» Print Version

Overture 6

Celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism

At St. Enoch's Church Tauranga on 11th June 2002, the Presbytery of Bay of Plenty met and was constituted.

Among other things:

The Presbytery agreed to adopt and transmit the following overture to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand appointed to meet in Wellington on 22 September 2002.

Whereas the Church is experiencing an increasing number of small parishes which are not sufficiently viable to support a full or part stipendiary ordained minister;

And whereas Interim moderatorships of such parishes place an increased load on ministers of Word and Sacrament within the Presbytery in terms of time and resources;

And whereas the core of both mission and care of the local parish is symbolised and conveyed through the Sacraments of Communion and Baptism;

And whereas at present General Assembly has approved the celebration of Communion by duly trained and authorised elders, but in its wisdom has separated the celebration of the two Sacraments.

It is hereby overtured that the General Assembly

(1) Give interim approval to Presbyteries to authorise suitably trained elders to conduct the sacrament of baptism in those parishes without a resident ordained ministry;

(2) Instruct the Doctrine Reference Group to prepare resources for use by authorised elders;

(3) Send the prayer of the overture to Presbyteries / UDCs, Sessions and Parish Councils under the Barrier Act.

Or that the General Assembly determine otherwise as in its wisdom it shall consider best.

The Presbytery appointed the Rev. John Turton and the Rev. David Kriel to support the Overture before the Assembly.

Extracted from the records of the Presbytery of the Bay of Plenty

Phil Aiken

Presbytery Clerk

[ Previous | Next ]

home page   |   email the webmaster   |   A to Z Index   |   return to top