2021: A Year in Review
Our awesome Supporters tote! See more below how you can get your hands on one.
2021 has been a year of upended expectations. Our hopes, especially in Aotearoa, for a post-pandemic world quickly turned out to be naïve, the year proving once again to be dominated by the reality of the worldwide pandemic still ravaging countries and communities local and afar. Despite this, we’ve had a heap of highlights here at Metanoia well worth celebrating.
Some statistics
There were some great highlights for Metanoia’s continual growth in readership and publishing. Over the latest 8 months we’ve had…
22 different contributors
606 views on our most read post
5.1k unique visitors over the last year to date
10.5k pageviews overall
37 people signed up to our seasonal newsletter
Bridget Williams Books referencing a Metanoia review of Alison Jones’ memoir
Some leadership changes
2021 saw the development of an editorial team, made of four students and teachers of theology based in Auckland and Hamilton. The addition of Rebecca Hooper and Timote Naulivou, as well as some others on the side, to curate content, make decisions, and shape the platform as it continues has been awesome. We’re pleased to say that us four will be continuing on next year and expect to be joined by some newcomers too.
The new editorial team for Metanoia in 2021.
The launch of our Supporters Program
Most recently, Metanoia launched our Supporters Program to help us cover our costs to run the website. Metanoia does not run for profit and relies solely on our supporters’ donations for the management of this platform. Supporters helps contribute to the maintenance of the website, marketing costs, and our ability to attend events and share about our content in person.
And, with the launch of this program, every Supporter who donates $30 or more is subject to receive a free, limited run Metanoia tote! We are really grateful for any amount you are able to give.
And of course, some incredible content
This year was full of thoughtful, creative, engaged content reflecting on contemporary life in Aotearoa and the Christian faith. In her stunning article “Redeeming Periods: A Spirituality of the Menstrual Cycle,” Grace Paddison reflected on the cyclical rhythm of menstruation and how, rather than something that its taboo and brings shame it can be lived spiritually. Grace wrote, “Recovering the menstrual cycle from western disgust and learning how to live in sync with this cycle is a theological statement, as much as it is a practical lifestyle. It has a highly dignified view of the body [and] honours the method God instituted for human reproduction.”
Rosie Fleming in her “Can the Church Be Inclusive? My Experience Pastoring Queer Youth” gave valuable insight and advice in a much under-resourced topic for the New Zealand church. Rosie said, “Regardless of where you sit theologically around this topic, if you are a person who has power, mana, or is a leader within a church community you have a responsibility to ensure that space is a safe space for all people. I know that for our Queer young people, church should be a safe place for them and hopefully one day it can be.”
Matt McKirland shared some of his story in “My Call to Fatherhood: Reimagining Our Narratives,” a potent reflection on the challenges of being a male primary caregiver. Matt wrote, “I’ll never know what witnessing alternative narratives when I was younger would have meant for me today. It’s just as likely I would have been overwhelmed by being a parent anyway, because it’s freaking hard, and no one is ever truly prepared … I hope that my children, at least, will see different narratives that enable and encourage them to thrive no matter where they find themselves.”
Josiah Carr in his “How Hillsong’s Imperialism is Stifling Our Churches: The Homogenisation of CCM and Worship Music” gave a bold account about the place of music in the life of a church and the potentially problematic influence of global neo-Pentecostalism. Josiah argued, “Music has the capacity to connect a community together, both physiologically and spiritually … The opposite is also possible where there is disunity: any sense of cohesion is disrupted.”
And finally, an Anonymous author shared in “Unequally Yoked? My Experience Dating a Non-Christian.” They wrote, “I believe there is a need to challenge some norms which hold romantic relationships up as the central pillar of a person’s life. It is a recipe for hurt and disappointment to expect that any romantic partner fulfills every need in your life. Even if that partner shares your faith, it is absolutely unfair, and unhealthy, to expect them to be required to be your spiritual—or emotional—support.”
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Despite the year it’s been, we’ve had a blast being able to platform and hear from a number of different contributors on a number of different topics and themes. We can’t wait to keep exploring the world we live in through a thoughtful Christian lens. If you’re a regular reader and have anything to give—from $1-$100—we really appreciate the support. We’re just getting started.