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Update

Flooding - Lower North Island

People wishing to make donations for those affected by recent flooding may do so by sending gifts of money to the Assembly Office. The donations will be used by local parishes meeting the small personal needs they come across. Cheques should be made out to Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Young people shifting

Have you contacted a minister of the city or town to which your young people have shifted to study, for people from the local congregation to visit and offer hospitality? Tertiary education in a different location is one of the key transitions young people make. That time is when they often make major commitments, and we know an approach from the local parish makes a difference.

Communications Manager position

We have advertised the Communications Manager position. Applications close 27 March. Please think about whether anyone in your congregation or known to you might be suitable. Please encourage them to apply or give them the background material. It can be obtained from Sally Gatland in the Assembly Office, aes@presbyterian.org.nz or on our website at
www.presbyterian.org.nz.

Media Relations

The Church often relates to media investigating Church issues. Until a new Manager is appointed, we have contracted Leigh Bredenkamp of Metzger Communications to provide media relations advice. If you are approached by the media for comment on Church matters it is best not to reply immediately. It is best to immediately contact our Communications Unit and they will arrange for Leigh to give you advice.

Assembly assessment

Remember the new Assembly assessment comes into effect from 1 July this year. You will be receiving further advice about that shortly.

Church Leaders

Every six months church leaders from fifteen denominations meet in Wellington. It’s a very valuable meeting encompassing a diversity of New Zealand churches. We share news from each of our churches and at the last meeting also discussed:

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A new ecumenical initiative to provide stronger networking among a broad range of churches in New Zealand;

The Treaty of Waitangi, its place in New Zealand, and the statement produced by the Anglican and Catholic bishops. We felt Churches could provide a safe environment to explore issues which go to the heart of New Zealand identity.

The agenda for the regular meeting we have with the Prime Minister and senior cabinet ministers.

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Assembly 2004 - 19 September 2004

Sessions and Parish Councils likely to have elders representing them at Assembly need to be thinking ahead to who their Assembly Commissioner might be. Presbyteries and Union District Councils determine which parishes will be represented by ministers and which by elders. Once that is known Sessions and Parish Councils who are rostered to have an elder Commissioner will need to appoint one. An indicator that you might need to find an elder Commissioner is if your minister attended the last Assembly in 2002.

E noho ra

Presbyterian Youth Library

Bush Telegraph Online - New Look

With the newly revamped website, Bush Telegraph online has also had a facelift and is now even easier to use. Bush Telegraph has lots of practical information about what’s happening nationally in the Church and related organisations. If you haven’t already seen it, have a look at Bush Telegraph online
http://www.presbyterian.org.nz/40.0.html

We are still taking subscriptions for the monthly Bush Telegraph email lining you to Bush Telegraph online. To sign up for Bush Telegraph email go to
http://www.presbyterian.org.nz/1517.0.html

The system we use for storing the email addresses for Bush Telegraph online recently went down. We hope we have now retrieved all the addresses, but if you have already signed up for Bush Telegraph online and did not receive the Bush Telegraph email in February or March, please re-submit your registration at the above webpage.

Grant in Aid

Some Parishes will be aware that a very small amount of money has still been available through grant in aid over the last few years. Due to budget reductions and a decision to process requests for mission support funding primarily through the Presbyterian Foundation, grant in aid has concluded. We give thanks to God for those who have benefited from this programme over many years.

Simon McLeay

Mission Resource Team

Transition Ministry Training in Auckland

This is another opportunity to apply for transition ministry training

The course being held in Dunedin in April and November is nearly full. A second course is being held in Auckland in July 2004 and February 2005 and there are still several vacancies.

Transition Ministry is a specialist interim ministry. It is an intentional ministry with specific goals and timeframe. Its purpose is to help a parish prepare for new directions and new ministry.

Transition ministers are trained to help parishes deal creatively and constructively with change and new developments.

The training we do is in conjunction with the Anglican Church and course participants come from other churches as well.

There are three phases to the training. Phases 1 and 3 are one week residential courses; Phase 2 is a fieldwork project carried out at home base.

The Auckland course will be held at the Anglican Retreat Centre, Vaughan Park, Long Bay and Phase 1 will be 26 - 30 July 2004 and Phase 3 will be 14 - 18 February 2005.

Training is open to lay people with relevant experience as well as ministers.

Applications for training can be made to the Personnel Workgroup. Applications should consist of 1 -2 pages outlining relevant ministry training and experience, reasons for wanting to undertake the training and the names and contact details of 2 - 3 referees

Applications can be mailed to PO Box 9049, Wellington or e-mailed to
pruen(at)presbyterian.org.nz

Acting Communications Manager

Tina Callcutt has started work as the Acting Communications Manager until a new full-time appointment is made, probably at the beginning of June. Tina is on contract for 3 days a week – usually Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. She will be focussed on taking forward some key projects.

The email address for contacting Tina is
commsmanager(at)presbyterian.org.nz.

All other contact details for the Communications Manager remain the same;

ph 04 381 8284 fax 04 801 6001

PO Box 9049, Wellington

Employment Matters

Some reminders:

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Please do not forget that it is now a requirement for a police check to be done as part of the appointment process for all lay workers in paid positions with pastoral responsibilities. Information about the process is available on the church website and as a guidelines booklet available from the Assembly Office. You need to allow time for the police check to be done At the moment it is taking 25 - 30 working days to get the check back from the police.

The new Holidays Act has made some changes with regard to leave provisions. This includes annual leave, statutory holidays, sick leave and bereavement leave. You will need to ensure that any employment agreements you have with lay workers are appropriately updated by 1 April. For further information check the relevant section of the church website or contact Prue Neild or Margaret Fawcett at the Assembly Office.

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Race Relations in New Zealand

<typohead type=3>- Let's lower the temperature</typohead>

In recent weeks the Churches Agency on Social Issues (CASI) has become increasingly concerned about attitudes to race relations reported and expressed in the New Zealand media. Agency members say they are disturbed by the name calling, the use of race issues for political point scoring, and what seem to be attempts to polarise public opinion along racial lines.

When the Seabed and Foreshore issue first appeared, CASI called for a cautious approach based on open dialogue and careful analysis of all the dimensions of the issue. The Agency is also supporting a longer-term Treaty-focused project through an ecumenical initiative representing a wide range of churches.

Reasoned and factual material

In the last month CASI has added a new section to its web site www.casi.org.nz, to reflect some of the concerns, and to help background the current race relations debate.

It includes

· Factual background material.

· Commentary and response from church and allied groups.

· Links to some of the important statements on race relations which have been made recently.

· Statements reflecting the concerns of a number of church people.

This section is updated as new material comes to hand. It’s worth a visit any and every day to check new resources and links.

Go to www.casi.org.nz and click on the link in the right-hand column.