[IMPORTED OFFICE FILE]

Council of Asian Congregations

1.Introduction

1.1The Council of Asian Congregations was formed by the 2000 Assembly. As such, the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New recognizes the Council of Asian Congregations as part of the life and ministry of the Church. The Council reports to the Assembly. However, the Council is not a legislative or judicial body. All the members of the Council are members of their local Presbytery. We see the essence of the Council as a mission body. More specifically,

1.2The Council has 3 basic aims:

to enable Asian people to worship together, celebrate together and to get to know each other

to help our Asian congregations and the wider Church in to reach out to Asian people in with the gospel

to be a voice for Asian people within the Presbyterian Church and within in society, and where the wider Church can meet our Asian people.

1.3Currently there are:

around 19 congregations or emerging congregations within the Presbyterian Church

the majority of these are in Auckland

around 80% of these congregations are Korean. The rest are Taiwanese (2), Cantonese (2), English speaking Chinese (1), Indonesian (1) and Indian (1).

there are 22 Korean ministers in the Korean Ministers´ Association, which is part of the Council of Asian Congregations

there are 19 ministers who have been trained in the Presbyterian Church of Korea.

1.4The Asian Liaison Person for the Council, the Rev Paul Kim, is a member of the General Assembly Staff. His job description is to carry out the aims of the Council and to be a resource to the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New on Asian ministries. His funding comes from the Assembly, the Council for World Mission and the Korean Ministers´ Association and other Asian Congregations.

2.Asians in

2.1It is clearly recognised that the number of new migrants from Asian countries has fallen away. 12,253 permanent immigrants from were granted residency in in 1995 compared to 700 in 2003. Approvals for Koreans have fallen less markedly but still significantly, from 3,394 in 1995 to 1,619 in 2003. The rate of decline in approvals for people from is very dramatic – from 3,023 in 1995 to 265 in 2003.

2.2The exception is the rate of approval to people from the People´s Republic of , which is relatively static. 5,269 applications were approved to Chinese nationals in 1995 and 5,890 in 2003. It should be noted however that each year since 2000 the approval rate has been falling from its peak and we can expect that to continue. This is hardly an "Asian invasion." The top five source countries for migrants to in 2003 were the (8,225 approvals in 2003) , (4,791), (2,491) and (2,400).

3.Other salient points

3.1There are between 30,000 to 40,000 Korean people living in . The majority live in Auckland and on the in particular. There may be a similar number of Taiwanese, primarily in .

3.2A ministry to Indian people has been established in Auckland in response to the figures above.

3.3The Presbyterian Church has Korean congregations in Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington and Christchurch.

3.4Clearly this is a social context in which the Council of Asian congregations must work. This context is characterised by both decline and opportunity. However, the official statistics do not reflect the rate of permanent departure by recent Asian immigrants. An informal survey of Asian ministers suggests 30% of Asian immigrants who arrived 5 years or more ago have now left. There are reasons for this which will not be explored in depth here, except to say that they often include issues of language and cultural adaptation, and difficulties to do with employment. Many go to which has bigger resident ethnic populations. Nevertheless, remains a very desirable place to live for Asians, when one considers the social, environmental and educational advantages we enjoy.

3.5The effect of such trends is to make Asian congregations feel vulnerable to instability of membership. This makes growth - in terms of numbers, sense of community and commitment, spiritual growth in the understanding of faith - all rather difficult.

4.What does the Council do?

4.1Each year there are two major outreach events – one was the Christmas musical at Lynnmall in Auckland, which was featured in sPanz along with other article on Asian ministries generally in early 2004.

4.2We have conducted a youth sports day, a major youth ministry outreach with a visiting Chinese youth group from Chicago and an elders´ and deacons´ training day with the Moderator as well as a "committed conversation". Paul Kim has led seminars with Simon McLeay for 5 congregations and ministers who have applied to join the Presbyterian Church.

5.Council Goals 2004-2005

to build on the musical, sports and training events held over the last few years

youth development programmes for 2nd generation Asian New Zealanders

development of an office and ministry resource centre for Asian ministries in Auckland, including a library

increased development of ministry to Asian people outside the Church

6.The Immediate Future

6.1The issue of ministers in same sex relationships has been of great concern to our Asian congregations. Our Asian congregations are very clear that people in same gender relationships can not be accepted as leaders in the Church.

6.2In the course of discussions on this matter, several points seem clear and should be briefly reported. Firstly, the Asian congregations wish to make the point that they hold this viewpoint, not because they are Asian but because they are Christian. It is a matter of understanding of faith.

6.3Secondly, if the Church allows homosexuals to take up position of leadership, the way that Asian congregations relate to the national church will change. This change can be seen in churches both overseas and New . It will not mean a wholesale exodus of Asian congregations out of the Presbyterian Church: some congregations may leave and at least one has written to the Council of Assembly to indicate it will do so. Some Asian congregations who are currently not members of the Presbyterian Church will choose not to join the Church. Others will choose much more specifically where and how they participate in the life of the Church. The Council of Asian Congregations is likely to open its membership to other Asian congregations and de-accent its relationship to the Presbyterian Church.

6.4This leaves our Asian congregations in a deeply uncomfortable position. They are very appreciative of the support that has been given to Asian ministries over the years, by non Asian congregations, Presbyteries and the Assembly. There is deep appreciation for the funding by the Assembly of the position of the Asian Liaison Person, at a time when there is a severe financial shortfall. Personal friendships have been made within the wider Church at all levels. There is no desire to break these relationships. On the contrary, the desire is to work more closely with the wider Church.

6.5The Asian congregations do not want in any way, shape or form to be heard to say: "do what we want or we leave". And yet, they have deeply held faith values on this matter, which they hold within cultural contexts that make even raising the subject difficult. Discussion of the subject impedes mission to their own people.

6.6The Council has encouraged each Asian congregation to make its views known through the "Committed Conversations", Presbytery discussions and by writing to the Council of Assembly. The Council would like to assure the Assembly of its prayers.

6.7Meanwhile, the Council is determined to get on with its task of taking the gospel to the people of , especially those of Asian background.

Stuart VogelPaul Kim

English SecretaryAsian Liaison Person

Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand