June July 2018 volume 19 number 2 www.angmissions.org.nz
contents 4 // Climate change 6 // Projects update 8 // Annual Report 9 // Emergency Appeals 10 // General Synod 11 // Synod survey results 12 // Deputations Strategy 13 // What's new 15 // 2019 Conference Be intentional in Mission If we fail to intentionally be the Church, we will unintentionally just do church. There are so many ways you and your church can be intentional in mission. Here are three international mission initiatives and movements which I encourage you to engage with. Christian to pray for five of their friends or whanau to come to faith. Simple, but powerful prayers that we can all pray together! www.thykingdomcome.global 2 Anglican Missions Board of the Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia 32 Mulgrave St // PO Box 12012, Thorndon, Wellington 6144, New Zealand Tel 64 (0)4 473 5172 office@angmissions.org.nz www.angmissions.org.nz Designed by: Marcus Thomas Cover Photo: Bishop Henry Bull with BOLD youth team, Fiji Pray the Thy Kingdom Come Prayer: This initiative was started by the Archbishop of Canterbury and has grown to become an international ecumenical movement. We know the importance of prayer, but more so the importance of God s people from different denominations praying together. Join in simply by praying these simple prayers Thy Kingdom Come, Come Holy Spirit and Pray4Five which challenges every Begin a Season of Intentional Discipleship and Disciple-Making : Since 2016 the Anglican Communion has been encouraging every person, parish and group within the church to begin a Season of Intentional Discipleship and Disciple-Making. Provinces and dioceses around the world are signing up to this initiative by developing and trialing contextually-relevant approaches to discipleship and disciple-making.
publicity for this coming out over the next 12 months or so, but in the meantime, I encourage you to think about bringing a team. The dates planned are the 9th 12th October 2019 to be held at El Rancho Christian Camp, near Wellington. More details to come. While acknowledging the church can be weak in these areas, we also acknowledge that many individuals, parishes, dioceses and provinces are giving priority to discipleship and are seeing the fruits of this mission in their work. Go and make Disciples of all peoples is still the call that Jesus calls us to, and this should be our first priority in Mission. www.anglican communion.org/mission/anglican-witness Come to next year s Missions Conference in October 2019 in Waikanae which will be an opportunity for the whole church to gather around mission. World-class speakers from across the globe and from Aotearoa New Zealand will offer relevant and practical ways of sharing our faith. Our intention is to inspire, engage and equip the church for its participation in God s Mission. There will be a lot of I encourage you to engage intentionally in these three mission initiatives and movements and to encourage others to join in on this exciting mission journey. Rev Canon Robert Kereopa CEO, Anglican Missions. 3
MISSION ACTION CLIMATE CHANGE The Anglican Church could soon have a Climate Change Commissioner who will have the role of helping to drive and co-ordinate climate change commitments across the 3 tikanga church. This was an innovative and long-reaching decision made by General Synod Te Hīnota Whānui (GSTHW) in May. The resolution urges each diocese and hui amorangi "to demonstrate its commitment" to urgent climate action by "creating a strategy for, and resourcing of, local and regional responses to climate change". The resolution also calls for the creation of a Climate Change Commissioner "to help further this work". This is an exciting initiative and comes on the back of work Anglican Missions has been doing with the Diocese of Polynesia over the past six months. 4 The outcome of a three-day workshop in Suva late last year for young Anglican leaders from Fiji, Samoa and Tonga was a climate change strategy for the Diocese of Polynesia that provides high-level strategic guidance to churches on how to be better prepared for and able to respond to natural disasters. The Strategy, which
comprises three parts - the way, the how and the actions was presented to the Diocese of Polynesia Synod in April which in turn referred it to the GSTHW in May. A Terms of Reference for the new Commissioner is being drafted with the intention being that the Commissioner will work with dioceses and hui amorangi "to weave their plans into a multi-faceted Climate Change Action Plan for the Province to be submitted to the GSTHW in 2020." The church has an important role to play as a first responder after natural disasters. We see this time and time again in our own neighbourhood, the Pacific, where churches are, for example, pressed into service as evacuation centres; and clergy and staff are out providing spiritual, psychological and physical support. We have also seen this closer to home following the Christchurch and Kaikoura earthquakes. A recent report Faith and Belief in New Zealand (May 2018) reinforces the priority that Anglican Missions and the General Synod is affording this issue when it notes that the provision of disaster relief is what kiwi s primarily value about the church and Christian organisations 1. The Church has a critical role in preparing for and responding to the impact of climate change. Parishes will be encouraged to map their communities to get a better sense of how vulnerable they might be. This will then help to roll out training and programmes designed to help "future-proof church assets" and to build resilience. We know that up-front investment in risk-reduction, which includes appointing a Climate Change Commissioner, makes sense and will save lives. It also makes sense economically given that international estimates suggest that for every dollar you spend on risk reduction, you can save $7 in response. A recent report commissioned by the Westpac Bank says that early action on climate change would save New Zealand $30 billion. 2 So, while we have to respond, as we are in Tonga (see separate article on page 9), it also makes sense to ensure people are better prepared for next time. Isaac Beach, Youth Enabler, Te Pihopatanga o Te Tairawhiti, presents climate change motion to General Synod It s exciting and very appropriate that the Anglican Church is at the forefront of battling the effects of climate change. It is also very appropriate that Anglican Missions is so heavily involved given that one of the five marks of mission is to preserve the integrity of God s wondrous creation and another is to get out there and respond to needs through service. 1. Wilberforce Foundation and McCrindle 2018 pg 51. 2. Westpac New Zealand Climate Change Impact Report, April 2018. 5
