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Update

Greetings

All in the Assembly Service Team join in sending greetings to you in these Advent and Christmas seasons. God who came in Jesus continues to reach towards humankind in love. Through our involvement in Directions and other initiatives we seek to be part of that dynamic of grace. Our prayer is that the God of grace will continue to enliven you and your community as God reaches through you towards people in love.

Office Closure

The Assembly Office will be closing on Friday 20th December 2002 at 5.00 pm and re-opening on Monday 6th January 2003.

For urgent contact when the office is closed phone: Kerry Enright on 025 452 521

School of Ministry Appointment

The Council of Assembly is pleased to announce the appointment of the Rev Kevin Ward to the position of Lecturer in Church and Society at the School of Ministry.

Kevin holds the degrees of MA(Hons) in History, DipEd, DipTchg, BD and is a PhD candidate at the University of Otago. The topic of his thesis, to be presented next year, is, "The impact of social and cultural changes on church life in New Zealand, 1960 to 1999, with particular reference to Christchurch".

Kevin is presently Lecturer and Associate Dean at the Bible College of New Zealand, Christchurch, where he lectures mainly in practical and pastoral theology, and New Testament. He is also Director of the Ministry Internship Programme. Formerly a Secondary School teacher, Kevin is a Baptist minister and has served that denomination in a variety of leadership and administrative roles. He has been pastor of the Avalon Baptist Church and the Pakuranga Baptist Church. Since pastoring the above churches, however, he has been a member of St Columba's Presbyterian Church, Pakuranga, and has been a speaker to many Presbyterian conferences and Presbyteries.

Kevin's research interests are the nature of contemporary western society and culture and its implications for church life and mission with particular reference to New Zealand and sociological understandings of the church and its leadership both in the New Testament and in contemporary forms.

The Selection Panel was unanimous in bringing Kevin's name to the Council of Assembly, impressed as they were by his pastoral and teaching experience, his leadership and mission expertise, his ecumenical commitment, and his research strengths. Next year he will be teaching the bulk of the 'Leadership in Congregations' paper, and the following year will develop the 'Mission and Many Cultures in Aotearoa New Zealand' paper. Kevin begins at the School of Ministry on 20 January 2003.

Council has asked the Equipping the Leadership Policy Group to keep encouraging people within the Presbyterian Church to develop skills and experience for teaching at the School of Ministry.

Mission Resource Team Co-Director Northern South Island

Graeme Nicholas, MRT Co-Director Northern South Island has indicated he will resign from his position 30 April 2003 to take up an appointment in the Anglican Church and to pursue other opportunities. Graeme has been a valuable member of the Service Team and will be greatly missed.

Initial steps towards finding a replacement for Graeme have been taken. The existing position description has been sent to the relevant presbyteries and Uniting Church Council for comment. The position will be advertised in the New Year. In the meantime please consider whether you might apply for the position, and encourage those you feel should apply.

Directions AC Neilson Research

Initial presentations of this significant research into families where the parents are between 25-50 and do not attend church, have been held in Auckland and Wellington. Watch out for the February 03 issue of sPanz and other communications around that time that will offer the report to parishes and presbyteries. Although the research was conducted in Auckland, the trends in community attitudes and the thinking needed to address them, are relevant to the church nationally.

Christmas is coming - broadcast the 'Good News'

Don't forget to advise your wider community about events and services you will be having for Christmas. You might like to consider doing a press release to local media or advise local hotels and motels about your services.

For information and assistance about writing and distributing press releases refer to the 'Dealing with the News Media' guide that was sent to parishes in September or you are welcome to contact the Communications Unit at the Assembly Office.

Introductions Workgroup

If you are serving on a Board of Nomination please give earnest consideration to these people. It would be most helpful if in the first instance you contact the Convener for further information regarding any of those named.

