Rūnanga Whaiti offers prayer for Otautahi

Te Rūnanga Whaiti - the standing committee of Te Pihopatanga o Aotearoa – has offered prayer and a call to action in response to the mosque tragedy in Otautahi - Christchurch.

Hui Amorangi representatives meeting in Tamaki Makaurau on late March reflected deeply on the terror attack, and listened to the experiences of Te Waipounamu delegates based near to the Otautahi mosques. The meeting resolved to take action to mitigate racism and intolerance at local, national and international levels.

Te Rūnanga Whaiti has also offered a prayer for the families of victims and all those affected by the terror attack in Otautahi-Christchurch.

He Inoi mo Otautahi

E te Atua ora tonu, te Kaihanga o te ao, he nui whakaharahara ngā mahi o āu ringa, he whakamīharo hoki āu tikanga.

Eternal God, Creator of the universe, great and wonderful are your works, wondrous are your ways.

Ka inoi mātau

mō ērā i kohurutia i a rātau e inoi ana;

ngā tāngata i katohia e te kino me te tutū.

Awhinatia mātau kia whakamātauria ai i arohaina rātau,

ā, ka hoki wairua rātau ki te aroha.

We pray

for those who died while praying;

those whose lives have been cut short by hatred and violence.

Help us to affirm that they are loved,

and to know that to love they return.

Murua ō mātau hara; mātau e takahi nei i tēnei ao nāu i hanga.

Murua ō mātau hara; mātau e tuku nei i te kino kia pūāwai

ahakoa nā te mahi hākune,

ahakoa nā te mahi houtete,

te nohopuku rānei.

Forgive our violation of your creation.

Forgive us when we allow hatred to grow

through our own deliberate fault,

through our inaction,

or through our silence.

Homai ki a mātau, me o mātau rangatira, ngā āhuatanga o te hunga whaikaha;

kia maioha tētahi ki tētahi, ā-kupu, ā-ringa hoki,

kia whakahaeretia te mana me te hūmārika,

kia manawanui ki te hohou i te rongo me te tika mō ngā tāngata katoa.

Grant to us all, and our leaders, attributes of the strong:

mutual respect in words and deeds,

restraint in the exercise of power,

and the will for peace and justice for all.

Ā, ki a rātau e noho pani ana;

homai te manawaroa kia ora tonu,

te kaha ki te hiki anō i te tūmanako,

te whakapono ki te whakapuaki i te mamae

te hautoa ki te whakaora i te kino,

me te aroha ki te whakakī i ngā wāhi tūhera kau.

And to those who remain,

grant them endurance to survive,

strength to rebuild,

faith to mourn,

courage to heal,

and devotion to each other to fill the empty spaces.

Kia mātau ai ka arohaina rātau,

ka puritia hoki rātau i roto i te aroha.

May they know they are loved,

grant that we may hold them in that love.

E te Atua ora tonu, te Kaihanga o te ao, kororia ki a koe. Āmine.

Eternal God, Creator of the universe, glory to you. Amen.

Te Rūnanga Whaiti also tracked ministry and mission progress around the Pihopatanga o Aotearoa, including discussions on:

-  Encouraging reports from Minita-a-whānau work around the country, a Māori mission initiative that renews ministry in family homes and builds whānau faith capacity.

- Whaiti heard how Hui Amorangi are building relationships with the new iwi governance structures that are emerging in the post Treaty-settlement era

 - Positive reports from a recent consultation with the Williams whānau trust.

- News that the Pihopatanga o Aotearoa office, that supports the mission and ministry of the Māori Anglican Church, will transfer to Gisborne later this year. 

- Progress reports on covenants with Australian dioceses that look to enable Māori Anglican ministry to the estimated 150000+ Māori living in Australia.

- Archbishop Don Tamihere's move to take up the role of Kaitiaki/Guardian at St Johns College on behalf of the Pihopatanga o Aotearoa, with a duty of care for the staff, students and matauranga (knowledge) at the College.

- The Pihopatanga o Aotearoa ongoing commitment to developing partnerships with indigenous Anglican communities around the world, especially in North America.