2018 PROJECTS UPDATE 2018 Our 2018 Projects Booklet outlines the projects that are being supported by missions giving during 2018. The Projects Booklet: a) provides details, to all who donate to Anglican Missions, about the projects that their donations are supporting; and b) gives the opportunity for parishes, rohe and individuals to target their giving to support particular projects. Anglican Missions is supporting: Diocese of Polynesia: Water for All House of Sarah Mission Outreach/Clergy Support Anglican Church of Melanesia: Three on-going small scale projects by three of the religious communities of the Church. Anglican Church of Tanzania (ACT): Archbishop Pastoral visits to 7 of the 28 dioceses National workshop for ACT Strategic Plan Diocesan Boys Hostel, Diocese of Hyderabad, Pakistan Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea Overseas Mission Tikanga Pakeha (short term mission trips) Te Pihopatanga o Aotearoa NZCMS (supporting Mission Partners overseas) A copy of the booklet has been sent out to parishes, amorangi, dioceses and missions contacts. If you would like a copy please contact Linda on info@ angmissions.org.nz Project details and feedback on previous projects are on our website. 6
A RECENT SHORT-TERM MISSIONS TRIP With funding from the Overseas Missions -Tikanga Pakeha Council (OM-TP), a team from Central Otago led by Dot Muir, Dunedin Missions representative, recently visited Vanuatu to assist with the re-roofing project at the Talua Theological Training Institute. From their newsletter: Talua, a Presbyterian Bible College attended by students from other denominations, is near Luganville, South Santo on Espiritu Santo Island. This is a community of 158 people living in an assortment of houses, some of these are built with local material and have thatched rooves, some people live in dormitories, and some students and staff have individual units. Some families have their children living with them and they attend the school not far away, or the kindergarten built by New Zealanders, which is within the school grounds. Most of the Students and Teachers are from these islands although like our Dawn [NZCMS Mission Partner, Dawn Daunauda] from New Zealand, others are from Australia or USA. It is very hot, and the humidity is very high Buildings and clothing rust and rot very quickly. The white ant enjoys everything, and screens are on all windows and doors to try and keep the mosquitos and cockroaches out. Leith and Fita with their many helpers have made fantastic progress on the roof after misplacing a box full of valuable tools during our flight over from NZ. A return trip to town is 50 ks in the back of a truck (taxi) to buy sufficient materials to replace bits and caps that were lost, and supplies. We have walked through town, embracing the culture. * * * * * Short-term missions trips benefit not only those receiving and being encouraged by practical help but by those who go to share and serve. And knowing that Christian brothers and sisters uphold them in prayer is much appreciated. Locals and visitors from the missions trip to Vanuatu led by Dot Muir, May 2018 Progress on the roof A letter of thanks was received from the Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu I have had glowing reports from both the Principal and community of Talua that this team were very professional and showed great commitment towards completing a very needed project. Please see our website http://angmissions. org.nz under 'Projects' tab for more information about short term missions trips. 7
Annual Report 2017 8 2017 Annual Report Annual Report for the year 1 January to 31 of December 2017 of the Anglican Missions Board of the Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand, and Polynesia Our 2017 Annual Report outlines details of the mission grants and allocations made to support a wide range of mission activities over 2017. We are very grateful for all who have given in many ways to support the overseas dimension of mission; and you can read about our mission with key partners and how your gifts were used in this report. Available online through our website http:// www.angmissions.org.nz (Resources tab) or if you would like a hard copy please contact our office at info@ angmissions.org.nz Note also that a copy of the Annual Report 2017 will be available to Synod reps at the annual Diocesan Synods later this year. A fairly new area of work for us at Anglican Missions is working with other agencies and mission partners in the area of Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change (see the story on pages 4-5). In 2017, we worked with the Diocese of Polynesia on a Climate Change Strategy following a hui for youth leaders in Suva. Exisiting connections are being strengthened with a number of key partners including Anglican Overseas Aid (AOA), Anglican Board of Missions (ABM) (both Australia); the Anglican Alliance and the Anglican Communion, both in London. God of all mercy, your Son brought good news to the despairing, freedom to the oppressed and joy to the sad; fill us with your Spirit, that the people of our day may see in us his likeness and glorify your name. Collect from our 2017 Partners in Prayer diary.
