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Update

Directions

As reported in a previous UPDATE, on our behalf ACNielsen has undertaken research among people open to spiritual concerns but not involved in the Church. The research is complete and the organisation has begun reporting. Watch out for occasions to read and consider the results of the research over the next few months. We will advise you of these. This will feed directly in to the next stage of implementing DIRECTIONS.

From abroad

I've just returned from Scotland, England, and Northern Ireland. I was there primarily because of the meeting of General Secretaries of Council for World Mission churches. Several things struck home:

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If we're to become a missional church it requires a substantial reorientation and refocussing in every facet of the Church's life, not just in a scattering of "effective" congregations.

Becoming a mission-driven church involves national and regional initiatives, not just local ones. It needs to be part of our basic identity and self-understanding.

The national body has a key role in setting the tone and overall direction, channelling resources, providing connections with people who are experimenting, and strengthening resolve to face the challenges of change.

To be effective we need to act as one church not isolated units.

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Comparisons

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In the Church of Scotland no parish can call a minister until a parish appraisal has been conducted, and the report and recommendations endorsed by a committee of their Board of National Mission.

New Church Developments are initiated nationally rather than regionally to enable people involved in establishment the freedom to adequately research and connect with the local culture before starting anything. The experience is that local and regional bodies expect action arising from preconceptions rather than give space for a genuinely contextual initiative.

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Mission Resource Team Co-Director Southern South Island

The date for applications has been extended to 29 November. Note the new advertisement in the vacancies section at the end of Budh Telegraph.

Assembly Follow-up

We're about to print the Assembly minutes. In the meantime you can access the Assembly minutes on the website. A copy of the minutes will be distributed to every parish and every minister. Retired ministers and any other person may purchase a copy for $20 from the Assembly Office.

We're beginning the work of producing a new Book of Order incorporating the amendments from the 2002 Assembly.

Presbyterian Church in Ireland

The final hundred metres to the Belfast offices of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland was blocked by a police cordon, landrovers with flashing blue lights, and police with bullet-proof vests. I walked through nervously not knowing whether there was a bomb about to explode or a sniper about to strike. Once inside I learned a bus had been hijacked and there was a parcel on board. We were told to move away from the outside windows of the Assembly Office and the blinds were pulled down. After a muffled explosion we learned while the hijack was real the bomb was a hoax. "How do you cope with this?" I asked. "You become kind of battlehardened."

Prof. John McCullough sends his warmest regards to all his New Zealand former students, colleagues, and friends.

Motivators

The Moderator of the Church of Scotland, Finlay MacDonald, is a wonderfully positive man. He told of two reports from schools following his visit. One child told his parents the school had been visited by the Motivator. Another said they had been visited by the Terminator.

Regards