In my Charge last year, I used a phrase which appeared to strike a chord with people. Can you remember it? It was: “There is a hole in our bucket”. It was my call for this diocese to take seriously the decline and challenges we face as a church.
Our hope in the Kingdom of God coming to our churches and communities in transformative ways.
The main part of Nelson Cathedral is called the nave. The word “nave” comes from Latin for ship – as in navis – like the Navy, because it looks like the inside of a boat. Boats have long held a special place in the Christian story. Early Christian art used the image of a boat as a secret way to refer to the cross, as it was hidden in the ship’s mast and cross beams. Boats featured a lot in Jesus’ teaching ministry. It was how he travelled on his various missions with his disciples over the sea of Galilee, as well as a place to stand and teach from. And the apostle Paul’s missionary journeys also involved spending time on ships – and even experiencing shipwrecks.
As we begin to move on from the confronting image of the hole in our bucket, I have a new phrase I want you to replace it with, and to sear it into your memory. When we are faithful vessels for the Kingdom of God there is hope in the boat. And here is the new phrase:
Whakatū (Nelson) is named after the place where Māori used to store their waka for their journeys. Our diocese is lined with harbours and ports and marinas where boats and ships come and go from. Westport and Greymouth. Motueka and Pōhara. Picton and Havelock. Kaikōura and even St Arnaud.
Not because of any other reason other than the fact that Jesus is in the boat and we are on the journey with him.
Let us imagine the diocese as a large sailing ship – as this giant boat filled with hope. I’m delighted and proud for the crew she has. I would like to take this opportunity to express my deep thanks to all of the ministry leaders across the diocese – our clergy and lay ministers – who serve selflessly. Our Anglican Centre team, many of whom started about a year ago, are exceptional in their dedication to our mission. The quality and passion of our people is the envy of many throughout New Zealand. As is written in Daniel 11:32, “The people who know their God shall be strong and do great things.” Reading Synod reports, I’m deeply moved by God’s work among us. I praise God for each and every one of you. I pray for you constantly, and it is a joy to lead you as your bishop.
However, despite our amazing team, of late it feels like the crew in our boat has been reefing the rigging to trim the sails because the fabric is old and needs attention, and the weather is rough and unpredictable.
Now maybe we have too few sails up to catch the wind. I know our ship’s crew has shrunk in numbers – we struggled to recruit new sailors, some have jumped into a lifeboat, and others are feeling weary. I suspect some of us have gone below deck hoping the storms will pass. And others of us would like to turn around all together and head back for the safety of harbour. If we’re honest, in most ways it feels like our ship has stalled, is drifting, or stuck on a sandbank.
Our Church – our diocese – exists to be a boat filled with hope! An ocean-going waka with a mission! And a boat filled with hope is destined for adventure – because if ever our communities have needed hope, surely it’s now.
My job as your bishop is to do everything I can to make sure our diocesan family – our ship and our crew – are supported and equipped and encouraged to set sail for the journey God has for his Church.
The Letter to the Hebrews was written to Christians who were beginning to drift from their faith like a ship at sea. (Hebrews 2:1)
The church was under enormous pressure from the storms of false teaching and complacency.
Over the last twelve months, during our Season of Discernment, we’ve been exploring the challenges facing the Church both internally and externally. What I have heard you say time and again is that we have drifted from our primary purpose and so have lost missional connection to our communities.
That is why the message from Hebrews is important for us to quite literally “take on board” in this next season.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 10:19-25, 12:1-2
We are each called to do the work of sailors who yearn for God’s Kingdom, who are willing to work together to raise sails and catch the wind, and we once again shall move forward with God’s power to run the race marked out for us.
We are working together towards a renewed clarity of purpose. A renewed unity. A renewed collaboration. A renewed confidence that, with Jesus, there is hope in the boat.
This work of radical renewal is nothing new for God. Throughout Scripture we see God renewing his people to be faithful vessels for the Kingdom of God.