Emergency Appeals The United Nations estimates that in 2018, more than 128 million people across the world will need humanitarian assistance and protection and more funding than ever before will be required to help them 1. Anglican Missions is committed to supporting those who are most in need and over the past three months has launched three emergency appeals. Tropical Cyclone Gita Tropical Cyclone Gita struck a number of Pacific Island countries in February. Tonga was hit particularly hard. The Category 5 Cyclone was the most severe storm to hit the Kingdom in over 60 years, and caused 2 fatalities, 41 injuries and destroyed at least 171 houses. Estimates suggest the cyclone caused damage of over $356 million pa'anga (NZ$230m) which is the equivalent of 38% of Tonga's GDP (roughly twice the impact on New Zealand s GDP caused by the 2011 Christchurch earthquake). As a result of many generous donations Anglican Missions raised over $90,000. In looking for appropriate ways to allocate this funding, the Tongan Anglican Church requested building materials, tools, chainsaws, portable generators and pre-positioned supplies to help ensure Anglican churches, which were used as evacuation centres, are better prepared and able to respond to future events. Anglican Missions purchased two 20 shipping containers which will be sent to Tonga in late-june. One will be positioned at St. Pauls in Nuku alofa and the other at All Saints Anglican Church in Fasi. Both will be used to store prepositioned supplies and one of them will also be fitted out as a small joinery and carpentry workshop to help develop building skills of local communities. Funds have also been set aside for disaster risk reduction activities which will include training for young Anglican leaders. Tropical Cyclone Gita Papua New Guinea Earthquake Anglican Missions launched an emergency appeal to support response and recovery efforts following the devastating 7.5 magnitude earthquake that hit the Highlands region of PNG on 26 February leading to the loss of 9
Container for Tonga with AM logo 160 lives. The Anglican Church of PNG has asked that our funding be allocated to Anglicare PNG which is working closely with government agencies to respond to those most in need. Rising tension in Gaza An Emergency Appeal was launched to support the Al- Ahli Arab Anglican Hospital in Gaza as it responds to the tragic events of Monday 14 May when 61 people lost their lives and 2,768 people were injured in a day of violence on the West Bank. The Hospital, which is in the centre of Gaza City, treats over 45,000 patients a year and needs urgent financial support in order to obtain emergency medicine and medical supplies. The Diocese of Jerusalem, which has a strong connection to Anglican Missions, asked the Anglican Communion for help. 1. UNOCHA Global Humanitarian Overview Dec 2017. GENERAL SYNOD 10 PNG, People in Southern Highlands waiting for the arrival of food. Source HANDOUT-Reuters The 63rd Session of the General Synod Te Hīnota Whānui was hosted by the Waikato Taranaki Diocese and took place in New Plymouth 4-10 May 2018. While much of the debate and subsequent media interest focussed on the blessing of same gender relationships, there were other items of particular relevance and importance to Anglican Missions including Motion 20 A Framework to Enhance Resilience to Climate Change and Disasters (see separate article), the Decade of Mission and Mission Aligned Impact Investments. To see the bills, motions and minutes, go to www.anglican.org.nz
SYNOD SURVEY RESULTS In order to provide a better understanding of overseas mission within the Anglican Church in New Zealand, Anglican Missions carried out a survey at Diocesan Synods late last year that asked the following four questions: 1. What comes to mind when someone says 'overseas missions'? 2. Why do those thoughts come to mind? 3. Can you name any overseas mission agencies? 4. Looking to the future, what do you want to see in terms of overseas mission within the Anglican Church? A significant amount of very useful information was gathered from the 324 completed questionnaires. Isaac Henderson, Mission Motivator for the Wellington Diocese, is currently analysing the data and will present findings to the Anglican Missions Board and the NZ CMS Board when they have their joint annual meeting in Wellington in late July 2018. Specific summaries with findings and recommendations will also be prepared for each Diocese. Information is being summarised under a series of key headings such as what does overseas mission involve (encouragingly, two thirds of responses said it was about action ). Key geographic areas where mission takes place were predictably Africa and the Pacific with Asia a close third. Of the surveys that had suggestions on what overseas mission aims to solve, about a third referenced poverty and one fifth mitigating the impacts of climate change and natural disasters - both of which are key priorities for Anglican Missions. The importance of speakers and the role of the media also came through in how people hear about overseas mission. The survey is of interest to not only Anglican Missions but to other agencies interested in and involved with overseas mission. While a more comprehensive report is being developed, Isaac notes that preliminary findings suggest a number of novel and useful long-term ideas for Anglican Missions as well as several opportunities for improvement. Anglican Missions very much welcomes the survey which provides a snapshot of how synod representatives view overseas mission and forms a useful benchmark for similar surveys in the future. 11
