Diversity Claim

A Rejection of the Chains of Conformity

We will not wear the uniformity of collusion, with powers of dominance and habits of denigration.

We will not push people beyond the margins of acceptability by means of economic imperialism.

We will not climb our way to mountain-top experiences by treading on the dreams and hopes of our sisters and brothers and non-binary cousins.

We will not be inclusive by identifying the people we like and the people like us, who think and talk and know within the polite etiquette of our zones of comfort.

We will name and sever the chains that enslave us to systems of spiritual decay, of judgmentalism and nastiness.

We will cast off the garments of protections that prevent us from solidarity with the humble and vulnerable...

 

An Affirmation of Diversity

We will claim space for those who have been squeezed into corners 

and those who find themselves on the edges of community.

We will listen for and ponder the silences of those with no voice. 

We will seek out those who have not been heard 

and those who have been heard but ignored.

We will attend to those who need the time to speak their truths, 

acknowledging that we may need to learn new ways to hear 

and develop new languages for understanding.

We affirm our need for the lacuna-shaped lives in our global communities. 

We pray for new dimensions of knowing.

We work towards a vision that casts us beyond mere solidarity 

into the eruption of interaction and collaboration.

We submit our own principalities and powers to work to dispossess and displace ourselves, 

so that our proclamation of faith might be characterized with integrity and mutuality.

We claim our place as the Children of the God of quirkiness and colour, dancing and innovation, fullness and flourishing...

AMEN

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CWM Litany-Confession

Death-dealing systems 

From legalistic judgement-types, without compassion: 

Deliver us, merciful God. 

From greedy deceptions, depriving others of truth and goodness: 

Deliver us, merciful God. 

From bullies who dehumanize, who disrespect your holy imaging: 

Deliver us, merciful God. 

From killers of beauty and those who rape Mother Earth: 

Deliver us, merciful God. 

From haters and corrupters, disregarding decency and generosity: 

Deliver us, merciful God. 

From evil, masked in smiles and cloaked in false promises: 

Deliver us, merciful God. 

Grant us the Wisdom of your Spirit, 

to live into kindness, insight, integrity, encouragement, 

fruitfulness, truth-sharing and true love. 

May we learn to turn from the darkness and glow with your light.

Amen

Shame

In the Council of World Mission's Pacific Women's Gathering of 2025, held at Malua College in Samoa, women shared stories of shame and trauma. Being divorced or abused or raped or barren or widowed can carry stigma. Shame eats away at the soul, becoming an obstacle to enjoying the fulness of God's grace.

______

Hanuj (Rotuman: story!)

Ma (Rotuman: ... AND!....)

Come, let us tell stories!

We will tell truth, and in the truth-telling, we will invite peace to meet with our pain.

We will share journeys and hold one another in the dance of life.

We will move towards a promised freedom, so we can share a better ending, a new life.

Dancing with one another, we will find new purpose.

Dancing, we will find new partners.

Dancing, we will find a new respect, to replace the shame.

 

 

Persevere (a song for WCRC)

 Persevere = to try to do or continue doing something in a determined way, despite difficulties

V.1

When the walls are too high to climb, we will dig below the base.

When the guiding lines seem hard to see, we will find the merest trace.

When all hope seems lost and we bear your cross

We will call upon your grace

We lay down our fear, for we’re called to persevere…

Ch.

Go on - living strong,

By your will, we will serve you still

Rise up, fed by bread and cup

Spirit’s song calls us to belong

Overcoming ill, as our souls are filled

So we will persevere… 

V.2

When the tasks seem too complex and tough, we will share the load.

When we’ve done our best, but we cannot rest, we will take the road.

When we find new friends to share our part

We will sing to bond our minds and hearts

We ask you to come near, for we’re called to persevere…

An adaptation of 'God bless us and disturb us'

Some years ago, I came across the Wild Goose Adaptations of Christmas Carols. Once I heard and sang their lyrics, full of social justice connected to traditional spiritual expression, my attitude to Christmas changed. I became less sentimental and more urgent about the Gospel message. This adaptation of John Bell's version of 'God rest you merry gentlemen' has come many years later, as I see the opportunity to connect the timeless story of the birth of the Saviour with the present needs of the world in 2024...

 

God bless us and disturb us as we celebrate the feast

when he who ranked the highest come to earth to be the least.

Lest we consign to Satan’s power 

those who still have no peace

O come, Christ the Saviour from below, from above

and infect the depths of earth with heavenly love!

When Palestinian people long for place to sleep at night

Will refugees be welcome and supported in their plight?

Where war-machines refrain from taking funds 

to build their might:

O come, Christ the Saviour from below, from above

and infect the depths of earth with heaven’y love!

While traffickers of people steal their innocents for gain,

When civil wars and revolutions come with untold pain,

Where hope lies in a drink, a shot 

and life runs down the drain

O come, Christ the Saviour from below, from above

and infect the depths of earth with heaven’y love!

In Bethlehem, Johannesburg, London and Singapore

the star is needed now as much as ever from before

We celebrate Emmanuel – God come, fulfill the Law

O come, Christ the Saviour from below, from above

and infect the depths of earth with heaven’y love!

Singapore Silent Night

​Christmas in Singapore is full of city lights.