Israel drifts in the Old Testament, and God calls them back.
In the Gospels, Jesus seeks to bring back the “lost sheep of Israel”.
Paul’s letters reveal his heart to restore and revitalise churches that are in various stages of sickness and trouble.
And in Revelation, Jesus himself, the Revitaliser, works to reform those seven churches in order to set right what is broken, to heal what is sick, to rebuke what is false, and to give new life to what is dying.
Throughout the history of the Church, time and time again, God has done the same.
For the one who said “I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” isn’t done with us! You see, God has done it before, and he’ll do it again. And so our vision for revitalisation is rooted in and shaped by who God is and what he’s about.
Our vision for the diocese of Nelson is to see vibrant churches radiating the Good News of Jesus Christ in their communities. By gathering the ungathered, growing disciples and raising resilient, gospel-shaped leaders to go and grow healthy, fruitful and multiplying churches.
This Synod is where I charge you to partner in a five-year project called Revitalise Nelson that seeks to renew the diocese for fruitful mission by focusing together on loving our communities through contextualised gospel-centred ministry.
Over these next five years I want to see the diocese become known for four things:
Revitalise Nelson rests on is a desire to see the rule and reign of Christ Jesus across the whole diocese and us to be faithful vessels to see his Kingdom come. At the heart of this project is the cause that Jesus came to declare, demonstrate and, in dying and rising again, to inaugurate the Kingdom of God, here, near, now and not yet.
Revitalise Nelson wants to see the Kingdom come in every corner of the diocese and for us to be part of the transformation that Jesus makes in the lives of people in our communities. I welcome you to express the project locally as Revitalise Buller, Revitalise Kaikoura, Revitalise Golden Bay and so on.
He is the Lord who reigns over his church in te Tau Ihu o te Waka-a-Māui (top of the South Island).
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful (Hebrews 10: 23).
His kingdom stands, and grows forever!
For our voyage of revitalisation to work, we will need to be one, as a unified crew, each with diverse giftings, and all sailing in the same direction with a shared purpose. And that will mean we need to throw off those things that have frustrated our efforts in the past in order to set sail with speed and power. It will mean removing those barnacles on the bottom of our boat that are holding us back!
As Hebrews says, we will need “to throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles and to run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus.”
And so, the skeletons in our closets will need to be exposed.
Our silos and self-interest will need to be broken down.
Our scarcity mentality with its anxiety and fear will need to be challenged.
And our fear of looking silly and our lack of faith to step into new things need to be confronted.
I would like to invite you towards three different kinds of renewal; personal renewal, family renewal, and Kingdom renewal.
Firstly - I long to see our people personally continually renewed by the Spirit of God as individuals.
God wants to transform us so that our lives might radiate the love and power of Christ to the people around us in and outside the church.
This calls for personal resilience. Revitalisation is going to be hard work, and we will need to persevere, to stick at it for the long haul.
Leaders who keep putting those sails up and who refuse to lose confidence, because we know the reward will eventually come.
Will you commit yourself to a journey of personal renewal?
Secondly, I long that our churches and diocese are known for being a family with a healthy culture.
That we are committed to dealing with sin, spiritual toxins and unhealthy behaviour in the church as these impact our ministry and witness.
That our churches find a way to move beyond the hurts of the past – including Covid, the pain of young people leaving, and the frustration of other churches getting our young people. Yes, lament the loss of these things. But rather than get stuck there, take responsibility to get back on deck and trust the God of hope with the future.
I invite you into deeper relationship with each other as parishes, as we together go on this voyage. My prayer is that the journey will be marked by radical manaakitanga. Manaakitanga expressed through kindness and generosity with each other, across our great diocese and beyond. That parishes will be eager to collaborate and partner with each other, laying down one’s interests and preferences for the sake of the gospel and God’s Kingdom. Learning from each other and sharing with each other. Blessing each other and serving the wider Church as we give away God’s gracious gifts with glad and generous hearts. “Spurring one another on toward love and good deeds… and encouraging one another.” For we are in this boat together – he waka eke noa.
