Te Aka Puaho and the PI Synod have journeyed a long way towards acknowleging our kinship.
Mili Te Kaawa was taken here at the farewell party of the Rev Bill Cuthers in Tokoroa.
The responsibility of leading Te Aka Puaho into an exciting foture as the PCANZ is now in the shoulders of someone whom the Church has become aware of an emerging MANA coming from a wise and a young maori Churchman Wayne Te Kaawa.
Kia Ora papa Wayne
POST GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2012 will be remembered as a time that the Pacific members of the PCANZ raised their hand and accepted the responsibilities that comes with the granting of Presbytery status.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE PCANZ?
It is an indication that we are a community of faith that are working towards a church that values its diversity, and is prepared to build on what can be achived by the whole, while drawing on the innovation and passion of its members.
Apostal Paul in his writing described a body(Church) that has many body-parts , assigned different body functions, however syncrinised and operated by the direction given by its head (Jesus), consciously or sub-consciously in order to be a human being, a perfect creation of God.
For the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand, we recognise that as we continue to witness the growing multicultural socierty around us, we are covernant to embrace Te Aka Puaho in an unique wayas the TANGATA WHENUA, those who have opened the land of the "long white cloud" for all those who have arrived onto its shaw a place to be and a right to be called their kin.
Wayne in his memorable address at the GA12 spoke of a greater kinship that goes back to our tupunas. A further indication that our heritage is one that has origins far beyond our recorded history.
The nurture of one who is born into a family is one of unconditional love, where time is allowed for the infant to grow into prominence within the order of the whanau.
Somehow this graphic illustration of nurture, love and of parenthood depict for me a classic image that I am reminded of our growing re;lationship with the borth of a new identity, a new Presbytery that has come in the form of a PI Synod.
The PI Synod will learn how to crawl, walk, run and mature into an active member of this family, so I would expect this time of its journey to be one where Presbyteries and Te Aka Puaho assume the role of older syblings showing Synod the ropes and helping it up when Synod falls.
That is my impression of this journey as the BODY OF CHRIST.
Kia Monuina
Rev Don Ikitoelagi
(Pasifika Misionare)
group foto at the GA12
