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Bush Telegraph September 2005
News
From the Moderator
I was recently visited by Colin Reed (chief executive) and Bruce Peterson (field ministries manager) of the Bible Society. Following the visit, they wrote the following letter - their offer should be known by all (It’s a reminder really):
"Thank you for taking the time to see us. We appreciate your interest in the work Bible Society is doing, and the opportunity to discuss matters of common interest. We need to work together if we are to achieve our mutual aim of making the Scriptures readily available whenever and wherever they are needed.
Please be assured that we are always ready to provide any information or Scriptures that you may need. If there are ways in which the Bible Society in New Zealand can help you in your ministry and mission by providing appropriate Scriptures, please do not hesitate to contact us at Bible House."
Bible House: postal: 144 Tory Street , Wellington 6030
email: bibles(at)biblesociety.org.nz
Freephone: 0800 424 253
Assembly Office update
<typohead type="4">Setting the scene </typohead>
A lot has happened over the last year, and I thought it was timely to put that in context as we move forward together. It’s been a time of:
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Adjustment to financial realities;
Increasing our capacity to meet legislative and legal requirements;
Addressing long-standing and urgent financial management issues;
Responding to feedback that congregations and presbyteries want direct responsibility for mission resource support;
Assembly appointing and seeking an energetic, decisive and action-oriented Council of Assembly;
Increased communication between Council and the wider church;
The Focus on the Future project.
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Over the last two years the Assembly Team has significantly reduced in size, adjusting to the capacity of congregations to fund it.
While funding reduces, some expectations of national delivery have grown. All churches are facing significant increases in compliance and legal requirements. The recently enacted Charities Act is icing on a growing compliance cake. As an example, disciplinary processes are increasingly managed nationally. We’ve changed our Team to help the Church address compliance issues, and we are beginning to identify specific steps needed to overcome the present unacceptable level of risk. In Finance, we have made strides towards a high-performing Finance Team, addressing longstanding and urgent issues.
As we move forward together, we face the big challenge of enabling the adjustment which has occurred nationally, to also occur locally and regionally.
<typohead type="4">Assembly Executive Secretary </typohead>
I have signalled to the Council of Assembly that I will not be seeking re-appointment when my term ends at General Assembly 2006. The Council is now undertaking a review of the role and responsibilities of the Assembly Executive Secretary position to ensure accountabilities and competencies are in line with the Church’s requirements before recruitment is started for a new AES.
<typohead type="4">Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa </typohead>
During August we hosted four people, including the Moderator and General Secretary, from the UPCSA. They were here to look at our systems and structures for decision-making. While in New Zealand they visited several congregations, the School of Ministry and some Presbyterian Support facilities including an aged persons’ home.
A key aspect of who we are as Presbyterians is seeing ourselves as part of a global Church. Interaction with people from our partner churches like UPCSA reminds us of our need to listen to voices on the edge. They in turn are informed by our different approaches - ministry training, being bicultural and multicultural, decision-making processes.
<typohead type="4">Staff changes at Assembly Office </typohead>
Although you may not know what she looks like, for the last six months Miriama Pritchard has been the friendly voice at the end of the phone for those who call Assembly office. Miriama finished her time with us this month, and we are currently looking for a replacement.
<typohead type="4">Presbyterian Yearbook </typohead>
The yearbook, which contains contact details for parishes and ministers around New Zealand, will be reprinted before the end of November. Presbyteries will shortly be sent the details of parishes in their area for checking and review. In preparation for this, please ensure your presbytery has up-to-date contact details for ministers and parish contact persons.
<typohead type="4">Monthly mailing </typohead>
Parishes are no longer being deluged with reams of paper every month. Instead, information is being sent electronically where possible.
Analysis of the information on our email database shows we do not have email addresses for every parish. To make sure you obtain information from Council of Assembly and its committees, notices from the Assembly Executive Secretary and other important information, please ensure that we hold an email contact address for your parish. Contact us at assemblyoffice(at)presbyterian.org.nz for more information.
<typohead type="4">Presbyterian Foundation </typohead>
Applications must be received by 15 September 2005, so please check out the website for information about details for how to apply for a grant from the Presbyterian Foundation.
<typohead type="4">Council of Assembly </typohead>
Council of Assembly met in Wellington on 13-14 August. The Council deliberated on many matters including changes resulting from Focus on the Future, updates from policy and work groups The news bulletin that was emailed to parishes can be found on the Presbyterian website.
