Waiapu Current News
28 July
New Faces in Hawke’s Bay
The Newest Deacon in the Anglican Communion
On Sunday night Ruth Dewdney was ordained by Bishop David at St Luke’s, Havelock North. Ruth will serve as Deacon Assistant in the parish. Bishop David reminded her that she is the newest Deacon in the Anglican Communion.
Also on Sunday John Tovey began his ministry as Associate Priest at All Saints, Taradale. John comes to us from Wellington Diocese.
July 28
Anglican Common Life Mission Conference 2011
“Shaping the Church for Mission”
Anglican Missions Board are organising the four yearly mission conference, this time in the Wellington Diocese, at El Rancho Christian Holiday Park, Waikanae, from 19-22 July 2011
Keynote Speaker will be The Most Revd Dr Ben Kwashi, Archbishop of Jos, Nigeria and the Bible Studies Convenor will be The Right Revd Mark MacDonald, National Indigenous Bishop of Canada.
Workshops will be lead by delegates from Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Asia and the Pacific
Clergy, lay, mission motivators, youth leaders, and those passionate about Mission are again all invited to take part.
Details will be available on our website: www.angmissions.org.nz
July 28
Anglican Social Justice Commissioner - Loan sharks circle as demand for credit grows
Forecasts that more than one third of Kiwi households will resort to credit to pay their bills in the coming months are troubling Anglican Church leaders.
Stats released last week by Dun & Bradstreet, the debt collection and credit rating company, show that 36 percent of the 1000 adults they surveyed feel they will have no choice but to rely on credit to make ends meet in the coming months.
The Consumer Credit Expectations Survey reveals, too, that 18 percent of households expect their debt levels to rise during the September quarter – partly on the back of the Reserve Bank’s recent interest rate rise.
What really disturbs The Rev Dr Anthony Dancer, the Anglican Church’s Social Justice Commissioner, is the plight of those on the bottom rung of the ladder.
The people who don’t have access to credit cards, who don’t qualify for a WINZ Special Needs Grant – sought, say, to pay for a funeral, or to fix a broken-down car, or to deal with a health emergency – and who therefore are falling prey to loan sharks.
Dr Dancer is disappointed that National and Act last week used their Parliamentary majority to defeat a Labour MP’s private member’s bill that would have stopped loan sharks from charging outlandish interest rates.
“Carol Beaumont’s Consumer Credit (Responsible Lending) Bill didn’t offer all the solutions,” he says, “but it was a starting place.
“The Prime Minister opposed the bill because he said an interest rate cap would become a target. Well, even if a cap did become a target, that target would’ve been set much lower than what the loan sharks are charging.
“The issue of debt and poverty won’t go away, and needs real engagement by this government.
“There are no quick fix solutions. Reducing income disparity, improving social outcomes for Maori and Pacific Island communities, and reducing family violence and improving physical and social wellbeing are all important parts of the answer.
“It’s not just the government’s problem, either. For example: The Anglican Church is trying to do its bit through various community-based schemes, including setting up time banks, and providing some small loans and budgeting services, as well as other social services.
“We’re involved because, like other churches and Christian agencies, we know that debt is blight.”
From Anglican Taonga News
Bishop David addressing Hawke's Bay Regional Conference
20 July
Hawke’s Bay Regional Conference
The first of the three regional conferences took place at the Church of St John the Baptist, Dannevirke. It was the biggest turn-out for some years, with between 70 and 80 travelling from all over Hawke’s Bay, including more than 40 on bus from Napier/Hastings and points south.
There was a tight schedule, with 7 motions passed, two left to the other regions to discuss, and one dropped because of a similar motion proposed.
Elections
Regional Executive will comprise Dot King, Trevor Harrison, Peter Ashley and Elizabeth Crawley, plus Bishop’s Chaplain.
Regional Nominators are Trevor Harrison, Di Woods, Meg Dawson and Peter Ashley.
Lay nominations for Standing Committee were Hugh McBain and Brian Watkins, and Tim Parker was elected for the Standing Committee Nominating Committee.
Regional representative on Cathedral Chapter is Heugh Chappell.
Motions passed
One motion addressed the canon that requires all parishes to ensure that one of their delegates to Regional conference be under 35. Given that only 3 of the delegates this year qualified, the conference moved: “That all Hawke’s Bay parishes acknowledge that they do not intend to meet the expectations of the canon and call on Standing Committee to remove the age expectation from the Canon.” Bishop David noted that “this motion alone could send a bad message to Synod, and needs an accompanying commentary.”
A motion reflecting changes to the way the diocesan budget was presented this year was passed: “That this conference expresses its concern to Synod at the changes to regional funding introduced for the current financial year and invites Synod to clarify diocesan policy on the future form of regionalisation and the funding required.”
A motion on poverty asked: “noting the disturbing statistical evidence of New Zealand’s inequality gap, and noting our Waiapu areas of Hawke’s Bay, Eastland and Bay of Plenty present the worst statistics for low incomes and unemployment, poor housing, low education achievements, poor health (notably rates of smoking and suicide) and high levels of violent crime, urge the Standing Committee with the Diocesan Social Justice task force to work with our Tikanga partners, Tairawhiti and Te Manawa o te Wheke, to:
• Support political advocacy for policies that can lead to a more equal society;
• Foster a vision of social cohesion that can improve the quality of life for everyone
• Encourage clergy and Church leaders to challenge unhealthy consumerism and seek opportunities for more unsustainable economic growth.