And finally, I long that we have a Kingdom renewal. In our Gospel reading (John 21:1-12), Jesus challenges the disciples to throw their nets to the other side. That act of obedience led to great fruitfulness in their fishing venture. The disciples were gifted fishermen but what worked before wasn’t working that night.
I sense that sometimes perhaps we too tend to focus on what we’ve always known and the path of least resistance rather than praying “your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth”.
One of our diocesan values is innovation. I invite you to “throw the nets to the other side”, try new things, break new ground, and express Kingdom creativity as we use everything we’ve got for the mission of making disciples of Jesus.
I invite you to redefine the metrics that count in your ministries. Let’s score differently. Not just the numbers on a Sunday – let us look for measures of the Kingdom, like how many disciples we’re making, how many disciples those disciples are making, and how our local community is noticeably better because of our presence. That we’ll see a movement of intergenerational discipleship groups, utilising the spiritual wisdom of the elderly, while investing in and giving young people a chance to use their gifts and make mistakes. Rather than mourning what we don’t have, let’s be intentional about hearing the words of Jesus and working with what God has given us towards Kingdom fruitfulness.
As one person said in our Season of Discernment:
It may take time, and it may be hard to measure our success as we reorientate. But if we can be kind, patient and trusting as whānau on mission together, then I believe we can find numerous new opportunities to bring the bread and water of Christ to hungry and thirsty people.
I’d like to finish with a whakataukī (Māori proverb):
He waka eke noa
A vehicle upon which everyone may embark
Will you join me in raising our sails so that God is glorified, disciples of Jesus are made, his Kingdom is welcomed as we begin this voyage towards revitalisation?
There may have been a hole in the bucket.
But there is hope in this boat.
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
We have invited these writers to share their experiences, ideas and opinions in the hope that these will provoke thought, challenge you to go deeper and inspire you to put your faith into action. These articles should not be taken as the official view of the Nelson Diocese on any particular matter.
In my Charge last year, I used a phrase which appeared to strike a chord with people. Can you remember it? It was: “There is a hole in our bucket”. It was my call for this diocese to take seriously the decline and challenges we face as a church.
Our hope in the Kingdom of God coming to our churches and communities in transformative ways.
The main part of Nelson Cathedral is called the nave. The word “nave” comes from Latin for ship – as in navis – like the Navy, because it looks like the inside of a boat. Boats have long held a special place in the Christian story. Early Christian art used the image of a boat as a secret way to refer to the cross, as it was hidden in the ship’s mast and cross beams. Boats featured a lot in Jesus’ teaching ministry. It was how he travelled on his various missions with his disciples over the sea of Galilee, as well as a place to stand and teach from. And the apostle Paul’s missionary journeys also involved spending time on ships – and even experiencing shipwrecks.
As we begin to move on from the confronting image of the hole in our bucket, I have a new phrase I want you to replace it with, and to sear it into your memory. When we are faithful vessels for the Kingdom of God there is hope in the boat. And here is the new phrase:
Whakatū (Nelson) is named after the place where Māori used to store their waka for their journeys. Our diocese is lined with harbours and ports and marinas where boats and ships come and go from. Westport and Greymouth. Motueka and Pōhara. Picton and Havelock. Kaikōura and even St Arnaud.
Not because of any other reason other than the fact that Jesus is in the boat and we are on the journey with him.
Let us imagine the diocese as a large sailing ship – as this giant boat filled with hope. I’m delighted and proud for the crew she has. I would like to take this opportunity to express my deep thanks to all of the ministry leaders across the diocese – our clergy and lay ministers – who serve selflessly. Our Anglican Centre team, many of whom started about a year ago, are exceptional in their dedication to our mission. The quality and passion of our people is the envy of many throughout New Zealand. As is written in Daniel 11:32, “The people who know their God shall be strong and do great things.” Reading Synod reports, I’m deeply moved by God’s work among us. I praise God for each and every one of you. I pray for you constantly, and it is a joy to lead you as your bishop.
