wfn.org | [ENS] Indigenous Anglicans focus on gifts offered to Communion

["Matthew Davies" <mdavies@episcopalchurch.org>]

Daybook, from Episcopal News Service

April 21, 2005 -- Thursday Thesis: Meeting People of Purpose

Indigenous Anglicans focus on gifts offered to Communion

By Pat McCaughan

[ENS, PALA, California] -- The Anglican Indigenous Network (AIN) kicked
off
its 9th biannual gathering here with the traditional Native Hawaiian
sounding of the conch shell and water purification rite, a Native
American
smudging ceremony and festive Eucharist to celebrate the multitude of
gifts
which indigenous people offer the worldwide Anglican Communion.

About 45 delegates from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Hawaii and the
continental United States gathered April 9-15 at the Pala Casino and
Resort
Spa in San Diego County to discuss the roles of indigenous women, youth,
elders, clergy and theological education in the church, said Malcolm
Naea
Chun, AIN Secretary General.

"This meeting has underscored for us the great potential and
possibilities
that we have to offer the Communion," said Chun, a researcher at the
University of Hawaii and a member of the Diocese of Hawaii's commission
for
Native American ministries.

Janine Tinsley-Roe, national church missioner for Native American
Ministries
in the Episcopal Church, said the biannual gatherings offer support and
community for those engaging indigenous ministry.

"We're dealing with the same sort of issues everywhere," Tinsley-Roe
said.
"We're looking at ways the church can help with education, with
leadership
roles within the church, with women and youth, and how we can become
stronger advocates. We want to offer support so we're not feeling so
left
out of the loop of the larger church. Hopefully, what will be different
is
the response we receive."

Chun agreed: "The issues aren't just with indigenous youth, but with all
youth. The issues have always been how to communicate with each other,
how
to get more young people into Holy Orders, as well as our own issue of
how
to get our voice heard and listened to and something done about our
concerns."

During the six-day gathering the group viewed the video "Topahdewin: The
Gladys Cook Story," about a 74-year-old woman originally from the Sioux
Valley Reserve who now resides in Manitoba. At nine years old, Cook was
sexually abused while at a residential school for native peoples
operated by
the Canadian government and the Anglican Church of Canada. The schools
were
run from the mid-19th century until the 1970s when the church ended its
involvement with them.

"It was the second viewing only of the video, which premiered at
Winnipeg's
IMAX theatre on April 5," said Donna Bomberry, a Cayuga of the Iroquois
Federation, who coordinates indigenous ministry for the Anglican Church
of
Canada.

Bomberry said that about one-half of the $25 million settlement
established
to compensate survivors of residential school abuse has been funded thus
far.

She characterized the video, produced by the Anglican Video Network as
part
of the Canadian church's commitment to memorializing survivor stories,
as
healing and hopeful. "Gladys is very much loved. She has been honored
many
times for her work with people who have suffered abuse or from drug or
alcohol addictions."

Chun said Cook's story resonates for "everyone in this room. It was a
very
heavy and challenging day. Some of us have been kept silent for a long
time.
It reminded us that, beyond the celebratory things, beyond the rejoicing
and
coming together, that we struggle yet both within and without the
church."

Delegates included representatives of the Maori people of New Zealand,
Torres Strait Islanders from Australia, native Hawaiians, Native
Americans
from the continental United States, as well as Canada. A frequent theme
discussed was incorporating traditional rites into worship services and
cultivating indigenous male and female clergy and leaders.

"There are many people who can't worship the way they would like to
worship," Chun said. "They don't have priests who look like them, who
talk
like them. As a result, the church loses people."

The gathering approved a series of resolutions calling for development
of
culturally-appropriate and language-appropriate liturgies for a
diversity of
indigenous experiences; a way to articulate diverse theologies and also
to
honor the experiences of indigenous peoples; for greater financial and
other
resources and support for both youth and indigenous ministries and
incorporation of youth in all levels of church activity, including
planning
and programming.

Also discussed were proposals to adopt the designation as "4th World
Peoples," a term credited to the Rev. George Tinker, a Lutheran pastor
and
professor of American Indian Cultures and Traditions at the Iliff School
of
Theology in Denver. The term is meant to describe how indigenous people
connected to the land are now being forced to use the land for economic
reasons in mining and other jobs and to help others recognize the needs
and
identities of indigenous people.

