A MAORI MODEL OF CHURCH

THE WORD - A MODEL OF CHURCH FOR AOTEAROA-NEW ZEALAND

     There are different models of being 'church'.  One model is that of
the Worshipping Community.  This model emphasises the liturgy and the
Eucharist and was very much the model of the church before Vatican II. 
Since Vatican II the model has been more that of the People of God,
recognizing our common bond and our dignity in Baptism.  The model I
prefer for Aotearoa-New Zealand is that of the Word.

     This recognizes the importance of the word for the Maori and
expresses the mission of the church.  It is through the word that the
human person is distinguished from every other being and above all
through the word that the human person takes part in the movement of
creation from the nothingness to the fulness of light.

     Moreover the mission of the church, the mission of Jesus, in whom
we find the perfection of being human, is the mission of the word.  Jesus
is the Word that proceeds from the Father in eternity, the Word that was
made flesh and died for us and as church we are called to be one with
Jesus.

     Using this model of church, to be church is to be the word of God,
to bring the gospel, the 'good news' of the kingdom to all people, but
especially to those who have been marginalized in our society.  In the
kingdom their tapu is restored and they too are 'first-born'.  

     One with Jesus, we are to be the gospel word of hope to all people,
especially to the poor and marginalized - to the thief on the cross:
"Today you will be with me in paradise".

     We are to be a healing word, physically and spiritually; we are to
be a reconciling word bringing to people the forgiveness and peace of
Jesus - to the woman caught in adultery: "Has no one condemned you? ... 
Neither do I condemn you".

     We are to be a prophetic voice, preaching the righteousness that
Jesus preached, his tika, pono and aroha, justice, faithfulness and love
which goes right beyond our human righteousness and, so often, will for
revenge.

     One with all the 'non-persons' of this world, in whatever form, we
are called to share the suffering, the shame, and to  be with them even
in their silence.

     To be church in this model of church is to be the voice of all those
whose tapu has been violated, the voice of those who have no voice, a
voice for all those whose blood cries out to God from the earth, with the
blood of Abel; a voice that is not afraid to speak to the world and
challenge those in authority; a voice that, one with Jesus in the mystery
of his Ascension at the right hand of the Father, speaks for them to the
Father.

     If the church is to speak with authority, if its words are to have
mana, it must live the life of the kingdom, in which every person is a
first-born and where authority is given, not to lord it over others but
to serve, where true mana is seen as a giving of self, and the tapu of
the human person is seen as paramount.

     Then, one with Jesus, the church will be a revelation of the mana
of Io, God, who has the fulness of mana, for whom to be is to give.

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