However, despite our amazing team, of late it feels like the crew in our boat has been reefing the rigging to trim the sails because the fabric is old and needs attention, and the weather is rough and unpredictable.
Now maybe we have too few sails up to catch the wind. I know our ship’s crew has shrunk in numbers – we struggled to recruit new sailors, some have jumped into a lifeboat, and others are feeling weary. I suspect some of us have gone below deck hoping the storms will pass. And others of us would like to turn around all together and head back for the safety of harbour. If we’re honest, in most ways it feels like our ship has stalled, is drifting, or stuck on a sandbank.
Our Church – our diocese – exists to be a boat filled with hope! An ocean-going waka with a mission! And a boat filled with hope is destined for adventure – because if ever our communities have needed hope, surely it’s now.
My job as your bishop is to do everything I can to make sure our diocesan family – our ship and our crew – are supported and equipped and encouraged to set sail for the journey God has for his Church.
The Letter to the Hebrews was written to Christians who were beginning to drift from their faith like a ship at sea. (Hebrews 2:1)
The church was under enormous pressure from the storms of false teaching and complacency.
Over the last twelve months, during our Season of Discernment, we’ve been exploring the challenges facing the Church both internally and externally. What I have heard you say time and again is that we have drifted from our primary purpose and so have lost missional connection to our communities.
That is why the message from Hebrews is important for us to quite literally “take on board” in this next season.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 10:19-25, 12:1-2
We are each called to do the work of sailors who yearn for God’s Kingdom, who are willing to work together to raise sails and catch the wind, and we once again shall move forward with God’s power to run the race marked out for us.
We are working together towards a renewed clarity of purpose. A renewed unity. A renewed collaboration. A renewed confidence that, with Jesus, there is hope in the boat.
This work of radical renewal is nothing new for God. Throughout Scripture we see God renewing his people to be faithful vessels for the Kingdom of God.
Israel drifts in the Old Testament, and God calls them back.
In the Gospels, Jesus seeks to bring back the “lost sheep of Israel”.
Paul’s letters reveal his heart to restore and revitalise churches that are in various stages of sickness and trouble.
And in Revelation, Jesus himself, the Revitaliser, works to reform those seven churches in order to set right what is broken, to heal what is sick, to rebuke what is false, and to give new life to what is dying.
Throughout the history of the Church, time and time again, God has done the same.
For the one who said “I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” isn’t done with us! You see, God has done it before, and he’ll do it again. And so our vision for revitalisation is rooted in and shaped by who God is and what he’s about.
Our vision for the diocese of Nelson is to see vibrant churches radiating the Good News of Jesus Christ in their communities. By gathering the ungathered, growing disciples and raising resilient, gospel-shaped leaders to go and grow healthy, fruitful and multiplying churches.
This Synod is where I charge you to partner in a five-year project called Revitalise Nelson that seeks to renew the diocese for fruitful mission by focusing together on loving our communities through contextualised gospel-centred ministry.
Over these next five years I want to see the diocese become known for four things:
Revitalise Nelson rests on is a desire to see the rule and reign of Christ Jesus across the whole diocese and us to be faithful vessels to see his Kingdom come. At the heart of this project is the cause that Jesus came to declare, demonstrate and, in dying and rising again, to inaugurate the Kingdom of God, here, near, now and not yet.
Revitalise Nelson wants to see the Kingdom come in every corner of the diocese and for us to be part of the transformation that Jesus makes in the lives of people in our communities. I welcome you to express the project locally as Revitalise Buller, Revitalise Kaikoura, Revitalise Golden Bay and so on.
He is the Lord who reigns over his church in te Tau Ihu o te Waka-a-Māui (top of the South Island).
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful (Hebrews 10: 23).
