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New Church

The inauguration of the Grace Presbyterian Church has raised some questions in and beyond the Church. A media release claiming that some congregations of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand have left to join this new church is incorrect. I understand some who resigned their membership of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand some time ago have joined the new church. Very few congregations were affected. In at least two of those places the continuing congregations of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand are growing significantly.

The Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand is neither linked nor associated with the Grace Presbyterian Church. The new church has appropriated the name "Presbyterian" and we regret any confusion resulting from this. We can also affirm that, contrary to inferences in some media statements, the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand still holds the Word of God contained in the Bible to be the supreme standard for its faith and life.

Michael Thawley

Update

On the move

The Presbyterian Church holds to the vision of being a vital, outward-facing Church, engaging communities in Christ. It is seeking to achieve that through the development of healthy congregations and through the encouragement, support, and resourcing of leadership for mission.

We want to make and remake connections with the communities around us, to do better at welcoming newcomers, and to encourage more younger families.
There are many ways congregations are making that happen, the stories of which are told on our website, in the School of Ministry, through seminars organised by the Mission Resource Team, and through sPanz.

Over the next two months the Council of Assembly is meeting with representatives from presbyteries and union district councils to take further the strengthening presbyteries proposals. These proposals aim to renew our regional bodies. They are mainly about focussing on key regional functions such as planning and resourcing, and the support and encouragement of leaders. They are not primarily about reconfiguring regional boundaries but aim to give clearer direction and responsibility to regional bodies so congregations can be more actively supported towards health. Regional renewal is a major item in the Church's process of revitalising congregations.

George Knight

As reported by the Moderator last month, the Very Rev. Prof George Knight died late last year. Prior to teaching Old Testament at our Theological College Prof. Knight ministered in Hungary. Recently I received the attached letter in the mail. I copy it for you (on page 9). A very warm response has gone from our Church in reply.

John Daniel

Last month we reported the appointment of John Daniel as Mission Resource Team Co-Director Southern South Island. Unfortunately John has torn an achilles tendon and, after an operation, is out of action for a few weeks. He notes the precedents set by Anton Oliver and Justin Marshall.

Single Assessment

The single assessment questionnaire sent to presbyteries and parishes is due back 14 March 2003.

In discussion about the single assessment some doubt has been raised concerning the Assembly's decision. The 2002 General Assembly received motions concerning the single assessment and referred them to Dialogue Groups. Dialogue Groups considered the issues, gave very strong support to the proposal and asked for detail of the proposals, particularly the definition of income to be considered by presbyteries and parishes. Assembly adopted this approach in approving the principle of a single assessment.

Section 11 of the Assembly Minutes can be found on the website.

Assembly Budget

Considerable work is going into developing the Assembly budget for presenting to the Council of Assembly at the end of this month. The guiding document is Directions distributed last year to presbyteries and UDCs. Assembly decided certain functions needed to be performed, and the recent Assembly asked Council to include certain items such as Hospital Chaplaincy and the national processing of sexual misconduct complaints in the funding provision. Policy Groups submit budgets which are carefully scrutinised and expenditure is kept to what the Council believes is presently affordable and sustainable. That often means pruning of what was desirable but not presently possible.

Laughton House Computer system

Good progress is being made towards a renewed system, incorporating some of the present system. This change will make the biggest difference to the functioning of the Service Team and is therefore being given a very high priority.

Change

 

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Create a sense of urgency;

Put together a strong enough team to direct the process; Create an appropriate vision;

Communicate that new vision broadly;

Empower people to act on the vision;

Produce sufficient short-term results to give the efforts credibility and to reduce cynicism;

Build momentum and use that momentum to tackle the tougher change problems;

Anchor the new behaviour in organisation culture.

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I thought about my own experience as a parish minister and recognised many truths in those steps.

National Newcomers Survey

By the time you read this, Parishes invited to participate in this survey will have received a questionnaire and worksheet asking for information about newcomers to your church in the years 2001 and 2002.

The survey aims to gather new information about an area of church life that we currently know little about. Anecdotally, we know there are newcomers, but we don't have a clear picture of where, when, why or how. The survey is the first step in addressing these questions. Please give it your early attention, as the return date is 4 April.

The researcher is Joan Ross, a Presbyterian minister with Co-operative Venture experience, who is completing a Masters degree in Social Science Research at Victoria University. The project was proposed and funded by the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand.

