epiScope

For the children

New organisation will combat Maori Child Abuse
1 April 2008

Senior Anglican Minister Dr Hone Kaa has announced the establishment of a new charitable trust that will promote the wellbeing of Maori children. The organisation is called Te Kahui Mana Ririki.

“Te Kahui Mana Ririki (TKMR) emerged out of last year’s Maori Child Abuse Summit, Nga Mana Ririki, which I convened in Auckland in November,” Dr Kaa said. “In terms of the disproportionately high rates of Maori Child Abuse, the hui was a watershed. Maori want to take responsibility for this critical issue and eliminate Maori Child Abuse.”

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Localism

Foreigners as bishops irk Anglicans
By Jarrod Booker
New Zealand Herald (NZ)
March 22, 2008

Many within the Anglican Church are disillusioned over the appointment of foreigners ahead of "home-grown leaders" to two of its most senior posts.

The church leadership says the appointments of Canadian Victoria Matthews and American David Rice as bishops in two of the largest New Zealand dioceses - Christchurch and Waiapu respectively - came about through a thorough, democratic process and not as part of a trend.

But critics believe the selections are disaffecting both those aspiring to leadership and those in the church pews when there are strong New Zealand candidates available.

"What is it about New Zealand culture that overlooks the local with the good track record, in favour of someone who knows sweet little," says a Canterbury archdeacon, Mike Hawke.

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American expat now NZ bishop

American will be the new Bishop of Waiapu
Gisborne (NZ) Herald
12 March 2008

Continuing their reputation for pioneering, the Anglican diocese of Waiapu has made a bold choice in electing American David Rice as its new Bishop.

Ten years ago Bishop-elect Rice, 46, was a Methodist minister.

He sees his election as evidence of a growing desire within the Anglican Church to see the next generation of leaders begin to emerge.

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Maori woman takes mother's body

Maori woman takes mother's body
A New Zealand woman has snatched her mother's body from a hearse, sparking a bitter family row over what kind of funeral the 76-year-old should have.
BBC
6 March 2008

Ivy May Ngahooro died on Friday and her will expressed a desire to be buried with "Anglican involvement".

But her estranged daughter wanted a Maori ceremony, so grabbed the body as it was due to be buried on Wednesday.

But attempts to conduct a Maori burial have been blocked by a court injunction taken out by Mrs Ngahooro's niece.

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Mother died in curse ritual

Attempt to lift makutu led to woman's drowning
JENNY LING and EMILY WATT
The Dominion Post
12 November 2007

A Wainuiomata woman died during her family's attempt to exorcise a Maori curse, with the mother of two drowning in a lounge as up to 40 relatives watched.

Janet Moses, 22, died in a ritual at a relative's house as family members tried to drive out a makutu (curse).

The family believed the curse was linked to a relative stealing a taonga. Another relative becoming sick was also blamed on the curse.
…
Dr Hone Kaa, an archdeacon of the Maori Anglican Church, said he was last involved in a makutu-lifting ceremony 12 years ago, but said they were still commonplace.

"It's a very difficult process. I'm personally very wary of removing them."

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News from all over

Anglican Bishop accuses Govt. of interference
By Sam Strangeways
Bermuda Royal Gazette
November 8, 2007

The Anglican Bishop has accused Government of interfering in church affairs in an "entirely inappropriate" way over the issuing of work permits to non-Bermudian clergymen.

Bishop Ewan Ratteray has reignited a long-running row with the Department of Immigration about the issue in his November newsletter to churchgoers — and hit out at some members of his own flock whose behaviour he describes as "reprehensible".

Bishop Ratteray, who said relations with current Immigration Minister Derrick Burgess were greatly improved, writes that the Anglican Church's relationship with Government with respect to appointments to parishes has long been a "matter of deep concern" to him.

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Archbishop demands Govt apology for raids
By DAN EATON
The Press (NZ)
7 November 2007

New Zealand's top ranking Anglican archbishop has waded into the row over last month's anti-terror raids, comparing police treatment of Maori to the persecution of the Jews in ancient Egypt.

Archbishop Brown Turei, leader of the Maori strand of the church and the most senior of New Zealand's three Anglican primates, called for the Government and police to apologise for the way the raids were executed.

He likened the Terrorism Suppression Act used in the raids to efforts early last century to assimilate Maori.

"This is Pharaoh and the Hebrews in Egypt all over again," Turei said.

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Uganda: Bank Officials Arrest Impersonator
John Augustine Emojong
The Monitor (Kampala)
7 November 2007

SECURITY officers at Orient Bank Kampala on November 1, arrested Sekisambu Godfrey alias "Joshua" for impersonating the Chaplain of the Bishop of Bukedi Diocese, Rev. Joshua Iroota.

Godfrey Sekisambu from Nfufu Zone in Zaana,Wakiso district was after his arrest detained at CPS Kampala. Sekisambu who was also in possession of a fake ID purporting to be a driver of Global Transporters used Postal Add ress 70 Pallisa in his transactions.

