conflict in A second element is found in buttons. reached the logical, equitable the community, between Jewish the cognitive groove that channels A fourth question to ask is solution - they cut the orange in factions and even among his own conflict thinking. In conflict we about the conflict script. half and took their share to disciples. He seldom contends with often close our minds to alternative Individuals and organisations tend different parts of the kitchen. One the opposing parties, although he ideas and shut down imagination. to be creatures of habit. We often follow similar patterns of sister took her half and squeezed does so with Peter. Instead he A collaborative solution will behaviour in similar situations. If a small glass of juice from it to chooses to collaborate and find generally be innovative and you ask how previous conflicts drink. The other sister grated the win-win solutions. surprising. have been resolved, you can often rind from her half and used it in So how can we address church The third element has to do diagnose what is happening in the an orange cake mix. (From a story conflicts collaboratively and find with personalities. People all current conflict. attributed to Mary Parker Follett). solutions that allow all parties to respond differently to the stress of Disputes and conflicts are a Churches are not immune from share in the precious resources that conflict, and ironically it is often natural part of being an conflict (and no doubt most readers are being contested? our strengths of character that trip organisation, including church. will be furiously nodding their A beginning point is to ask us up when tensions rise. The What should set the church apart heads to that statement), and about the power structure of the much-appreciated, details-oriented is our ability to work unfortunately they can often deal conflict. When one party to the person can become buried in those collaboratively toward win-win with it in a very un-Christian conflict holds the power it can be details under stress, or the loving, solutions that honour all parties manner. The conflicts can either hard to work together. At the heart caring person can become overly and use the God-given resources be between individuals or between of the Christian Gospel are emotional in response to a conflict. we have with the best results. Preaching course LW102 — changes ahead! David Bell (ed.) Preaching WL102 Trinity Methodist Theological College Ministry Development Programmes

Rev Dr David Bell and guest tutors as an online course

1. Part A: First things first: planning for excellent communication Part B: What is the Bible?

2. Part A: Know yourself: Sermon types Part B: The Old Testament and the Significance of the Lead Worship Year Two Septuagint Speaking & Preaching with Confidence in Church

3. Part A: Know your 2014 brings changes to a key LiMS Participants will require both textbooks, subject: basic exegesis programme component, WL102, the The New Testament with Imagination and and how to present it preaching course for intending lay Lead Worship Year Two. Part B: the synoptic The author, Rev Dr Bill Loader, was a presbyter preachers to register with NZLPA. Gospels in the New Zealand Methodist Connexion who Please note that both Lead Worship subsequently became Professor of New Testament After extensive discussion, course WL101 and Preaching WL102 require 4. Part A: Communicate at Murdoch University in Perth and serves as a structure and outline was agreed: 5 units prior approval by a local congregation with confidence: Uniting Church minister. spread over a 10 month online course. to enrol because of the contextual basis understand the of the assignments. Also, enrolment in audience Kindle version delivered for the course: download The aim was to maximize participation the College Lead Worship programme Part B: Paul’s Letters a kindle reader for PC now if you do not already with interesting, relevant topics found at is mandatory for those intending to have it. The book will be supplied as part of the the intersection of pastoral concerns with candidate who are not already qualified 5. Part A: Seek enrolment fee in kindle format only. biblical studies. lay preachers. feedback: putting the preaching event Trinity College is increasingly using kindle books for into contemporary its course resources. contexts Part B: John’s Gospel, Given the vast amount of information on the Although every man Revelation and the internet, the hard copy and kindle books used necessarily believes that significance of closing by the College provide welcome focal points for every particular opinion the Canon serious students. Trinity College course books which he holds is true provide a reliable guide through the massive ... yet can no man be The course consists of one amounts of available information. assured that all his own 20-credit practical paper. opinions, taken together, To complete: 10 critiqued Equipping folk for the tasks of ministry in the 21st are true. sermons, 5 in the parish, 5 century is complex. Trinity College aims to simplify Nay, every thinking man in tcol at the agreed level. it as much as possible through its online suite. is assured they are not... To be ignorant of many To read/preach the New Testament with things, and to mistake in understanding requires imagination and sustained some, is the necessary effort. LW102 shows how it can be done. condition of humanity.” John Wesley

New LiMS course — Spirituality & Mysticism New online course: Methodist Studies

Andrea Williamson and Rev Dr • The Personal Spiritual Rev Dr David Bell and guest century New Zealand David Bell, Saturday classes @ Journey tutors on Sunday evenings - contexts Wellspring-at-Waiake appointment@7 The course consists of one • Contemporary Methodist Selected readings from: semester paper CS101 and is • Introduction to the Praxis: constructing a worth 10 credits in LiMS. Wesley Brothers theological response to • Mystical and spiritual Wesley today language: the nature of Reading ahead is required. • John Wesley’s Sermons visions, ecstasy, states of in the 18th century social • Redefining Connexion: perception “Some people want to look context developing on-going upon God with their eyes, as best practice learning • Writings on mystical and they look upon a cow, and • John Wesley’s theology communities based on spiritual experience from want to love God as they love in the Enlightenment Wesleyan theology. HUB women’s perspectives a cow...foolish people deem context that they should look upon The course consists of two with • Celtic Spirituality: God as though He stood there • Ecclesiology: From semester papers MTH201 and historical and and they here. It is not thus. Movement to Church MTH202 each worth 10 credits your contemporary God and I are one in the act of in LiMS. phone perspectives knowing.” • Wesleyan Missionaries in New Zealand Active participation in online • Creation Spirituality: (Meister Eckhart, 13th century, forums, workshops is required. historical and cited Jonathan Stedall, Where • Methodists and Social contemporary on Earth is Heaven, Hawthorn Issues: 19th, 20th and 21st perspectives Press, 2010.) Here’s an exciting new way to learn: Sunday nights online with tcol.

You join a live Connect meeting with Rev Dr David Bell and a variety of guest tutors.

Enrol to qualify for Lay Preachers Certification or gain credits and Open Badges in the Trinity College LiMS.

Each course consists of a semester 101 and semester 102 paper, covering a total of 8,10 or 12 topics .

During the month

• First Sunday Lead Worship LW101 • Second Sunday Preaching LW102 • Third Sunday Night School NS series • Fourth Sunday Methodist Studies MTH201 and MTH202 David says, “@7 highlights what’s happening in HUB. What does that mean? “HUB is a very convenient, fast and safe way of being involved and up-to-date. 1990000 hrrss. LLoggiin too jooin 1993300 hrrs. PParrtticcippate ! Moonnth ahheead “It follows books, controversies, courses, appppooinntmmeentt@@7 Class for the evening 60-70 minutes tcolnow classrooms are open 24/7 resources of all kinds, trends and updates on Lectionary and theological insights duration. Closes with 10 minute for the month ahead for online educational, ministry and leadership issues and updates for the week ahead. reflection. Appointment@7 uses resourcing through assignments, from around the Connexion and beyond. Overview of forums, feeds, dialogues, the Adobe Connect meetings, very webinars, workshops. Most ” HUB gives you something to think about, Coursera news, and HUB activities familiar to tcol online participants. assignment work in tcolnow classes talk about and provides a supported including Touchstone news. has to be displayed in mahara for platform for you to follow through ideas. credits and open badges. In educational terms, it’s Trinity College’s virtual Connexion.”

Worship Effective Church Practical Theological Biblical Beginner’s Guide to Leading Leadership Reflection Hebrew Theology

Rev Dr David Bell and Rev Andrew Gamman and Rev Dr Lynne Frith and Rev Dr Nasili Vaka’uta Dr Rohan Bandara and guest tutors Rev Val Nicholls. Rev Kalo Kaisa. introduces Biblical Dr Robert Myles. Hebrew. • Introduction, • Belonging • Introduction to • Reading Jonah - resources, profile of a Practical Theology • Alefbet understanding the worship leader • Bible knowledge word ‘Text’ • Theological reflection • Vowels • Leadership and • Communication and Practical Theology • Theology and the worship • Syllabification & word ‘God’ • Creativity • Groups, facilitation Pronunciation • Theology, language and the reflection • Theology begins with and images of God • Faith process • Nouns Humanity