12 MISSION IN ACTION DEPUTATIONS STRATEGY Rev's Robert Kereopa (CEO, Ang Missions) & Steve Maina (NZCMS, National Director) say GO at Bluff as part of the Dunedin Mission Roadshow, Sept 2017 Anglican Missions and the New Zealand Church Missionary Society (NZCMS) enjoy a strong and mutually beneficial relationship that goes back the best part of a century. We partner together to enable New Zealand Anglicans to participate in the overseas mission of the Church. Basically NZCMS acts as the "mission sending arm", recruiting and preparing mission partners to head overseas and then providing support; while Anglican Missions acts as the "mission funding arm", contributing funds raised by the three tikanga Anglican Church. Mission partners come back now and again either for a short break or because their contract has ended and they are keen to share their experiences and stories and to help motivate the church in New Zealand. Where a parish is linked with NZCMS this is an easy visit to arrange. However in some cases there can be a gap where parishes that are not directly linked to a NZCMS
Mission Partner nor directly affiliated to NZCMS but which have an interest in and commitment to overseas mission may as a result slip under the radar and get overlooked. In practice this means that some parishes may not be aware of mission partners visiting New Zealand. To plug the gap, NZCMS and Anglican Missions have recently developed a short Guideline which aims to provide a onestop-shop for all information relating to deputations coordinated or supported by Anglican Missions and NZCMS. It will shortly be available on our website and in a printed copy to all parishes. We will also use it to list and promote visitors to Anglican Missions, such as the recent visit by the Revd. Bob Key of Thy Kingdom Come. The Guideline contains a list of resources that mission motivated speakers can draw on including tips on preparing presentations, becoming a stronger speaker and PowerPoint slides, graphics and audio-visual material that might be useful; resources on how to coordinate and manage logistics when planning and managing a visit; ideas on how to build the profile of overseas Archdeacon Wendy Scott leading children at Ratana Pa hui 2018 mission in your church and a list of people available to speak in your area and a calendar of events. This new Guideline, designed to maximise the efficiencies and effectiveness of mission visits, will be available on the NZCMS and AM websites shortly. We are committed to strengthening existing and developing new links with parishes and we hope this new resource will help to ensure that overseas mission is a priority for every parish. 13
2018 What s New 2018 Spring Appeal Anglican Missions Spring Appeal to be launched 1 September Supporting 3 projects: (details to come) Current Anglican Missions publications We still have copies of our 2018 Partners in Prayer diary a useful resource to focus prayer on our mission partners and those we support. An important resource to remember those who are struggling, those who are working to improve the lives of others and those who we are called to love and support. 2018 Golden Oldies Mission Trip to Fiji 15-25 September 2018 Read more on our website www.angmissions.org.nz (under 'News' tab) or on the Golden Oldies website www.goldenoldiesmission.com Projects Booklet 2018 Copies of these were recently sent out to Parishes, Dioceses, Hui Amorangi and Mission Motivators. If you would like a copy please contact the office. Details of the projects being supported this year, and in previous years, are on our website. 14 Coming up a new brochure and updated posters
THANKYOU Thank you to all who supported this year s Lenten Appeal which raised funds for 3 worthy projects: The Savior Evangelical School in Zarka, northeast Jordan supporting the education of children from marginalized, vulnerable and needy segments of the community; The Rwenzori Special Needs Foundation in Uganda serving children with disabilities; the funds raised going towards the purchase of a van to transport children and their families over the rough terrain of the region to hospital and the assistance they need; The Arab Episcopal School in Irbid, a city in the north of Jordan which specialises in educating blind and visually-impaired children who don t have any local options for education. 2017 Annual Report Funds raised mean we are going to be able to send at least $10,000 to each project. Lenten 2018 Appeal HOW-TO GUIDE INFORMATION FOR VESTRY, VICARS, TREASURERS, PARISH ADMINISTRATORS AND MISSION MOTIVATORS Annual Report 2017 covering the work of Anglican Missions over the 2017 year has been published and copies will be available at all diocesan Synods. However if you would like a copy do contact the office. All of these publications can be accessed online through our website www.angmissions.org.nz Annual Report for the year 1 January to 31 of December 2017 of the Anglican Missions Board of the Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand, and Polynesia 15
16 MISSIONS CONFERENCE 2019 focusing on passionate mission in NZ & overseas // teaching practical skills you can use every day // training for all ages and stages [from few years to advanced years!] // worship that cries out for the Spirit s renewal // preparing us to live MISSION right now as churches, families and individuals! Mark in your diaries and calendars Wednesday 9th October to Saturday 12th (the second week of the school holidays). To be held at El Rancho Christian Camp, Waikanae (near Wellington).