Tororo District CID Officer Mr. Stephen Akol told The Daily Monitor that Sekisambu communicated to Canon Keith Price from the Anglican Church in UK claiming to be Rev. Joshua Iroota from Bukedi Diocese. Canon Keith is a friend and development partner of Bukedi Diocese.

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What about the children?

Nigeria: Unsafe Abortion - Need to Find Lasting Solution
Francis Nwosu and Emmanuel Ugoji
This Day (Lagos)
22 October 2007

Imagine a gang of armed robbers held you at gunpoint while your wife or daughter is being gang-raped in your home. About a month later, the rape victim tells you she is pregnant.

You are thus confronted with several difficult questions. What would you do? Keep the pregnancy? Abort it? Have the baby and keep it or give it up for adoption?

This scenario played out recently at a media workshop on female reproductive health and rights. Abortion has become a highly contentious issue in Nigeria. The pro-life and pro-choice have their strong points.
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Mrs Nkechi Okoronkwo, an Anglican and mother of four does not feel any different. "It is better to have that pregnancy terminated than sacrifice your marriage on the altar of an illegitimate child. "Culturally, any child by such a means is illegitimate. Forget what the law says. "Keep the child and remain for the rest of your life under the trauma of being the mother of an armed robber's child. The psychological burden of bearing such a child will be too much for any woman to bear," she said.

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Summit called on 'genocide' of Maori kids
The Dominion Post (NZ)
23 October 2007

The death of Maori children at the hands of their parents and caregivers is genocide, Anglican minister Hone Kaa says.

Yesterday, he announced that a summit would be held in Auckland next month to tackle the issue of Maori child abuse. He has invited Maori from Waikato, Auckland and Northland.

The summit would be called Nga Mana Ririki – the Power of the Little Ones.

"Tamariki Maori are more likely to be abused and killed by their whanau than any other group in the country. It is time to stop this genocide," Dr Kaa said.

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New life

Harvey church garden grows food, hope
By Jim Hook
Chicago Sun-Times/dailysouthtown.com
July 2, 2007

Tomatoes, greens, cucumbers and peppers rise from the fertile soil of a new community garden in Harvey.

The vegetables grow alongside another tender cultivation -- hope.

"This garden has become a symbol of inspiration for people," said Rev. Rod Reinhart, pastor of St. Clement's Episcopal Church, 15245 S. Loomis Ave. "This garden gives people a message of love, order and respect for the entire community.

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Churches see their mission to care for creation
By Angela Gregory
The New Zealand Herald
July 02, 2007

Churches are urging their congregations to take action on climate change and other green issues.

Anglican, Catholic and other denominations are trying to address concerns about environmental challenges caused by global warming.

An Anglican diocesan climate change action group in Auckland is, for instance, running educational programmes on faith responses to "global climate change and the ecological crisis".

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In service of a higher power
Former Hydro One CEO finds new life in God
By LINDA LEATHERDALE, TORONTO SUN
July 2, 2007

Forgive thine enemies is what Rev. Ellie believes in.

Rev. Ellie is Eleanor Clitheroe, the Hydro One CEO who five years ago was ceremoniously fired for allegedly blowing company money on an extravagant lifestyle, including eight memberships to exclusive clubs and some $330,000 in limo rides for her kids and nanny over three years, despite having a $40,000-a-year car allowance.

Clitheroe claims Hydro One's board approved the spending, and her $30-million wrongful dismissal suit is still in the courts.

In an interview, Clitheroe says it was God who helped her through this trying ordeal that left her feeling broken and marginalized.

And so, she's now reaching out to help others, who also feel broken and marginalized.

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Teens on right path
Church program aids troubled tribal youths
By Cristina Madrid, Correspondent
Whittier (CA) Daily News
7/2/2007

WHITTIER - The second eldest of six siblings, 16-year-old Garrick Logg enjoys playing guitar and hanging out with his friends in his hometown of Holbrook, Ariz.

Taking a break from band practice, he along with 14 other teenagers from their Navajo reservation, are looking at new ways to live life without alcohol, drugs and jail in their future, said the Rev. Earl Gibson of Whittier's St. Matthias Episcopal Church.

Once a gang leader, Logg is now leading his church's youth group, which Wednesday served soup to homeless people at St. Matthias.

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Maori archbishop joins Vietnam veterans' claim

Bishop wages war for Maori vets
Wednesday June 06, 2007
The New Zealand Herald

Archbishop Whakahuihui Vercoe of Rotorua has made a claim - reportedly for $170 million - to the Waitangi Tribunal backing Maori Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange.

Wairoa lawyer Paul Harman lodged the claim with the tribunal in Wellington on behalf of the archbishop, who served as a chaplain in Vietnam in 1968, and the Vietnam Veterans Action Group, representing about 2000 Maori Vietnam veterans and their families.

Archbishop Vercoe is the former head of the Anglican Church in NZ.

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