Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand

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History

The Dunedin Presbytery's mission initiative into the tertiary sector was initiated as a project under the Metamorphosis scheme of the Synod of Otago and Southland in 1999. There had been by that stage, much discussion about the relative lack of work with students by parishes in the North End of Dunedin and the great need to re-enter this field of mission. This was motivated by a number of concerns.

• In the first instance it was known that many students arrived in Dunedin who had been brought up in the faith in Presbyterian parishes. There was great concern to follow up the good work of these parishes and to help these people develop not only their minds during their tertiary education but also their spirits. In short we had a pastoral duty to provide appropriate and attractive Christian fellowship on campus.
• Furthermore, there was growing concern at the number of young people who were attracted to other denominations but who clearly found these not to their liking and eventually dropped away.
• Finally there was clearly a need to pay attention to the growing population of students in the tertiary sector who knew nothing about the Gospel or whose knowledge was at best anecdotal and generally negative. 17,000 university students alone constitute an important population and one which certainly justified a specific mission.

As early as 1996 the Presbytery set up a 'Student Ministry Development Group' to examine what would be required and much work was done by this group in setting the parameters of such a venture. A report to group in December of 1996 by Daphne Lee and Phil Marshall states these priorities for the mission.

i.) High quality biblical teaching which fosters the debate of issues relating faith to academic and post university life.

ii.) Good contemporary music and comfortable warm surroundings.

iii.) An outstanding leader with a vision for student ministry. This leader would be supported by a group of people to form a team ministry.

iv.) And emphasis on cell/house groups perhaps utilising the TSCF network.

v.) Involvement of more mature people from surrounding churches.

vi.) Funding and resources for at least 5 years.

vii.) Direct contact between the student ministry team and the home churches of students coming to Dunedin - especially in Otago and Southland.

viii.) A meeting facility in or very close to the university campus.

This led to a statement of 'Essential Characteristics of Student Focused Ministry' from the group and received by the Presbytery early in 1997 which was as follows.

a.) Congregation/community with student focus. (i.e. not in an office relating to a variety of congregations… to tease out see Simon Rae

b.) Team Ministry Leadership… supported by staff and senior students etc

c.) Elements of style: music (Contemporary and indigenous)(Informality) "Alternative" to existing Dunedin Presbyterian ethos - providing variety

d.) Hospitality: (including school contacts)

e.) Biblically informed engagement with intellectual and life issues of the student community.

f.) Pastoral structures which provide inclusion

g.) Adequate provision of resources. (Taken from Student Workgroup Report to Presbytery, 10 December, 1997)

This led to both a job description and a system of accountability which were approved by Presbytery and have been adhered to.

Looking Ahead

We wish to build on what we have started in the following ways:

• Meeting and exceeding the 5 year goals listed above
• Developing a much stronger student presence within the higher courts of the Church.
• Build a support base from within the students who become a part of this ministry
• Maintain a connection with a sister church (currently Leith Valley) for spiritual and practical support
• Ultimately establish financial independence from Synod. We are open to practical advice in this matter, but options include (but are not limited to) support from contributing parishes around the country, giving from the students themselves, and the establishment of a charitable trading trust