Rev. Joanna Harrington

Joanna (Ngāti Paoa) lives in Shannon where she is a leader in the Venerable Bede Church and an Urban Vision team. She is married to Leigh and they have four children - two who are grown up. She works with others to grow food on their faith-based eco-farm, teaches singing and Te Reo Māori at Shannon Primary School, and helps out with the kids’ club.

I hope, as I approach ordination to the priesthood, to serve God faithfully and transformatively in the years ahead. None of us can see exactly what we’re leading into, but I hope to help shape communities of believers who can offer authentic hope and witness in our times.

Since my childhood, I have enjoyed sharing my faith with others and meeting to pray, read the Bible and worship. I enjoy connecting cross-culturally, and listening to people, and love singing.

I have a love of language and music and enjoy drawing out themes and imagery in the scriptures. I’ve been blessed to be held by people of faith around (and before) me, and have been assisted by disciplines and practices to connect with the Lord and build spiritual muscle over the years. I’ve also been ‘encountered’ by God as I’ve experienced places I wouldn’t have chosen, finding him with me, at least in hindsight.

In addition to involvement with my local church in different contexts, my husband and I have been part of Urban Vision since our mid-20s, hearing the call into serving - with others - the marginalised, as we love Jesus. This included a period of ministry among refugees and migrants in our early years of having a family, and we now live in a largely bi-cultural community in the Horowhenua. We have strong convictions about honouring the covenant of Te Tiriti and are grateful to live on the edge of a small town amongst Māori who have a strong sense of place, even as they have been negatively impacted by loss of land and the losses that flow from this. We have also responded to the challenge of living in relationship with God’s creation and are passionate about finding ways to live more simply and more kindly to the earth and the poor.

We live with others on a 30-acre block growing a fair degree of food and finding ways to live well on the land.

I initially sensed a call from God towards priesting/ ordination several years ago, but I didn’t take it forward at that time, partly as I was focussed then on raising our four children. A couple of years ago my husband and I were asked to take up leadership of our church. After a period of discernment I was installed as deacon in charge at the Venerable Bede in Shannon in February this year. We are enjoying a small but vibrant morning service, the recent start of several discipleship small groups, and ongoing womens’ and mens’ fellowship groups. I have a part-time job as a kaiārahi i te reo maori at our local primary school, and also enjoy directing the school choir.

The ordination service for Rev. Joanna Harrington will take place on 2 pm Saturday 9th of November at Venerable Bede, Shannon.

Please contact Bethany McMillan on 021 1081682 for more information.