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New Video Study Available

Christian World Service has a new video study available. The Global Banquet, introduced by Dunedin mayor, Sukhi Turner, explores some of the dramatic changes in rural agriculture in recent decades.

Building on the 2003 Christmas Appeal resources, the video shows how people are made hungry. Changes in agriculture and food production have forced millions of small farmers off their land and others into growing crops they cannot eat.

The accompanying study material shares stories from CWS partners in Sri Lanka who are working to ensure the rural population has food and control over their livelihoods. It includes study material from Isaiah and provides an introduction to this year's trade campaign focus, Food for All.

A new backgrounder, Talk Food, will also be available.

Contact CWS at P O Box 22652, Christchurch or cws@cws.org.nz for a copy. Please specify preferred dates for borrowing the video.

Jubilee Postcards

The Jubilee Aotearoa Debt Action Network has produced a set of postcards to be sent to Helen Clark, Michael Cullen and Marion Hobbs, calling on them to support debt cancellation as a way of helping to meet the Millennium Development Goals. There is also a fourth card for people to send to Jubilee Aotearoa if they want to sign up to the Jubilee campaign.

Contributions towards production costs are welcome.

If you can distribute these cards please contact Gillian Southey with the number you require at Christian World Service, PO Box 22 652, Christchurch or
gillian.southey(at)cws.org.nz.

APW News

The APW National Executive has sent from the Emergency Fund, $1,500.00 to assist those who have lost everything in the recent floods in the lower North Island. We decided to direct it through the Fielding Presbyterian Church Flood Relief Fund, as we had been so well cared for during the Triennial Conference in Fielding in 2003.

<typohead type=2>United Nations:</typohead>

Margaret Mayman is at present in New York for the 48th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, which is a subsidiary body of the United Nations Economic and Social Council.

This year the two thematic issues are 1) the role of boys and men in achieving gender equality; 2) involvement of women in peacemaking and post-conflict situations.

Margaret will be working with the Ecumenical Women’s Caucus to bring attention to the religious aspects of these issues, in particular the one about boys and men.

Margaret has been invited to join the NZ Government delegation again, which provides a really good opportunity for her to participate in the negotiation of outcomes. APW are well served by Margaret’s skills in peacemaking mediation, and please pray for great results of her work, a different but vital mission work.

Elizabeth Mackie from Christian World Service tells us that over the past three years, APW have raised over $160,000 for Mission overseas, through CWS. Because the Special Projects have focussed on women and children’s welfare, they qualify for the NZ Government’s VASS funding [$4 to $1] which means that in fact we have sent overseas $750.000. isn’t that GREAT.

<typohead type=2>INFORMATION TO ALL MINISTERS. </typohead>

APW are in a state of transforming their organisation. There will be an extraordinary

business meeting on Friday April 30th –Sat 1st May, to present the proposed change of structure and administration for APW, in accordance with the direction of the April 2003 Triennial National Business Meeting.

All representatives appointed by their presbyterials/combined districts to the National Consultative Group, will attend. Parishes and interested women may also attend.

For Registration forms apply to
office(at)stenoch.co.nz

<typohead type=2>The Core consultative group</typohead>

The Core consultative group are busy visiting all presbyterials, to ensure women know what is being proposed. REMEMBER your input is needed NOW! Think, discuss, vision. Respond. If you see solutions or problems, voice them to your presbyterial representative or to the National Executive at A.P.W NX, PO Box 15219, Tauranga or email
apw_x(at)stenoch.co.nz.

It will be too late to leave it to the meeting in April.

What is needed is flexibility of thinking, and a willingness to listen to all views.

Please recognise, every presbyterial has its own ways, suiting that group of women. It will never suit all other groups! Bear in mind for whom we are evolving? Us? Just old ladies? Or is the next generation of church women? Future women leaders?

APW are teachers and leaders, and wonderful spirited women of God. What are you hearing in your prayer times? Share your wisdom.

<typohead type=2>Turakina Maori Girls College</typohead>

The National Executive have given a further $2,000.00 to Turakina. We realised that the Bursary needed to be lifted to the actual cost level. The funds came from the Stamp money.

