» Print Version

Hamilton Minister to Lead Presbyterian Church

26 September 2002

Media Release for Immediate Issue

Hamilton minister Rev Garry Marquand, who has led the Fairfield Presbyterian parish for 25 years, has been elected Moderator Designate for the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand.

He will become Moderator in 2004 for a two-year period. The election took place at the General Assembly of the church which has been held in Silverstream, Upper Hutt, this week.

"One has a sense of the importance of the role and its weight, so there's a sense of apprehension," says Rev Marquand. "But there's a sense of 'rightness' about it too."

As well as providing stability of leadership and ethos, another advantage to a long-term commitment in a single parish was that ministries could be undertaken which required long-term investment of time and energy.

For example, Rev Marquand and his parish have established a charitable trust to work with disadvantaged families, providing a range of services eg budgetary advice, advocacy with courts and social agencies, and support in the fields of education, dealing with domestic abuse, and housing.

"It's a holistic ministry, we deal with the whole person and family," says Rev Marquand.

Rev Marquand and his wife Val are both qualified and experienced primary school teachers who decided to extend their studies at the Bible College of New Zealand. "We left fully expecting to return to teaching - I love kids - but we sensed a call to change course."

The couple have four children, now all adults. Presbyterianism is the third largest denomination in Aotearoa New Zealand, with over 400,000 census-listed members, and 40,000 regular attenders.

Ends

Media liaison:

Richard Davis 027 4048656

Mary Macpherson 021 353 020

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