<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
Kerry Enright
Assembly Executive Secretary
Global Mission Office update
Andrew writes:
I recently accompanied members of a delegation from the Uniting Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa (UPCSA) to meet officials in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. ‘Ministry’ is an interesting choice of word to describe a government department. We were well received in the very plush suite of offices in downtown Wellington . As it so happened, I was seated at the head of the table with the foreign affairs staff on my left and the delegation on my right. It was interesting as a South African New Zealander to watch the two parties engage in discussion over Zimbabwe and to easily identify the cultural and “world view” differences that made communication increasingly difficult.
Our church had not made a statement voicing our strong disapproval of the Black Caps tour to Zimbabwe . Many thought we had erred in this regard and the Wellington Presbytery made a declaration to this effect of their own. Knowing that the delegation was coming, our decision had been to set up this meeting so that our government could hear first hand what was happening on the ground. They openly expressed their gratitude for the opportunity and I think our delegation felt that they had been taken seriously by senior officials.
Two observations of many I made have lingered. The first was that the ministry officials were very quick to provide extensive details on how opposed our government was to the recent events in Zimbabwe and to detail all that they had done to spearhead initiatives internationally. The obvious contradiction, of course, was that as we were meeting, the farce called a cricket tour was happening with cricketers from India and New Zealand consuming precious food and other resources within Zimbabwe .
The second is that the delegation made the emphatic point that the UPCSA had not made a public declaration on Zimbabwe either. The entire Christian community within the African subcontinent had agreed that grievous human rights abuses had occurred and continued to occur and that the result was terrible hardship for thousands of ordinary Zimbabweans. They explained that they were also concerned that the situation is worsened by the fact that every kind of societal abuse had been amplified and the plight of people suffering from HIV/AIDS was particularly worrying. However given the complexity of the situation and the indiscriminate actions of the regime, Christians within Zimbabwe had pleaded with their South African and Zambian counterparts to not make highly critical public statements. Their view is that such statements would simply cause the regime to reject the church as “a puppet of 10 Downing Street ” and to make things extremely dangerous for all Presbyterians living in Zimbabwe .
In response one of the officials asked, “Well, what do you suggest we do then?”. The answer was almost whispered: “if there was an easy solution, I think we would have already put it into action”. At the time of writing, container loads of food and other supplies sent as a gift by the South African Council of Churches had been denied entry into the country. The regime has also turned down a comprehensive, UN-sponsored aid package.
It seems that while what we say can have an impact internationally, it just may not be the desired or intended outcome.
Lori writes
Last month we promised to continue to bring you the stories of our work (meaning the work of the national church as a whole) in Global Mission. Our hope is to continue to build cooperative relationships between the GMO and our congregations, groups and members. By establishing a working and communicative relationship through combining our mission giving and national resources, we will be able to make a far greater impact than working as individuals. The sum is greater than the parts. So here are some of the ways you can become more involved and again we urge parishes and congregations to reconsider who they support in mission and to prayerfully consider adding one or more our of our programmes to your list:
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Global Mission Gazette – The next edition will be out soon. Bulk orders are gladly sent to Parishes. Our newsletter shares the mission stories, reflections, testimonials, people, projects and updates about Kiwi Presbyterians serving overseas. We have over 60 Kiwi Presbyterians serving abroad with whom we are in touch. It also lists some of the areas in which people can get involved through GIVE GLOBAL Or GO GLOBAL. Read our latest edition on-line or contact us today to receive a printed copy.
Global Cent$ boxes – It is amazing how much loose change there is in the church. Help us collect it up and use it to extend our mission.
Don’t want to go but would love to give? We have many opportunities to assist with people and/or projects overseas that may interest you. There are opportunities to assist library books, bikes and computer software to micro-finance projects, HIV/AIDS initiatives and building projects. All donations go to the project or programme specified and we do not retain an administrative fee.
Want to serve overseas? We are not a sending organisation in the classic sense of the phrase. We build long term, sustainable friendships with indigenous congregations and help them to achieve their own objectives. We help broker visits by individuals and/or groups for short mission experience visits and longer professional service-type engagements. In the last year we have helped facilitate individuals and groups to serve in Vanuatu , Thailand , Wales , Zambia , South Africa and Samoa . If you are interested in a short-term overseas experience, contact us and we will see what we can do. If we are not able to help, we may be able to point you in the right direction.
Prayer Diary – not everyone can provide financial support of people and/or projects overseas but we all can pray. Our prayer diary is designed to give highlights both for praise and prayer for most of our Kiwi Presbyterians serving abroad as well as our partner churches/people and projects.
Our Website – if you have access to the internet you may be able to keep up to date more often by visiting our website, which we update frequently.
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The Global Mission Office is built upon the solid foundation of decades of faithful overseas missionary service and involvement by our congregations and members. We believe we still have something to share, and so we call on all our presbyteries, congregations and members to respond to the Gospel call to mission.
