Blogs Posts from the Anglican Indigenous Network

[Anglican.ca by Matt Gardner] Indigenous Anglicans from around the world recently met in southern Ontario to discuss issues affecting Indigenous people within and across national (political) borders. Climate change and intergenerational trauma were two of the main issues that came under discussion, as well as the shared striving towards self-determination for Indigenous peoples.

The conference of the Anglican Indigenous Network (AIN), which meets every two years, took place on the territory of the Six Nations of the Grand River and in Toronto from Aug. 28-Sept. 3. Delegates included Indigenous people from the Anglican Church of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia, The Episcopal Church in the United States and Hawaii, the Anglican Church of Australia and Torres Strait Islands, and the Anglican Church of Canada.

Discussions in a sharing circle format underscored progress that has been made and the many challenges that still remain for Indigenous people around the world. Among the 29 delegates was a 10-person contingent from the Anglican Church of Canada, who signed the resulting communiqué on behalf of Indigenous peoples within the church.

“I think that the level of support and encouragement for each other was really at an all-time high,” National Indigenous Anglican Bishop Mark MacDonald said. “I think people were … very supported by it, very encouraged by it.”

Bishop MacDonald said delegates from other countries were “very supportive of Canada and they were very impressed [by] the Primate and his knowledge and understanding of Indigenous issues, of his engagement in the issue of self-determination … and felt that we were close to taking some important and significant steps.”

The full article can be found here

[Photo AIN delegates attending local service at St. Luke’s Anglican Church on Six Nations Reserve on the Grand River Territory, Oshweken, Ontario, Canada. Photo: Edward Hanohano/Diocese of Hawaii.]

[AnglicanTaonga] Friday’s Te Runanganui session commenced with worship and eucharist led by Te Manawa o te Wheke (central North Island). This was followed by Bible study presented by Reverend Katene Eruera, Dean of Tikanga Māori, St John’s Theological College.

Whakarongo ki te kupu a te Wairua ki te Haahi - Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.

The full article can be found here

One hundred and Sixty delegates, observers and guests from around Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia were warmly welcomed on 6 August with a powhiri (welcome) to the 2015 Te Runanganui o Te Pihopatanga o Aotearoa (The Maori General Synod of New Zealand) being held at the Amora Hotel, Wellington.  Te Runanganui o Te Pihopatanga o Aotearoa encompasses five regional Hui Amorangi (Dioceses) located across New Zealand, and meets biennially.  Hosted by Te Hui Amorangi o Te Upoko o Te Ika (Diocese encompassing the central and lower western region of the North Island) this year’s powhiri speakers included Reverend Don Rangi, Reverend Bill Tangohau, Professor Hirini Mead on behalf of the hau kainga (home people) conveying a message of welcome in the hope that the conference continues the vision of Te Pihopatanga as a means of “responding to God’s call to serve the people - Te karanga a te Atua ki te kauwhau me te kawe i te rongopai ki tona iwi.”

The full article can be found here

[AnglicanTaonga] Amongst calls being made for the New Zealand flag to remain and a motion for a Bishop's age of retirement overturned, a profound theme threading its way through this year’s Te Runanganui was that the voice of laity be heard in support of its clergy.

For Te Pihopatanga to grow the Church, laity must step up and take control of the administration side of the Church, freeing clergy up to get on with their core business of worship.

“Minita a Whanau” and education were key points in strategic planning discussions throughout the weekend which continued on the theme for laity to become involved in supporting clergy in their own wider communities with the Church, recognising the wider whānau of the Church as being its backbone. 

Archbishop Brown Turei chaired Te Runanganui with humility and wisdom providing guidance and impetus throughout the programme.

The full article can be found here

The Anglican Church of Canada has announced financial support for the Saskatchewan wildfire relief efforts. Financial donations will be used to provide care for the more than 12,000 evacuees.
 
On behalf of the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada, the Most Rev. Fred Hiltz, Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, has pledged $5,000 to Diocesan Indigenous Bishop of Missinipi Adam Halkett and to Diocesan Bishop of Saskatchewan Michael Hawkins who are providing on-the-ground support.
 
The Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund has also pledged $15,000 to the Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC). Meanwhile, the Anglican Foundation has pledged $5,000 in aid to the diocese of Saskatchewan.
 
“The donations are a sign of our love and support for Bishop Michael and Bishop Adam, and all those dear and faithful who are reaching out to those who have been evacuated,” Archbishop Hiltz said. “This is a very difficult time and we continue to pray for everyone affected by these fires.”
 
On Wednesday, July 8, Bishop Hawkins and Bishop Halkett were scheduled to have a conference call with Saskatchewan clergy to provide an update on donations and how they will be spent.
 
Bishop Halkett—who lives in the community of Montreal Lake Cree Nation, which has come under threat from the fire—said their hope was to try and help families in need.
 
“It’ll probably be focused on the evacuees, because some of my community members lost houses in Montreal Lake … Some of them are homeless now because of that,” he said.
 
Providing an update on relief efforts, Bishop Halkett said that the situation was becoming more stressful, as evacuees wanting to return home were still unable to do so because of safety concerns.
 
“They didn’t allow anybody to go in [to Montreal Lake] yesterday or the day before, because of the thick smoke and also the fear of the fire flaring up again,” he said.
 
He expressed his gratitude for the church’s financial donation.
 
“We’re very glad to receive any kind of donations from anyone, especially the General Synod … I’m very grateful on behalf of all the evacuees in Saskatchewan, because I pretty well oversee all of northern Saskatchewan, so I can relate to what their appreciation is for that.”
 
“The support that we’ve received, both in terms of prayer and finances, has been overwhelming,” Bishop Hawkins added.
 
“There’s really been a sense of solidarity. We talk in the diocese of Saskatchewan about being mamuwe, which is Cree for ‘together,’ and there’s a real sense that Anglicans across the country are together with our folks in this crisis.”