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Amorangi minister numbers to double

By Heeni Collins

Te Aka Puaho has accepted a record nine people for Amorangi ministry training this year. Previous years have seen only two or three apply, and there are currently only seven Amorangi nationally.

The director of the training, Rev Wayne Te Kaawa, believes that the success of Te Aka Puaho’s fiftieth anniversary celebrations in March helped inspire people towards ministry. Over 200 people attended the celebrations in Ohope, which included special commemorations and reminiscences about the Very Rev J G Laughton and his wife, Horiana.

“People saw that the church was very much still alive and wanted to be part of it,” he says.

Amorangi ministry training provides a new level of understanding and responsibility for those already serving in their parish communities. The Amorangi are nominated by their communities, and after a year of part-time training (300 hours in total), they are ordained and can administer the sacraments like other ministers.

Mr Te Kaawa has developed the training programme with advice from the School of Ministry. It includes pastoral theology, systematic theology, Christology, and the theology of ministry. Instead of learning about the European history of the church, Amorangi trainees will learn about the history of Christianity in Aotearoa New Zealand. They will gain experience within a range of different Christian denominations.

Trainees visit Te Aka Puaho parishes throughout the North Island, and have an intensive five-day training experience at Ruatahuna and Maungapohatu in the remote Urewera ranges.

Amorangi are expected to return to the parish that nominated them and work full-time in ministry. Experience as an Amorangi can also facilitate entry into training for full-time stipend ministry, which can involve being situated in any parish.

While Amorangi have historically received some funding to cover costs such as travel, this has recently been withdrawn due to financial constraints within the church. This makes the high number of applicants even more admirable.

Around 20 people expressed interest in Amorangi ministry this year, but many postponed their involvement, and Mr Te Kaawa believes similar numbers may also apply for the next intake.

He hopes the Church will eventually be able to provide more support for Amorangi.

<typohead type="2">The Amorangi traines are:</typohead>

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Kerry Cameron of Kahungunu - Opotiki parish

Tumihitai Raerino of Tuwharetoa - Putauaki parish

Mervyn Hoete of Tuwharetoa - Putauaki parish

Paora Hunia of Tuwharetoa - Putauaki parish

Mitchell Jaram of Ngati Awa/Whanau a Apanui - Whakatane parish

Tamihana Thrupp of Tuhoe - Whakatane parish

Tukua Tuwairua of Ngai Te Rangi - Heretaunga parish

Messina Roberts of Tuhoe - Rotorua parish

Rewi Manihera of Tuhoe - Ruatahuna parish.

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