[{"id":14955,"order":0,"imagePath":"https://admin.ezystream.com/static/images/article/07df267d-7867-4167-8603-d425063f2bae.png","type":"image","content":"https://admin.ezystream.com/static/images/article/07df267d-7867-4167-8603-d425063f2bae.png"},{"id":14956,"order":1,"contentText":"Christine Stride is Executive Assistant to the National Leader and works at the Baptist National Support Centre in Auckland. She is part of Titirangi Baptist Church.
The Iriiri Mu0101ori session of our 2023 Hui last November was called He Koronga Maatou u2013 We have a dream. Led by Te Pouarataki mu014d te Hu012bkoi, our Treaty Guide, Luke Kaa-Morgan, the session started with a waiata whose lyrics tell of the challenges and the hope involved in reclaiming te reo Mu0101ori, reclaiming identity. The sessionu2019s 12-strong panel shared their dreams for Iriiri Mu0101ori. Below is a summary of what was on their hearts.
There was an ongoing call for Pu0101kehu0101 to recognise and acknowledge the good things Mu0101ori culture could bring to our churches, to our country and to the world, and be willing to adopt them.
The church working with and learning from Mu0101ori would help reveal the richness of Godu2019s character in Aotearoa.
Hui delegates were reminded of the welcoming and intimate connections made at the previous dayu2019s pu014dwhiri u2013 a uniquely and beautifully Mu0101ori protocol of welcome.
Our Baptist whu0101nau still has a way to go before we find our place and feel authentically supported as Mu0101ori. There is a new and challenging ku014drero coming; Baptist Mu0101ori and our wider Baptist whu0101nau need courage for this conversation.
There was a call for the Baptist church to acknowledge its history in Aotearoa as a settler church. Doing that would more successfully build, and sustain, good relationships with Mu0101ori.
Several panellists called on church leaders to improve their engagement with te reo Mu0101ori, to help them begin to understand the Mu0101ori world and culture.
One panellistu2019s dream was for the real story of what Tangata Whenua lost to be known and acknowledged.
u201c[My dream is] That we would truly understand the history and look at our own lives and ask how we can help reconcile the trauma that has transgressed the generations.u201d
Another panellistu2019s dream was to see Mu0101ori streaming into the church.
The panel of Iriiri Mu0101ori were excited that they could dream, said Luke Kaa-Morgan. He reminded Hui delegates of the strategy of the former Labour government and key Mu0101ori leadership to have one million capable Mu0101ori speakers by 2040, and wondered if Haahi Iriiri could participate in helping to fulfil that. Kaa-Morgan said other Iriiri Mu0101ori aspirations were for the word of God to go out in English and te reo Mu0101ori, that one day te Pu0101ti Mu0101ori and other influential Mu0101ori spaces would ask to wu0101nanga with the Baptist whu0101nau because of our strategic leadership, and for more Iriiri Mu0101ori leaders and theologians to emerge.
As the session ended, Baptist National Leader Charles Hewlett summed up what heu2019d heard from the panel and looked forward to the future:
u201cI want us to be able to say together, u2018your dreams are our dreams, your aspirations are our aspirationsu2019. We need your help. We want to be good covenantal partners with you in seeing these things come to fruitionu2026To see gospel renewal come to Mu0101ori people and Mu0101ori places. I firmly believe that the Baptist churches can be used by God to bring healing to our nation. That the name of Jesus Christ might be glorified in this land and beyond.u201d
Links
Click here to see the video for the waiata Hey Love, written by Jordyn Rapana.
Baptist Union of New Zealand Treaty Affirmation Statements.
Te Whu0101riki team, our Iriiri Mu0101ori leaders.
Photo: The Iriiri Mu0101ori session at the Baptist National Hui 2023. Taken by Morgan Dews.
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