Based on the traditional carol,

this was written for singing at a CWM Christmas party in singapore

- keeping the spirit of Christmas as a Jesus birthday party song!

 

Silent Night, Holy Night​,

City lights, shining bright

Sounds of singing will herald the babe,

Tables laden see feasting arrayed​.

Christ, the Saviour, is born

 

Silent Night, Holy Night,

Fam’ly feast: Faces bright​,

Gospel stories resound in the air,

Friendly greetings to show that we care​:

Christ, the Saviour, is born…

 

Noisy night, joyous night, ​

Take your fill of Heaven’s delight​
Sparkling star will lighten the way,
As we celebrate Jesus’ birthday:​
Jesus, light of the world!…

(c) 2024, A.Koh-Butler, Singapore.

Looking back on 2024

As I look back on 2024, I am amazed at how you can feel so young and so old at the same time! Partly, I just feel like I have so much to learn and wonder how I can ever acquire the knowledge I need to undertake the tasks I have to perform. Partly, I feel the complexity of life, with new apps, new AI influences, new politics, new values... of course, many of these are not that new, but they feel new to me.

I miss my family heaps. It is no surprise, as I dont see them often and they live full lives too. I was glad to spend some time with Janai early in the year (and she popped in for a meal on her way through to Penang) and Emryn and Kathryn came to Singapore for a visit. I met up with Ann and Chris Perrin for a few days in Sweden and Denmark and saw a number of UCA peeps at the world Methodist Council Conference in Sweden. I am very much looking forward to seeing the two grandsons (14+16) who are due to come just after Christmas. I get to show them Singapore!

The year was full and rich. It was a Council for World Mission Assembly year, which was held in Durban (Sth Africa) in June. This meant lots of prep, as I was the Worship Coordinator and general troubleshooter... all of that in addition to my regular gig of being the Education-Formation-Empowerment AND Pacific Mission Secretary. The Pacific Pre-Assembly involved Member Churches and Observers from 12 Church Denominations and working with excellent colleagues and resource people. The Assembly itself was a major production, involving choirs, liturgists, writers, preachers, leaders, dramas, instrumentalists and many more... it was both exhausting and exhilarating at times. All the multi and intercultural experience of years in the Uniting Church proved to be a great preparation and it was lovely to catch up with a few UCA friends there too (Monica, Sef and Cliff).

I was glad to have a chapter published in Filipe Maias "Decolonizing Wesleyan Theology" along with my friend Lilian Siwila (Wipf and Stock, 2024) and some other articles and some contributions to devotionals, such as With Love to the World (thanks John) and contributing to the World Communion of Reformed Churches Theology working Paper.... just trying to keep a bit of beyond-work writing going, although it is usually done while taking long-haul flights! These bits and pieces keep me interested in global ecumenism and mission on the days when work is tough and the demands feel draining. Much of the work with CWM is rewarding, so I cant complain, but it does require long hours and being away from most of my support crew.

My main lifeline to Oz is regular facecalls with Ann, messaginf some friends and family, but I have taken to watching or listening to ABC (Aust) news online on Youtube most mornings when I am in Singapore. It is amazing how much more grounded I feel having that little injection of Oz. When I need update news from the Pacific I add it a good dose of SBS to supplement... handy if there is a crisis, political unrest, earthquake or cyclone.

Some highlights from 2024 included cooridinating the TIM (Training in Mission) programme and  facilitating the "A New Face" programme. The latter involved 12 Ordained women doing a Faith and Culture Encounter in the UK for 3 weeks, including 2 weeks in Welsh-speaking Wales. This was a very special group of people and I am sure we will continue to "make waves" as womanist missionaries. A lowlight was getting food poisoning in Jamaica, but I was cared for in my recovery by the lovely Nan and Huw from Wales. I particularly enjoyed borrowing their grandchildren for cuddles! 

TIM is a longer-term programme and I am in awe of the courage of young people in adventuring into the unknown for 6 months of challenges and learnings. As with the 2023 group, the 2024 group undertook learning and life in two different regions, this time in the Philippines and Jamaica. The time in both countries was really valuable, but the logistics of trying to get from one to the other can be a bit nightmarish, especially if you come from certain countries. Three of the young men had to take very complicated routes because it can be very difficult for them to get visas, even for transit. I enjoyed getting to know a bit more of the Philippines and was glad to have added a long weekend there for myself, so I was able to feed my ethnographic curiosity with museum visits and cultural observations!

2024 has also given me the opportunity to get more engaged with both the Legacies of Slavery movement and involvement with strategies and projects to combat modern-day slavery. There are intersections with both of these with decolonizing and resisting Empire. It makes me look at global politics with a keen awareness of the consequences of particular economic policies and the need for deeper critiquing.

Quite a number of people have visited Singapore this year, so I occasionally get to be tour guide. Let me know if you are coming through. 

In 2025, I will be in Samoa and then Zimbabwe (with overnights in Australia to hug family), Hong Kong (for my 60th) and in Cook Islands and Vanuatu in March. There are planned visits to the Philippines, Korea, South Africa, Zambia and Jamaica.... with more to come! 

May God be present for you in the retelling of the stories this Christmas and throughout 2025

and may those who hear your sharings experience good news!