Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand

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Update

<typohead type="3">New faces</typohead>

Our national leadership team has new members appointed by Assembly. Garry Marquand began as Moderator – his contact details are in the Presbyterian Year Book, and Kerry Stotter from Auckland is the new Convener of the Council of Assembly. Contact with the Council as a body is made through the Secretary. Council will also appoint its members to liaise with groups of presbyteries.

Within the Assembly Service Team, Andrew Jackson has started as Assistant to the AES (Finance) for a year and Jose Reader is the new Communications Manager.

<typohead type="3">Assembly follow-up </typohead>

Watch out for Assembly follow-up over the next few weeks. We aim to communicate decisions and their implications as soon as possible. Minutes, once approved by Council, will go on the website and be distributed. Other material will go to presbyteries and sessions, and much will be on the website. Assembly assessment

We need congregations to pay Assembly Assessment. Assembly continued Assembly Assessment over the next three years. It’s the amount paid by congregations for Assembly purposes and for national minister-related support. We need it because the initiatives it supports have been sought by Assemblies and they are valuable. Assembly’s financial position is challenging so regular payment is crucial at this time. Congregations receive monthly statements of the amount to be paid.

<typohead type="3">Assembly staff reorganisation </typohead>

The Assembly Service Team is changing. With reducing income and to meet changing priorities in the Church, nearly every part of the Assembly operation is affected. A summary:

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Sophie Mellor, Human Resource Adviser has been helping out with the transition, and there are plans to appoint a part-time Human Resource position, which will provide a help desk for congregations relating to ministry and employment, disseminate resources, and manage disciplinary processes

Assembly affirmed disestablishing the Mission Resource Team regional Co-Directors positions – the Pacific Islanders and Youth Ministry Co-Directors’ positions continue

A new National Mission Enabler position is being established

Ministry administration (police checks, changes of status etc) will be managed differently in the Assembly Office

The Financial Services Team is being restructured

Ecumenical Secretary functions are being distributed to the Global Mission Secretary and others.

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These changes will occur over the next few months, and we will keep you informed of developments.

<typohead type="3">Barrier Act clarification</typohead>

I wish to clarify a common misunderstanding of the Barrier Act. This is a process to ensure Assemblies pass into legislation significant constitutional changes only after responses from presbyteries/UDCs. The Barrier Act process requires responses from presbyteries/UDCs only, not from congregations as is sometime suggested. If a majority of presbyteries approve the proposal, the succeeding Assembly has the discretion to pass the proposal into legislation. If a majority of presbyteries do not approve, the proposal lapses.

<typohead type="3">Beneficiary Fund changes </typohead>

Last month, you will have received information about changes to the Beneficiary Fund, administration of which is now being managed by Aon.

Effective from 1 October 2004 all queries, other than those relating to special grants, should be made directly to Aon by calling 0800 266 4636. Paul Misselbrook is the contact person at Aon and will be managing enquiries.

The relationship with AON Financial Services is being managed by the Church Property Trustees.

<typohead type="3">Book of Order helpdesk</typohead>

Heather McKenzie, Otago and Southland Synod Clerk, can be turned to for help understanding and interpreting the Book of Order. Heather can be contacted by phoning 03 477 7365 or by e-mail at synod.otago.southland(at)xtra.co.nz

E noho ra

Journey on CD

The Waikato-Waiariki Methodist Synod has released a CD called Journey On. It is a church resource, which can be used in conjunction with funerals. The idea is that ministers can lend a copy of the CD to families as they prepare a funeral service so they can make a good selection for congregational singing rather than staying within the narrow range of hymns that most people can recall.

Journey On is a double CD including 13 traditional hymn tracks with organ accompaniment and 13 contemporary songs with organ and vocals. A full set of words for all songs is included in a separate word booklet. It may also be used in situations where no organist is available.

This will be a very useful resource for the church and is available from Bonnie Hebenton for $33.75 plus $2.40 postage.

