At Hui 2017 we were reminded and challenged that some voices are not heard, or hardly heard, in our denomination. These are voices of the disenfranchised, the marginalised, the homeless, those whose land was confiscated, Mu0101ori, ethnic minorities, women, and those living in poverty here and overseas. Added to these voices is the cry of our whenua/landu2014a voice that is currently screaming out to be heard and a voice that I have hardly heard in our denomination.
This is what I heard and felt God sayu2026
Godu2019s heart breaks when voices are silenced.
A silenced voice is the silent scream of a child being aborted.
A life not being allowed to live and to thrive.
That is how much it breaks Godu2019s heart
when those who hold the power and control do not make space for those voices to be heard.
I heard the call for (kenotic) hospitality, as in:
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited,
but emptied himselfu2026 (Philippians 2:5-7).
During the Hui we all heard the call to have cups of tea, lots of them. Having a cuppa is a picture of hospitality. The pouring and the emptying of the kettle, is a picture of kenotic hospitality. And as we drink our cups of tea, remember that sometimes others might like to hold the kettle and pour the kapu tu012b for you.
Reflection: Wendy Emsley, (Ngati Raukawa, Ngati Toa Rangatira)
Wendy Emsley is chaplain at Taupu014d Hospital and is also chaplain for Taupu014d Police. She was formerly the community pastor at Taupu014d Baptist Church.
Wendy recommends Cheri van Schravendijk-Goodmanu2019s u2018Kapu Tu012b 101u2019 in the publication u2018Te Reo o Te Repo (The Voice of the Wetland)u2019 bit.ly/2BcYB3Z. Although written in the context of engaging with tangata whenua about wetlands restoration, the resource is helpful for those wishing to learn more about the principles of a good kapu tu012b.
