Living a Transforming Life
Rev. Sarah McMenamin spoke in Fielding recently about why she marched in the hīkoi to establish Māori wards in Manawatū. Since the hikoi and preaching this message, the council changed their vote in favour of the new wards. Sarah talks on the importance of being transformational.
Ruatara, Samuel Marsden, Ihāia Te Ahu, Ngākūkū, Piripi Taumata-a-Kura, Wiremu Te Tauri, Tamihana Te Rauparaha, Rota Waitoa, Te Wera Hauraki, Frederick Bennett, Mother Edith.
How many of these names have you heard before?
One of the joys of the Anglican Church is that we follow the lectionary. It has Bible readings laid out over three years, and also saints days. The list above is the list of people we mark on our church calendar over the last two weeks of May. Why are they in our lectionary? In our church calendar?
Because we are the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia.
Christianity in the 1990s seemed to over-emphasise the importance of a personal relationship with Jesus. We know this is important, but the breadth of our Anglican tradition calls us to be contemplative, holy, charismatic, evangelical, incarnational and people of social justice and transformation!
What are some ways our movement is transformational?
Refugees
Since 2016 we have partnered with Catholic Archdiocese under the Red Cross banner to set up over 300 households – collecting donated goods, buying things and then arranging the houses for refugees being resettled.
Poverty
Our movement raised tens of thousands of dollars for four projects as part of our COVID appeal last year. The project in India, called Loyal Workshop, have reported recently that they are safe, but also have spent $16,000 on food and mask distribution, testing and medical support. Currently distributing 500 hygiene packs (hand sanitiser, face masks, hand wash), items that are sold out in shops. They ask for us to keep praying.
Climate change
We wrote 776 submissions to the Climate Change Commission on their draft advice to Government on how we can reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050, and the voices of Anglicans across our diocese were loud and strong.
Housing
How many of you live in a big family home with lots of spare bedrooms, but can’t look at downsizing as 2-bedroom townhouses are selling for $600,000+? How many of you know someone who can’t find a house to live in? I have come across a couple of kids in my work recently who have had to move into the caravan park with their families because they can’t find a house to rent. This is a real issue in Feilding.
I spoke to the council recently on the submission I made on behalf of the church regarding affordable and social housing rebates. We are called to be wise stewards of our resources, but there is also an immense need in our community for affordable housing. So we’re going to do something about it, and speak into the decisions regarding it.
Māori Wards Hīkoi
And continuing on this tradition of being involved in social transformation, some of you will have heard (or seen) that I joined the hikoi (along with Rev. Andy Hickman and Rev. Amy Houben) calling on the Manawatu District Council to reconsider its decision on Māori wards.
Some people have argued against Māori Wards saying the idea is separatist or racist.
Separatism, in a nutshell, is advocacy for the separation of one group (be it racial, cultural, political etc.) from the larger group. Māori representation in local government means councils working in partnership with Māori, not separate from them. Māori wards are clearly not a form of separatism.
Racism isn’t treating people differently based on race. It’s about power. When a racial group is oppressed by systems of power and is discriminated against based on race, that is racism. Creating mechanisms to allow for their representation isn’t racism, it’s equity.
I marched for a number of reasons. Some of those being:
Injustice: If the system is working so far, why is Māori representation so low? Where do we stand with Treaty of Waitangi obligations? Why are we so fearful of Māori having a seat at the table, when the table was theirs to begin with? In response to the claim that Māori wards are racist, the reality is that despite being promised tino rangatiratanga over their lands and resources in Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Māori are still largely excluded from decision-making about said resources.
Solidarity with other churches: The Feilding churches are on board. So far, there has only been one church in Feilding come out and say they don’t agree with Māori wards. The majority of church leaders in Feilding are in support.
Most importantly… Jesus! The Jesus I read about in the gospels is someone I struggle with a lot – anyone else relate? He’s someone who gives voice to those who are silenced in society, who advocates for those who are in the minority, who speaks truth to those in power, in privilege. It’s very uncomfortable to realise this, often, but these are the truths at the heart of the gospel and I’m working out how to dismantle my comfort and societal norms to follow that Jesus.
This is the Jesus we follow. This is the church we are a part of.
Bishop Justin made a prophetic comment a few years ago, when he said that he thought the next wave of revival/Holy Spirit in our land would come through Māori spirituality. There is something happening in our country, especially amongst younger people, that grounded in Māori and Christianity – unique to New Zealand – why would God not work through something that he created here that’s special to here?
So, where is Jesus in our lives this week?
Where are we being called once again to confront our own prejudices, our own comfort, our own ego, for the sake of the gospel message?
Where are we called to be a prophetic people – a people that speak truth to power?
Where are we called to love our neighbour – look out for their interests more than our own…?
God, help us to step out into discomfort for Your sake. And we praise You for the answer to our prayers – the Manawatu District Council voted in favour of Māori Wards on the 20th May.
