Message from Bishop Andrew

Kia ora koutou katoa,

Thank you to all our members of Synod who gathered with me in Rotorua recently. We enjoyed the hospitality and friendship of Te Manawa o Te Wheke with our opening service at the beautiful St Faith’s Church, Ohinemutu, and the companionship of members of Te Pihopatanga throughout our synod. I have many fond memories of occasions for worship in that church including the years when I was Chaplain at King’s School. Each year we would bring our school Kapa Haka group for a weekend away for learning at nearby Tunohopu Marae and include some time at St Faith’s. Synod this year, as in recent years included some time for wananga, discussion around our tables on themes of how we continue to hold fast to the task of strengthening our life as a church in the midst of the challenges we face. It was good to hear the strength and heart of conversations around the tables and high levels of engagement. We all face the challenges across our church, and throughout our province. I hope that some of the strength and encouragement of those table conversations makes its way back to parish discussions as well. I’ve shared my Synod address with Sandra and that will be available today as well. At the end of that weekend I was very pleased to spend time with the Parish of Rotorua as they celebrated 50 years since the building of St Luke’s Church. The service on Sunday was a fine celebration of faith, community and history. 

Last weekend over Friday and Saturday I spent some time with Archbishop Don at the Hui Amorangi for Te Tairawhiti, held at Ōmāhu Marae near Hastings. As part of the days there together we blessed and reopened St John’s Church which has been lovingly restored following Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023. The whanau at Ōmāhu have poured much aroha and mahi into the restoration and it was a real joy to be there and share in that worship. You can follow some of that story online here: https://www.facebook.com/pihopatanga. On Sunday I was with the Parish of Tauranga as we celebrated the sesquicentennial of the ministry of that parish with the added joy of consecrating Holy Trinity Church as the last debt owing on the church building was paid in full in recent weeks. What timing and what a celebration! Congratulations to the Parish of Tauranga and to the Rev’d Nigel Dixon, parish team and the Vestry for all the effort they put into making it a very special celebration. 

The Rev’d Alan Burnett has let me know that he has decided he needs to focus his ministry on the Parish of Taradale and so has withdrawn from other responsibilities he has held in the Diocese including the role of Archdeacon and the support role he has held within Ministry Education and Koru Ministry. I respect Alan’s decision and am thankful for all that he has offered in these roles. I’ll be working with our Leadership Team in the coming weeks to reassign those roles and responsibilities. I look forward to Alan's continued ministry as the Vicar of Taradale and would also like to take this opportunity to invite you join with me in wishing him and his fiancé, Sarah, well for their wedding this Saturday. 

Next week I will be away in Belém, Brazil attending a pilgrimage with Archbishop Don, members of Te Pihopatanga and Colleen and Graeme as well. We have been invited to Belém by The Most Rev’d Marinez Rosa dos Santo Bassotto, Archbishop and Primate of Igreja Episcopal Anglican do Brasil. Archbishop Marinez’s invitation is for us to support and participate in the Ecumenical and Interfaith Tapiri on the grounds of the Anglican Cathedral of Belém. The timing of this gathering is set intentionally to coincide with COP30, also being held in Belém at the same time. Archbishop Marinez writes, “This gathering will be a vibrant space of encounter, reflection, and shared commitment to the care of Creation. Throughout the week, participants will have the opportunity to engage in a rich program of panels, exhibitions, cultural activities, and interfaith gatherings, offering moments of learning, dialogue, and celebration.” We are honoured to have been invited to join in this pilgrimage to support the Anglican Diocese of Amazonia, to further encourage the participation and network of Anglican Indigenous communities and to offer our support to the continuing work of drawing the world’s attention to the resourcing of the Care of Creation. 

 Nga mihi,

 +Andrew