• Prayer in worship • Faith-sharing • Methods for Practical • Definite Articles & • Creation Myths in the Theological Reflection Conjunction Bible, Creation Facts in • Music in worship • Inclusion Science • Theological reflection • Prepositions • Creative worship, the • Innovation and systematic • Theology and the arts and drama theology • Adjectives words ‘Sin’ and • Leadership ‘Salvation’ • Young people at • Theological reflection • Pronouns worship • Service and personality • Prayer and Spirituality, • Pronominal Suffixes common theological • Pastoral Care and • Vision • Theological reflection themes worship and spirituality • Construct Chain • Worship • Theologies of Church The course consists of a • Using the model: The course consists of two 20-credit practical paper The course consists of two happiness, ethics and 10-credit semester papers • Theology and Faith WL101 10-credit semester papers piety MD104 and MD105. ECL101 and ECL102. The course consists of two The course consists of two 10-credit semester papers 10-credit semester papers ITS101 and ITS102 PTR201 and PTR202. 10 TOUCHSTONE • FEBRUARY 2014 CCA ROUNDTABLEAROUND THE CONNEXION People on the move in…. Australia University of Auckland Senior to earn enough to repay the loans, or Australia has quota of 20,000 Lecturer of Maori Studies Dr Arapera cannot find work and must return people that it accepts as refugees Ngaha recalled the early arrival of home. every year. At the same time the Chinese people in Aotearoa, brought Methodist Church of Sri Lanka Australian government has taken a here as indentured labour in the 1820s, president Albert Jebanesan described hard line against boat people arriving and later Indian labourers arrived to the 'amputation of the dream'. in the country outside of that quota. work primarily in Auckland during The 100,000 Tamil Sri Lankans Adelaide Archbishop Jeff Driver 1890s. who are in India as asylum seekers said people who work with refugees "Maori engaged with them, face loneliness and no hope of a in Australia recognize that arrivals worked with them and married them. promised land. The alien context can't be limitless but they feel that the They had Maori-Chinese and Maori- means loss of a spiritual centre and way the government is trying to Indian children. These migrants cultural orientation. control asylum seekers further learned our customary practices, and Asian migrants here and in victimises victims. experienced the same racism from Australia can also face harsh work Refugees and asylum seekers are Pakeha New Zealanders." conditions or inadequate wages and often in desperate situations and flee After the Treaty of Waitangi, housing. Some migrants sign contracts their homelands fearing for their lives, migration to Aotearoa became the before they leave their country only whereas migrants choose to leave their main instrument of colonisation. Even to find the contract is not honoured. country. Refugees cannot return to today Maori do not have a say in The use of migrants for cheap labour their homes unless the situation that immigration policy, a Treaty issue still or is a growing concern in India and forced them to leave improves. to be addressed. many Asian countries. As the government in Australia Arapera said that Maori today are National Council of Churches in tightens its laws, asylum seekers are concerned about the new migrants India general secretary Rev Dr Roger not able to reunite with their families. who are here. Some are here for Gaikwad said India is now the biggest Jeff said Australia, wants to end education or are young, upwardly source of migrants to Australia. Many the outflow of people from 'sending mobile and are here without parental skilled migrants help boost the countries' by working with them to controls, while others are refugees, or economy and enjoy a better quality address poverty and injustices and dependent on the New Zealand of life. Many young Indians study in ease the pressure on people to leave. system. For Maori the major concern New Zealand and then seek residency, is that new immigrants have no which is positive for the national New Zealand interest in Tiriti o Waitangi. economy. New Zealand accepts 750 "We see Chinese gaining more refugees each year. Refugees receive influence because of money. Our The Pacific automatic residency and aid from major concern is that the new Asian The Pacific Islands are already A banner welcoming refugees on St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne. Housing New Zealand and other migrants have no idea of our place in experiencing real effects of climate organizations such as the Mangere our country and they don't seem to change and natural disasters are Refugee Resettlement Centre, care," she said. leaving people with no options but to What is a Christian Auckland Regional Migrant Services She thinks churches could help move. Council for World Mission's Charitable Trust (ARMS), and the bridge the gap between the new Pacific regional secretary Fei New Zealand Red Cross to help settle immigrants and tangata whenua. Taule'ale'ausumai-Davis said churches response to refugees here. and communities have to begin a All refugees accepted into New South and Southeast Asia dialogue about this. Zealand go through a six week The Philippines has become a Concern about the way 'migrant' and migrants? resettlement program to get housing, significant exporter of workers to is a term of separation, was expressed health services, benefits and help Australia and New Zealand. Many by Anglican archbishop Winston By Sophie Parish with Betsan Martin finding employment. are in caring professions such as Halapua. He suggested 'newcomer' is People constantly move around the decision to put up a large banner Mangere Resettlement nursing and others are in construction a better term to enable welcome and Immigration manager Noor Parker or agriculture. adjustment to the new community. It the world as tourists, workers, on the St. Paul's Cathedral in said churches that want to be involved Individuals and families who face deepens the spiritual dimension of migrants and refugees. Melbourne right across from a train with refugees should contact the poverty at home will go into deep assisting newcomers to belong and While we welcome some to our station as a way to raise awareness Ministry of Immigration. debt to emigrate. Often they are unable become at home. shores, others face discrimination or about the many refugees in Australia. worse. Churches want to see a more "A lot of refugees and asylum accepting attitude toward people seekers come to the church. It has seeking a better life for themselves transformed the church, so now they Everyone should have a decent and their families as well as better run English as a second language home at a price they can afford. peace-making in war-torn countries classes. It has taken a whole lot of so fewer people are forced to flee resourcing to help people move A place to their homes. Everyone needs to feel safe, loved through to education and find durable These were some of the employment,” he said. and cared for in their home. conclusions from a Christian In their concluding statement, the call Home Conference of Asia conference held church leaders called on the churches A culture of service and a in Auckland last month. to help create favourable, just and commitment to social justice is On January 10th-15th, 30 leaders sustainable conditions for citizens in from around the Asia- Pacific and at the heart of what it means to their countries of origin, so that they Aotearoa took part in the roundtable can remain rather than leave and be Methodist. discussion on migrants, refugees and migrate. asylum seekers. They urged churches to cultivate Methodist social services live out They discussed the experience of a culture of hospitality for migrants, the modern day movement of people refugees and asylum seekers so people this commitment through social and drafted a plan to help mitigate can share their stories. Solidarity the effects of migration. housing, residential aged care, between churches of Asia and Africa They addressed ways to improve housing advocacy and home- and those in in destination countries communication with countries such will help bridge the gap. based support. as Indonesia that experience a It is important to make education 'bottleneck' of people arriving there and resource materials available in A donation or bequest can help seeking to take dangerous journeys churches. The leaders said it is vital Methodist Mission Aotearoa to other countries, namely Australia. Church ministries in Australia and to protect the dignity and rights of make a lasting difference to New Zealand want to be part of the people on the move. It is necessary New Zealand families. solution to help those who have fled to establish advocacy and assistance their countries and develop strategies services for migrants and refugees. to meet the needs of current and future Lobbying New Zealand and populations. Australia governments to ratify the Australian Anglican Bishop Philip United Nation's International Huggins said, "In a world with Convention on the Rights of Migrants something like 43 million displaced and their Families, is an important people, it is extremely hard for any step towards ensuring rights for the country to know how best to respond 'global family'. To do this, churches to the level of the need in a way that should look at ways to partner with is going to be manageable. We have existing networks, other churches and lots of debate in our country with migrants and refugees themselves. regards to this and the churches' role The CCA said it wants to widen is to show the human face of the the support network and partnerships asylum seeker and the refugee." with other churches and countries and Becoming 'the Church for the create a staff position which would nations' is something we can work co-ordinate and help with advocacy For more information contact the chairperson of Methodist Mission Aotearoa, Michael Greer towards. for the justice issues surrounding 12A Stuart Street, Levin 5510 • P 06 368 0386 • 021 632 716 • E [email protected] Rev Philip Huggins spoke about people on the move. TOUCHSTONE • FEBRUARY 2014 11 WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES ASSEMBLY Indigenous people's minute to the WCC Calls on member churches to: • respect indigenous peoples' spiritualities and support the aspirations of self- determination of indigenous communities around the world; • reflect upon their own histories and seek greater understanding of the plights of indigenous peoples in different contexts; • provide assistance to indigenous peoples' delegations to participate in advocacy efforts at the United Nations; • support and strengthen the efforts of indigenous communities working to dismantle oppressive laws and policies that legitimize continued colonial practices on their lands; and • coordinate communications among the member churches of the WCC and ecumenical actors working for indigenous peoples' rights. Members of the Indigenous People's Pre-Assembly offered prayers in their own cultural style. WCC Pre Assembly advances cause of indigenous people By Arapera Ngaha Some delegates shared celebratory song will provide a baseline strategy on how to The Indigenous People's Pre Assembly and dance. One was a very moving drama progress this work. met just prior to the World Council of depicting progress in the name of Christianity During the Assembly itself a memorable Churches' 10th Assembly in South Korea. in the Philippines. day for me was Sunday Nov 3rd when I was It provided a forum for indigenous people The Doctrine of Discovery and the church's hosted by one of Busan's social services to share their concerns and present serious role in it was a focus for discussion. Short organisations. I went with them to a tarpaulin videos, one from a Queensland Aboriginal on the street near one of the larger railway issues about their plight to the Assembly. church community and another that showed stations, where I helped serve a meal to around Among the problems facing indigenous the conflicts that have riddled the historical 200 street people. They were just a few of the WCC people around the world is disempowerment landscape of Taiwan and its people were also homeless people who occupy the warm and by extractive industries that harm the shared. often hidden spaces in this modern, bustling 10th Assembly environment through mining the land and the From Page 1 There was considerable discussion about city. “A major concern for Koreans is the sea. Often linked to mining is deforestation and what indigenous people have to offer WCC We all joined together in worship in the military occupation. In Indonesia, for example, plight of the 'comfort' women and children and, in turn, how WCC might aid indigenous tent church, and, as they left, each person who were forced to provide sexual services this is happening to the indigenous people of people address their concerns. received a food parcel. I was able to share a to Japanese soldiers during the colonial West Papua and it is a matter of extreme These discussions culminated in the little about the work of our Methodist missions, period and World War II. Many were concern. production of a 'message' for the WCC that and despite the differences in contexts it seems severely traumatised and have mental For the Pacific nations global warming is outlines indigenous people's concerns. so much remains the same. It was a privilege health issues,” Lana says. a very real and imminent threat. Participants in the Pre Assembly carried these to serve and share. In addition to the delegates at the Attending the Pre Assembly were Assembly the South Pacific was concerns into their activities during the This was my first experience with the WCC, represented by a cultural group of 30 young representatives from as far north as Norway Assembly to seek support for WCC to commit and I am in awe of the work that so many of people from the Pacific Conference of and Denmark and as far south as Aotearoa and to a seven-year programme focussed on justice our Methodist people have done with the WCC Churches. They shared their stories through everywhere in between including native people for indigenous people. since its first Assembly in Amsterdam, 1948. a drama that depicted what is happening from Hawaii, North and South America Africa, The Public Issues Committee of WCC I am proud to be a part of this global whanau in their countries, notably the effects of Korea, Indonesia, the Philippines, West Papua agreed to pick up this issue and develop it. A of Christians praying “God of life, lead us to climate change that is causing rising sea New Guinea, Samoa, and Australia. small team drawn from Pre Assembly members justice and peace”. levels and more frequent cyclones. WCC's new call to mission By Rev Tony Franklin-Ross theology of the Spirit in the world and creation, “This is a challenge that the church needs The World Council of Churches 10th and of the need to listen to voices on the to address urgently. Churches are called to Assembly was an intense and fulfilling margins. meet the triune God of life at the margins of experience. The Church must move toward mission life.” One of the key documents presented at the focused on the marginalised rather than the Rev Cecilia Castillo Nanjari (Pentecostal Assembly was 'Together Towards Life: Mission powerful. This is a counter-cultural expression Mission Church, Chile) said evangelism is and Evangelism in Changing Landscapes'. The of church. about being very close to other people and we Commission on World Mission and One of those who presented the document, Rev Prof Stephen Bevans (Catholic might even evangelise ourselves as we look Evangelism prepared this new call to mission into the eyes of others with Jesus' eyes. People and it presents an exciting discussion point Theological Union, Chicago) reminds us that the Holy Spirit is the principal agent in the and churches who feel they are at the centre, for ecumenical endeavours and for local church's action. Mission is about finding where might find themselves changed through churches. the Spirit is at work and journeying there. encountering peoples on the margin. Together Towards Life will be the focus Mission is not confined to the church Mission is integral to the ecumenical story, of a workshop at the Lower North Island community. It is where the Spirit moves in all and one of the four goals of the WCC is to Synod's School of Theology in May; and the cultures. promote common witness. Together Towards Napier Inner City Covenanted churches will Another plenary speaker, Metropolitan Dr Life declares that the church is commissioned use it as a resource for their joint Lent services Geevarghese Coorilos (Syrian Orthodox, India) to celebrate life and to transform all life- under the broader theme of 'building said the heartbeat of the document is its call communities'. destroying forces in the power of the Holy to mission from the margins. It challenges Spirit to bring about justice and peace. It is encouraging from a theological and marginalised come to know their God of life. conventional understandings that mission is It focuses on working with God to bring well as missional perspective. It disrupts always done by the powerful to the powerless, “Mission from the margins claims active perceptions that ecumenism is concerned only by the rich to the poor, by the healthy to the agency of mission from the marginalised: God life to creation. Mission is rooted in the with issues of unity and division such as of sick, and by the 'global north' to the 'global chooses those from the margins to fulfil God's overflowing love and word and embracing mutuality of ministries, baptism, sharing in south'. mission of establishing justice and peace. The communion of the triune God. God is mission prayer and Holy Communion (important as “People on the margins know what purpose of mission is not simply to move and that mission is to create, protect and redeem they are). exclusionary forces are threatening their people from the margins to the centre but to of all creation. It is refreshing because it speaks of engaged survival. Through the pain and battles of daily challenge those who remain at the centre by The core document can be found at: Christian mission and ministry centred on a experiences of life-denying forces, the keeping people at the margins. www.oikoumene.org. 12 TOUCHSTONE • FEBRUARY 2014 CWS Refugees flee civil unrest in South Sudan and escalating scale,” the church leaders said in a joint statement. Talks continue and so does the humanitarian effort of South Sudanese in other states and agencies including the ACT Alliance providing shelter for the nearly half a million internally displaced people. At the request of ACT Alliance CWS wrote to Foreign Affairs minister Murray McCully asking him to use the influence he has to pressure those who can to make a difference. Executive director of CWS partner the This refugee centre in Uganda was built for 400 people but now Rachel and her sister Adjar fled the conflict in South Sudan. Maridi Service Agency Wadalla Peter was houses 20,000 South Sudanese. When the world's newest country, South doesn't have access to water, it is the people Rachel and Ajah arrived with little but in Juba in December. Now safely back in Sudan became independent in 2011, hopes who carry the load. are grateful for the safety. “At least we don't Maridi Wadalla thanks CWS and ACT were high for a better future. Rachel, aged 25, and her sister Ajah, 24, have to hear the sound of a gun,” says Alliance for their advocacy efforts. Instead hardship continues and fighting fled from Bor, where fighting is intense. Rachel. “Here we are settled and can have “Maridi County is fine, and in fact the that was once confined to a few areas has Like more than 86,000 people they have a life,” she adds. whole of Western Equatoria state is calm spread. This time the conflict is not from crossed the border to escape the violence, The fighting flared up on December 15th and peaceful. People have fled Juba but are neighbouring Sudan with whom the south in their case to Uganda. when President Salva Kiir accused former mostly being hosted by their relatives. The had to negotiate for independence. The Ugandan government has allocated deputy Riek Machar of plotting a coup. radio (Maridi FM) is operating normally Now the fighting is between South them a small piece of land and humanitarian Church leaders tried to mediate and urged Sudanese factions but once again it has agencies like Action by Churches Together for a national dialogue. and updating the community on the current caused major dislocation. For a bitterly poor (ACT) Alliance of which Christian World “We are heartbroken to see that a purely situation in country,” he continues. Many country, where one in seven children dies Service is a member are assisting with non- political problem in the ruling SPLM party of those caught in the fighting do not have before their fifth birthday, and one in three food items and shelter. quickly has slid into an ethnic one on a rapid the benefit of reliable news. CWS Tonga Cyclone Appeal

