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Archbishop of York joins welcome in Taranaki

Posted on: March 10, 2014 3:34 PM
Celebration: Bishop Helen-Ann Hartley, Archbishop John Sentamu, and Archbishop Philip Richardson
Photo Credit: AnglicanTaonga
Related Categories: Abp Sentamu, bp Hartley, New Zealand, waikato

By Jayson Rhodes for AnglicanTaonga

A new relationship was formed and old ones renewed today at the Taranaki Cathedral Church of St Mary, including a meeting that could never have predicted the next encounter. 

The Rt Rev Dr Helen-Ann Hartley was welcomed to the region and to the cathedral as the newly ordained and installed Bishop of Waikato. 

An older relationship was also renewed as the Most Rev Dr John Sentamu, Archbishop of York, was welcomed back to the cathedral. He had attended its consecration four years ago. 

Archbishop John and his wife Margaret began this latest visit tomNew Zealand by attending the Taranaki service of recognition before heading to Dunedin for reading and study at the University of Otago.

An meeting of 12 years ago also had its followup in the service today. 

Bishop Helen-Ann told how she had attended a discernment weekend, known as a selection conference in the Church of England, and at the pre-ordination gathering Margaret Sentamu was the secretary. 

So their journeys had crossed again in a way neither knew would happen.

Outside the Taranaki Cathedral Archbishop Sentamu spoke to reporters saying how he hoped women would become bishops in the Church of England, with new legislation being taken to its General Synod in July. 

The Archbishop described the new legislation as 'much clearer and simpler’ with a starting principle that all have the right to flourish in life. 

He also added that he could not predict results and that there were many other issues that need the light of the gospel placed on them.

In her sermon, Bishop Helen-Ann spoke of how all are upheld by the eternal light. 

She said the church was not a body that sits in a place of power and privilege. Rather, it is called to the wilderness where there are opportunities for life in Christ intertwined with hope and resurrection.

The Archbishop, with Margaret, will be based in Dunedin at the University of Otago as the Harold Turner Visiting Fellow at the Centre for Theology and Public Issues. 

He will present keynote addresses at the symposium entitled, ‘Poverty, Global and Local’ on March 17. 

He will also visit Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland and join Bishop Kelvin Wright on his hikoi across Otago and Southland to mark 200 years of the gospel in New Zealand.