E te Atua kaha rawa, nōu nei anō te Kaha katoa, tēnei anō mātou te inoi atu nei ki a koe kia manaaki koe i tō pononga i te Kāwana o tēnei whenua; māna i tukua ki a ia e tō mātou Rangatira e te Atua Atawhai, ā kia meatia āna mahi i runga i te tika, i te mahi tohu, kia whakamaramatia ia e tāu atawhai; tirohia mai, tiakina hoki ia; kia manako koe ki a ia, kia awhi hoki i a ia; kia meatia ai e ia āna mea katoa me te whakaaro mō te Atua; ki te pai mō tēnei whenua, mō tēnei iwi. Tukua mai tēnei, e te Matua aroha, ko Ihu Karaiti hoki tō mātou Kai Whakaora, tō mātou Kai Inoi. Āmine.

‘He Inoi Mō Te Kāwana’, is “A Prayer for the Government” and comes from a 1927 NZ Methodist Prayer Book. It has been revised and by using gender-neutral language a Sovereign God simply becomes a Compassionate God and changes the tone of this prayer significantly.

These days we make huge demands upon our politicians to make fair and just decisions, to hold fast to what is right, to place the care of the vulnerable to the forefront. As a faith-based organisation we hope governments will employ Christian values of a Loving God and a Compassionate Christ in their discernment processes. There is no guarantee.

Some of the words used in this liturgical resource, atawhai kindness, manaaki care, tiakina protection reflect expressions of a duty of care still of relevance for us today. Especially, as we seek consideration and care for our elected representatives and as we petition them to seek to do all that is good with just intent.

The increased violence in our Aotearoa society today has reached an unprecedented level which gives us cause to be thankful for a Compassionate God of kindness, care, and the protection of others. How often do we trust in the machinery of government to serve the people of Aotearoa with just and compassionate regard? Our abiding faith in one another and what we can achieve highlights the duty of care needed to bring dignity and grace back into community life.

Leadership in all facets of the community presents both responsibility and opportunity. Such matters come to mind as we enter the season of Inductions for our newly stationed presbyters. It is timely then that this prayer may also be extended to the wider context of our church communities. As we welcome presbyters into their new appointments, we are mindful of this duty of care for communities. There are of course the demographic changes going on in society, of families moving into new communities, of parishes adapting and of new beginnings. We welcome new opportunities that come our way with open hearts, opportunities for the sharing of new perspectives and insights.

Many of our parishes and rohe are in a state of renewal, and the task we set is of a shared responsibility – lay and ordained. We come together to celebrate moving forward into 2023 and we remember the leadership style of Jesus in community as we ask, what more can we do to emulate a Compassionate God.