AC Nielsen Research Response

The Church has responded strongly to the research commissioned from AC Nielsen, 'Attracting New Zealanders to Spiritual Life'. To date about 120 parishes from throughout the country have requested copies of the information pack about the research. At least one enterprising parish has already sent out a letter to their community directly addressing the research findings.

At a strategic level the Resourcing for Mission policy group will be discussing the findings and the policy response in their March meeting.

In the wider Auckland region, a steering group chaired by Northern Mission Resource Team Co-director Simon McLeay is looking at developing some specific initiatives in response to the findings. The initiatives will be funded by a grant from the Council for World Mission. Decisions about the initiatives to be supported are due by the end of June. An important criteria in assessing initiatives is that they be transferable so that the church as a whole can learn from the experience.

For anyone who hasn't caught up with the research, an overview was published in the February 03 sPanz. Copies of the information pack for parishes and presbyteries are still available from Kirsten Dale, Communications Co-ordinator, kirstend(at)presbyterian.org.nz, Ph 04 381 8292.

What's New on the Web

The Book of Order - revised 2003 version

Moderators Factsheet
A 2 page fact sheet about the church

Recent Book Reviews
'The Last Things: Biblical and Theological Perspectives on Eschatology' Edited by Carl E Braaten and Robert W Jenson, 'One World: The Ethics of Globalisation' by Peter Singer and 'Sharing Your Faith with a Friend' by Michael Green

Police Checks (will be available on the website by Thursday 20 March
The guidelines for the Police Checks Process for Lay Appointments. Extra consent forms can be obtained, as required, on request to the Assembly Office.

Website Review

A review of the www.presbyterian.org.nz website is currently being conducted by Stevo O'Rourke. Stevo is visiting parishes around the country asking ministers, parishioners, youth leaders and others what they think of the site, what they find useful what they don't find useful and what else they would like to see on the site. He is also asking some people to complete a questionnaire online.

The review will be completed by the end of April. The results will be used to make changes to the site that will make it more useful, useable and relevant.

Introduction Work Group - Process for 2003

The year has begun with a change of Convener. A big thank you to Rev. Graeme Munro who has been part of the Workgroup since 1995. We acknowledge also the work of Mission Resource Team Co-Director Allan Paulin who has retired. It is with anticipation that we look forward to working with John Daniel who graduated from the School of Ministry at the end of 2002.
The process that has been used in recent years has been reviewed. The process for 2003 is in part a return to an earlier format. We are looking to provide Ordinands with points of certainty with regard to dates when they will be informed as to whether a matching is being offered.

Nominators, significant dates for you are 1 May and 15 August. We are asking Boards of Nomination that seek an Ordinand to have their profiles to the Convener by these dates.

Unmatched profiles from the first round of matching will be returned to Nominators in time for them to be re-submitted should a Board of Nomination want to remain in the process. We hope this will enable Boards to feel that we are helping them rather than holding them up.

What we do ask is that during the period we have a profile the Board of Nomination refrain from offering the Profile to anyone else.

1 May Deadline for profiles to be considered in the first round of matching.
23 July Unmatched profiles from first round returned to Nominators.
15 August Deadline for profiles to be considered in the second round of matching.
22 October Unmatched profiles from second round returned to Nominators.

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Howard Carter

George Kopa

Craig Millar

Steve Millward

Roy Pearson

Cameron Sinclair

Carol Thorley

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Geoffrey Skilton
Convener - Introduction Workgroup
24 Picardy Street
DUNEDIN
geoffrey.skilton(at)paradise.net.nz

Transition Ministry

Transition Ministry is an intentional, limited term ministry which can be a useful option for a parish/congregation which has a ministerial vacancy and is facing the need to make significant changes in its way of being church and offering mission and ministry in its community.

The Presbyterian Church is developing a pool of people who have training in this kind of ministry. We are working with the Auckland Diocese of the Anglican Church to provide training that is relevant to the New Zealand context.
The training course has three phases. There are two one week intensives and a home-based field work project done in between the two one week courses.
In 2003 Phases 1 and III will be held in May (12-16) and October (6-10). Both courses will be held at Vaughan Park, Long Bay on the North Shore.

 

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your ministerial training and experience any other relevant training and/or experience

your reasons for wanting to undertake the training

how you would see yourself being able to offer transition ministry over the next five years

the names and contact details of two or three referees who can be approached by the Personnel Workgroup for evaluative comment

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For further information please contact Lynne Smith, Ministry Personnel Officer, ph. (04) 381 8297 or Simon McLeay, ph. (09) 306-6444 or Prue Neild, ph. (04) 381-8296

Applications should be sent to
Transition Ministry
Assembly Office
PO Box 9049
WELLINGTON

or janj(at)presbyterian.org.nz or simonm(at)presbyterian.org.nz

1 April 2003

Costs:
Course fees and live-in costs for Phases 1 and III are covered for successful applicants.
Course participants need to cover their own travel and incidental costs.

