Association of Presbyterian Women

Terms of Reference

The joint Aim of the Association of Presbyterian Women and the Methodist Women’s Fellowship is:

TO UNITE all in prayer, study, fellowship and service, enabling them to make a Christian witness in home and Church and community;

TO SUPPORT, at home and abroad, the work of the parent churches;

TO ENCOURAGE an informed interest in worldwide mission and evangelism.

</typolist>

<typohead type="2">Report

</typohead>

1.1 Aware, in 2002, that Presbyterials were finding difficulty in nominating a new National Executive in accordance with the Constitution of the Association of Presbyterian Women, the Manawatu National Executive called a Consultation in May, 2002.

1.2 Women of APW, women of the Church not associated with APW, women holding office within the Church structures, young women, rural women and city women, lay and ordained women gathered in Wellington to discuss the roles and opportunities for the women of the Church. Emerging from these discussions were the recognition of the important contribution of the Association of Presbyterian Women within the diverse ministry of the Church; and the need for restructuring the Association of Presbyterian Women.

1.3 A report of the Consultation was sent to every Presbyterial together with an invitation to formulate and forward new models of organisation. Eight different models were presented to the Triennial Conference in April, 2003. Also, in the latter half of 2002, the Bay of Plenty Presbyterial offered to form a National Executive. This offer was accepted at the Triennial Conference as an interim Executive whilst the procedures of re-structuring were pursued.

2.1 The theme of the Triennial Conference was "Growing into Change" and this theme became the motif of planning to restructure. Triennial Conference set up a Core Consultative Group of five women – Nola Stuart, Mary North, Glenn Barclay, Lafulafu Ekenasio and Nan Burgess. This Core Consultative Group was commissioned to present a model of restructure, based upon two of the models decided by the Conference, to an Extra Ordinary Meeting of APW in April, 2004. A nation-wide Consultative Group was also set up to work with the Core Consultative Group. Two members from every Presbyterial/District were nominated and these two groups worked in constant consultation.

3.1 An interim National Executive were appointed for one year to maintain the working of the organisation; the involvement with sister groups, e.g. NCW, AAW, MWF, Bridge Builders, Pacific Watch, as well as the areas of service: Mission, Social Issues, United Nations, Programme, Prayer and Study, to interest and stimulate members.

3.2 It was a great sadness to realise that the “Harvest Field” was no longer viable. A monthly newsletter has been going out to members to keep them informed. The Presbyterian Church website carries information.

3.3 In the last Financial Year the following was raised nationally

$81,440.87 for Special Combined (with MWF) Mission Projects

$32,792.61 through Mission Birthday Gift

$9,664.64 from used Stamps

$4,847.30 for bursaries for Turakina Maori Girls’ College

$1.945.38 for Emergency Aid Fund

$1,171.75 for other Mission Work

3.4 In March 18 Women from the PWMU in Vanuatu came to New Zealand. The internal expenses were funded from the profit of the book “Braided River of Faith” Vol. 1. The Rev Dr. Nan Burgess edited and produced this book and also Vol. 2 which is now on sale. A big thank you must go to Nan for all the work she has put into these books.

4.1 The Core Consultative Group met six times to listen to replies from the National Consultative Group, and to discuss and formulate the material received. As the months passed, there grew to be a fuller understanding within the Association of the need for restructuring. The close relationship of the two consultative groups brought to the Extra Ordinary Meeting a restructuring to which the members of APW had all had the opportunity to contribute their views.

4.2 April 30-May 1 2004 an Extra Ordinary Meeting of the Association of Presbyterian Women was representative of every Presbyterial either by two voting delegates or by nominated proxy votes. Agreement by consensus to the process of restructured national offices was a significant step within the ongoing process of “Growing into Change”. The newly affirmed personnel are charged to continue to implement the restructuring, to evaluate such change and to keep the Association abreast of their practice and thought. This process has begun.

Natalie Watkin
National Convener

Margaret Clow
National Secretary

Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand

Association of Presbyterian Women

Terms of Reference