For many of us the news of the death of Queen Elizabeth II wasn’t a surprise, after all she was 96. Nevertheless it came as a shock.

She has been a constant my whole life. There has never been a time when she wasn’t there projecting a perception of stability and calm presence. As I said in a message to the church, although she was also a holdover from our colonial past, no clear replacement to the British monarchy is yet in view, and it is likely that her successor, King Charles III, will pick up the ‘reins’, albeit with a different flavour to his stewardship. 

I’m unclear how this will affect us as Te Hāhi Weteriana. While we are a church now made up of various cultural groups, each with their own historical versions of titular leadership, the British crown has been hard-baked into the governing principles of this country since early colonial days. The fact that the Queen had occupied this position for more than 70 years has perhaps delayed a much-needed conversation about what a truly bicultural partnership in the nation might look like. Partly because she carried the role with such a sense of dignity and grace, and, the failings of her wider family aside, it might have appeared less than gracious to call the relationship into question while she continued to hold that role. The conversation could be further complicated when we acknowledge that Te Tiriti, however much it was betrayed and violated, was between the Crown and Māori. What happens if there is no Crown? Where does this leave us? Recognising that there are already nations indicating their wish to switch away from being part of a constitutional monarchy based on the other side of the planet, we watch with interest what happens within our own context. 

A few days before the Queen’s death, Mikhail Gorbachev died. This marks the passing of another of the 20th century’s most significant figures. The Cold War, which had consumed considerable energy and resources drew to an end on his watch. After three subsequent decades of relative peace we find ourselves facing the possibility of a new war, hot or cold, between the ‘West’ and what remains of the USSR.

It’s as if the earth is shifting on its axis. Once again we’re faced with the reality that our world is changing, rapidly. 

As I’ve commented before, we see the changing political / cultural / and religious landscape in the USA, now on steroids. While some may imagine this to be of little consequence, the possible demise of Pax Americana will affect us all. While there is much that can be criticised in American foreign policy, the alternatives to their effectively acting as Planet Earth’s international police force are not very attractive. 

The exponential rise of white Christian nationalism in the USA is one of the most shocking features in the current state of affairs. While many of us who name the name of Christ will undoubtedly applaud a more conservative approach to politics and so-called moral issues, this betrays an inadequate understanding of the true nature of Christian morality. Rather than a legalistic adherence to a set of laws crafted 4000 years ago for a very different world, Jesus’ call is for us to love one another. Paul’s assertion that the cross is foremost a demonstration of God’s love, answers the question “How much does God love us?” With arms outstretched in surrender to the cross Jesus declares, “This much!” This invites us to recognise the extent of God’s commitment to us and invites us to love one another, even those whom we find ourselves at odds with, with that same kind of commitment. 

Given the polarising effect of algorithms in the way we consume our news and social media, I’m struggling to see a way through, where the church can once again be a beacon of light, a city on a hill, one which manages to stand apart from the bitter infighting that is increasingly the hallmark of our discourse, and is able to reflect Jesus Christ, the centre of truth, light and life. As we gather around Christ, being in Christ, can we once again discover the basis of unity and common purpose as agents of transformation, reconciliation and healing?