Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand

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Update

<typohead type="3">Kia ora</typohead>

Everyone in the Assembly Team – School of Ministry, Global Mission, Archives, Mission Resource Team, Finance, Asian Liaison, Ecumenical Relations, Communications, and Administration – send you their good wishes in this season of Advent.  In the words of a new hymn "Lord, make your good news our great joy, as we live out your call.”

<typohead type="3">Council of Assembly active</typohead>

Since its last meeting the Council has been very active in taking forward a number of matters including the appointment of the National Mission Enabler.  On 11 December Policy Group conveners are meeting as part of the process of building cooperation and taking action.  More information about the work of Council will be sent out early in the New Year.

<typohead type="3">Assembly Office closure</typohead>

Laughton House will be closed from Christmas Eve, 24 December and will re-open on Monday, 10 January.  If you need to contact someone urgently during holiday time phone 0274 452 521.

<typohead type="3">Changes to the Assembly Team</typohead>

Changes to the Service Team continue. 

The positions of the Mission Resource Team regional Co-Directors – currently held by Simon McLeay, Prue Neild, and John Daniel - have been disestablished.  They are completing their tasks and facilitating the transition.  Simon finishes in the office on 17 December 2004.  He has been appointed to a position with Alpha in Auckland and will be able to apply the work he has done on hospitality in congregations.  John and Prue finish their work a little later in 2005. 

Chris Nichol finishes his work as Ecumenical Relations Secretary in January.  Chris’s facilitation of the relationship with the Council for World Mission will continue.

Simon, Prue, John and Chris have made immense and valued contributions to the Church in their roles.  The Council of Assembly acknowledged the service of the Mission Resource Team at the service of appreciation at the end of October.  We thank them for the wonderful service they have provided.

One very long-standing employee in Laughton House will be concluding her time with us next year.

Hazel Smith is retiring as Office Coordinator and will be finishing in the office around the 18 February.  Hazel has been the voice on the end of the phone, the one who made travel arrangements, the one to whom people turned for information, the face for contact at Assembly, and the mailer of many thousands of communications.  Her knowledge of the Church is great and she will be greatly missed.  We have begun advertising for a replacement.

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

As advised elsewhere, John Daniel has been appointed National Mission Enabler.  He takes up his role March 2005.

The position of Human Resource Advisor has been advertised.  We would like to make an appointment prior to Christmas.

<typohead type="3">Changes in relating to the wider church</typohead>

As you can imagine, the changes advised above affect what services we can provide to people in congregations and presbyteries/udcs.  Some Service Team Leaders met recently to map out what those changes will mean in a practical sense.  Over the next two months communication will be sent presbyteries, union district councils and other groups to clarify this.

For example, worship resources will no longer be provided in the same way; inter-church relationships will be managed differently; different people will undertake involvement with some bodies, and the services provided by the Mission Resource Team regional co-directors will no longer be available.

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

The two matters that require decisions by Presbyteries/UDCs under the Barrier Act process have been sent out.  Copies were also sent to sessions and parish councils and ministers were also advised.  A copy of the material is on the Presbyterian website on the General Assembly 2004 section.

<typohead type="3">General Assembly Minutes</typohead>

The minutes of the General Assembly have been approved by the Council of Assembly.  We will mail them out in the week commencing 13 December and they will also be on the General Assembly 2004 section of the website by the end of December.

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

The process for publishing the Book of Order with amendments arising from the last Assembly is underway.  At this stage, the latest version is expected to be published in January 2005.

The 5 December Sunday Star-Times published proposals from communication agencies to re-brand Christmas.  The cover featured boxers under the heading Santa (Father of Christmas) vs Jesus (The Son of God) – Choose Your Champion, Txt Now – The Title Match of the Year.

The agency which took that approach wrote: “For most New Zealanders, Christmas is increasingly becoming a battle between the commercial and more spiritual aspects of life, and we wanted to highlight this in a way that caused people to think about who their champion for the season really was and what the day actually meant to them.”

Asking people to think about who their champion for life really is – that’s our kind of question, as well.

<typohead type="3">Book of Order Help desk</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

Ma te Atua tatou katoa e manaaki