Ecumenical Documents Available March 2003

"Journey" The Journal of the New Zealand Council of Christians and Jews, No 14, Summer 2003

Anyone interested in a copy of this paper please contact:
Chris Nichol
Ecumenical Relations Secretary
Box 9049, Wellington

EIDT's

 

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Presbyterian (Reformed) Studies will be a 20 week course offered via the Internet. The course will run from May to September. It will be tutored by the Rev Dr John Roxborogh of the School of Ministry. Introduction to Pastoral Theology is a course that will commence with a Residential School in Christchurch from 21 - 23 May. The course will be tutored by the Rev Dr Mary Caygill of Auckland. Students may elect to study this as a 6 months or 12 months course. "Theologies of the Hebrew Scriptures" also commences with a Residential School in Christchurch from 30 June to 2 July. The course will be tutored by the Rev Dr Keith Carley fron St John's College and will be a 6 months course of study.

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For further information on these and other courses contact the Academic Registrar, EIDTS, P O Box 12 286, Christchurch. Freephone 0800 667 969,
email eidts(at)xtra.co.nz or visit the Website at http://www.eidts.ac.nz/

Ecumenical Institue Bossey

The World Council of Churches Ecumenical Institue of Bossey has issued a new programme for their 2003 - 2004 academic year.

They are also asking if people would like to join the many friends of Bossey and to make a gift for their recent renovation project.

Bossey's mission is to educate and form ecumenical leaders both clergy and lay, for service in parishes, classrooms and ecumenical centers around the world and to shape ecumenical though intercultural and interconfessional encounter, through study in residential programmes and through common worship and life in the community. The Institute offers Postgraduate programmes, seminars, study groups and retreats, and sabbaticals and individual ecumenical research.

If you are interested in further information about the courses they offer or in becoming a friend of Bossey contact:
Ecumenical Institute, Chateau de Bossey, CH-1298 Celigny, Switzerland Ph 0041 22 960 7300;
Fax 0041 22 960 7310;
email bossey(at)wcc-coe.org
website www.wcc-coe.org/bossey

St Andrews Mt Maunganui Presbyterian Church 50th Jubilee

To be held at:
St Andrews Presbyterian Church, Dee Street,
Mt Maunganui 21st & 22nd June 2003
All past members please register early so we can send you our programme.
St Andres 50th Jubilee
PO Box 4255
Mount Maunganui or email: banon(at)clear.net.nz

Health and Safety

The Health and Safety in Employment Act has been amended, with new provisions coming into force on 5th May 2003.

As an employer you should have received two booklets from the Department of Labour about it.

Further written information will be targeted at Maori, Pacific Peoples and immigrant communities during March/April.

The Occupational Safety & Health Service is also holding a series of 125 seminars around the country commencing on 3rd March, which are designed to give those attending both a full overview of the Act and an opportunity to ask questions about implementation.

Additional information is available through freephone on 0800 20 90 20 or from the Service's website http://www.workinfo.govt.nz/

Hymnbook Trust Sale

The New Zealand Hymnbook Trust invites you to share in our celebration of the 10th birthday of ALLELUIA AOTEAROA "hymns and songs for all churches".
So the Trust has decided to mark the occasion with a BUMPER BIRTHDAY SALE offer to all the Churches, from March to May this year.

Alleluia Aotearoa:
Book was $27.95 now $20.00
CD was $27.95 now $20.00
Cassette was $15.00 now $10.00
OHP was $90.00 now $50.00

Carol Our Christmas:
Book was $21.95 now $15.00
CD was $27.95 now $20.00
Cassette was $17.95 now $12.50
OHP was $50.00 now $30.00

Faith Forever Singing:
Book was $25.95 now $18.00
CD was $27.95 now $20.00
Cassette was $17.95 now $12.50

He Came Singing Peace:
Book now $5.00
NB discounts for bulk orders

Songs of Praise from Aotearoa:
Video was $29.95 now $20.00

All prices exclude packing and postage

Order now from:
PO Box 2011 Raumati 6450
Tel/fax: 04 902 8855/8844
Or visit us and order on: http://www.hymns.org.nz/

Sales prices last until the end of May - or as long as stocks last!