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Council of Assembly News
following their meeting at Te Maungarongo Marae 29 November - 1 December 2002
Once every two years the Council of Assembly is hosted by Te Aka Puaho on Te Maungarongo Marae in Ohope. Members of Council enjoyed the hospitality and the beauty which surrounded them. Most of the new members appointed by the recent General Assembly were present. General Assembly decisions direct the work of Council and we noted, with interest, the progress made on priorities identified two years ago. At this meeting important issues included:
General Assembly
Some Council members who attended Assembly for the first time reported their impressions very positively. Council noted again strong feedback about the importance of Dialogue Groups and the opportunities they provide for Commissioners to work through issues presented. The hope was expressed that future Assemblies would provide better opportunities for participation by all ethnic groups of the Presbyterian Church. Council agreed to the membership of the task groups for the Nominating Review and the Focal Identity Statement.
Moderator
The Moderator keeps Council up to date with his work and shares what he is learning from the wider church. At this meeting Council was interested to note his experience, as one of the leaders of churches, in meeting with the Prime Minister and the developing relationship of trust in which the churches are able to present their concerns particularly for people not represented in other ways.
Communication
Sharing and hearing communication continues to be a high priority for Council - hence this report from our recent meeting. Methods include:
- Appointment of Council members from all regions across the country with members being assigned responsibility for communicating with one or more local presbyteries/UDCs;
- Brief report after Council meeting provided in written form and sent to Presbytery/UDC clerks, presented by Council members and posted on the church website (www.presbyterian.org.nz);
- Bush Telegraph - this publication includes the Council report and is sent to all ministers for their parishes. Council reminds Session Clerks and Parish Council chairpersons that this material is available to be shared with congregations.
In line with Assembly direction, Council will hold discussions with presbyteries/UDCs in March and April 2003 on the proposals to develop regional presbyteries - see below. Other regional meetings, similar to Tutahi Tatou in 2001, are to be held later in the year.
Pacific Islanders Synod
Following the Assembly decision about the PI Synod there is much work to be done within Synod and in developing partner relationships with Council of Assembly and its Policy Groups, Presbyteries/UDCs, Service Team leaders, and Parishes.
Council was reminded that Synod includes many Fono - as many as there are Pacific Island groups within the Presbyterian Church. Each of these has its unique concerns and relationships as well as those it shares with the full Synod. At the same time there are many important PI Synod relationships within the Presbyterian Church which now need to be advanced in partnership. A Liaison Group had been established under the leadership of the Very Rev Bruce Hansen to assist when issues arise.
Council agreed it needed to help the partnership develop. The Council convenor, Assembly Executive Secretary and two Council members were chosen to liaise with the PI Synod executive on this task.
Financial and office services
Presbyteries/UDCs will be well aware there continue to be problems in this area. The present situation is that the functioning of the computer affects both general office and financial department functions causing enormous frustration to the staff in Laughton House and to the wider church. The computer system cannot handle the work-loads required as is manifested by very long delays in processing transactions or accessing information, breakdown in handling email, and too frequent crashes of the system. As a result the requests for general information as well as for financial data are often very difficult to meet and may take a long time.
Progress has been made through dedicating one full time person to catching up and having Financial Services staff working overtime. Staff have, and are, working very hard to meet requests.
A team is currently working on the requirements for a new system to handle the general data base, financial services requirements, and communication facilities (including email and the website) for the future. The Administration and Finance Policy Group will continue to monitor progress closely.
Hospital Chaplaincy
Historically hospital chaplaincy in New Zealand has had two major funding sources. The government, through the Ministry (previously Department) of Health, and the churches. Presbyterian funding has been via the Assembly Budget, more directly through Presbyteries/UDCs and congregations, and through Presbyterian Support. Over time the government's 50% has fallen to 32% and the participating churches have experienced increasing difficulty in meeting the shortfall. The Council reduced the Presbyterian allocation in 2000.
The Interchurch Council for Hospital Chaplaincy (ICHC) has administered the government share to provide a small amount of administrative support, maintain standards and training and make allocations to local service providers (LSP) for employment of accredited chaplains. ICHC has now signalled its inability to continue to fund chaplaincy unless the government share is restored and it appears likely that there will be a period when pastoral care of patients will be in jeopardy if chaplains are made redundant.
Council decided, in line with the decision of the General Assembly, to take account of the view of the Policy Group that funding be increased for the next financial year, that the Policy Group initiate a strategic review of ecumenical hospital chaplaincy in conjunction with ICHC to be completed by March 2004.
Presbytery renewing
Following the Assembly decision on regional renewal, Council planned the following:
- Arrange to meet with representatives of presbyteries/UDCs in March and April as directed by Assembly to discuss the issues;
- Prepare a briefing paper setting out the rationale for change in order to institute regional strategies for mission, facilitate regional resourcing and develop employment relationships;
- Dissemination in late January of this paper to presbyteries/UDCs for comment.
Although Council is not committed to any particular regional grouping it will work from the model presented at Assembly. The Mission Resourcing paper which made several recommendations for how the Church resourced itself for mission was considered again. Council agreed to a transitional period in which a national director of mission would be appointed.
Personal
The Rev Asora Amosa who as co-convenor of the Equipping the Leadership Policy Group Asora has made a valuable contribution to Council was farewelled. We wish him well in his appointment to St Andrew's, Suva. Three ministers of the Baptist Union were received into the ministry of the Presbyterian Church.
Shirley Ferguson, Convener
Ph (07) 855 2598 Email ferg@wave.co.nz
Helen Bichan, Deputy Convener
Ph (04) 381 8281 Email hbichan@attglobal.net
Kerry Enright, Secretary
Ph (04) 381 8281