Conference 2021 seems a distant memory. Much has happened nationally and internationally since, and the picture of our likely future continues to emerge with significant uncertainty.

One of Stephen Covey’s encouragements (The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, First Things First and more) is aligning our ‘circle of concern’ with our ‘circle of influence’ recognising where we have the capacity to make change, and where we don’t.

A series of thematic discussions with videos were prepared for Conference. Since these are still within both my circles of concern and influence, I want to return to them. Each provoked rich discussion, which is great! The difficulty is, where to from here?

In order to broaden the conversation, I here offer the four videos that were the basis of the conversations.

Workshop A) Being Tauiwi in a Tiriti honouring church – a workshop for Tauiwi by Tauiwi. The point of this workshop was to recognise that Te Hāhi Weteriana is no longer the leader in the development of bicultural relationships it once was. This is to recognise that this is primarily a Tauiwi problem, and that we have work to do. The issue of ‘covenant’ is briefly explored in the video - it’s my conviction that this is the basis for Tauiwi’s obligation to be faithful Treaty partners. How do Tauiwi now take this responsibility seriously? The video can be seen at www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpxzMYnqI8g. What are the next steps?

Workshop B) How are we known, seen, experienced? How can we be good news for the 21st Century? We have a serious messaging problem. I suggest a way forward, which, unsurprisingly, was not picked up by Conference. It became clear that we all have our own understanding of what the Methodist Church could and needs to look like. The video can be seen at www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAwwqa7H3_Q

Perhaps the most fruitful way forward would be to have an intentional, purposeful, and prayerful engagement with our Mission Statement across the breadth of Te Hāhi. The core of the statement reads: ‘Our Church's Mission in Aotearoa New Zealand is to reflect and proclaim the transforming love of God as revealed in Jesus Christ and declared in the Scriptures. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit to serve God in the world. The Treaty of Waitangi is the covenant establishing our nation on the basis of a power-sharing relationship, and will guide how we undertake mission. This has the potential to be life giving. What needs to happen for it to become so? Imagine if we lived it? Imagine others looking at us and saying “We want what they’ve got!”

Workshop C) The Law Book - More tinkering or a new start? This first take video can be seen at www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzsZ92htY8A The church has not restructured in over 20 years. The world has changed significantly, the church hasn’t. The lawbook is a reflection of our structures, and keeps us looked into a model which is no longer working. How do we break free?

Workshop D) How do we resource our congregations for mission? This video can be seen at www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sL8Lba1scI We are already in the process of making changes to be more effective in this area. This is the one area where I am optimistic that we can make significant progress in the short term.

I’m interested in feedback, suggestions, commitments to putting shoulders to the wheel, offers of assistance. I can be contacted on 027 324 9540, or emailed at president@methodist.org.nz (until 19 November 2022), or at yomyom@xtra.co.nz (personal)