Other recommendations considered included establishment of an indigenous
province or a "church without borders," Chun said.

A full list of resolutions passed is included below.

The delegations enjoyed a cultural exchange with the Pala, who include
more
than 900 Cupeño and Luiseño Indians, the largest population of
Native
Americans in Southern California's San Diego County. The Palas'
forebears
were evicted in 1903 from their ancestral village of Cupa, now called
Warner
Springs. By order of the U.S. Supreme Court, the Cupeños were marched
40
miles to the 12,500-acre reservation in Pala, joining a small band of
Luiseños.

Members of AIN began meeting 18 years ago, Chun said. The group, which
was
recognized at the Episcopal Church's General Convention in Phoenix in
1991,
is composed of indigenous people committed to the Anglican tradition
while
affirming traditional spirituality and full partnership with indigenous
people. Its aim is to contribute vision and gifts to transform the life
of
the Christian community.

The next AIN gathering is planned for Canada in 2007.

-- The Rev. Patricia McCaughan is senior correspondent for the Episcopal
News Service.

Resolutions

Indigenous Urban Ministry

Acknowledging that the urban migration of indigenous peoples often
results
in their disconnection from their home lands, people and traditions
resulting in the consequent need for ministry and outreach among
indigenous
peoples living in urban areas;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT: We at AIN PALA 2005 urge our respective Provinces
and
Dioceses to help encourage and resource urban ministry and outreach
among
indigenous peoples.

Archbishop of Canterbury

Acknowledging the role of Rowan, the Archbishop of Canterbury for
appointing
an indigenous person, Dr. Jenny Te Paa of Aotearoa, to serve on the
Lambeth
Commission on Communion, we express our desire to remain members of the
Anglican Communion and to work in unity for the advancement of
indigenous
mission and ministries.

BE IT RESOLVED THAT: We at AIN PALA 2005 commend the Windsor Report as a
way
forward together, despite our differences of opinion over matters of
justice
and morality.

Indigenous Ministry and an Indigenous Province

Acknowledging the need to enable minion and ministry to the indigenous
peoples, and that the AIN Rorotrua 2003 resolution called for the
establishment of an Indigenous Province in the Pacific basin, and the
vision
of our AIN elders calls for a "Church without Borders;"

BE IT RESOLVED THAT: We at AIN PALA 2005 wish to develop an enablement
plan
for indigenous world mission and ministry in the Pacific basin. We
intend to
exercise our right to self-determination, by considering stories,
structures, processes, visions, mission and values appropriate for
indigenous peoples, and we will appoint a working group to begin work on
developing a plan, and who will report back to the AIN 2007 gathering in
Canada.

World Mission

Acknowledging that indigenous ministry has a mission not just to itself,
but
to the whole world, and the Archbishop of Canterbury's letter inherently
encourages the AIN to share its gifts, and Bishop Carol Gallagher's
recommendation of sending an indigenous evangelism mission to England
during
the 2007 commemoration of the Jamestown Covenant as "the roots of our
Faith
stories;"

BE IT RESOLVED that we at AIN PALA 2005 wish to send a team to England
in
2009 comprising from all of the AIN membership, and we will appoint a
working group to finalize a draft mission plan for discussion at the AIN
2007 gathering in Canada.

Healing Ministry

Acknowledging the need for appropriate forms of healing ministry among
colonized indigenous peoples;

BE IT RESOLVED that the AIN PALA 2005 wish to develop appropriate forms
of
indigenous ministry for prayer, the sharing of healing stories,
reconciliation and restorative justice seeking wholeness, and a working
group will be formed to develop and to implement this ministry.

Gwich'in Nation and the Arctic Drilling

Acknowledging the sacred connection of Land, Language and Culture is a
gift
from God, receiving its authority from God; that authority has been
recognized by churches and nations for centuries, most recently in the
United Nations Draft Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples;
the
threat of the development of oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
is a
treat to the Aboriginal usage, right, and life of our brothers and
sisters
in Christ, of the Gwich'in Nation; AIN affirms our aboriginal rights
rooted
in the truth of God and in the inherent rights of all people; in the God
ordained living connection of the peoples of Mother Earth, our
environments;
and the living connection of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the
Porcupine Caribou Herd, and the Gwich'in Nation;

BE IT RESOLVED that AIN PALA 2005 supports the Gwich'in Nation of North
America in their opposition to oil development in the Arctic National
Refuge, and urges the churches and nations of this earth to protect us
all
by looking to protect the Refuge.