Villagers carry roofing iron home on a motorcycle while the rain continues to fall. Roofing still needed after Philippines super typhoon Food, water and emergency supplies of homes were badly damaged or destroyed. were the first priority for the Eastern Visayas “Although our sheets could not cover the after Super Typhoon Haiyan hit the entire house of the families who received Philippines in November. them, they did provide valuable protection Christian World Service partner the to important sections of the house, and in National Council of Churches in the some cases the families built small shed-type Philippines in coordination with other houses. House repairs are usually makeshift members of the Action by Churches Together at first but they are essential because it then (ACT) Alliance organised a swift response. families can then begin to look for sources Typhoon Haiyan affected more than 14 of income,” Tet says. million people, and the relief effort has been CWS national director Pauline McKay huge. Support is likely to be needed until at say Developers Foundation is an excellent least May when the next rice crop will be example of the difference CWS partners ready to harvest and fishing boats have been make. replaced. “They know the local situation and how So far CWS has sent $212,000 including to get the right help to those who need it,” $100,000 from the New Zealand government i Fonua/Matangi Tonga i Fonua/Matangi

s Pauline says. “They are asking for funds to to help in relief efforts. One instalment went CWS TONGA APPEAL provide roofing material to another 2,957 to CWS partner Developers Foundation CREDIT CARD • Phone 0800 74 73 72 Pe Photo: households in eight villages. We need your or online www.cws.org.nz/donate working in fishing villages in Aklan province. Initially Developers Foundation requested help to give them what they need.” PLEASE DIRECT DEPOSIT tarpaulins but on further discussions with the Tet says communities face huge Name of Account: Christian World Service villages where they worked, found they challenges and this is especially true of fishing DONATE NOW Account number: wanted corrugated iron roofing. communities who have lost all their ANZ 06 0817 031 8646 00 Director Tet Naraval reports that it has equipment. Cyclone Ian has badly damaged Reference:Tonga Cyclone been raining continuously since the typhoon “Some more fortunate barangays hit and that most of the tarpaulin sheets that (villages) received more relief goods than or destroyed more than 70% of Email postal details to [email protected] others. We have seen that advocacy efforts if you would like a tax receipt. were distributed are torn to pieces or homes in the Ha'apai islands. The weakened from the wind and rain. especially by the municipal and barangay people need food, water, shelter POST • Christian World Service Using the funds CWS provided, government officials had a bearing on this.” PO Box 22652 Christchurch 8140. Developers Foundation distributed three or In her area most of the debris has been and support. Help local Ama four sheets of roofing per household in six removed but electricity has still not been Takiloa groups respond. coastal villages at Christmas. Recipients were restored to inland areas. deeply grateful for this help. Donations can be sent to CWS PO Box, Give so the women can do what Altogether nearly 2000 households were 22652, Christchurch 8140 or at they do best. helped in villages where 90 to 100 percent www.cws.org.,nz. TOUCHSTONE • FEBRUARY 2014 13

