This article was first published in eMessenger in November 2019.
The Methodist Alliance Forum was held at Wesley Rātā Village and was well attended with the majority of people staying on site in the old Strand residential care building. We slept well – we think they put something in the mattresses, we are not sure what but it was just the right amount as we all woke up the next morning.
David Hanna Executive Director of Wesley Community Action was our kind and gracious host and facilitated most of the sessions.
We acknowledge the attendance of President Setaita Taumeopeau Veikune; Vice President Nicola Grundy; Tara Tautari, General Secretary Designate; Jill Hawkey, Convenor Methodist Alliance Steering Group & Executive Director of the Christchurch Methodist Mission; Chairs & Executive Directors of other Methodist Missions: Marion Hines (Chair of Lifewise & Methodist Mission Northern); Garth Nowland-Foreman (Chair CMM); Peter Glensor (Chair WCA, board member of Lifewise and Palmerston North Methodist Social Services); Bruce Stone (CEO Airedale Property Trust); Kim Penny (General Manager Palmerston North Methodist Social Services); Rev Dr Arapera Ngaha, from Te Taha Maori and past Vice-President of MCNZ; Dr George Zachariah – lecturer from Trinity Theological College; students from Trinity Theological College; Trudy Downes, H&S officer Connexional Office; Ady Shannon, Editor of Touchstone; as well as many workers from the missions, board members, parish workers and prebysters. Thank you for your attendance and enthusiastic participation.
We started with a pōwhiri, Wesley Rātā Village followed by a mihimihi – where we introduced ourselves and shared where we are from, and shared the place we call ‘home.’ People were from the far North and the deep South, the East and the West.
Then we were asked: when do you see Methodism/your church/your agency at its best? And what is a question you bring to this Forum?
We had presentations from the five communities of practice giving a quick overview of their work and reflecting on the following what they are most proud of to date? What they hope to achieve in next 2 – 3 years? And what key question or issue they are struggling with?
Their presentations will soon be found on our website. There is an open invitation for members to join any of the communities of practice. Please let me know and I will make sure you are brought up to date linked in.
A highlight of the Forum was a quiz let by Rev Dr Arapera Ngaha, Geoff Tucker and Peter Glensor on the Methodist bicultural – Te Tiriti o Waitangi commitment. This was an interactive session which prompted great discussion.
No one from Siaola, Vahefonua Tonga was able to attend as they were holding their own conference at the same time; however Kathleen, Executive Director of Siaola presented via video.
Mataiva Robertson presented on behalf of Sinoti Samoa and shared the significant work they have done preventing family violence and also suicide prevention in response to the increase in youth suicide
David Hanna facilitated a World Café discussion using these guidelines:
What insight or aspect sticks most in your mind from the day?
What aspect was the hardest or most uncomfortable part to hear?
What is a powerful question about the work of the alliance that if we could answer it would increase our effectiveness?
What is the one radical step that if the Methodist Alliance took, you would feel really proud of and somewhat excited or nervous?
After dinner, we heard the story of Wesley Rātā Village which sits on 150 acres of land was donated in 1949 by Mr & Mrs W T Strand for the establishment of an eventide home settlement. We heard from Andy Mitchell, a Hutt City Councillor and member of the Naenae Residents Association, who gave us a history of the valley and treasures from the past which have been found on site.
Peter Glensor told us of the growth of Wesleyhaven and how Strand was the state of the art architecture for residential elder care at the time and housed 56 residents. The site also included a partnership with the Jewish community with Deckston which had the largest kosher kitchen in the country; the first purpose built geriatric hospital in the country and the changes that the deregulation of the industry meant.
We heard from a long time worker and resident of Wesley Rātā Village and the changes that are coming in the future. Kena Duignan explained the six strands of this work, including Kiwi Can Do and Easy Build. Emily from the Naenae Residents Association shared how she is getting a community cinema going and the movie night that was held at Strand, where a resident played the piano, they had ice-creams, showed short films, news reels and the feature movie was Casablanca.
The second day started with waiata as any good Methodist activity should, followed by Vice President Nicola led us in prayer and President Setaita shared a theological reflection about what is radical about Methodism. President Setaita spoke about the staff at the missions who are the church’s hands and feet. We need to have the courage to say things that are hard to say, to ask the difficult questions, talk about injustice and challenge the status quo to guide us towards a society where all people can flourish.
