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Leadership for Mission Evaluated

In October last year the Equipping the Leadership Policy Group (EtheL) sent a policy paper and discussion pack, on Leadership for Mission, to all parishes/CV's and presbyteries/UDC's. Recently the Policy Group commissioned the Communications Unit at the Assembly Office, to do a follow up survey to find out what happened to the paper after it was sent.

"We need to get feedback on material that is sent out, particularly when it is putting into practice the strategic direction of the church" says EtheL Co-convenor Graeme Redding.

Thirty-one randomly chosen parishes and CVs in the Auckland, Nelson/Blenheim and Christchurch presbyteries and the Northland Uniting Church Council were surveyed. The ministers of these parishes were asked to answer a questionnaire over the phone as were the Moderators of the presbyteries and the President of the UDC. In addition 5 Pacific Island parishes and 3 Asian congregations were surveyed.

The results showed that while most of the Palangi parishes and presbyteries did recall receiving the resource, the majority of Pacific Island Ministers contacted did not remember receiving it. The survey also revealed that the distribution of the resource to Asian congregations may not have been carried out effectively.

The majority of the ministers, who recalled the resource, had read it but hadn't done anything further with it. A smaller number discussed or circulated it and there were some who felt that they were already implementing the material in their own way.

Well over half said that the pack was at least moderately useful but there were a number who felt it was not very useful. Many commented that it was too general or that a more personal approach would have helped. The majority found the pack easy to understand.

As a result of the survey the EtheL has decided to liaise with the MRT Co-director, Pacific Island and the Liaison Officer for the Council of Asian Congregations to get the policy distributed more effectively to Pacific Island and Asian congregations.

"We need to look at ways in which we can more effectively work with them" says Graeme Redding.

To view the pack visit the website under 'Leadership for Mission' or contact Kirsten Dale ph 04 381 8292 for a paper copy. The resource is available in a range of languages.

Regional Church Conference

St Columba's in Botany Downs, Auckland, in conjunction with The Mission Resource Team have organised a Regional Church Conference to be held at St Columba's on October 17th and 18th 2002.

Ministers, Elders and Lay Leaders of churches who are passionate about rethinking the way they do church, so that we can better impact our community are all welcome.

The objectives of the conference are:

To place missiology at the center of our strategic planning

To begin exploring what it means to be a regional church (one of a variety of models of ministry within the Presbyterian Church)

To identify issues and share common experiences of being a Regional Church

To begin the process of sharing and developing resources of Ministry
the key note speaker will be Dean Drayton Moderator of the Uniting Church of Australia.

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The cost will be $50 per person and travel support will be available to South Island Guests.

For more information or to register contact

St Columba Ph 09 274 4864 Email office(at)stcolumba.org.nz or see their website www.stcolumba.org.nz

News from Friends of Turakina Maori Girls' College Association

Kia ora koutou. Greetings to you all.

Unfortunately, the first piece of news is that Phyl Griffin, a founding member of Friends, has passed away. She gave great service to Friends, including being president for 15 years. Those of you who knew her will know how greatly she will be missed.

In March members of the Friends Association held a get-together at the college. While we were there a group of senior students were taking part in the 40 Hour Famine, and were "camped" in the quad in a "village" of cardboard boxes. We were all most impressed by their efforts to make their "famine" as realistic as possible.

We also had the chance to see that the students are making excellent use of the lounge suites and cushions that have been given for use in the library. Two pianos and some assembly hall chairs were also given to the college by Terry Su'a's congregation (St James, Wanganui). Other donations of household items are being put to good use in the Year 13 House. The principal, Dawn Mitai-Pehi, told us how much everyone at the college appreciates these gifts. Thank you all for your generosity.

Some time ago Peka Tautau, the chaplain, told us that more communion glasses were needed for the chapel. The Manawatu Presbytery gave some, which are much appreciated, but there is still a need for more. We are asking presbyteries and ministers if you are aware of any spares sitting in a cupboard somewhere. Can you help?

The college continues to be a hive of activity - academic, sporting and cultural. Culture Night this year is on Friday 23rd August at The Regent on Broadway, Palmerston North at 6.30pm. Maybe we'll see some of you there. You're always welcome at the college, too, if you are in the area.
Thank you for your continued interest in, and support of, the Friends Association.

Ma te Atua koutou e manaaki, e tiaki.

God Bless.

Shirley Cormack (President)

Find out more about the college on their website: www.tmgc.school.nz

Contact Shirley Cormack at her email address: shirley(at)cormack.co.nz

Notice from Dick Tripp Publications

Dick Tripp has published three new titles in his booklet series, Exploring Faith Today:

How Can I Find a Great Purpose for Living?

Who Am I? Finding My True Identity as a Human Being and as a Child of God

How Can I Feel Good About Myself? The Christian Basis for a Proper Self-Esteem

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The full text of all 20 titles can be read on website www.christianity.co.nz. Most of them are $4 (Morality $6; Science and Church $8). They are particularly popular with churches using the Alpha Course as they deal with questions that come up when discussing the gospel. They get used for sermon material, study groups, sorting out Christians and in dialogue evangelism.

They can be ordered over the website or by Phone 03 329 9752, email
dick.tripp(at)christianity.co.nz or by snail mail R.D.1, Lyttelton. Churches that wish to check them out are welcome to get them on a Sale or Return basis.

More Interesting Census Results

One in seven, or 532,740, of the population lived in rural areas at the time of the 2001 Census, Of those, 1 in 7 (79,065) lived in rural centres and the rest (453,675) lived in 'other rural' areas.

Two-thirds of rural residents lived in the North Island. However, they made up a higher proportion of the total population in the South Island (19 percent) than in the North Island (13 percent).

Nine out of ten rural residents of Mäori ethnicity lived in the North Island.

Adults living in rural areas were far more likely than their urban counterparts to have lived at the same address all their lives.

The proportion of households in 'other rural' areas with Internet access (37 percent) was second only to that in Main Urban Areas (40 percent).