This year the Scholarship, which is offered to a Form 3 student who displays a positive attitude, and excellent potential, we are delighted to announce, has been awarded to Janet Pickering of Taihape. Congratulations Janet.

<typohead type=2>Reminders</typohead>

To all parish groups; ask to see the Decade to Overcome Violence packs, sent to all ministers by Robyn Cave, co-ordinator of the Decade against Violence. The packs contain helpful ideas on how we may be involved.

International Women’s Day is celebrated in NZ on Monday March 8th. In Auckland it will be marked at 5.30 pm at Aotea Square, Queen St. Watch out for local events in your own newspapers.

NZ Lay Preachers Association

The National Executive of the New Zealand Lay Preachers Association has moved to the Waikato-Bay of Plenty. St Paul’s Methodist Church, Hamilton, was the venue for the induction of the new officers of the Executive Committee of the NZ Lay Preachers Association, on Saturday 14 February.

The Association draws its membership from lay preachers and lay ministers in the Anglican, Associated Churches of Christ, Congregational, Methodist and Presbyterian denominations and Cooperating Ventures. The Waikato–Bay of Plenty based Executive replaces the Executive which has been based in Wellington - Wairarapa for the past 4 years.

Enquiries from lay preachers and those in training, about membership of the Association may be made in the first instance to Hugh Williams the Registrar.

The contact details for the key Officers are:

President, Mary Rose, Unit 2/15 Matai Crescent, Putaruru.

Secretary, Vivienne Whimster, 49 Rimu Street, Tauranga,
jvwhim(at)actrix.co.nz

Registrar, Hugh Williams, 3 Burbank Crescent, Churton Park, Wellington
hugh.williams(at)clear.net.nz

Treasurer, David Davis, 1/63 Fraser Crescent, Upper Hutt

Editor, Colin Gibson, 28 Mitchell Avenue, Dunedin
colin.gibson(at)clear.net.nz

'With Love to the World'

Written by a variety of writers from Australia and New Zealand and complied by Shirley Maddox of the Uniting Church of Australia, ‘With Love to the World’ is a series of up-to-date biblical studies for Bible study groups or personal reflection.

‘With Love to the World’ is issued 4 times a year. Each issue covers 3 months following the seasons of the church year. There is a reading for each day of the year and included are extra readings before and after the Lectionary reading, a commentary, suggestions for prayer and questions related to particular days. The readings follow the Revised Common Lectionary.

To subscribe or for more information they should go to ‘With Love to the World’ email address
wlwdbrg(at)bigpond.com
or write to 62 The Boulevard Strathfield NSW Australia 2135. It is also possible to subscribe through Epworth Books, 157B Karori Road, Marsden Village, Karori, Wellington, NZ.

If a group of readers get together and order a parcel (more than three copies to one address) the cost is $A4.00 per copy per issue (including postage and handling) and must be paid for in Australian dollars. If one person subscribes the cost is $A20 a year which must be paid in Australian dollars (the bank charges here are huge). If you subscribe through Epworth Books it costs $NZ 34 per year but they do the hard and expensive work with the bank charges.

School Trustees

Presbyterians are being asked to think about standing and being counted when nominations open for the board of trustee elections happening in their local schools early next month.

Elections Project Manager Janet Kelly is urging people to think about putting their names forward to support their local school and its students, or to encourage others they think would make good trustees.

Boards of trustees perform a crucial governance role in New Zealand schools.

Janet Kelly says it is very important that boards reflect the diversity of their school community. Trustees with a mix of skills and experience and who have different backgrounds, cultures and skills are needed.

There are approximately 13,000 positions to fill and while about half the current trustees have said they will stand again this year it is still a challenge for school communities to fill the vacancies, she says.

A recent survey showed that nine out of ten trustees rate being on a board a positive experience.

"They say the greatest benefit came from an increased understanding of the education system and other personal gains came from an increase in confidence, improved interpersonal skills and broadened horizons."

Key dates for the elections are:

Nomination open March 5

Nominations close March 19

Election date April 2