Bonnie’s contact details are:
work/fax 07 574 0079
home 07 575 9930
email bonhomie(at)clear.net.nz

School of Ministry

The second semester at the School of Ministry (SOM) began with a three-week block course on Mission and Many Cultures in Aotearoa New Zealand taught by Kevin Ward, with assistance from John Roxborogh. The course began by developing a theology of mission both biblically and from a variety of theological understandings. It then looked at some critical issues in understanding mission today, especially the relationship of evangelism and justice, contextualisation and relationship with other religions. It then moved to seeking an understanding of New Zealand society, which has changed from the rather homogenous world of the 1950s to now embracing many different cultures. The course concluded with insights about how we engage in mission today.

The remainder of the semester has first year ordinands in Field Education placements and second years undertaking Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE).

We are fortunate in being able to access a variety of field placements. This enables ordinands to be placed in settings according to their learning needs, and which builds on their previous ministry and church experience. Ordinands generally come to the School of Ministry having had (sometimes quite significant) pastoral ministry or experience in church leadership as an elder or youth leader so it is important for their field placements to build on their experience, capacity and knowledge.

We are able to access pastoral placements in Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist, Catholic and Anglican settings, social service agencies of a number of denominations, as well as hospitals and prison. We are particularly grateful this semester for the supervisory abilities and availability of the Very Rev Neil Churcher, the Revs David Coster, Ian Guy, Steve O’Connor and Geoffrey Skilton, the Rev Drs Fyfe Blair, Bruce Hamill and Michael Schwass, Mesdames Margaret Feist and Anne Thompson, and Pastors Charles Hamahona and Andrew Harrex. Thank you.

Our CPE Supervisor is the very experienced Rev Don Prince from Christchurch and Mary Huie-Jolly is Assistant Supervisor for second year ordinands. CPE is an intense supervised ministry and learning process of pastoral and theological education in a clinical context, usually a hospital or aged care facility. Students meet in small groups and individually with a CPE supervisor accredited by the New Zealand Association for Clinical Pastoral Education. It is a demanding programme, emotionally and spiritually, and requires some 400 learning hours to complete.

Susan Werstein has been responsible for developing field education and supervisor development programmes this year. She is now on study leave in the USA attending the Association for Theological Field education conference and writing in her other areas of Christian education and pastoral care. Kevin Ward is refining courses for next year, particularly Leadership in Congregations, which will also be taught as a distance paper, and Hermeneutics and Homiletics. Following the debates at General Assemblies on the question of gay and lesbian people offering leadership in the Church, we will be incorporating the issue of sexuality and leadership in the Hermeneutics part of the course as a means of addressing the issue theologically and pastorally.

I reported at General Assembly (GA) that the January Summer School, taught by Prof John Drane and held in conjunction with the University of Otago, was a tremendous success. This January 24- 28 Prof Walter Brueggemann teaches The Prophets: Voices of Alternative Imagination at St Kentigern College, Pakuranga, Auckland. We are very grateful to St Kent’s and Executive Head, Warren Peat, for their support. The course can be credited for MMin or PGDipMin or audited for Continuing Ministry Formation. Registrations are filling fast and I encourage people to register ASAP by contacting Elaine Wooliscroft at registrar(at)knoxcollege.ac.nz. We are also negotiating another world-class theologian for the summer of 2006 at Knox College, and details of this will be out shortly.

On the horizon, we are developing further programmes for the benefit of ministry within and outside the church. Positive reception of the Leadership in Congregations course has encouraged us to think about developing a full-blown post-graduate diploma in Christian Leadership. Something similar in Pastoral Psychology and Counselling is also on the books.

At GA we circulated a booklet entitled, What Can the School of Ministry Do For You? This identified workshops and seminars that SOM staff can lead in parishes, presbyteries and synods throughout the country. If you missed acquiring a copy, email Juan Kinnear on pa(at)schoolofministry.ac.nz for an electronic version. And while you’re at your computer check out our website, www.schoolofministry.ac.nz , for information on courses, library acquisitions, LOM and NOM procedures, articles and ministry resources.