Camp ignites passion for change By Filo Tu There is something about a my time thinking, 'Why am I Firstly, a partnership between flame that always intrigues me here?' Ignite 2014 and The Evangelical - something about the colours After some reflections, it Alliance Relief (TEAR) Fund within and the aura around it. dawned on me - I had been a saw an amazing feeding of the When created, that flame stirs leader so long that I had forgotten more than 200 participants. up, re-awakens, enkindles and what it meant to be a camper, a How the overarching theme arouses heat. This is what I felt newbie, a stranger. So I of 'justice' was pieced together and this is how I was empowered challenged myself, to get out by paper planes, rocks and post- during a refreshing start to a brand there and engage. it notes is unimaginable but it new year. Like most youth events there was POWERFUL The Camp January 10th to 13th saw me were games and activities that looked at how stuffed up our invited to the Wesleyan Methodist stirred the mind and pumped the world is, how Jesus loves us, and Church of New Zealand 'Ignite blood. From quiet games of pool how we can be agents of change 2014' camp held at Ngaruawahia table and table tennis in the in the world wherever we are. Christian Youth Camp. lounge, to swimming in the Second to this, I was engulfed Prior to the camp I was outdoor pool or kayaking on the with Methodism so strong, that I excited to be heading to another lake, or going to the extremes of was overwhelmed. I was Ignite 2014 youth camp was all about fun, food, and justice for God's world. youth event to engage with young the hydroslide, mudslide or flying reminded of Jesus' teaching on home. I was naked, and you gave glow of a flame when it stirs up, people and add to my limited fox. the Final Judgement in Matthew me clothing. I was sick, and you re-awakens, enkindles and networks. What I didn't prepare The group was parcelled in 25: 31-46 (NLT): cared for me. I was in prison, and arouses heat within. for was the fact that I knew no- four colours: Yellow Mellow, “Then the King will say to you visited me.” It was the refreshing start to one, other than Wesleyan Blue Smurfs, Green House Gases those on his right, 'Come, you The flame that intrigued me a brand new year. The Maori Methodist national youth and the Orange Tigers. This saw who are blessed by my Father, at Ignite 2014 was the amount of proverb rings true: He aha te mea consultant Rev Amber many team challenges and many inherit the Kingdom prepared for hospitality, the pastoral and nui o tea o? He tangata! He Livermore. more competitions put in place you from the creation of the physical care, the structures and tangata! He tangata! What is the So Friday came and went like to keep spirits alive. world. For I was hungry, and you organisation, the passion and most important thing in the the wind, and I was even more But two things set this apart fed me. I was thirsty, and you enthusiasm to develop the world? shy than normal (if you can as both unique and important gave me a drink. I was a stranger, Kingdom of God here on earth. It is people! It is people! It is imagine that!). I spent most of for me. and you invited me into your It is impossible to hide the people!

WELCOME TO THE FIRST KIDS CORNER FOR 2014! Welcome to the first Kidz Korna for 2014. I hope new teachers. East. All have celebrated Christmas in different you all had an enjoyable Christmas with family and This month we hear from kids from Chartwell ways. It is not too late for others to let me know friends. Many of you will be back at school now, Cooperating Parish, St David's Methodist Church what you did in your church to celebrate. catching up with friends and getting to know your Timaru and St John's Methodist Church Hamilton KIDZ CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS Chartwell, Hamilton St John's, Hamilton EastSt David's, Timaru When Chartwell Sunday School and Youth Group led St John's children and young people also presented At the children and youth service on December 15th the Sunday morning service on December 15th, they a play. Theirs was called 'God's Angels' and it was the Timaru St David's Union Church dedicated a presented the Christmas story in a different way. based on the TV show Charley's Angels. banner that will hang in its host church, Woodlands The parish's youth leaders in training, called the The angels all had missions to perform, namely Road Methodist. It reminds people about 'Let the 'Transformers', used the script of the detective to visit Mary, Joseph, the shepherds and wise Children Live', the Methodist Church's 10-year focus story 'When Worlds Collide', to present a drama. men to give them messages from God. The on child abuse, poverty and teen suicide. They had help from other youth leaders and family congregation really enjoyed the play saying it was St David’s children and young people with members of the committee who spent many youth worker Amanda Bowcott. Everyone enjoyed one of the best they had seen! hours making the banner. this fresh approach to the nativity story.

KIDZKIDZ KORNAKORNA QUIZQUIZ Angels in the Chartwell St John's children performed the Select the best answer: Transformers' Christmas play. Christmas play 'God's Angels' 1) The angel (Cherub, Gabriel, Angelica) visited Mary. 2) Joseph was a (carpenter, builder, painter). What are the kids in your church up to? 3) Jesus was born in (Nazareth, Bethlehem. Jerusalem). Kidz Korna wants to hear from you so we can share your stories. Send stories and photos of your activities to Doreen Lennox at 4) The shepherds were (happy, sad, afraid) when the angels visited them. [email protected] or to [email protected] 5) The Wise men came from (the West, the North, the East). 14 TOUCHSTONE • FEBRUARY 2014 REVIEWS

ON SCREEN A film review by Steve Taylor

I stole away from work to Markus Zusak. I live in a house words. of introduction, we see an watch The Book Thief. With of admirers of the book. Unable All of which sets up an anonymous minister burying temperatures touching 45 to thieve their precious copy, I interesting philosophical Liesel's brother. He too speaks degrees in Adelaide, I found cannot provide a sustained dilemma. What is the place of words from a book. Later in the myself stepping into a comparison between the original words - poetic, imaginative - in movie, a panoramic shot of the somewhat chilling cinematic text and its cinematic portrayal. war? Are they actually a way to German town in which Liesel meditation on imagination in While the acting is solid, the avoid reality, a book that is lived includes a spire, dominant dark times. faux-German accents present a something to clutch while Jews and centre. The words of death (the stumbling block. Geoffrey Rush sadly shuffle through your It raises the inevitable voice of Roger Allam) begin plays Hans, a playful father and town? question regarding the words and end The Book Thief. A strong moral centre in Liesel's Or are words a pattern of uttered by the church as Nazi constant presence, they serve as growing world. Emily Watson resistance? A way to cultivate a Germany rose to power. What a chilling reminder of life in plays Rosa, a mother sternly world more beautiful, a happened to such words as Germany during World War II. covering her fear. Nico Liersch humanity more noble, no matter 'Blessed are the peace makers' Leisel (Sophie Nelisse) is plays Rudy, a loyal childhood how meanly pragmatic and or phrases such as 'Love your an orphaned child growing up friend. helpless your times? enemies'? during Germany's descent into A central metaphor holding Intriguingly, similar Perhaps sometimes, in some darkness. Adopted by a family together The Book Thief is that questions are often pointed at living in a small German town, of words. Words inhabit the church. Are our churches, like place, words, no matter how she witnesses the smashing of books that fascinate Liesel and the cellar in The Book Thief, a powerful, simply fail. Jewish shop fronts, the cover the walls of the cellar in place to retreat in order to listen Rev Dr Steve Taylor is conscription of German which her imagination is to words as other worldly as the principal at the Uniting College neighbours and the helpless fear nurtured. Words painted out of ghost stories Liesel creates in for Leadership and Theology, palpable in night time bomb an old book, Hitler's Mein the night shelter as Allied bombs Adelaide. He writes widely in shelters. Kampf and given as a gift to fall? areas of theology and popular The Book Thief is based on Liesel, invite her to be a writer, The Church has a limited culture, including regularly at a novel of the same name by as well as a reader, of fine role in The Book Thief. By way www.emergentkiwi.org.nz. Bible firsts and lasts Egypt focus of A new year spreads before us. Inevitably we will be exposed to firsts and lasts as new doors open and old doors close. Normally we pay more attention to firsts than lasts as we anticipate new experiences, whereas at the time of happening we may not know an experience is a last. Some advocate living every day as if it was your last to get the most out of each day. Giving attention World Day of to the moment is life enriching. How much attention do you pay to Bible readings? Draw on your knowledge of Bible stories to make an informed guess at a range of Bible firsts and lasts. Note: it is possible for the word to be the same for both first and last mention. Prayer 2014 About 220 ecumenical World Day of Prayer (WDP) services will be held throughout New Zealand on Friday March 7th, using a service prepared by the World Day of Prayer committee in Egypt with the theme 'Streams in the Desert'. When the World Day of Prayer's Egypt Committee first met in May 2011, the mass demonstrations at Tahrir Square, Cairo had started. Following an intense period of protests in the Arab world - known as the Arab Spring - Egyptian men and women went to the streets to voice their desire for justice, freedom and equality. Since then Egypt has been through some turbulent changes. First the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak and the installation of civilian authority brought hope. Then Egypt and other parts of the Middle East were caught up the violent protests against an anti-Islamic movie made in the US. Early in 2013 there was again violent unrest in Egypt at the failure of the authorities to affect change. The women behind the World Day of Prayer were touched by the need for prayers and understanding to address the violence in Egypt and the region. As women of faith, they find strength in relationships developed through WDP with others around the globe. The ability to grow in understanding of the people they get to know through the worship service is one of the gifts of the World Day of Prayer. This year's gift from women in Egypt at

a critical time is special.