• Encourage our communities, local bodies and central Government in dealing with the causes of poverty
A motion on alcohol abuse urged “the government to take all necessary steps to ensure:
1. The reduction in the accessibility of alcohol. (This may include pricing mechanisms, changing the regulations for issuing licences, and raising the age of purchase.)
2. Greater control of advertising , including sponsorship, of alcohol. (At present there is a voluntary Code for Advertising which the industry designs and operates.)
3. Greater safety on the roads by lowering the limit of allowable alcohol in the blood of drivers.
4. Increased treatment opportunities for heavy drinkers.
5. Greater levels of education programmes”
The conference also asked Synod to “re-affirm their support of Christian World Service as the Anglican Church's development, justice and aid agency, and in the light of the government's announcement to cut its overseas development funding schemes at the end of the financial year, encourages all Anglicans to give generous financial support to its Christmas Appeal and other special appeals".
In the light of recent announcements of government taxation policies, a motion asked: “That Synod asks the Anglican Social Justice Commissioner to join with the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services and other advocates to urge the government to review current taxation policy and benefit levels in order to prevent an increase in the already alarming rate of child poverty in New Zealand.”
General discussions
The conference discussed strategic planning for making Waiapu a more mission-focussed diocese, the review of models of episcopacy and Bishop David presented a paper on the international Anglican Covenant.
20 July
In the face of developments in the Church of England, and comments from the Vatican, the Archbishops of this church have released a pastoral letter reaffirming the “fundamental value” of the ordination of women to all levels of ordained ministry:
The ordination of women is in the news again, thanks to developments in the Church of England, and comments from the Vatican. It is timely, therefore, for us to reflect again on our own position in this church on this matter.
The Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia long ago affirmed and provided for the ordination of women to all levels of ordained ministry, as deacons, priests and bishops. This has resulted in widespread, in-depth and effective ministry, with a unique and special character, across all three Tikanga.
As the Church of England comes close to providing for the ordination of women bishops, we pray that all three orders in that church will benefit as richly as we have done from taking this step.
This church also takes part in Anglican-Roman Catholic dialogue, both here in New Zealand and abroad. For some decades now, our affirmation and celebration of the ordination of women has been a feature of our contribution to these conversations. We draw our authority for these ordinations from scripture, tradition and reason, as well as from the decisions of many General Synods of the Anglican Communion.
At a time when the Vatican-based Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has restated its commitment not to proceed in this way, we affirm again the fundamental value of all ordained women within our church.
For us, such ordinations are a profound enrichment of the sacraments – and when ordained women and men work together in ministry and mission, we have found this both invigorating and life-giving.
++David Moxon, Senior Bishop of the New Zealand dioceses; ++Brown Turei, Pihopa o Aotearoa
15 July
The C of E General Synod moves towards women bishops
Reuters’ Suzanne Plunkett plots the tortuous course of the C. of E debate on the ordination of women bishops.
The Church of England’s governing body, General Synod, has over the past few days given the green light to women bishops once again.
Now each diocese in the Church of England will discuss the proposed legislation, and a final vote is expected to take place in two years time. If all goes to plan, the first woman bishop in the Church of England could be consecrated in early 2014.
There is no shortage of good candidates. The Church of England now has four female Deans of cathedrals, 17 female Archdeacons, and many other senior women such as Canons and staff in theological colleges, all as able and as gifted as the men who get made bishops.
It is now 35 years since General Synod voted, in 1975, that there was no theological objection to women’s ordination. In 1992, women were allowed to become priests but not bishops.
In 2006, Synod voted for legislation to be prepared to remove the legal barrier to women becoming bishops. The debate since then has not really been about whether to have women bishops, but about how, if at all, the church can both have women bishops and also accommodate those who remain opposed in principle to women’s ordination.
A Revision Committee has spent the last two years preparing legislation to set out a compromise. Those who don’t want women bishops have spent the last two years saying that only a structural division – a men-only ‘church within a church’ - will suit them.
On the other hand, those of us who are longing to see women bishops in our church have been hoping and praying that we can avoid anything that sets up a two-tier system in which women bishops are second-class bishops.
Last weekend, Synod voted on draft legislation which represented a major compromise on all sides. Women bishops will be proper bishops, but will have to be prepared to delegate all their functions to male bishops when a parish votes to be a male-only church.
Apart from a few minor amendments, we on Synod voted overwhelmingly to send that compromise legislation to the dioceses. (Abridged)
15 July
Waiapu novelist the new Susan Howatch?
Helen Jacobi reviews a new novel by Cathedral parishioner Charity Norman
“Freeing Grace” is the title of a brand new novel just published by Charity Norman. Charity is the daughter of an English vicar and a parishioner at Waiapu Cathedral in Napier.
One of the characters in her novel David, is an English curate, along with his Nigerian born wife Leila, a New Zealander Jake and an unusual family the Harrisons, Grace’s birth family.
Charity tells the parallel stories of the characters which gradually converge, and by the time they do, you won’t be able to put the book down.
At times poetic, at times hilarious, at times very moving, the story tells how baby Grace changes everyone, even those who never meet her.
The glimpses into parish life can only have been written by someone who has been there: the phone calls and the expectations of parishioners; the lovely description of the confirmation class and their understanding of the birth of Samuel; the joy of a baptism; and the support of the vicar and his wife for Leila and David.
There are many other threads in the novel: family loyalty and betrayal; love and trust; hope and despair. It is an easy, relaxing read; it will make you laugh and cry.
Here’s hoping our own Anglican novelist writes many more. Susan Howatch move over.
Freeing Grace Charity Norman; Allen and Unwin 2010