Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand

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Assembly office update

<typohead type="4">Farewells </typohead>

We have farewelled or will farewell many from the Assembly team over the next few months. This is because the 2004 Assembly made decisions about disestablishing the Mission Resource Team, some people have come to the end of their agreed term, and financial reductions necessitated redundancies.

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John Baber – finance, 22 December 2004.

Simon McLeay - Mission Resource Team co-director northern, 31 January.

Chris Nichol - ecumenical relations secretary, 31 January.

Mary Petersen - children and families coordinator, 2 February.

Hazel Smith - office coordinator, 18 February.

Verity Doak - courses and resources consultant, 1 March.

Prue Neild - Mission Resource Team co-director southern North Island, Easter 2005.

Jan Jones as part-time assistant to the Mission Resource Team.

John Daniel as Mission Resource Team co-director southern South Island.

Monica Yeoman as youth intern.

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Several are long-serving employees. Verity has worked for the Assembly in a variety of roles for twenty years beginning at a time, she notes, when 17 people worked for the former Department of Parish Development and Mission. Hazel has been with us for over 15 years and Prue for 12.

We are taking opportunities to express the Church’s profound gratitude for the valued contribution each has made, and to offer them good wishes for the future.

<typohead type="4">We welcome:</typohead>

<typolist>

Amanda Wells as communications advisor, working alongside Jose Reader, our communications manager.

Miriama Pritchard as office coordinator. Miriama has worked in administration for Pacific Health and Master Plumbers. She is active in the Pacific Islanders’ Church in Newtown.

Fiona Stenhouse as human resources manager from 7 March. Fiona’s brief is to maintain and develop systems and processes that provide active support to all who exercise ministry and work for the Church.

John Daniel as national mission enabler commences 1 March.

Kathryn Grant from Knox-St Columba Lower Hutt as youth intern. Kathryn is taking “a year out” by working with Mo Mansill before further study.

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<typohead type="4">Changes</typohead>

As a result of changes we will not be able to continue providing some resources and services. Responsibilities are also shifting within the team, for example, ecumenical relations shifts to Andrew Bell in the Global Mission Office. Once our new team is in place we will set out for you the resources we provide and our respective responsibilities.

<typohead type="4">Assembly Assessment</typohead>

We encourage you to pay your Assembly Assessment in regular monthly payments. This enables us to meet our commitments without more borrowing than is necessary.

<typohead type="4">National Tasks Consultation</typohead>

A paper called “Focus on the Future” has gone out to every Session Clerk and Parish Council Secretary, Presbytery and Union District Council. You will also find it on the website at www.presbyterian.org.nz/focus. We encourage you to participate in providing the feedback sought by the Council of Assembly.

<typohead type="4">Te Aka Puaho 50 years</typohead>

Over the weekend of 19/20 March, Te Aka Puaho celebrates 50 years of life. In establishing the Maori synod, the Presbyterian Church was seen as pioneering a pattern of partnership. The ministries of Te Aka Puaho reach into many marae and contexts. It will be an occasion the national church joins in encouraging and supporting this valued dimension of our life. The new moderator, Mrs Millie Te Kaawa, will also be inducted.

<typohead type="4">Council of Assembly meeting</typohead>

The Council meets next on the weekend of 11-13 March. Correspondence for the meeting needs to be received in the Assembly Office at aes(at)presbyterian.org.nz by 24 February 2005.

<typohead type="4">Book of Order Advice</typohead>

Heather McKenzie, Clerk of the Synod of Otago and Southland, is available to provide advice regarding the Book of Order and Presbyterian procedures and practices.

She may be contacted at 0800 76 2222 or synod.otago.southland(at)xtra.co.nz

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