The gathering of the Tikanga Youth Synod, brings together young people, youth leaders of our Church, and members of the Tikanga Toru Youth Commission for a weekend of prayer, discussion and building relationships.  Celebrating the life of our Three Tikanga Church often takes intentional face-to-face encounters, and this weekend was a deeply moving example of that.  It was especially poignant and uplifting to hear from our Pasefika sisters and brothers who have been so affected by Cyclone Winston.  Our theme for the Synod was climate change and refugees, which seemed particularly apt given that recent weather event, and the arrival on Friday of the first Syrian refugees to Aotearoa, the same week that our Archbishops called on the government to increase the refugee quota into our country.  We listened to Jolyon White (social justice enabler in the Diocese of Christchurch) speak about advocacy; we were moved and inspired by Fei Tevi’s challenge to us to make a covenant with one another with regard to climate change and its impact on Polynesia; we were reminded to think globally and act locally by Sarah Morris, UNICEF Advocacy Director for New Zealand.  And we benefited greatly from the insights of our two keynote listeners: Dr Rosemary Dewerse (Mission Educator at St John’s College) and the Rev’d Tony Brooking from Te Pihopatanga.

As Youth Liaison Bishop, my primary role is to represent the House of Bishops to the Youth Commission, and with that, to help, support and encourage the life of the Commission in its expression of our Common Life together.  Attending events like Tikanga Youth Synod reminds me of the vital importance of the voice of our youth, who are our present and future leaders.  Finding ways to remind our whole Church of their voice is a key strategic goal moving forward for the Commission.  As is so often the case with such gatherings, mealtimes and break-times created space for new friendships to be formed, and for stories to be shared and understood.  It was an enriching and challenging experience for us all.

It was particularly good to have the new youth coordinator for Waikato with us, Darcy Perry; along with Molly and Tyne from St Mary’s Diocesan School, Stratford, and Ella from Waikato Diocesan School for Girls in Hamilton.  Molly and Tyne were joined by their School Chaplain, the Ven. Jacqui Paterson.  

On Sunday morning, we shared the bread and wine of Eucharist together, with vibrant song and praise, and moments of silence and reflection.  On the Friday night, Bishop Richard Ellena of Nelson had reminded us to walk together, to get to know our communities: in order to bring the Gospel to others, we must walk in our contexts, and be inspired to action, always keeping Jesus at the centre.  This was the starting point for my sermon reflection during the Eucharist.

I often like to go out for an early morning walk, which is generally quite fast-paced.  Recently I came across a copy of a book called ‘The Art of Mindful Walking’.  Written from a Christian perspective it explored the joys of walking in different contexts, but also the pain of those who have to walk because they have no other means of getting about.  Walking together, and being aware of one another’s steps, requires action at times, but also depth, time and patience with our walking so that we might notice things that we would otherwise miss.  I was reminded of a line from Kiwi poet Glenn Colquhoun poem: ‘the art of walking upright here is the art of using both feet.  One is for holding on.  One is for letting go.’  This morning’s Gospel contained the parable of the fig tree.  Jesus told parables as stories to capture the imagination of his listeners, that they might recognise ordinary things and encounter deeper truths.  The parable in Luke 13 is about holding on and letting go, and for discernment in that process.

In my reflection, I shared four short stories of my own experiences with plants, which illustrate different aspects of holding on, letting go, and where understandings of growth fit in all that.  Firstly the ‘non-starter’ story, how I managed to carefully ‘nurture’ a plant in a house I lived in as a student, only to discover the ‘flourishing’ plant was in fact, not real!  Secondly, the ‘fast and unexpected’ story: I recently returned from leave to discover a vibrant tomato plant growing in my vegetable box.  I hadn’t planted a tomato plant, so wondered if my neighbour had, or the gardner?  When the gardener visited, he was equally surprised.  Neither of us had planted this plant, and we wondered how it had got there and managed to grow at such a rate?!  Thirdly, the story of the ‘fragile flourishing’ kowhai tree, which I was given at the opening of the new wing at Hospice Waikato; a small seedling, planted in vulnerability, and now growing steadily.  And final, the story of ‘growth over thousands of years’; my reflection on encountering a young kauri tree on a recent retreat, and comparing it to the mighty 2000-year old Tane Mahuta, an indication of fruits of growth that may not be seen for hundreds of years.  

As a Church we are very good at holding on, but perhaps less good at letting go; our task is to discern when the ‘one more year’ of the fig tree parable is enough, and when we need to move on to a new season.  As disciples, we know that urgent action is needed on climate change so that future generations will flourish in their homes, and not be displaced.  The time to act on that is now, not in a year’s time.  Similarly, with the mass displacement of peoples throughout the world, and with proven capacity to help, the time for receiving refugees into our own context is now, not in another year’s time.

Sometimes when we talk about mission, we forget that God invites us to join in; we should not be anxious, but rather seek to faithfully follow God in our lives.  We plant, yet God gives the growth, sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly, sometimes in ways where it is hard to see results.  But always, God goes before us.

May we help the Church with our voices, know how to both hold on and to let go, into an unknown, but knowing that God has gone before us.  May we walk together, may we offer our lives in love and service with compassion to one another, seeking the face of Christ in one another.

+Helen-Ann Waikato.