Neville Emslie
Principal

NEWS from Churches’ Agency on Social Issues

(Presbyterian, Methodist, Churches of Christ, Quakers)

<typohead type="3">Social issues resource kit </typohead>

Did your Assembly representative pick up your parish’s Social Issues Resource Kit from the CASI stall at Assembly? If not, contact CASI (tel 04 281 8295, email casi@casi.org.nz) and we’ll post it to you.

Selected items from CASI Broadsheet:

<typohead type="3">Citizenship rights should be secure but fair </typohead>

CASI has opposed the significant tightening of citizenship qualifications in a submission to the Government Administration Select Committee recently.

CASI’s submission said “these proposed changes have ostensibly been aimed at preventing terrorists from becoming based in New Zealand and for dealing with people who intend to rip off the system.

“But it seems to us that many of the changes will not be fair to those least able to stand up for themselves – refugees and children.

“We believe that most New Zealanders want such vulnerable people to be treated with justice and compassion.

“Extending the qualifying period of residence for a grant of citizenship from three to five years could cause considerable psychological problems for refugees, many of whom will have experienced great anxiety about their futures on a daily basis for years before coming to New Zealand. What they need above everything else is security about their future.

“Any use of terms of imprisonment in other countries as a bar to obtaining New Zealand citizenship is most likely to discriminate against refugees and those who most need the safe haven that New Zealand is proud to promote. Active criminals and terrorists are unlikely to be barred by these measures – they will have the resources to conceal any wrongdoing.

“Many outstanding Christian leaders overseas, who would make a great contribution to New Zealand, have been imprisoned by harsh and oppressive regimes. It would be unjust if our laws hindered such people from beginning a new life, and in effect endorsed the injustice of the regimes they have fled from.

“Denying citizenship rights to children born here seems a draconian measure to gather in a small number of exploitative arrivals. It would be much better to address this relatively small problem through strengthening the border security system. The emphasis should be on preventing or deterring people from coming to New Zealand simply to give birth, rather than punishing the children who are in no way culpable.

“A secure system of passport issue is desirable. But, if this is achieved at the cost of treating refugees insensitively or unjustly, then our passport system will not remain one of which we can be proud.”

<typohead type="3">Methodists reach understanding </typohead>

The Methodist Church of New Zealand has reached an understanding that allows the church to move forward on the ordination of gay and lesbian people. This is an issue which has been under debate for more than ten years, says President Dr Lynne Frith.

A Memorandum of Understanding has been prepared which acknowledges the diversity of the church, the integrity of differing beliefs, and respects difference.

Dr Frith says within the membership of the Methodist Church there are those who agree with the ordination of gay and lesbian people and those who do not.

The Memorandum enables those with markedly different beliefs to remain in relationship with each other within the church.

It reaffirms that all candidates for ordination must meet the criteria of the church and that all placement of ministers is done with careful consultation.

More information is available from the Methodist website at www.methodist.org.nz.

<typohead type="3">The ageing kiwi </typohead>

Did you know 1 October was the designated International Day for people aged over 60? There are now about 600 million people in this age group around the world. The number will double by 2025 and reach virtually 2 billion by 2050, when the vast majority will live in the developing world. More from www.who.int/hpr/ageing.

<typohead type="3">The changing face of female gambling </typohead>

Female gamblers now account for more than 50 percent of gamblers calling the New Zealand Gambling Helpline. Also, calls from male “significant others” - including husbands, partners and fathers - are on the rise, at nearly 30 percent in 2003 compared with just over 20 percent in 1999. The Gambling Helpline received more than 20,000 calls in 2003.

You can download your own copy of the full Broadsheet from www.casi.org.nz or contact CASI to be put on the mailing list for direct postage or PDF emailing.