Babel, Eunice, Jubal, Lyre, Stephen; Life, Lilies, Raven, Jesus, Ararat, Sword; Amen, John, Eden, Revelation, Omega, Locusts, C Locusts, Omega, Revelation, Eden, John, Amen, Sword; Ararat, Jesus, Raven, Lilies, Life, Stephen; Lyre, Jubal, Eunice, Babel, attle, Serpent attle, The long historical and cultural legacy of Bible Challenge Bible © RMS Egypt begins well before Biblical times. Today Egyptians still seek social and economic justice, peace and security. The Egyptian church strongly backs reform and is one of God's 'streams in the desert'. World Day of Prayer's 2014 challenge is to stand with them sharing the streams of living water. Projects to receive support from the offerings received at the services throughout New Zealand will be: emergency relief and vocational training for Palestinian and Syrian refugees through Christian World Service, Bible Society bookshops in Egypt, class sets of Bibles for New Zealand schools through the Bible Society, and NZ Hospital Chaplaincy. For more information contact WDP NZ national liaison officer, Raewyn Dawson at [email protected]. TOUCHSTONE • FEBRUARY 2014 15 REVIEWS By Jarrod Gilbert Patched - The History of Gangs in New Zealand 2013, Auckland University Press, 360 pages Reviewer: David Hanna Most New Zealanders have an opinion big picture that doesn't get drawn into any together is an area worthy of more study. My hunch is that about gangs. In their many different forms one dominant narrative. There are gaps initiatives to effectively respond to the negative aspects of they have been a part of our social landscape but the complexity of the topic is too wide gangs will need a sound understanding of this dynamic to since the 1950s. to cover in one publication. support sustainable change. At various times gangs have featured in There is value in having a thorough Importantly the book puts in perspective the dominant the headlines as politicians crafted special understanding of gangs. This book view of gangs as organised criminal entities whose members legislation to deal with their effects. Despite highlights the different outcomes that have this high profile there has been a significant come from sensationalised media reports live comfortable lives from their illegal gains. The large gap of informed literature to help us deepen and political grandstanding. majority of gang members are born poor and die poor. They our understanding of them. Jarrod Gilbert's Strong arm approaches to break the and their families live hard lives and suffer hardship from well-researched book changes this. gangs have seldom worked and frequently their poverty. The challenges Jarrod faced to carry out strengthened them. Attempts to address While some gangs indulge in criminal activity more research and fieldwork with gangs and their the social and economic realities people than others and some individual members do so more than commentators would have been many. He in gangs face have fared better. The most others, they are not organised criminal groups as some of spent time 'hanging out' with gangs and recent example is the multi-strand the Police would like people to believe. researching old government policy approach to the youth street gangs of The book doesn't gloss over the hard issues or avoid documents, media files and interviews with police and South Auckland in 2006. the tricky questions. Parts of it make for challenging reading. politicians to form a comprehensive overview that gets 'Patched' describes the contrasting approaches of It is, however, a book that is essential reading for anyone beyond the clichés shaped by media and political hype. Government - from the social and employment policy focus A lack of New Zealand literature on gangs means most of the Muldoon years to the 'zero tolerance' of the more who wants to understand the history of one social response of the information is held in an oral tradition of the active recent Labour and National Governments. by people who are angry and alienated from the many players. Diverse views tend to focus on themes of conflict, One key aspect of gangs that is not significantly covered strands of society. be it between rival gangs, the gangs and the police, or gangs is the gender dynamic. Patched gangs are male phenomena, Gangs are unlikely to go away soon, so it is important and the public. and they share an oppressive attitude to women. Despite for us all to have an informed understanding to support Jarrod captures these many truths to outline a coherent this, the role of women in holding gang members' families positive change.

By Eleanor Catton 2013, Victoria University Press, 832 pages The Luminaries Reviewer: Desmond Cooper The Man Booker prize is arguably the An astrological chart introduces each drawn into the mystery: a network of fates and fortunes most prestigious book prize in the world chapter and each character is associated that is as complex and exquisitely patterned as the night outside of the Nobel Prize for literature. with a heavenly body. sky”. From the very beginning there was just one Part One of this 12 part book is called Tom Balfour, one of the 12 gathered to try and solve criterion- the prize would be for 'the best a sphere within a sphere. “There is this this triple mystery outlines the case to Moody. At the novel in the opinion of the judges'. large world of rolling time and shifting conclusion of his version of events the narrator intervenes The aim of the prize is to increase the spaces, and that small, stilled world of to tell us that, “Balfour's narrative was somewhat circuitous” reading of quality fiction and to attract 'an horror and unease; they fit inside each and thereby gives another clue as to the structure of the intelligent general audience'. It is important other, a sphere within a sphere”. This book. This is especially evident from part four onwards to note that the prize is awarded to a particular 'unease' deeply embedded at the very centre when the story for the most part turns back upon itself. book rather than to an author. In short this of the plot will accompany you throughout means the novel must present ideas and create the book such is the empathetic hold it has Eleanor Catton is the youngest author to win the Man a degree of empathy with the reader. An over the reader. Booker and with the longest ever novel. I suspect that any avant-garde structure is an added bonus. The flyleaf sets the scene: “It is1866, New Zealand reader of this book will get something extra Eleanor Catton's 'The Luminaries' ticks and Walter Moody has come to make his from it being better placed to appreciate both the location, all these boxes, for it is her core belief that the novel should fortune upon the West Coast goldfields. On the night of his Hokitika and the trials of the characters against their be both a builder of empathy and a carrier of ideas, as she arrival, he stumbles across a tense gathering of 12 local ambitions and the ruggedness of the countryside. stated in a review in The Guardian Weekly (25.10.13). men, who have met in secret to discuss a series of unsolved This is an astonishing book. It is gripping, all 832 pages The Luminaries is an astonishing, gripping and glittering crimes. A wealthy man has vanished, a whore has tried to of it. It begs the question, 'How can you on the one hand novel. It is written in the manner of a Victorian sensation end her life, and an enormous sum of money has been be master of your own fate and on the other be predetermined novel but it has an entirely original organising principle. discovered in the home of a luckless drunk. Moody is soon by the stars?'

By Roy Tankersley Brake Forth - The organ at Wesley Methodist Church, Hawera 2013, Organism / Hadfield Studios Reviewer: John Thornley This exciting CD of community. One intriguing detail, given in the notes, is that the organ music played by The fuller story behind the making organ's builder Alfred Brake constructed most of the organ Roy Tankersley is both a of the organ and the selection of 21 in the church, not in his home workshop. As the late celebration of a well-loved compositions recorded is given in the musicologist Allan Thomas writes: “Every hammer blow, historic instrument and a informative notes included with the every conversation, would have made him thoroughly fundraiser towards its CD. The thoroughly professional accustomed to the acoustical properties of the building and upkeep and preservation. recording was carried out by Richard allowed him to create an organ voiced precisely for those Ray is well-known Apperley of Hadfield Studios under acoustics.” nationally for his his 'Organism' label. Brake's skill as a woodworker was outstanding and his contributions to church and Listeners will be delighted and kauri wooden pipes are of great beauty. civic music making. This inspired to find both familiar and new This is not a cathedral instrument but a chamber-sized CD was launched in tunes. About half of the items played one, suited to the more intimate atmosphere of the local December. come from the Baroque period from parish church. Its tones highlight the stringed and woodwind The title is a pun, given the early 1600s to the mid-1700s. instruments, not the shrill brass tones of trumpet and horn. Roy Tankersley (left) with Rennie Hill, organist of 50 years at Wesley the instrument featured is Methodist Church, Hawera at the launch of the 'Brake Forth' CD. They include works by JS Bach and It's a very warm and gentle sound, ideally suited to the the historic 1914-16 Alfred his finest pupil, Johan Ludwig Krebs. home CD player. Brake pipe organ in Wesley Methodist Church, Hawera. Later items cover Russian, French, British and Portuguese Copies of this CD can be obtained by contacting Roy The NZ Organ Preservation Trust gave the organ a Category composers, with the Czech composer Dvorak represented Tankersley via email at [email protected] or via post One Historic Certificate in 2008, and its importance is by the Slow Movement (Largo) from his 'New World' at 51 Roy Street, Palmerston North 4410. Cost $29.00 (incl. recognised and acclaimed in the wider Australasian organ Symphony. p&p). Cheques to 'Roy Tankersley' or 'Sound Hound Studio'. 16 TOUCHSTONE • FEBRUARY 2014 NOW AND THEN Alan Richards - radio voice and unswerving Methodist Internet resource By Laurie In his younger days Although Alan himself was Michie Alan scored a record 45 fiercely competitive in all the for NZ Methodist history Former soccer goals in one season. He sports he played, that underarm Methodist Church of NZ webmaster Alec Utting is setting up and cricket also represented event deeply offended his sense of an on-line directory of any Methodist historical material that is commentator Alan Auckland in cricket and sportsmanship. available on Internet. Richards died on was captain for a brief At his funeral, former head of At present the directory gives access to some of the early Wesley December 28th at period. sport at Radio NZ Bill Francis and Historical Society publications and has links to other material Alec the age of 91. Alan's In his media career other broadcasters paid tribute to has found. wife June Alan broadcasted from the way Alan's kindly encouraged It includes material on the early missions, pioneering missionaries, predeceased him by all major cricketing the different branches of Methodism that have been active in Aotearoa, a year. They were a Alan Richards nations. He made the them at the beginning of their broadcasting careers. and material from all regions from Northland to Southland. team. first English language sports The directory can be accessed at history.methodist.org.nz (Note Both were stalwarts of the broadcast from China to New Among the words that were spoken at the funeral were these that there is no www needed.) Devonport Methodist Church and Zealand during the All Whites If you have a history of your church online, or have booklets or the North Shore United Football 1975 World Cup campaign. “The Devonport congregation will miss his sonorous reading of the material telling the story of your church and would like to share Club. Both were life members of He was on air during the them online through this directory, please contact Alec Utting at the Club, and Alan was a proud infamous underarm bowling Scriptures and his thoughtful [email protected]. member for more than 80 years. incident against Australia. intercessory prayers”.