Noticeboard
Introduction work group
There is still a need for parish profiles for graduating ordinands to consider. At present one is in conversation with a board of nomination, a second has their information form with a board and is awaiting a response, and two have yet to engage with a board. Some profiles have been returned to boards so that they may continue their work.
We are particularly interested in suburban/provincial city parishes in the upper North Island.
Thanks for your prayers and support in our work.
Rev. Geoffrey Skilton
geoffrey.skilton(at)paradise.net.nz
03 453 5357
Christian World Service
<typohead type="4">Calendar 2006: Celebrating people who take action against poverty </typohead>
Are you looking for a nice calendar to brighten your walls, or to send to friends and family both here and overseas for Christmas? Then CWS has the one for you. It’s sky blue in colour and filled with pictures of our partners. Calendars cost $10 each and are available now. Please send your order with payment to: Calendar 06: Christian World Service, P.O. Box 22-652, Christchurch . Or by credit card from our website www.cws.org.nz
<typohead type="4">Visit of Sarath Fernando of MONLAR, Sri Lanka, October 2005 </typohead>
To mark its 60th anniversary CWS has invited to New Zealand Sarath Fernando, the inspirational leader of CWS partner MONLAR (Movement for National Land and Agricultural Reform) in Sri Lanka . Sarath has been instrumental in bringing together a coalition of grass-roots organisations with similar objectives. Widely traveled, he has established relationships with people’s organisations across Asia and beyond, and plays a leadership role in forwarding their objectives of poverty eradication and justice for all their people. Sarath will be in Christchurch - October 8, Saturday, Evening Celebration, CWS 60th Anniversary Dinner, Knox Presbyterian Church. Please book by September 30th. Timaru - October 9, Sunday, St Paul ’s Presbyterian Church, 9am service and after church. Auckland - October 9, Sunday, 7:30pm Meeting at Takapuna Methodist Church . For further information contact 03 366 9274 or cws(at)cws.org.nz
Presbyterian Foundation
The Presbyterian Foundation distributes money to support the ongoing mission of the Church. Applications for these grants close on 15 September. You can read the instructions for applicants and download an application form, as well as check out the guidelines for presbyteries/UDCs/UCCs.
Questions about eligibility and the application process should be directed to Heather McKenzie, synod.otago.southland(at)xtra.co.nz.
Aspiring Faith Community summer school
The next Summer School organised by the Aspiring Faith Community will be held in Wanaka 15 to 20 January 2006.
Theme: Fundamentalism: its many faces
Speakers include: Assoc Prof Peter Lineham, an historian of Massey University, Dr Najib Lafraie, political scientist from Otago University, Margaret Harvey, an artist from Christchurch and peter Callachor, biblical scholar and psychotherapist from Dunedin.
Contact: brown.hawea(at)actrix.co.nz
Resources
General Election resources
CASI’s four-page election leaflet Before You Vote has proved extremely popular. Those parishes wanting more copies should order them quickly.
For those involved in arranging election forums, a two-page Checklist for Organisers can be posted, faxed or emailed. It also includes reports from forums already held, including questions to candidates.
For those wanting to explore the issues more widely or deeply, CASI’s election kit contains a wide range of material from churches and church-related agencies. Available in hard-copy only.
CASI can be contacted by phone at 04 381 8295, fax at 04 801 6001, email casi(at)casi.org.nz, and post P O Box 9049 , Wellington . The website www.casi.org.nz features an election section from which some of these documents can be downloaded.
<typohead type="4">Postcards that attract newcomers </typohead>
Why re-invent the wheel when other New Zealand churches are producing top-quality, locally relevant promotional material? St Columba at Botany Downs has developed a series of cards that promote upcoming service themes. They can be over-printed with information specific to your programme then posted out to your target area. Click here to see some samples or go to the resources directory for more information.
Presbyterian Archives
<typohead type="4">A Day In The Life Of A Record
by Andrew Smith (aged 39 and ¾) </typohead>
Once upon a time I was an exercise book with white pages. A man bought me. We went to meetings together and he wrote minutes in me. When I was full he put me in a box under the church stage. It was dark and cold there. Silverfish made holes in my pages and mice chewed me. I smell smoke! Is there a fire? My pages have gone brown. When people found me they said, “we will deposit you in the Archives”. The Archives Staff brushed me clean and tucked me into an acid-free folder. Now I live in a box on a shelf with other minute books. One day I know that people will read me to know what God did in past times. That makes me very happy.
