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Ecumenical Vacancies

The Church of Scotland's Board of World Mission is looking for an Assistant Secretary (Asia). This is a management role at a very busy desk requiring good collaborative and inter-personal skills.

The Christian Conference of Asia is looking for an Associate General secretary for Finance.

If you or anyone you know would be capable and interested in either of these positions contact Chris Nichol for details. chrisn(at)presbyterian.org.nz

MINISTRY EXCHANGES FOR NEW ZEALAND MINISTERS

International Ministry Exchanges has people who are keen to exchange into New Zealand in 2003 or 2004. See the list below.

For further information on these exchange opportunities contact IME executive director, Rev Gregor Henderson, GPO Box 221, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia, phone: +61 2 6248 9311, fax: +61 2 6230 5163, ceifaustralia(at)aol.com.

Information about IME exchanges can also be gained from the three New Zealand advisors to IME:

Rev Phil King in Christchurch (03 359 8441, we5kings(at)ihug.co.nz)

Rev Reg Weeks in Wanaka (03 443 7887 or 025 915 947, reg(at)actrix.gen.nz).

Rev David Pratt in Auckland (09 480 9718, dcjapratt(at)actrix.co.nz),

Note that while these exchanges include preferences for dates, location and duration, there is usually flexibility on all of them.

Exchange opportunities are listed on the regularly updated IME website - www.ministry-exchanges.org, along with lots of information about ministry exchanges.

Financial assistance to contribute towards your travel costs may be available to you from IME and/or from one or two overseas denominations. IME exchanges involve the exchange of ministry responsibilities, housing and vehicle, but not of ministerial stipend and allowances. They can be from 4 weeks to 26 weeks in duration.

If you're thinking of doing an exchange within the next 2-3 years IME encourages you to register your interest. IME will then publicise your exchange plans directly to ministers in the countries/regions you nominate. You can register online from the website or by contacting the executive director in Canberra. IME operates chiefly in Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa and the USA, but can arrange exchanges in many countries.

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A clergy couple, one stipended, one non-stipended, from the United Reformed Church in England, seek an exchange into New Zealand for two months in September-October 2003. Their church is close to Birmingham and consists of 209 members with an attendance at worship of around 135 adults and 55 children. It is a "broad church" theologically and has a good range of ages. They are open to anywhere in New Zealand but have a slight preference for the north island, and would prefer to be in a city or town rather than a rural area. [Reference 319]

A minister of the United Church of Canada, from Nova Scotia, seeks an exchange into New Zealand or Australia for 2-3 months in the latter half of 2003. He serves a congregation of 200 families, with around 130 at worship, in a town of 7,500 people. The town services a rural area of 40,000 population. While many in the congregation are older folk, there is a full range of ages and activities. He's open to exchange into any region, but would prefer to be in a solo ministry in a provincial town or suburb. [Reference 277]

A minister of the United Church of Christ USA, from Sacramento in California, hopes to exchange into New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, England or Wales in 2003. He serves a mid-town congregation of 150 members with around 80 at worship. 40% are singles and it is an "open and affirming" congregation. He's looking for a two-month exchange during the period May-December 2003. [Reference 317]

A school chaplain in Geelong, Victoria, Australia, seeks an exchange of 3-4 months in 2003 with a school chaplain anywhere in New Zealand or Canada. He is a lay chaplain with theological training, a member of the Uniting Church. He serves full-time in a government high school under ecumenical arrangements. He teaches courses in religion and in life skills and exercises pastoral care of students and staff. He's open to ministering in a government or church school. [Reference 275]

A minister of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, from suburban Ottawa, seeks an exchange into the north island of New Zealand early in 2004. He's open to an exchange of up to six months. He serves a lively growing congregation of 130 families with around 160 at worship. It's a very young congregation, average age no more than 40, with a strong youth ministry and music ministry. He and his family would prefer to exchange into Auckland or not too far from the Bay of Plenty area, but are open to anywhere in the North Island. [Reference 197]

A hospital chaplain from Perth in Western Australia seeks an exchange of 3-6 months anytime in 2003 or 2004 with a hospital chaplain anywhere in the English-speaking world. She is a minister of the Uniting Church, and works full-time in the ecumenical team of chaplains in Perth's largest government-run hospital. Her home is mid-way between the city centre and Perth's beautiful beaches, about 10 minutes' drive either way. The hospital serves Perth's multicultural and multifaith community, and her ministry is primarily with patients in the oncology, palliative care and bone marrow transplant units [Reference 327]

A minister of the Church of Scotland seeks an exchange into New Zealand in July-August 2004. He is keen to exchange into Otago, with a leaning towards Dunedin. He serves two congregations in two rural villages near Biggar, with 370 households and around 145 at worship. While the worship style is fairly traditional there is openness to new ways in worship and praise. He is a well-experienced minister, ordained in the 1970s. Biggar is within an hour's drive from both Edinburgh and Glasgow, an attractive location. [Reference 330]

A Uniting Church minister from suburban Melbourne seeks an exchange into the South Island of New Zealand for 4-6 weeks in the first months of 2004. His lively eastern-suburbs congregation has around 135 people at the main Sunday service, and he leads worship once a month in an aged care facility. He is assisted by two other part-time ministry positions, one focusing on care of the elderly and one on children and youth. He will bring wide experience to an exchange congregation, having served in South Africa and the United Kingdom, in school chaplaincy and in parish ministry. He is open to any setting in the south island. [Reference 333]

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