Unsung Methodist Personalities THE CORNISH MINER Francis Phillips Kellow 1852- 1929 Around a century ago a traveller commented: at Gabriels Gully, Tuapeka, Dunstan and where he studied ironstone mining engineering preacher in the Wesleyan Church, and, as his “Wherever a hole is sunk in the ground today Maniatoto, was the strong presence of Cornish at the heart of the great ironstone fields at wife was vice-president of the local branch of - no matter in what corner of the globe - you prospectors. They liked a rousing sermon and Cleveland and Normanby. His health gave out, the Women's Christian Temperance Union, he their favourite hymns, and they tended to be however, and he came to New Zealand in 1873. was a prominent prohibition worker in Marton. both public-spirited and law-abiding citizens. For a time Francis worked as a roading At the general election of 1896, he unsuccessfully Of the few score Cornishmen who served contractor, and then he took up farming at contested the Manawatu seat as an independent. in the Methodist ministry in New Zealand a Carnarvon, near Rongotea. In 1878 he entered It would seem that his call to ministry had dozen or so were either miners themselves or the profession of journalism, as bookkeeper and not been satisfied, and at the age of 56 he again from families in mining - tin, china clay, and reporter with the Rangitikei Advocate. took up Home Mission work. He was at South ironstone. A few of them were stationed by the He had been involved in his local Wesleyan Road, New Plymouth (1909-1912), at Gonville, Church to West Coast circuits and stations church, probably as soon as he settled in the Wanganui (1912-1918), and at Mayfield, where they understood the miners' life and Rangitikei, and for one year, 1884-1885, he was Canterbury (1918-1922) when he retired at the language, and were in tune with the mind-set the Home Missionary at Feilding. He then of their flock. returned to journalism and in 1890 became part age of 70. Francis Phillips Kellow was the son Joseph proprietor, with his brother-in-law Nicholas Considering the pittance that Home Kellow, an ironstone miner of Calstock, and Andrew, of his newspaper, all the time Missionaries received, the 13 years of service his wife Elizabeth Ann Phillips. Francis was maintaining his farm, adjacent to the railway France gave after a long period in business, was educated at the local Wesleyan day school, and station at Marton. a generous act. He stayed on at Mayfield for a will be sure to find a Cornishman at the bottom from age 10 until 16 he worked at Calstock as Francis took a keen interest in public affairs, year or so, and then settled in Wanganui, where of it, searchingFrancis for metal.” Phillips a miner. and was a member of the Sandon Highway he died of December 22nd, 1929. He was One of the reasons for the early growth of For the next few years he moved to the Board till it was merged into the Manawatu survived by his wife (his first cousin) Mary Susan Wesleyan Methodism on the Otago goldfields, North Country, Yorkshire and Northumberland, County Council. He continued as a local Kellow, whom he had married in 1883.

