Kia ora e te whanau
This coming weekend sees me in Greymouth, inputting to a leaders gathering, and preaching at the Uniting Church on the Sunday morning. Looking forward to it!
At the end of October, I noted that Jannet Mudavanhu’s life had been tragically cut short by a brain aneurysm. Her family and friends from Africa gathered, and she was finally laid to rest last Thursday. Jannet’s funeral can be seen here: https://vimeo.com/1024898933/26fa1e9f26?&login=true#_=_
Personal and Leadership Resources
1. How to Be a Servant Leader Comes Down to 6 Behaviours
While the tide of fashion may be turning against this concept in the business world, it’s a drum that needs repeated beating. Marcel Schwantes knows how to do it well. His article can be accessed here: https://www.inc.com/marcel-schwantes/its-official-how-to-be-a-servant-leader-comes-down-to-6-behaviors-says-research/90984161
2. Am I in the Right Role?
It’s a question worth asking – especially if you have a nagging doubt that you might not be. While this article is written from a business perspective, it still raises some useful questions, and offers some helpful ways of understanding where we are and where we might need to be. If you’re wanting to explore this further, especially seeking a sense of where God might be in such a decision making process, I commend a readily available book covering how we discern – ‘What’s your Decision? – An Ignatian Approach to Decision Making’ by Michael Sparough, Jam Manney, & Tim Hipskind. The article I’m pointing to can be accessed here: https://www.inc.com/am-i-in-the-right-role.html
3. The Three Secret Strategies To Great Decision-Making
This one comes via Forbes. It’s also about discernment – but using technical tools to do it. It’s quite complex and won’t be for everyone. I was struck by the title of the 3rd strategy ‘Finesse Without Attachment’ – one of the keys to the Ignatian process for discernment is to develop a ‘Holy Indifference’, which means that I’m not attached to any outcome, and that either option will be okay. While this article doesn’t address this, it will be useful for some, and (hopefully) can be accessed here: https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbescoachescouncil/2024/10/23/the-three-secret-strategies-to-great-decision-making/
Homilies & Preaching Resources
Trevor Hoggard’s sermon, includes the lectionary readings of 2 Samuel 23:1-7; Revelation 1:4b-8; and John 18:33-37. Trevor picks up the theme of Christ the King. His sermon can be experienced here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGGn5SKVSm0
My response to the Gospel text for November 24th of John 18:33-37 focusses on Jesus appearance before Pilate. While the lectionary focusses us on Christ the King, I’m not convinced this is the central point to the exchange in the text. Jesus is talking about truth – the truth he claims to be, leading up to Pilate’s rather cynical question “What is truth?” It can be experienced here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gm_9mCgSO8M
Michael Godfrey (out of the Dunedin Anglican Diocese) hosts a conversation of 4 Theologians and Practitioners at the beginning of each week around the Gospel lectionary text for the coming Sunday. They examine four issues – one gives background to the text, then they consider their challenges, Good News, and application (the ‘so what?’). The site with all its options can be accessed here: https://www.calledsouth.org.nz/gospel-conversations/ As I send out this newsletter I’ve yet to see the latest conversation for this coming Sunday, which I expect will be based on that same gospel of John 18:33-37. Keep checking https://www.youtube.com/@annevangend742 and hopefully it will appear soon 
Again, it will help broaden all our reach if you ‘subscribe’ and ‘like’.
Once again, use the videos as you will.
Methodist Conference Decision on the Treaty Principles Bill and Participation in Hīkoi mō te Tīriti
The Church’s Public Statement is attached.
Rev Tara Tautari, the General Secretary on the Methodist Church of New Zealand, Te Hāhi Weteriana O Aotearoa has written to the Church and offered the following:
Kia ora e te whānau,
Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I write to inform you of the Conference’s decision not to support the Treaty Principles Bill currently before Parliament. This decision reflects the Church’s deep commitment to the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and our ongoing bicultural journey. As Te Hāhi Weteriana, we believe in the importance of honouring the covenantal relationship between tangata whenua and tauiwi, and we are concerned that the proposed legislation does not uphold the mana and integrity of Te Tiriti as the foundation of this partnership.
We commend to you the attached Public Issues statement, and encourage you to read it prayerfully and to consider how we, as a Church, might continue to stand in solidarity with those advocating for justice and the recognition of rangatiratanga.
In recent days, I have heard from many of our members who have expressed their support for the hīkoi mō te Tiriti as it journeys towards Parliament. It is heartening to know that members of our Church are standing together with others across the motu in this important expression of faith and justice.
Tomorrow, President Te Aroha Rountree, Tumuaki Arapera Ngaha, Rev. Keita Hotere, and I will join the hīkoi to Parliament. We go as representatives of Te Hāhi Weteriana, carrying with us the prayers and hopes of our Connexion for a nation that truly honors Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
May we continue to seek God’s wisdom and guidance as we navigate this challenging and vital journey of faith, justice, and partnership.
Ngā manaakitanga
Rev Tara Tautari | General Secretary
A reminder (again)
Yet again, please don’t forget to mark the dates for our Biennial Forum in your diaries. It will be staged through King’s Birthday Weekened at the Onehunga Co-operating Parish in Auckland – starting at 9am on Saturday the 31st of May and finishing around lunch on Monday the 2nd of June.
Now would be a good time to start booking flights where this is the best travel option for you – they’re almost certainly not going to get any cheaper.
Finally.
As always, if you find you’d prefer not to receive this weekly newsletter, please let me know and your address will be removed.
Ngā manaakitanga
Andrew Doubleday
UCANZ Ministry Facilitator
