Over Matariki weekend Tauiwi Youth Conference 2022 was held at St John’s Methodist Church, Hamilton East. The first face-to-face Connexional Tauiwi youth training weekend since the pandemic began brought together 70 of our brightest and most enthusiastic leaders from across the breadth of our Haahi. The event provided a space for connecting, resourcing and shared inspiration.

METANOIA was the theme for TYC 2022, alluding to the need for a season of transformation to take place in our Haahi. This transformation was looked at with the support of the key text in Matthew 13:52 where Jesus talks of the bringing out of treasure what is both old and the new. As we reflected, looking back on what has been and how that shapes how we move forward. TYC was also done in awareness of Weteriana’s marking of its bicentennial year.

The emphasis of TYC was to challenge young people to understand the role of transformative memory – revealed in culture, tradition and identity – as a tool in how we constantly move forward in response to what the Spirit is saying to the church in the present time and context. Every aspect of TYC 2022 sought to point leaders towards this concept.

It was interesting to observe the hunger and desire that has prevailed throughout the last two years for young people to challenge the church into understanding the role and value of young people here and now. If anything, the pandemic has made the importance of these calls and the need for them to be responded to, greater than ever before. This energy and eagerness set the scene for a productive and fruitful weekend for all in attendance.

Workshops and Talanoa Panels

As always, TYC 2022 offered workshops covering a variety of topics. At the core of our gathering is the desire to continue to develop leaders within our Haahi. Leadership streams focused on sustainable ministry practices, emotional intelligence and mental wellbeing. Resource sessions covered climate justice, gender-life issues, the social gospel, creativity in worship, young theology and movement as worship.

We hosted two Talanoa panel discussions where leaders submitted questions to invited panelists as we discussed youth ministry experiences and our Haahi Weteriana as a whole. We were fortunate to have many guests and facilitators give time, insight and wisdom to these sessions and panels – Petia and Caroline Wilson (1 Degree Workshops), Maxine Campbell (Methodist City Action, Hamilton), the Climate Justice Workgroup, Mission Resourcing Director Rev Siosifa Pole, General Secretary Rev Tara Tautari and Te Aroha Rountree (Trinity College and TTM).

Our incoming Presidential Team for 2022-24, Rev Peter Taylor and TeRito Peyroux, joined us for the weekend. Peter graciously served quietly and humbly behind the scenes, pastorally caring for our leadership team and lending a hand wherever required. Both Peter and TeRito modelled their own Presidential theme around servant ministry and leadership in a practical and meaningful way which was deeply felt and appreciated. Our young people are excited to work with Peter and TeRito as they begin their presidential term.

TYC 2022 included moving worship and spiritual elements along with the workshops, sessions and general day-to-day business. Night one worship saw some powerful testimonies given by three leaders. Jaqueline Tuitama (Auckland), Corinthian Ieli (Sinoti Samoa) and Philomena Petaia (Central South Island), shared some amazing stories of God at work in their lives which left others inspired and hopeful for their own journeys. The second worship evening was led by Manukau synod youth convener, Wesley Machee, and included prayers for the different synods in a variety of languages including Samoan, Tongan, Fijian, Korean and English. Worship evenings included a dedicated prayer and meditation space, where attendees were able to drop-in anytime.

Music & More

In a TYC first, our talented worship team wrote two original songs which were played for the first time in worship. One song adopted common Methodist hymnodic elements in a different genre and the other was written in relation to the theme of Metanoia and the key verse in Matthew. The hope is for more music from our own creatives and context to continue to be produced and shared with the Haahi. The music composed for TYC 2022 will soon be made available for the wider church.

There was also the vibrant fun and shenanigans that take place at any Methodist gathering involving young people. Our regular and much anticipated TYC Silent Disco, under the audio-mastery of TYC DJ, Toa Siulangapo (aka Toa the Twin), made for a night of good vibes and great music. Board games, chill spaces and the chance to catch up in between sessions and over kai were epic. On Saturday night over dinner, the Tonga vs New Zealand rugby league test was streamed on the big screen for the benefit of passionate supporters. And thanks to the catering skills of some talented local businesses from the parish, the food provided attendees with sustenance and energy to power through each session.

Venue a Winner

This year, we opted to change the model for TYC, holding Conference at a church instead of a campground. Leaders were encouraged to find their own accommodation with their group for the weekend, and two marae were also available. The idea behind this change was to more closely resemble the Methodist Conference model. Our goal is for all leaders who come through TYC to one day represent their parishes and synods at Conference level.

The change proved to be extremely popular and successful, largely due to the huge hospitality extended by the Hamilton East Parish. They were generous in the giving of their space, willing to allow us to transform the worship space of their church and supportive of our entire programme, attending worship nights, checking in during sessions, offering support and encouraging attendees at every step. We extended our thanks to the parish by inviting them to our prayer breakfast on the final morning before joining the combined worship to bring TYC to a close.

We also extend a massive Fa’afetai tele and Vinaka vakalevu to Rev Alisa, Rev ‘Alipate, leaders and members of the congregations of St John’s for their unmatched kindness and generosity in offering a safe space for the leaders of TYC 2022 to gather. Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou!

What Next?

As the dust settles on another TYC, the question arises, “What is Next?” As we often say to our young people at such gatherings, ‘mountain-top’ experiences are great but we all eventually return to the trenches of our contexts, with the challenges that were there before still clearly ahead of us. We are hopeful that, alongside developing and training leaders, we will continue to push and advocate for young people on both ends of the church – bringing treasure out of what is old and what is new, simultaneously. It’s not a matter of waiting for older-folk in the church to step aside, nor is it a matter of incorrectly declaring the youth as the ‘church of tomorrow.’ Rather, it’s about what we can do together, right here and right now. All of the resulting work from Tauiwi Youth Conference will seek to promote this idea; that a season of Metanoia for our Haahi is possible and it is happening right now.

Now the focus moves to what is to come. Whatever that may be, God is good!

I want to acknowledge the tireless work of the TYC 2022 organising team for giving their time and energy selflessly in commitment to the strengthening of their own young people that they minister to, by understanding the value of what it means to be a connected, resourced and inspired Connexional church. Thank you for your serving heart, team!

Wesley Machee, Ramona Misilei, ‘Amelia Takataka, Make Puamau, William Toduadua, Leti Tafuna, Sitela Ahokava, Maumi Taukolo, ‘Anaseini Nuku, Pua Siulangapo, Philomena Petaia, Siu Williams-Lemi, Rachel Hickling, Corinthian Ieli, Sina Pupulu, Osaiasi Kupu.