Here in New Zealand, Tikanga Maori has rejected the Anglican Covenant.
This effectively means that the Province of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia will reject the Covenant next year.
Statements made to which I give three cheers.
Seconding the motion, the Rev Don Tamihere said the Covenant was not about homosexuality.
“It is about compliance and control.
“We are being asked to sign over our sovereignty, our rangatiratanga to an overseas group… To a standing committee over whom we have no choice or control. And they have the power to recommend punishment.
“The proposed Covenant offers us nothing new – or nothing we need as Anglicans, as Hahi Mihinare, or as disciples of Jesus Christ.
“We don’t need it to have faith in Jesus Christ: We already have a covenant that binds us to our saviour, Jesus Christ. And that is the only covenant we need.”
The Rev Ngira Simmonds (Manawa o te Wheke) pointed out that to be Anglican means to be in relationship with people – even if you don’t like them.
“We want this church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia to focus, instead, on acting for the restoration of justice.”
I note that the Diocese of Sydney has also rejected the covenant but for very different reasons. Speakers urged support of GAFCON and the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans as a better way to respond to the current issues in the Communion.
Of course they do not want to be told to desist from their un-Anglican practices.
I am not sure how this will play out when the Australian Provincial Synod meets. Sydney usually holds about one third of the votes. However I no longer really care as Aotearoa New Zealand is my spiritual as well as physical home
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