Building the house: Bishops’ News
“Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labour in vain.”
Kia ora whānau
As we continue to explore in our Lent Studies, it is God who builds, and we who join in partnership with God’s act of building.
As a Diocese, we can be (humbly!) proud of the way that we continue to work together to try to bring transformation in our local communities, and in our national and international spaces. There is a lot to celebrate and we want to take this opportunity to thank each one of you who has written, spoken and taken action in our coordinated work of transformation together. Here are some of our highlights:
In the last few days, we have handed - in person - our Diocese’s Big Hearts submissions to Finance Minister Grant Robertson. Many of you will remember completing these last year as we had the opportunity to speak into the setting of Aotearoa’s overseas aid budget for the coming year. These were received warmly and positively.
This Tuesday the 16th at Parliament, Very Rev. David Rowe, the Dean of Wellington, and I (+Ellie) had the privilege of joining Rev. Chris Frazer in opening the Tango I Te Kaupae Muri – Take the Next Step conference, focussing on the need for greater collaboration and support for victims of human trafficking and labour exploitation in our land. The work of intentional partnership and collaboration between government, civil society, business and industry is reaping rich rewards in tangible changes in our legislative environment and grass roots communities.
And finally, the Climate Mission for Submissions kicked off last Sunday, with hundreds of submissions already received. Even the combined youth groups at The Games in Waikanae joined in to add their voices for future generations and encourage a strong government response to reaching zero carbon emissions by 2050.
All of the actions of us as individuals, listening to the invitation of God and in the name of Jesus, are building fairer and more just communities and ways of life. Together, we make a significant imprint on the greatest needs in our community.
All of this should always be deeply founded on prayer and discernment. This year, our House of Bishops continue to implore us to turn to God and turn to the world, and doing so in the real encouragement of daily prayer as the foundation of all that we do. And Lent is a great time to revisit that discipline and embed new practices that strengthen that foundation.
Finally, we just wanted to share one beautiful experience from this weekend. Many of you will remember the appeal we held last year to support the Diocese of Niassa in Mozambique following horrific climate-change related weather disasters. We have received some pictures from them of how this provision has impacted them. Take a look:
Clockwise from top left: a borehole for water supply created with funding from the appeal, grain purchased with the appeal money being distributed to displaced people, maize flour being distributed to displaced people, a man prays thanks to God for the provision.
This relationship has continued and this Sunday past, I (+Ellie) connected via Zoom with the Niassa central leadership team - our Anglican Centre equivalent. With their whole families they interceded over our entire Diocese. You have been prayed for! It was a humbling experience to receive words of such confidence and faith from our brothers and sisters so far away. I share with you this recording of their final song of blessing over us and pray that it may in turn bless you. Please feel free to share this widely with those you disciple.
In Christ
+Eleanor and +Justin