Vogeltown's Sunday school built in a day METHODIST ARCHIVES By Jo Smith, Methodist Archives Christchurch Labour Day, 27 October 1913 bazaar to raise funds. the rest of the building, completed saw the Methodist community in Elizabeth Okey, wife of FW by the roof which was finished Vogeltown, New Plymouth set to Okey the engineer on the Trust, by 4:00 p.m. About midday, as and built a Sunday school in a had read of another congregation work had gone so well, the single day. that had erected a church in a day decision was made by the trustees Around 1910, CA and Alice and this idea took hold among the to line the building with timber - Benbow started a Sunday school Trust members. the many helping hands meant for Vogeltown children in their As the Dominion newspaper this could also be done within the home. After Mr Benbow's death put it “Vogeltown people badly one day time frame. Electric on March 1912, Victor Griffiths wanted a Sunday school, and, wiring and plumbing were took over his responsibilities. instead of sitting praying for it, finished too. Victor's home was used for a started and built one for By 7:30 p.m. the building was meeting on 1 August 1912 to themselves”. declared finished, apart from a small patch of lining near the establish the Vogeltown Methodist When 27 October dawned, ceiling. Church Trust. A history of the men were waiting to begin work That evening, the new Vogeltown Methodist Church as soon as it was light. About 30 building was packed with those written by HR Wright, lists the to 40 people worked on the who had worked on it, plus other names of the trustees. A handy building. They started at 4:30 a.m. members of the community, for a The New Zealand Methodist Times reported on the Vogeltown congregations efforts to build their Sunday school in a day. group of men made up the by putting the piles into place, and thanksgiving service taken by Rev trustees: Rev John W Burton, at 5:30 a.m. Mrs Benbow RJ Liddell, followed by a concert. minister; Victor Griffiths, hammered in the first nail. She The Sunday school building architect; CW Hooker, painter and also led the Ladies Guild members went on to be used at the paperhanger; FW Okey, engineer; who provided hot rolls and Vogeltown Methodist Church until WF Short, monumental mason; porridge for breakfast at 7:30 a.m. February 1973 when the few FR Pepperell, joiner; LJ Blanchett, and food throughout the rest of remaining members of the joiner; and AT Moore, secretary. the day. congregation moved to Whiteley The Trust bought a section in At 7:00 a.m. the frame was Memorial Church and the local Hori Street, and organised hoisted, then by 9:00 a.m. the Presbyterian church. It was then working bees to clear and tidy the rafters were in position, followed converted to a play centre, and is section. The Ladies Guild held a by the floor, window frames, and still used for this purpose today. The Vogeltown Sunday school lives on as a play centre. TOUCHSTONE • FEBRUARY 2014 17 AROUND THE CONNEXION Lone cyclist raises awareness about plight of West Papua Contemporary By Hilaire Campbell centuries-old way of life. For one man on a bike Jeremy “We can't hunt for food carols from Bally is doing a power of good. anymore,” he says. “They've 'Pedalling for Papua' is his uprooted our forests.” the sick bay contribution towards raising Others talk of the desecration of awareness about human rights and sacred places. Late last year NZ hymn environmental abuse in West “There's nothing left for us,” writer Bill Wallace suffered a Papua. says another man. “Even the birds serious illness that landed him Since leaving his home in have gone.” in Christchurch Hospital, Canada in early 2013, Jeremy Indonesia took over West Papua where he would remain for five travelled nearly 12,000 kilometres in 1963. The island has enormous weeks. through six countries, before reserves of gold, copper, minerals Bill says that most of the arriving in Christchurch in October. and oil, and extraction is extremely time he focused on getting well In front of a small but lucrative for Indonesia. Palm oil appreciative audience, he presented plantations - what Jeremy calls but on some occasions he woke a multi-media performance, created 'bogus food' - have replaced large in the middle of the night after he spent time in West Papua, tracts of rainforest. Indonesia’s inspired to write. Indonesia. It is a region where, over government has also provided The result is two carols that Jeremy Bally's minstrel show decries Indonesia's attempt to put the Christmas the last 50 years, more than 100,000 incentives to Indonesians to move treatment of the people of West Papua. indigenous people have been killed. to West Papua, and this has resulted story in contemporary settings. Countless others have been in low wages and fewer jobs for indigenous West Papuans continue reporters; 'The political detainees One places the Christmas forced into exile. Few have had their indigenous people. to strive against being made into an and convicts were healthy and there story in a modern New Zealand stories heard, and Jeremy says his Because West Papua is closed underclass in their own land, he were no problems. I am sure the cowshed and questions our performance is an attempt to give a to foreign journalists, few outsiders says. prison guards treat them very well'. obsession with money. The other voice to those whose lives have been manage to visit, and Jeremy says In a move that he kept under In fact, he is far from happy attempts to instil a sense of devastated. it's hard to know the extent of the wraps, once Jeremy Bally left New about the treatment of prisoners. wonder and mystery about the Using animation combined with problem. Zealand, he returned to West Papua Many have been severely beaten, universe as today's astronomers live recordings, original poetry, and In West Papua where there are in December. There he personally know it. ukulele-based hip hop music, he 300 indigenous tribes, each with delivered hundreds of postcards and some are serving much longer hopes their stories will reach the their own language and culture. collected during his tour and a video sentences than those originally global stage. Their songs and stories recall bearing messages of solidarity to imposed. MARY, JOSEPH, JESUS “I wanted the figures to have a happier times when everyone got those who have been imprisoned for Filip Karma, who is an Amnesty (The Astronomer's Carol) face,” says Jeremy. “It's my music together to celebrate a good harvest peaceful protest and speaking openly International Prisoner of and my performance, but the stories or a new life. about their political beliefs. Conscience, required a lengthy and Mary, Joseph, Jesus, belong to the people of West Papua, They also form an integral piece “I'd been planning this action difficult campaign to receive critical The characters remain. and I wanted them to tell them of the campaign for independence for some time,” he says, “but due medical care. Shepherds and the angels, themselves.” currently being fought. West Papuan to security concerns I had to keep Jeremy says it's vital for those Truth travellers' contain Sipi Samla's story isn't unusual. activist and singer Benny Wenda it pretty hush-hush.” in the know to keep others informed Shaped in ancient story's He and his wife and young son were describes them as “our weapon in He says visiting the prison was of the true situation. For now, he's Sweet mystical refrain. forced to flee from their home in the fight for freedom.” one of the most profound meetings West Papua many years ago. He It's not something that Jeremy of his life, and a remarkable way to just thankful to be home safe and Can this dream time wonder tells of seeing members of the feels is likely to happen any time close his tour. sound. Reshape our lives today military rape and torture his people soon. He believes the Indonesian He is distressed by claims The web site for those wanting When our night-time wisdom then of bulldozing their bodies into government is out to grab as much attributed to him by the local media to help support Jeremy and the Is losing all its sway? a pit. He tells of the loss of their cash as it can, while maintaining about his visit to the prison. For people of West Papua is: Look into the darkness ancestral land, and, along with it, a control through violence. The example, he was said to have told www.pedallingforpapua.com. And watch the stars at play. Listen to the music Petone Multicultural Church pulls tent pegs to continue its journey Of dancing Cosmic space. Watch with awe and wonder By Diana Roberts and Boys' Brigades were popular. Paths galaxies now trace. Earthquake risk to church A strong choral tradition has See the birth of planets buildings is widespread throughout been an on-going part Wesley Displaying their own face. Aotearoa. Petone's life. In the 1960s Petone In 2012 Wesley Petone experienced a growing population Gazing at the heavens Multicultural Methodist Church was as rural Maori, Southeast Asian Expands each earth-bound mind. given notice that its buildings were refugees, and most significantly for Silence in the darkness at high risk. They were deemed Wesley, people from the Pacific Gives space for all to find Truths each Cosmic process unsafe and had to be vacated islands arrived. Contains for humankind. promptly. Wesley Petone became the Members of the congregation focus for Tongan and Samoan were in shock, saddened and language services, fellowship and anxious that they would be a study, singing and prayer, cultural homeless congregation, forced out activities and sports. Change wasn't of the place that had housed a always easy for the Palangi Methodist family well over a members, yet many welcomed the century. Filo Tu holds the banner and 'Ilisapesi Fifita is at the microphone renewal. Wesley Church Petone has been as members of the Petone congregation get ready to shift St Change has now come again for part of the Hutt City Uniting Mark's Church, Lower Hutt. the people of Petone Multicultural Congregations since 1995, and a Tongan and Samoan choirs sang celebration. The story of Wesley Church. In the special anniversary sister church in the parish, St Mark's and words of scripture were read. Petone was told. This included the service President Rex gave a in Lower Hutt, opened its buildings The readings acknowledging God's first Wesleyan services held in Pito- message of encouragement, calling to the Petone people. presence, and focused a sense of one Pa in 1839, shipboard services members to dream dreams of how Now, a year later, a adventure, allegiance, compassion, for new immigrants, and the services the future might be for God's church memorandum of understanding has reassurance and thanksgiving. held in Cornish Row for the Cornish formalised arrangements between A Litany of Closing Methodist settlers. in this place. Vice President Jan JESUS IN A COWSHED the two congregations to preserve remembered all the people who had Later the focus for settlement urged us to develop the richness of Jesus in a cowshed, their autonomy and develop ways been part of the life of Wesley shifted to Wellington and the Petone our diversity as we carry out God's Birth cries mixed with moos, of working together. Petone and the special life events church was not built until 1883, mission. Farmers in their gumboots The Petone congregation that had happened there. A banner when the town had become home Diversity and dreaming shaped Chasing money news, wanted to make a formal farewell was taken from the building to be to substantial manufacturing and coloured the brilliant party that Wise men now predicting to their much loved former home. placed in St Mark's. industries including railway Patterns markets' choose. followed the service. It was a time At the same time they wished to After a call to move on in faith, workshops, Gear Meat, and woollen of feasting, singing and dancing and Why has mystery vanished celebrate 130 years of Methodist as God's people have always done, mills. Moving far away? sharing memories of the past. family history lived out in the old there was a blessing, and time for The basic wooden 'box' that was Why have wonder's colours church. final photos before the group built remained the heart of the Members of St Mark's Changed to lifeless grey, On Sunday 8th December 2013 journeyed to St Marks. church, as it was added to and experienced the gifts that Wesley Silence valued less than about 150 people gathered in the Petone congregational secretary adapted through the years. The Petone members bring and members Noises of the day. car park opposite the church. Filo Tu organised the day, and lively, largely working class of Wesley learned of the faithfulness Reason in its coldness President Rev Rex Nathan and Vice supply presbyter to both Petone and community was full of young of St Mark's people. Both groups Kills our inbuilt awe President Jan Tasker attended, with St Mark's congregations Rev John families. Placing owning riches members of the Hutt City Council, Roberts presided over the liturgies. Wesley had flourishing youth experienced the Spirit of God moving as they came together. At our inner core. senior Presbytery and Synod In the afternoon, more than 200 groups for many decades, helped May Christ's humble birthing officials, and former presbyters of people filled St Mark's church for by the Rotary Club, who built a All of us felt that we were Bond us with Earth's poor the Petone Church. a service of commemoration and youth hall on church land. Girls' making history. 18 TOUCHSTONE • FEBRUARY 2014