Youth Ministry and Concerns

Acknowledging that indigenous youth have an active voice at all levels,
such
as the development and practice of liturgies and programs, that
meaningful
relationships with elders include mentoring through the sharing of
stories
to provide guidance support and growth so to develop a meaningful
dialogue
through sharing and listening;

BE IT RESOLVED that AIN members support and provide resources,
particularly
funding, for an annual indigenous youth gathering of United States Youth
and
the AIN youth delegates to maintain a continuity of youth participation;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we reaffirm the resolutions and reports
of
the pervious AIN Youth meeting in ROTORUA 2003.

Concerns of Indigenous Elders

BE IT RESOLVED that the Elder group of AIN PALA 2005 calls for the
support
of meaning full dialogue and programs with indigenous youth of AIN, to
put
forth an action plan for change, ministry and growth which includes
funding
and logistical support for an annual gathering of both the United States
indigenous youth and the youth delegates of AIN,

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the progress of this plan will be
supported
and monitored by AIN Elder Delegates Frank Oberly and Gloria Moses for a
report to the AIN 2007 gathering in Canada.

Church without Borders

Acknowledging that AIN has for several years held intense discussion
concerning the concept of a "church without borders" as a means of
brining
the message of reconciliation and forgiveness, of unity and hope, and a
future for indigenous members of the churches of Canada and the United
States of America, we have witnessed recent events in both our churches
that
call out for this concept to be seriously considered and discussed on
greater and deeper levels of our churches for all people and members of
our
churches;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT, AIN calls upon the House of Bishops of the churches
in
Canada and the United States of America to recognize this concept of a
church without borders as a viable means of bringing reconciliation,
forgiveness, unity and hope for a future for the indigenous peoples and
all
members of our churches, and will expand the depth of discussion of this
concept at the national and diocesan levels of the churches in Canada
and
the United States.

Indigenous Theological Issues and Concerns

Acknowledging our belief that the following will enrich our traditions
and
relationship with the Trinitarian aspects of a 'Living God' who was, and
is,
always among us;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT we need to develop a living pedagogical model that
will
enable indigenous communities to articulate the diverse theologies that
are
grounded within those communities; develop these tools and or models
that
enable indigenous communities to create liturgies that express their
unique
spiritualities; develop a "gospel lens" that is appropriate to each of
our
indigenous languages, cultures and life experiences; strongly urge the
non-indigenous church to also develop a "gospel lens;" develop through
the
text and traditions of the Anglican communion a post-colonial and
post-modern critique, that transforms the colonial legacy that has been
imposed upon us; to believe that we have a responsibility and obligation
to
the future, to those generations who are children now ad those yet to be
born, not to repeat the destruction, damage and cultural genocide of our
colonial past; to assist the wider church to be sensitive of the
pressures
upon indigenous leaders, both l!
ay and ordained, who walk the path between the two worlds, i.e., the
world
of the church and their own respective worlds; to urge the Anglican
Church,
in all of its Anglican ministry units throughout the world, to establish
clearly defined and accessible resource, including finance from national
churches, to undertake effective professional and curriculum development
and
to enable appropriate exchanges of indigenous educators and students
within
the Anglican Communion, and to urge the Anglican Communion to honestly
and
seriously engage in cross-cultural exchange with their respective
indigenous
communities.

In Support of Mr. Michael Tamihere, Youth Representative to the Anglican
Consultative Council

Acknowledging the appointment of Mr. Michael Tamihere from the Province
of
New Zealand and a member of the Pihopatanga o Aoteroa as a youth
representative to the Anglican Consultative Council;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT AIN PALA 2005 congratulates, recognizes and supports
Mr.
Michael Tamihere as voice for indigenous youth at the Anglican
Consultative
Council and as a liaison for the Anglican Indigenous Network.

___________________________
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