Farewell Bishop Ellie

As +Ellie prepares to leave, we were lucky to find her underneath a pile of boxes and ask her some questions about her season within our Movement. As usual, there is such wisdom and depth in her responses and well worth pondering over with a good cup of coffee.

What are some of your highlights?
Firstly, the way in which we have journeyed more deeply in our bicultural partnership in this land. It has been so significant journeying with Bishop Wai and I will miss her so much. I will never forget our journey of renewed relationship with the Ratana church. It was so special being part of the group that went ahead to warm the whare our Ministry Leaders’ Family Camp in 2019. I’ll never forget following the brass band with Piri to the service that Sunday before our whanau arrived later that day.

When I have been part of those moments of deep partnership I have been so aware of their need and their significance, and I’m really thankful for +Justin’s clear leadership in this area.

Another huge highlight was the ‘Ordainathon’ in 2021. This was a watershed moment when we all saw the effects of transformation across the Diocese, and how incredible the people that were being ordained were. Even with +Justin becoming ill on the second weekend – it was one of the absolute highlights of my life going from place to place with different gatherings and expressions; bearing witness and praying over people dedicating their lives to Jesus and His Church.

Finally, the last highlight I want to share is doing life so deeply with so many people and this last season in particular in the Community of Transfiguration. For me, knowing how hard it was as a young Christian coming to university – to be at the point now where we have so many flourishing young adult expressions of worship, discipleship and mission at the heart of the university. For Mel and Tim McKenzie and others who ‘bought the field’, this is now not a dream but a solid reality of treasure and I’m so thankful for all who have been part of making that happen. Having our lives filled with so many amazing young adults is such a privilege. The greatest gift if you can give in God is the gift of yourself – this is what Jesus does for us in his incarnation, in beauty and in brokenness – and we do the same when we live with each other. These expressions of community have reflected God’s call for Justin and Jenny in this season too. It truly has been a highlight of the last 22 years in the Diocese to finish in this way.

Most surprising thing that’s happened?
I never take for granted the flourishing of life. It’s just amazing to see the fullness of the ngahere/forest. We know that the fullness of life for men, women and children is God’s desire, but it still feels like a beautiful surprise when it does happen!

What has also been surprising, having just sorted through 22 years of cards and letters, is the sheer number of people I’ve been connected to, lives I’ve lived with and people I’ve journeyed with. People from all over the Diocese, writing at different times and for different reasons. If someone had told me at 22 when I arrived that I would leave in this role I would never have believed them!

What am I looking forward to most about Hull?
I am looking forward to finding the new threads that God wants me to weave with, but mostly I am looking forward to a fresh season of leaning upon Jesus. Whenever anything is big and new you need to find faith in Jesus – it’s easy to keep depending on yourself. We always need to be renewed in dependency in the Holy Spirit, and make sure we are deeply embedded in the Father’s love. These things will be first and foremost before I even begin thinking of anything else.

I do feel a sense of incredible excitement about the heritage of transformation and social justice that has sprung from Hull and the area – it does feel like holy ground. Already connections are beginning to form and I feel excited about what might be possible in our partnerships together. I feel so privileged and in awe of some of the young women who I’ve already met who are living lives of incredible transformation – I am so looking forward to supporting their work in Christ.

I do love the freshness of team that Archbishop Stephen is gathering, with the call of living Christ’s story within the bigger Diocese of York. That call is to know and share the story of Christ, and confidently share our own story into which Jesus is interwoven. This sits so well with me. One of the scriptures I have had in this season are those words of Jesus ‘Go home and tell people how much God has done for you.’ (Mark 5:19)

What will you miss about the Diocese?
The people! He tangata, he tangata, he tangata. Part of being in these roles is that you lean into God’s heart for people and experience just a tiny fraction of God’s love, God’s mercy, and God’s passion. I particularly want to witness to the people who pray up a storm over and for the lives of others. I would like to honour these pray-ers, and know this will continue.

As I’ve said, I will so miss the Community of Transfiguration and lives filled with young adults. The reality of ageing congregations is one that I’m going to and we need to have honest conversations when we see that the gospel is not passing down through the generations. I never take for granted the youth and growth we bear witness to here.

How has the Diocese changed?
So much! We have young people! So much has changed for women and young families in leadership too. Being one of the first few mothers with maternity clergy shirts, to seeing the amount of young families we have now – it gives me so much joy.

I also feel thankful for the innovation of the 1990s across the Province. When I arrived in 2000 it was on the wave of broader church initiatives – e.g. the hikoi of hope – and I ‘grew up’ in the church with people who had led these. This was a rich season for liturgy, and music too. And now I feel a different season, and a different move of God. I am grateful to be part of multiple seasons and the warp and weft of the church.

What do you feel God is saying for the next phase of our journey as a Movement?
++Justin Welby ended Lambeth with a scripture that is dear to me: ‘Fear not little flock, for it is God’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom’. One of the things we talk about as a Movement is not missing the kingdom, and how easy it is to do so. So the message I feel we are to hear is: don’t miss the kingdom. It really is here, amongst us. Lean in and give it your all.

We can testify again and again that you can trust God you are asked to lose your life for the sake of the kingdom. It has been so sacrificial – things we’ve had to say no to in order to say yes to other things – but we can trust this. Wherever we are in our lives, whatever the next step the Holy Spirit is giving us – never stop asking, never stop seeking, and have the courage to step into God’s invitation. Keep building deeper into God and God’s vastness – we can’t ever fill up enough – it is possibly to know God more and more.

There are seasons of receiving and seasons of giving, and they flow in Godly algorithms that we cannot create by predetermination, only by a living friendship with Jesus. Let’s keep seeking first the kingdom of God, and trust that everything else we need will be given to us.

“God, of your goodness, give me yourself; you are enough for me, and anything less that I could ask for would not do you full honour. And if I ask anything that is less, I shall always lack something, but in you alone I have everything.” – Julian of Norwich.

Finally: appreciate and enjoy the kingdom! It would be lovely to stay with you and enjoy it but God has called us on, so please don’t miss the gifts of the kingdom and the privilege it is to live within the beauty of this land and people.

Join in with our movement whānau at St Paul’s Cathedral this Saturday at 3pm as we celebrate Bishop Ellie and farewell +Ellie, Tim, Zach and Joe.