Reflections on the 85th anniversary of Girls' Brigade By Valmai Redhead The weekend was so worthwhile and I am glad I made the effort. I nearly didn't. It is a long way from Gore to Auckland and the flights seemed too expensive but then I realized we had just enough air points. Seasons in life change and it is more than 10 years now since Girls Brigade has been part of my life. I didn't know what to expect or who would be there but it was Colin Gibson world like a family reunion. Meeting and greeting tour of New women I knew and others I hadn't met before was a Zealand continues pleasure and a thrill. For 2014 These Hills Workshops are taking On Saturday evening the indefatigable Colin Gibson to the eastern side October 19th, guest speaker Jo McKinnell inspired us of the middle North Island, with events in The all age choir sang during the service at St Mary's-in-Holy Trinity Cathedral. Auckland (May 3rd & 4th), Tokoroa (May 4th), with her testimony as she Opotiki (May 5th), and Thames (May 11th). shared how God is active, flanked by the Girls' Brigade Organisers say they are always amazed and alive and well in Girls' banners inside the entrance grateful for the enthusiasm and helpfulness of all Brigade. Her personal were a fitting welcome. the parishes they invite to host workshops. journey of discovering God's The formality and These Hills Workshops secretary Gaynor unconditional love through ceremony as the colours and McCarney says it is so very important the group her company leaders, official party entered created to share the wonderful hymns, songs, and music responding to His call on her a time-honoured feeling of written by Kiwis for Kiwis. life and the roller coaster ride inspiration, yet our worship “They are so relevant in worshipping God she has had since, captured was alive with within our own experiences of events, landscape, us from the beginning. contemporary overtones. history, language, idiom and culture. A single word Jo's challenge is to bring What a treat to listen to can evoke 'Ah God is here, with us!' and our hope to those who are the choir, made up of girls experience of God becomes more real and present.” desperately searching, and of every age, representing At these workshops Colin teaches many of the to be willing to jump scared. several cultures. Girls have songs from the four books published by the NZ Cameo snippets and not changed, their hearts are Hymnbook Trust - Alleluia Aotearoa, Carol our reflections by Jill Clarke and the same and I could Christmas, Faith forever Singing, and Hope is Our Doreen Bateup triggered imagine Jesus being Song. special memories as did delighted at their He opens our understanding of their stories, personal conversations with enthusiastic rendition of and we have a lot of wonderful singing sessions. friends our reminiscing 'Give a Girl a Hope', written The way he teaches makes it so easy, even for spilled right over into especially for the jubilee by those who have never met these songs, to sing them well. Sunday. And if Saturday was Robyn Allen Goudge. As is so normal for NZ church events, we share excellent, Sunday was The Dean, Very Rev Jo a meal at our workshops. superb. Kelly-Moore, brought a We always want as many people as possible, My breath was almost challenging message from all churches in each area, to join us. So we taken away from the moment affirming and encouraging suggest donations of only $15 to $20 per person, when I first stepped inside Girls Brigade to walk with from which to cover our travelling costs. Even our St Mary's-in-Holy Trinity God confidently into the As ever Girls' Brigade is a place where girls can be girls. tutors do their work for the love of serving God Cathedral for the celebration future. and his people. We do not want the donation to service. Listening to the Closing the service with Margaret Lyttle would too soon, but I had cause stress or deprive people from attending. deeply resonating and 'Shine Jesus Shine' took my have been amazed. She discovered in new ways just Your seat being empty will not help our finances, uplifting sound of the pipe memories straight back to might have been surprised how much God wants to so please come along too. organ and marvelling at the 1993 at Sandymount Church too at how much we talked bless us through renewed Details can be found on magnificently crafted in Dublin. We had sung it and lingered over afternoon thesehillsworkshops.wordpress.com/workshops wooden interior of the there as part of the tea, and pored over the old friendships, restored hope website or contact Gaynor McCartney, church stirred my soul. international centennial albums, photos and and refreshed vision of the [email protected] or 021 167 8171. The glorious gold and celebrations with equal memorabilia. work of Girls' Brigade. blue flowerNai arrangements Lalakaifervour. The weekend finished NAI LALAKAI MAI NA WASEWASE KO VITI KEI ROTUMA E NIUSILADI RAI ENA MATA NI KALOU voli kina. Vakabauti ni ra sa lesu ni vakabauta, basika na leqa ke Kalou eda na kunea na ka vinaka vulagi ga. Eda gadreva nona mai ena bula vnaka na noda era sega naa vanua vinaka eda [veivakurabuitaki], ka tubu mai veiliutaki na I taukei ni vuravura, gade ka vakacagicagi ki dela ni vakararavi kina. Kevaka eda na ena leqa, ka dredre e tara noda o koya e bulia ka lewa, ka sa tiko yavu. Dua na noda I vaqa raica na vei ka e yaco ena rai bula. E kauta mai na vakacegu, oti ena vei mataka, veiyabaki, vei vakayalo lekakeka ena matai ni vakatamata, sa na vakatubura na veivakararamataki, tubu taba gauna e se bera mai. lalakai [Touchstone], ena yabaki tu vakadua, yalolailai, vosavosa, vakayalo, ka vakatubura na yalo Au sa bolei keda, vakauqeti oqo. vakaiulubale, veibeitaki, bolebole ni toso ki liu. E Same 119:18 - 19; “Mo ni vakatubu veisei ka rawa ni kena vakadeitaki keda ena noda keda kina me vinaka cake noda vakamataraitaki au, me'u kunea I tinitini na mate. vakabauta ni vei ka kece e tara bula ni wilika, vakekeli ena vosa na ka e veivakurabuitaki ena Sa bibi kina meda dau masu noda bula, se vakacava na kena ni Kalou, ka da vakavinakataka nomuni vunau. Au sa vulagi e vagumatua ena masu ka mosi, dredre, e nona I naki na cake noda dau veivosaki vuravura. Mo ni kakua ni vunia vakayagataka na Daunisame, Kalou me da vinaka kina vakamasoma kei na noda Kalou, By Rev Peni Tikoinaka vei au na nomuni vakaro”. “Mo ni vakaamataraitaki au me'u [Jeremaia 29:11 - 12]. o koya duadua ga na I taukei ni Ena yaca ni Kalou ko Sega ni veisau na vei ka eda kunea na ka e veivakurabuitaki Ka rua ni ka bibi e vakavulici vuravura oqo. Meda masu, Tamada, Luvena kei na Yalo na sota kaya ena loma ni yabaki, ena nomuni vunau”. Sega ni keda kina na Same ka yavutaki cikecike vakawasoma ka Tabu, au sa vakabula ni yabaki duidui beka na kena I rairai se vunau walega na Kalou ena vosa kina noda I vaqa vakayalo, o ya vakayagataka nona vosa na vou yani vei kemuni na noda I yacana. Eda na cabe ulunivanua, [Vola Tabu], e vunau talega ena ni dodonu meda kila ka ciqoma Daunisame, “Au sa vulagi e vavakoso kece sara, vuvale vaka qalova na vei uciwai titobu, vei ka e tara noda bula, tara na ni da tiko vulagi ga e vuravura. vuravura. Moni kakuaa ni vunia I Talatala, kei kemuni na Qase tauvimate, vakacalaka e so kei vanua eda tiko kina me vaka na Veitalia na levu ni yau ko ni Lotu ena loma ni noda I na vuqa tale [yadua, vuvale, tauvimate, vakacala, leqa na taukena, cakacaka vinaka, vuli vei au na nomuni vakaro”. Wasewase ko Viti kei Rotuma e veiwekani, vanua ni cakacaka, cakacakaka, yavavala ni vuvale, vinaka, bulicaki vinaka, tutu “Me noda vata na Niusiladi. Au vakabauta ni da Lotu]. So na ka eda namaka ena uneune, cagilaba, ualokaloka, vinaka. Na vei ka kece oqori e veivakalougataki ni Kalou, na marautaka na vakacagicagi ni sega ni yaco, so na ka eda sega ualuvu [vica walega kena I sega ni tukuna vei iko na ka ena Tamada sa cecere sara ena yabaki Siga ni Sucu kei na kidavaki ni ni namaka ena yaco. Rawa ni vakaraitaki]. yaco n mataka, eda na lako voli vou, 2014 eda sa tekivu curuma yabaki vou ena vanua eda tiko yavalati vaka ca sara noda bula Ni vakamataraitaki keda na vaka mataboko, baleta ni da yani. TOUCHSTONE • FEBRUARY 2014 19

VAHEFONUAPukolea TONGA ‘O AOTEAROA Service of celebration marks birth of Palmerston North Tongan Parish By Paul Titus divisions in the Tongan Methodist believe people want to look forward memorandum of understanding A mood of celebration and a tone congregation at Palmerston North and leave their differences behind between the new parish and Wesley of reconciliation were struck at the and it was good to see both factions them.” Broadway's English-speaking parish inauguration service held to open present at the new parish's inaugural Aso preached on the theme of on the use of the property and the new Vahefonua Tonga parish services. peace and reconciliation, making the worship times. in Palmerston North. “There are also two congregations point that we need to use peaceful Leadership in the new parish will Tauiwi executive director Rev of the Free Wesleyan Church of means to reach peaceful ends. be with parish steward Siosaia Fia, Aso Samoa Saleupolu gave the Tonga in Palmerston and they both Until the creation of the new who now has responsibility to reflection at the December 8th had a strong presence at the service Vahefonua Parish, the Palmerston organise worship and special events. service and he says it was rewarding including their choirs. Members of North Tongan Methodist Setaita will serve as the parish's to see the strong presence from the the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga Congregation was under the superintendent presbyter and will Tongan community at the event. from Levin also travelled to oversight of the Palmerston North attend Parish Council meetings. Vahefonua Tonga superintendent Palmerston North for the English-speaking parish with special Aso says the service began at Rev Setaita Kinahoi Veikune was celebration,” Aso says. reference to Vahefonua Tonga. 1:00pm and featured performances also on hand for the service, which “I would say there was a huge The new parish will continue to by the new parish's choir as well as took place at Wesley Broadway spirit of cooperation and willingness worship at Wesley Broadway and choirs from the Free Wesleyan Methodist Church in Palmerston of the different Tongan congregations they have no immediate plans to congregations. In the evening there North. in Palmerston North to work together acquire their own church property. were celebratory feasting, speeches, Aso says there have been some for the good of the community. I Discussions are on-going to reach a gift giving and entertainment.

Faifekau Vaikoloa Kilikiti 20 TOUCHSTONE • FEBRUARY 2014

Ko e Faifekau Aso Saleupolu lolotonga fakahoko Malanga

Ko e Fanau lolotonga 'e Lotu Hufia & Fakalangilangi: 'Otu mu'a (H ki M): Naita Fifita, Sateki Fifita, Foueti Sinamoni, Tanginoa Vaipulu, Karishma Vaipulu, Leopoli Mahe Sinamoni, Tongaleka Sinamoni, Tivinia Fonua. 'Otu mui (H ki M): Leonie Helu, Paluleleva Fia, Milise Sinamoni, 'Eseta Fifita.

Ko e ongo Lau Folofola Soane Vaipulu mo Jason Mika

Ko e kau fine'eiki 'o e Vahenga Ngaue: Akolea Vunipola, Fetuli Vaipulu, Malia Fia pea mo Salote Fonua

Taimi 'o e me'e fiefia he tapuaki kuo to: Malia Fia, Faifekau Setaita Veikune,Fetuli Vaipulu. Mei he tu'a 'o e Faifekau Sea, Piliniuote Fifita, tafa'aki to'omata'u 'i mui 'ia Fetuli ko Salote Fonua.