As a connexional Church we move towards our first ever Hui Tōpū Conference online. This new way of conducting conference gives us opportunity and time to reflect on those treasures that we hold to as Weteriana living together in Aotearoa. We begin by offering an exploration into the theology of our Mission Statement through a Te Taha Māori lens.

Transforming God,

Christ is the exemplar uniting us together,

Word revealed in action and deed,

Holy Spirit empower and guide us,

As people on the move we answer the call to justice, truth and reconciliation,

We pray for the life of our Church in Aotearoa today,

Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven,

Amen.

The Mission Statement is significant in the ongoing life of the Church and our bicultural journey. How do we live the good news holding true to our biblical roots and honouring gospel teachings about justice, truth and reconciliation in Aotearoa? What does it say about covenant space and living in relationship with one another? How can our relationships of gospel and culture be reinvigorated to take us forward? 

Te Hāhi Weteriana i Aotearoa The Mission Statement

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. In seeking to carry out our mission we will work according to these principles.

Ko te pūtake a tō tātou Hāhi Weteriana i Aotearoa nei, he whakakite atu, he kauwhau hoki i te aroha whakatahuri o te Atua, he mea whakaatu mai i roto i a Ihu Karaiti, me ngā Karaipiture. Ko te Wairua Tapu e whakakaha ana i a tātou kia tū māia ai hei tuari mā te Atua i roto i te ao. Otirā, ko te Tiriti o Waitangi te kawenata e whakaōrite ana i tā tātou noho hei tangata whenua, hei tauiwi hoki, ki tēnei whenua. Mā tēnei Tiriti tātou e ārahi i roto i ngā whakariterite o tēnei whakahau, tono hoki, ki roto i te ao.

Nā te Enabling Ministry Team o mua te whakamārama mō tēnei kaupapa. E hāngai pū ana o rātou whakaaro ki ngā kōrero o te hāhi i ēnei rā. Tērā pea me āta whakaaro anō tātou ki ngā hua i puta mai.

Pūtake: Ko te mea e whāia ana, otirā, i tonoa e te Atua ki ngā tōpīto e wha o te ao, a i kīia ai a Hoani Weteri, “ko te ao katoa taku pāriha”

Aotearoa nei: Mai i te upoko ki te hiku; ki Te Waipounamu me Whare Kauri, hāunga tētahi atu whenua, moutere rānei.

Te aroha o te Atua: Koia te Tama i tukua kia rīpekatia kia mate, kia whiwhi hoki rātou e whakapono ana ki te ora, e ai ki tā Hoani kaituhituhi. Otirā, he aroha whakatahuri, ka rerekē te āhua o te tāngata he mea nā te whākina hara: te rīpenata; te murunga hara. Otirā, he tīmatanga anō; he hīkoinga hōu.

I roto i a Ihu Karaiti: Māna ka tino mārama mai te āhua o te Atua kaihanga, Wairua hoki. Kei ngā tuhituhinga a Matiu, Māka, Ruka me Hoani ngā tino whakaaturanga mōna, otirā, ngā Karaipiture. Āpiti atu ko ngā mōhioranga ki a ia i heke iho i te Hāhi, tae mai ki a tātou.

I roto i ngā mahi: Ruirui purapura; whakakite, kauwhau i te rongo pai, werowero i te hunga hīanga, māngere hoki; ko te Wairua Tapu tērā hei tohutohu, hei whakaha i tēnā,i tēnā o tātou e mau ana, e ū ana ki ngā mahi.

Te Tiriti o Waitangi: Kāhore e kore, nā te mea ko Aotearoa ki Whare Kauri tēnei (ehara, ko Poihākena, ko Tonga, ko Wīwī rānei) me pono, me tika ngā whakariterite a te Hāhi i raro i tēnei taonga mai i te tau 1840. Otirā, kia noho mārama tētahi ki tētahi ngā iwi tangata whenua rāua ko ngā iwi hōu e noho tahi nei ki ēnei moutere.