“As Pilgrims of the Spirit, the spaces in between are not necessarily empty. Relationships can deepen there. We can be changed there,” writes Moderator Rev Salesi Faupula.
I have described myself as a “colourful mess”.
It is probably the simplest way to describe an identity that has never fitted neatly into one box. Born in Tonga, raised for the first 10 years among Yolngu people in north-east Arnhem Land, and then growing up on the northern beaches of Sydney.
As a teenager, I returned to Tonga thinking, this is where I belong. Then I opened my mouth, unable to speak the language properly, and quickly discovered it wasn’t that simple.
Over time came the realisation that there was no need to choose one identity over another. Tongan, Australian and the deep influence of an Aboriginal upbringing all belong within the story. At times they sit comfortably together, but other times there is tension.
Maybe that is why I have often found myself drawn to the middle.
Not because the middle is always safe or comfortable. Often it isn’t. But there is something about that space, between different cultures, experiences, convictions and ways of seeing, that has shaped much of my life.
Maybe there is grace in the middle.
Not the middle as compromise. Not avoiding difficult questions. And certainly not sitting comfortably on the fence while others suffer.
Rather, the middle as a space where we are willing to stay with one another long enough to listen, wrestle, pray and discern.
Acts 15 gives us an interesting picture of this.
The followers of Jesus faced serious disagreement about the inclusion of Gentiles. People held strong convictions about faith, Scripture, tradition and belonging.
There was debate. People spoke from their experience. Scripture was considered. And somehow, they stayed in the conversation.
Eventually came these words: “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us …” (Acts 15:28)
They weren’t simply trying to work out who had won. Together they were listening for where the Spirit might be leading.
That feels important for the Church today.
The Uniting Church has been criticised for taking a long time to make decisions.
Our processes are far from perfect. But underneath them is something worth holding onto.
The person who disagrees with us is not necessarily getting in the way. Their voice might help us hear something we have missed.
Of course, grace in the middle does not mean the answer is always halfway between two positions. There is no gracious halfway point between racism and human dignity. Silence can protect injustice rather than peace.
Grace does not ask us to give up our convictions.
Maybe the deeper question is: What are our convictions making of us?
Can truth be spoken without losing sight of the person in front of us? Can justice be sought without turning another human being into an enemy? Can we leave enough room for the Spirit to speak through someone we did not expect?
Perhaps the middle is less about a position and more about a posture.
The story of Jesus and the disciples in the boat comes to mind. The storm is real. The disciples are frightened. But Jesus is there in the boat with them.
Our world has plenty of storms. So does the Church.
Maybe our witness isn’t that we agree about everything, but that in Christ we keep learning how to stay in the boat together, speaking honestly, listening deeply, seeking justice, making room for disagreement, and listening for the Spirit.
As Pilgrims of the Spirit, the spaces in between are not necessarily empty.
Relationships can deepen there. We can be changed there.
And somewhere in the middle, we may discover that grace was already there waiting for us.
Rev Salesi Faupula
Moderator, Synod of Victoria and Tasmania
