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Contact changes
<typohead type="4">Mission resourcing </typohead>
As from 9 March 2005, all enquiries relating to the following matters should be referred to Fiona Stenhouse (details below):
<typolist>
Police checks
Assembly Office checks (Regulations 86A & B, 225 vi, 226v,)
Ministers information forms
Five year lists
Matters to do with Boards of Nomination
Ministry regulations and terms of call for ministers
Applications for reception to the ministerial roll
Employment of lay people in the Presbyterian Church
</typolist>
Fiona Stenhouse
Human Resources Manager
Assembly Office
Laughton House
100 Tory Street
Wellington
Phone 04 801 6000
Fax 04 801 6001
Email fionas(at)presbyterian.org.nz
Fiona works Monday to Thursday.
<typohead type="4">Local Ministry</typohead>
<typolist type="1">
Enquiries regarding selection, assessment, terms of call and related matters should be referred to Fiona Stenhouse, Human Resources Manager. See details above.
Enquiries regarding training should be referred to the Rev Dr John Roxborogh, Co-ordinator of Lay and Recognised Ministry Training, School of Ministry, Knox College, Dunedin.
</typolist>
<typohead type="4">Transition Ministry</typohead>
Enquiries regarding Transition Ministry should be referred to the Rev John Daniel, National Mission Enabler. Contact details:
PO Box 1131, Dunedin.
Phone 03 477 7948
Fax 03 477 6736
Mobile 027 438 8988
Email jckd@maxnet.co.nz
<typohead type="4">Resources</typohead>
As from 18 February 2005, enquiries regarding resources such as preaching kits and study material available from the Assembly Office should be referred to:
Miriama Pritchard
Phone 04 801 6000
Email miriamap(at)presbyterian.org.nz
Other contact details as for Assembly Office.
Police checks - Clean Slate Act 2004
Note for all Ministers and others applying for Police check clearances.
From 29 November 2004, there was a change to the vetting process, in regard to the release of criminal records (of convictions) and information about criminal records. From this date all vetting requests will be treated as if the person were eligible to have their full criminal record concealed under the Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Act 2004, unless you believe that an exception applies. The most likely exception is under section 19(3)(e), where the role of the person agreeing to have the police check done and for the information to be disclosed to the Assembly Office, is to be one which predominantly involves the care and protection of a child or young person. For example, foster parent or caregiver. In this case, an additional letter requesting this information will need to be sent in to the Assembly Office, along with the signed Consent to Disclosure form.
Please note that there are now new forms that must be used. Any old forms should be destroyed, and new ones requested. A reminder that all consent forms must be on original Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand letterhead (coloured) – no photocopies please.
Introduction work group
This year we have five students completing the Ordination Studies Programme: David Balchin, Alofa Lale, Karen Nelson, Nathan Parry, and Michelle Shin. Given the smaller number, we are proposing to have one round of introductions. Nominators are asked to have parish profiles to the Convener by 14 July.
<typohead type="4">Suggested content for inclusion in a Parish Profile: </typohead>
<typolist>
Brief overview of parish life/history
Description of key ministries/missions
Parish aim, values and key current goals
Current financial information
Description, photographs of facilities (church, hall, manse etc.)
Information about education facilities
Photos of community
Annual Report
Statistics for the last decade (membership, worship, education)
Census
</typolist>
<typohead type="4">Presentation of Parish Profile </typohead>
The profile needs to be available in two formats. The Work Group requires a full copy presented in an A4 clear file for placing in the hands of a graduating ordinand. This copy is returned to the Board if the introduction process is unsuccessful. A second electronic copy minus photographs and brochures but including up to date financial information is required in Word or rich text format for circulation among members by email.
Convener
Geoffrey Skilton
(03) 453 5357
geoffrey.skilton(at)paradise.net.nz
News from CWS
<typohead type="4">0.7% Campaign </typohead>
CWS is asking people to support the point-seven campaign calling for the New Zealand government to keep its promise on aid. A petition was launched on 2 February 2005 by New Zealand's major aid agencies, including CWS. The petition is calling on the New Zealand Government to commit to a timetable to increase its spending on aid to 0.7% of Gross National Income (GNI) by 2015 in line with its earlier promises to help reduce global poverty. The petition is due by 31 March 2005. CWS is calling on New Zealanders to show their support for the eradication of global poverty by signing the petition. Copies of the petition and fact sheet are available direct from the website at:
www.cws.org.nz/Campaigns/07-Campaign/Default.asp
or from the CWS office. They have also been posted to all parishes and we ask that people promote them wherever possible.
<typohead type="4">Tsunami Appeal </typohead>
CWS is most grateful for the strong support from the churches to this appeal. So far it has raised over $560,000 and the donations remain steady. However, we are very conscious that the needs are still very great as people deal with the long-term trauma and the loss of livelihoods. Many of CWS's partners continue to attend to the pastoral needs of the victims. Please continue to keep all those affected in your prayers.
As the attention of the world moves on, CWS is concerned about plans for reconstruction now that the most urgent needs have largely being met. There is much talk in the affected countries of moving people from their traditional livelihoods in coastal areas. For communities who have lived for centuries by the sea this is unthinkable. CWS's partners in India and Sri Lanka are particularly concerned that the voices of the people themselves are heard and that they can determine their own future. While groups like Neythal, based in Nagapattinam, South India, continue to meet urgent needs they are also supporting the local people as they face an even more uncertain future, which is more likely to favour commercial sectors.
Similarly in Sri Lanka, long-time partner MONLAR is challenging the government reconstruction plan, which aims to build 15 new cities to house the victims of the tsunami. While construction is prohibited within 100 metres of the sea, they are allowing a special exemption for tourist operators to rebuild hotels. This plan if accepted will force about 800,000 small-scale fisher folk and their families from their traditional livelihoods, making way for tourist enterprise and large-scale fishing operations.
More information on CWS's response can be found at www.cws.org.nz, including worship resources and material for donating to the appeal. Display material is also available from CWS, PO Box 22 652, Christchurch or cws(at)cws.org.nz. The next editions of @world and Youth Topics will feature material on emergencies. They will be distributed later in the month. Donations to the appeal are still welcome: call 0800 74 73 72.
<typohead type="4">New DVD/Video Study </typohead>
A Refugee Life, which is supported by study material, The Faces of Palestine, is now available from Christian World Service. It is an opportunity to hear firsthand the experience of a Palestinian refugee and in the second part to learn about the work of CWS partner, The Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees of the Middle East Council of Churches. As DSPR is the overseas project of the Association of Presbyterian Women and Methodist Women’s Fellowship this year, it will be of special interest. The video or DVD and study material are available from our office (contact details above). A full video catalogue is online: www.cws.org.nz.