Obed Unasa BA BTheol is a young married man in his mid thirties with two children. He was born in Western Samoa. He has experience in youth work in both Pacific Island and Palangi Parishes. He is married to Rita who is desirous of doing further post graduate study. Hence they would prefer to be in a university centre.

Timote Turu DipBibSt DipTchg is a married man in his mid fifties married to Mata. They are Cook Islanders with a strong desire to minister in a Palangi Parish in the southern part of the North Island or the South Island. Timote has had tonnes of experience both in the community and also within the church.

Helen Martin BA PGDipTh DipReEd DipTchg is in her late forties with a breadth of experience ecumenically and in Scripture Union in New Zealand. She is completing her MTh early next year but is interested in staying in the south.

Tala Fa'amausili BTheol is a single Samoan woman in her mid thirties. Though born in New Zealand she has been raised in the Pacific Island Church. She desires working with a colleague in her first Parish - preferably in the north - where the weather is warmer than Dunedin!

Much more information on any of these ordinands is available from the Introduction Workgroup, Graeme Munro, 539 Thames Highway, Oamaru. His telephone and fax number is (03) 437.1640. Please contact him rather than the ordinands direct.

Service Team

Communications Advisor Richard Davis will be leaving the Assembly Office for six months next year to take up a Fellowship with the Kettering Foundation in Dayton, Ohio. He will research democracy and pluralism issues. The period of his Fellowship is from January through July. A temporary webmaster will be appointed during Richard's absence. All web enquires to webmaster(at)presbtyerian.org.nz.

Ecumenical Documents Available

1. A series of responses entitled "Economy in the Service of Life" from consultations in the Netherlands, Budapest and Fiji that have considered the churches' responses to economic globalisation.

2. "Recent developments in Catholic-Jewish Relations" by Edward Idris Cardinal Cassidy.

3. "A New Horizon of Multi-religious Commitment to Peace for All", documents from an Interfaith Consultation held in Jakarta with a specific focus on the intereligious conflicts in the Moluccan Islands and central Sulawesi.

4. Message from the 7th International Consultation of United and Uniting Churches, Driebergen, The Netherlands, 11 -19 September 2002

Anyone interested in a copy of any or all of these papers please contact:

Chris Nichol
Ecumenical Relations Secretary
Box 9049, Wellington
chrisn(at)pcanz.org.nz

CASI Resources

Climate change

The Churches' Agency on Social Issues has responded to the growing interest in and concerns about climate change by producing a resource for churches, in co-operation with the Overseas Mission & Partnership group. Outlook Unsettled is a 20-page publication backgrounding the topic, summarising the scientific, political and social issues (and costs) as they relate to New Zealand, and outlining what church groups can do about it. Included are Biblical references and sermon outlines, a study for groups, worship material, and starting places for practical action.

Following trialing in parishes, final touches are now being put to the final draft. Printed copies of the resource will be made available to groups and parishes at reproduction costs only (under $5) and a .pdf can be downloaded free from the CASI website, http://www.socialissues.godzone.net.nz/ by mid-February. Further information from casi(at)pcanz.org.nz or phone 04 381 8295, or write to P O Box 9049, Wellington.

Social Justice Kit

Subtitled A Resource for parishes, groups and congregations seeking social change, this 80-page Kit is nearing its final form.. Contents include a section on Faith and Justice, ways of getting started, worship resources and ideas for involving children, how to organise for advocacy at different levels, and a summary about undertaking research, including worksheets and resource references. CASI hopes to get the draft material out to those groups which offered to trial it by mid-December. Following their feedback, all sections of the Kit will be available for downloading from the CASI website by the end of February, and the printed version completed soon after.

Further information from casi(at)pcanz.org.nz, or phone 04 381 8295, or write to P O Box 9049, Wellington.

