Epistle from Yearly Meeting 2006
Epistle from Yearly Meeting Aotearoa/New Zealand of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) 2006 Te Haahi Tuuhauwiri
Greetings to Friends everywhere from Yearly Meeting Aotearoa/New Zealand, July 2006
Friends from all parts of Aotearoa New Zealand, representing all Monthly Meetings, came together in Nelson, at the northern edge of the South Island of our country. The gathering of 111 Friends was blessed with the presence of a significant group of Young Friends representing the 50 active and 300 "dormant" Aotearoa New Zealand Young Friends known to be somewhere scattered about the world. These young people, who are embarking with initiative on new ways to relate to the Yearly Meeting, have shown us an example of love and co-operation. What future can we offer our Young Friends? The world is starving for faith, hope and love in these times of political intrigue, careless use of resources and threats of disaster from climate change, particularly relevant here in the South Pacific, where entire small nations are endangered. Quaker Peace and Service Aotearoa New Zealand, working independently and, in some areas, in conjunction with other aid agencies, is playing a part in assisting some of those who are affected in these situations.
Our guest speaker, Jeanette Fitzsimons, co-leader of the Green Party, brought home to us the fact of our personal as well as corporate responsibility in the right use of resources and lightening our footprint on the planet. We need to take time considering our consumption and to find ways of using less of everything. Our testimony of integrity extends to integrity with the environment.
We are called to maintain our commitment to the Treaty of Waitangi signed by the Maori (indigenous) people and the new settlers in 1840. The situation of Maori has changed much in the intervening years, but the promises made so long ago have not been fulfilled, and demand our new understanding and commitment.
The presence of overseas visitors and the reports of international Quaker activities have made us aware of our bonds with Friends everywhere.
Considering how to mark the centenary in 2009 of the first general gathering of Friends in this country, we have begun to explore conveying our message by vigorous outreach and by historical study. Outreach is happening already, and needs to flow into a warm welcome for newcomers, thoughtful ways of enabling them and others to learn our faith and practice, and integration of us all into the life of the Meeting, irrespective of formal membership.
Our Questions and Counsel #A6 asks: "Do we try to live truly as a society of friends in community with one another and in communion with God?" Continuing spiritual nurture is needed at a deeper level as is learning what it is to be Friends. We can all learn from and teach one another in the places where we are and through visits to share our gifts.
As Friends, we invite individuals to join with others thus becoming a society, facing life with honesty, and courageously open ourselves to ourselves, to each other and to God, always seeking to put love into action. This ultimately helps free us from the chains of self-interest, personal motives and attachments, not defending our particular situation, and daring, with all the corresponding risks and sacrifices, to reach for the infinite spirit and light within.
Llyn Richards
Yearly Meeting Clerk