By Jose Reader
For the first time in almost 40 years, Ohope Marae hosted a valedictory service to recognise seven new Amorangi in February.
Those who graduated the 18-month course with a Certificate in Amorangi Studies were: Mrs Messina Roberts (Rotorua), Mrs Tukua Tuwairua (Hastings), Mr Mitchell Jaram (Whakatane), Mr Tamihana Thrupp (Taneatua), Mr Paora Hunia (Matata), Mr Tumihitai Raerino (Kawerau) and Mr Mervyn Hoete (Onepu). The Amorangi then go on to be ordained within Te Aka Puaho, the Presbyterian Maori Synod.
Unlike ministers, Amorangi don’t receive a stipend of any kind. They find their own employment and support themselves financially, explains the Rev Wayne Te Kaawa. Wayne has co-ordinated and taught the Certificate course at Te Wananga a Rangi, which re-opened last year. He says that while parishes are encouraged to make a contribution toward travel costs, this isn’t always possible.
Amorangi ministry is unique in that its home grown and developed by Te Aka Puaho for Te Aka Puaho, explains Wayne.
Its medium is the Maori language; its setting is Maori culture and society. They [Amorangi] have a great understanding of Maori society, its structure and functioning and where and how ministry should come in.”
Mitch Jaram, one of the graduating students, was inducted and ordained at his home parish – Whakatane Parish – on 31 March. Mr Jaram is excited about his new role, and preached his first sermon as an ordained Amorangi the day after, on Sunday 1 April.
Mitch is interested in chaplaincy, and plans to explore this further, but is currently settling into his parish ministry role. He hopes to spend lots of time in the community and will be speaking with the congregation to see how they would like him to spend his time. In addition to leading Sunday services, he, like other Amorangi, will be doing all the things that ordained ministers do: visiting the sick; visiting people in their homes to offer communion; and taking services and funerals, baptisms and other celebrations.
Self-employed as a builder for many years, Mitch is now in full-time paid employment during the week at a local tertiary training institution, in addition to his ministry role. He says this new job has better hours than being self-employed and enables him to more easily focus on his ministry.
Hearing the graduates describe their passion for ministry during their exit interviews was inspiring for Wayne, he says.
“I listened to three students describe how they had ‘a passion for ministry’. I thought that’s what I want to hear – ‘passion for Ministry’. At that point I knew I had done my job and it was time to let them go for it!”
Amorangi can do everything that a national ordained minister does, but most have no aspirations in this area, says Wayne – “they simply want to minister in their own communities, iwi and marae”.
For three of the graduands, Mervyn Hoete, Paora Hunia and Tumihitai Raerino, the February valedictory service was followed by an ordination service at Hahuru Marae in Onepu, which was attended by around 200 people. Wayne and Te Aka Puaho Moderator Millie Te Kaawa conducted the ecumenical service.
As each person was presented with their ministerial gowns and stoles, family members came forward and sang in what Wayne describes as a very moving ceremony.
With 11 students confirmed for the next Certificate course starting in April, Amorangi ministry is showing resurgence in spite of the challenges presented by candidates having to fund both their own training and ongoing ministry costs.