Spiritual Growth Ministries

Copies of the Spiritual Growth Ministries (SGM) 2003 programme and the new REFRESH - journal of contemplative spirituality on the theme of Spiritual Abuse are now available from the SGM administrator:

Carole Hunt,
1A Ogilvy Tce,
Plimmerton,
Wellington 6006
Ph (04) 233 0714
email sgm(at)clear.net.nz

(The church is will no longer be posting these Journals out to Ministers in the monthly mailings)

Clinical Pastoral Education Programme

A basic extended clinical pastoral education (CPE) programme is being run in Rotorua beginning on 9 April and finishing on 25 July 2003.

CPE offers an opportunity for parish clergy, chaplains and others involved in pastoral care to become more effective in their role.

The course involves 3 "live-in" experiences and 10 hours of personal supervision. Participants do the pastoral work component of the course in their own hospital, parish or approved setting in their community.

The course will be supervised by Rev Ray Bloomfield a minister with the Elim church and Hospital Chaplain at Lakeland Health. He is an Executive Member and past president of the NZ Healthcare Chaplains Association and a member of the NZ Association for Clinical Pastoral Education.

For more information contact Viv Thorpe, Chaplaincy Committee, Rotorua Hospital Chaplaincy, Lakeland Health, Private Bag 3023, Rotorua.
Ph (07) 348 1199 Extn 8793

New AFFIRM Booklet

"Growing Great Kiwi Churches" by Rev Gordon Miller is a 48 page booklet on how to grow an effective Kiwi church.

Gordon Miller is Church Relations Manager for World Vision New Zealand and has lead leadership seminars and spoken to hundreds of congregations.

This booklet costs $9.95 (plus postage) and can be ordered from Rev George Rev Bryant, Box 7031, Maungatapu, Tauranga.

A list of other AFFIRM publications can also be ordered from Rev Bryant.

Presbyterian appointed Senior Prison Chaplain

Rev David Connor, has recently been appointed as the Senior Chaplain/Coordinator for the New Zealand Prison Chaplaincy Service. David is a Presbyterian Minister who has been in the prison chaplaincy service for over 20 years.

This is the most senior position in the prison chaplaincy service.

World Day of Prayer Service

The World Day of Prayer is a worldwide movement of Christian women of many traditions who come together to observe a common day of prayer each year. This years World Day of Prayer Service will be on Friday 7 March in 2003.
The theme of this years service is 'Holy Spirit Fill Us'. The service was prepared by women in Lebanon from three different Christian traditions. They invite women from around the world to join them in prayer and song.

For more information or an order of Service contact the National Convenor WDP, Box 5077, Papanui Christchurch

Friends of Turakina Maori Girls College Newsletter

By the time you read this the school year will be over and the many exciting achievements of the college this year will have been acknowledged at prizegiving. Many of you will know about the progress that is being made, from the innovative technology programmes to the sporting successes, as you will have heard the principal and students speak at this year's Assembly.

No doubt, you were pleased to hear that the college continues to grow, but you will also be aware how important the support of people like yourselves is to this growth. Friends would like to acknowledge the many ways that you have helped, from pianos to paperbacks and communion glasses to cushions. All of the gifts are truly appreciated, as is your ongoing prayer and support for the college.

Our membership drive has resulted in some growth this year, and we hope that will continue. We also intend next year to try to attract sponsorship which would build up Friends' scholarship funding. This will be a major part of our work next year, and we would be very grateful for any suggestions of individuals, groups or companies that we might approach.

If you wish to know more about the college and its activities, their website address is www.tmgc.school.nz We plan to post Friends' newsletters on that website, too, in the near future, so that not only our members can read about the many ways in which Friends is able to support the college through the ongoing generosity of people like yourselves.

The college is very appreciative of all the support given to it by the Friends Association, and the Friends committee wish to acknowledge the way in which you make such support possible, not only through subscriptions and donations, but also through encouraging new members to join and in promoting the work of Friends. Thank you.

Finally, the committee wish you all the blessings of Christmas.

Mä te Atua koutou e manaaki, e tiaki.

Shirley Cormack
President