We heard inspiring stories where small shifts of change from everyday people became radical change. Jill Hawkey from Christchurch Methodist Mission shared their experience of Housing First story in Christchurch and Blenheim, where 63 people and six people have been housed respectively. These were people who were previously sleeping in doorways, abandoned buildings, and outside the Methodist Church in Blenheim. Some of these have experienced homelessness for over 20 years. They range in age from 20-60 years and some have mental health, and/or addiction issues. All kaewa have a key worker who stays with them and never gives up. If it does not work out, they talk about why it did not work and try again.
Lizzie Makalio from Wesley Community Action talked about Mama Celia’s Table which provides a space for women to come and talk about what people don’t talk about. The women are accepted with no judgment and are not shockable and non reactive when people share their stories. Many of the women have had their tamariki removed by Oranga Tamariki, have experienced family violence as a victim or a perpetrator, are current or former meth addicts, and everyone can bring something to the table. The older people awhi the younger people and pull them through. The women are coming together to share, develop, feel empowered and grow leaders.
Peter Norman & Jennifer Moor spoke about community led development projects in Northcote Takapuna Parish. Peter talked about Shore to Thrive - a strengths based and community led partnership between Takapuna Methodist Church and Auckland North Community & Development. A Kaitahi meals are offered at the Bowling Club, who offered the venue at no cost, a chef prepares food donated from Kiwi Harvest (rescued food) and last month 200 people attended. Jenny shared the vision of Northcote Takapuna Parish: Compassionate, creative, connected communities; and their mission of “Living a life of purpose and meaning with and for others.” They are working in two very different communities – Northcote was largely state housing which has now gone and the initial rebuild has created huge disruption for the community and the work their Commnity Enabler Wendi Tiedt is doing in the community.
Makerita Makapelu & Kena Duignan, from Wesley Community Action spoke about the Porirua Promise and the group of 22 people went on a two day learning trip to Auckland to get insights into the dos and don’ts of large housing regeneration projects. Participants got to see, feel and understand what the regeneration was going to be like for them. They wanted something similar to the Tamaki Commitment and created the Porirua Promise.
Zoe Truell, from Lifewise spoke about the value of peer to peer models and intentionally employing people with lived experienced.
A panel of three people shared their view of what working in a Methodist way and what a radical Methodist approach in Aotearoa looks like today.
Rev MotekiaiFakatou, Prebyster at Wellington Central Parish & Wesley Community Action Board member, talked about Susannah Wesley, the mother of John Wesley who pushed boundaries, stood up for families, set aside specific time to spend with her children, resisted the accepted severe punishment for children and treated them instead with kindness. She ignited radicalism in both her sons, John and Charles, who were both radical in the Anglican Church.
Garth Nowland-Foreman, board member of Christchurch Methodist Mission, explained how he was a radical before he was a Methodist and was an adult convert to Methodism. He explained that “radical” means going back to roots – so we need to look back to go forward and find social justice today. He gave us ten values that sum up radical Methodism to him.
Tara Tautari, our General Secretary Designate, explained that radical Methodism is about understanding who we are and where we come from; how we are bound together and how we share power. How radical Methodism is feeling the fear and doing it anyway – living on the edge and working in the margins. Doing this work because it is the mission of our church to live the transforming power of God.
We held a very short business session to update our founding document and discuss the Steering Group representation. Then we got on with the important work of strategizing for radical action. We agreed:
To have intentional conversations with parishes who are not members and are doing community led development
Make a video on the Methodist Alliance on what it does & how parishes can be involved with community led development
Promote & host regional meetings for parishes and have two way sharing of information
Develop a national MCNZ strategy on housing with a brief theological reflection
Move forward with the Methodist Social Housing Fund
Continue with discussions and opportunities HUD & HNZ on future developments; and with the Anglicans & Catholics churches
To actively engage in partnership with others in campaigning to raise benefit levels
Use the WEAG Report to call for action for this to be implemented – raising the benefit rates and raising the abatement rates, and provide members stories to highlight issues
Deliberately and intentionally establish the identity and profile of the Methodist Alliance with the public
Use the work Trudy is doing on mapping communications & information lines, to provide a baseline for a communications strategy for communication within MCNZ
The Trinity Theological College representatives were so radical they set up their own group! They discussed how Trinity engages with the Methodist Alliance? What do we both gain from this engagement? They agreed to talk with the Trinity Board about engagement with the Methodist Alliance and it was suggested that the students could work on placement at the Missions, however this needs to be balanced with other demands on the students.
The Forum ended with a pororporoaki with everyone in a circle taking the time to appreciate the work everyone has done at the Forum and the hope for the future.
It was a wonderfully inspiring, radical time where we left enthused, exhausted and excited.
Carol Barron, Methodist Alliance National Coordinator, Carol@MethodistAlliance.org.nz
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