His kingdom stands, and grows forever!
For our voyage of revitalisation to work, we will need to be one, as a unified crew, each with diverse giftings, and all sailing in the same direction with a shared purpose. And that will mean we need to throw off those things that have frustrated our efforts in the past in order to set sail with speed and power. It will mean removing those barnacles on the bottom of our boat that are holding us back!
As Hebrews says, we will need “to throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles and to run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus.”
And so, the skeletons in our closets will need to be exposed.
Our silos and self-interest will need to be broken down.
Our scarcity mentality with its anxiety and fear will need to be challenged.
And our fear of looking silly and our lack of faith to step into new things need to be confronted.
I would like to invite you towards three different kinds of renewal; personal renewal, family renewal, and Kingdom renewal.
Firstly - I long to see our people personally continually renewed by the Spirit of God as individuals.
God wants to transform us so that our lives might radiate the love and power of Christ to the people around us in and outside the church.
This calls for personal resilience. Revitalisation is going to be hard work, and we will need to persevere, to stick at it for the long haul.
Leaders who keep putting those sails up and who refuse to lose confidence, because we know the reward will eventually come.
Will you commit yourself to a journey of personal renewal?
Secondly, I long that our churches and diocese are known for being a family with a healthy culture.
That we are committed to dealing with sin, spiritual toxins and unhealthy behaviour in the church as these impact our ministry and witness.
That our churches find a way to move beyond the hurts of the past – including Covid, the pain of young people leaving, and the frustration of other churches getting our young people. Yes, lament the loss of these things. But rather than get stuck there, take responsibility to get back on deck and trust the God of hope with the future.
I invite you into deeper relationship with each other as parishes, as we together go on this voyage. My prayer is that the journey will be marked by radical manaakitanga. Manaakitanga expressed through kindness and generosity with each other, across our great diocese and beyond. That parishes will be eager to collaborate and partner with each other, laying down one’s interests and preferences for the sake of the gospel and God’s Kingdom. Learning from each other and sharing with each other. Blessing each other and serving the wider Church as we give away God’s gracious gifts with glad and generous hearts. “Spurring one another on toward love and good deeds… and encouraging one another.” For we are in this boat together – he waka eke noa.
And finally, I long that we have a Kingdom renewal. In our Gospel reading (John 21:1-12), Jesus challenges the disciples to throw their nets to the other side. That act of obedience led to great fruitfulness in their fishing venture. The disciples were gifted fishermen but what worked before wasn’t working that night.
I sense that sometimes perhaps we too tend to focus on what we’ve always known and the path of least resistance rather than praying “your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth”.
One of our diocesan values is innovation. I invite you to “throw the nets to the other side”, try new things, break new ground, and express Kingdom creativity as we use everything we’ve got for the mission of making disciples of Jesus.
I invite you to redefine the metrics that count in your ministries. Let’s score differently. Not just the numbers on a Sunday – let us look for measures of the Kingdom, like how many disciples we’re making, how many disciples those disciples are making, and how our local community is noticeably better because of our presence. That we’ll see a movement of intergenerational discipleship groups, utilising the spiritual wisdom of the elderly, while investing in and giving young people a chance to use their gifts and make mistakes. Rather than mourning what we don’t have, let’s be intentional about hearing the words of Jesus and working with what God has given us towards Kingdom fruitfulness.
As one person said in our Season of Discernment:
It may take time, and it may be hard to measure our success as we reorientate. But if we can be kind, patient and trusting as whānau on mission together, then I believe we can find numerous new opportunities to bring the bread and water of Christ to hungry and thirsty people.
I’d like to finish with a whakataukī (Māori proverb):
He waka eke noa
A vehicle upon which everyone may embark
Will you join me in raising our sails so that God is glorified, disciples of Jesus are made, his Kingdom is welcomed as we begin this voyage towards revitalisation?
There may have been a hole in the bucket.
But there is hope in this boat.
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
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