<typohead type="4">The Archives - who are we? </typohead>
Our team consists of four staff: Yvonne Wilkie , Director of Archives; Donald Cochrane , Photographic Archivist; Jane Bloore, Research Archivist; and Andrew Smith, Archives Assistant.
<typohead type="4">Archives – Volunteers </typohead>
Our volunteers are John Irving, Peggy Woodhead, and Gifford and Shirley Brown. Peggy among other processing has recently completed a description of the early diaries of Albert Scarlet prior to his missionary work in Papua New Guinea . Gifford and Shirley have been listing details of our Marriage and Baptismal registers for Southland and Otago for computer for reference. The years up to 1920 are now on the website. For marriages between 1921 to 1990, enquiries can be made at the Archives Office. In all, Gifford has indexed some 45,000 marriages.
John Irving has been working as a volunteer at Archives one or two days a week for the past three years. His tasks are assigned by the archivist and include such things as recording material as it comes to Archives from outside sources, sorting newsletters from parishes and indexing the Young Men’s Bible Class Union publication Foursquare. Another task has been to update and enter new records into the photographic database for the photographic archivist. He is presently engaged in cataloguing of the Missions Reference Library. This has involved the designing of a database to indicate details of the books and their location. It also involves the processing of the books for storage. The cataloguing of theses held by Archives has also begun using the same database. The work has proved to be both interesting and enjoyable for John.
<typohead type="4">Archives – Staff </typohead>
Jane Bloore
As research assistant Jane answers a variety of interesting and often challenging requests. The queries come from family historians, academic researchers, Presbyterian ministers, School of Ministry ordinands, parishes and church committees. Some queries can be easily answered; others require more time and effort. Over the past four years, Jane has supplied material for parish histories, student essays and theses, academic works from the Otago University Press, the Waitangi Tribunal, and, not least, keen genealogists. Overseas enquires have increased in number since the establishment of Archives’ website and, this year alone Jane has replied to requests from Chile , England , Australia and the United States . Each request is different; none of them are boring, and that is the most satisfactory aspect of this job.
Donald Cochrane
Donald is responsible for preserving and cataloguing the photographs. He also is webmaster for the Archives website. The Archives holds a nationally and internationally significant collection of over 80,000 photographic images, which document in picture form the life and work of the Church in New Zealand from 1861, including its 137 years of overseas mission activities. Our collections, which are readily accessible, are used by parishes and church groups, students, researchers, publishers and genealogists. We urge everyone to actively encourage the placing of any historic images and parish collections in the Archives, both as a means of ensuring their continued safety and survival, but also so that such images will be available for wider use in the future
Andrew Smith
Andrew enters data on ARK , the archives catalogue, that describes individual records. Recent entries include the Joint Board for Mission Overseas and parishes in Mataura and Central Otago . As well, he also indexes magazines that come into the Archives collection, primarily mission related, also including Push, Daystar, Global Mission Gazette, and Break of Day. He is studying for a Diploma of Records and Information Management through the Open Polytechnic.
<typohead type="4">The Archives – what do we hold? </typohead>
The Archives Office is at Knox College in Dunedin . It is the repository for the Southland and Otago parishes, and the records from the Church’s national office in Wellington and General Assembly Committees and Policy Groups. Also the records for the Bible Class Movement, Women’s Organisations, other national groups and Knox College can be found on the shelves. The Archives is the repository for the Uniting Congregations of Aotearoa New Zealand (FCV). As some museums are choosing to end their regional repository agreements with the Church, other parish and presbytery records are slowly being housed in Dunedin. Space is an issue.
<typohead type="4">The Archives – Parish collections </typohead>
Records received from parishes cover every aspect of our life in community together. These include minute books, membership rolls, marriage and baptism registers, plans for buildings, deeds for property, papers relating to children, youth, women and mission, and anniversary celebrations, as well as other records of various descriptions. Archives staff receive these records, store them, describe collections in detail, and archive them to ensure their long-term preservation. Parishes are periodically sent collection updates to tell them what relevant records the Archives holds on their behalf. Public documents in these collections are available for reading in the Archives.
Guides on the care of parish records and photographs can be obtained from the Presbyterian Archives, Knox College, 1 Arden Street, Dunedin or by visiting our web site www.archives.presbyterian.org.nz
Hewiston Library
The library team has launched a major review of its journal holdings as we work our way towards creating the definitive list of our holdings in electronic format. The retrospective conversion of the collection onto Voyager, the Otago University Library Catalogue, is progressing very well, with all of the first floor holdings now listed, which means that you can search our holdings by logging onto the University of Otago website at http://otago.lconz.ac.nz – except for our older Biblical and philosophy works, which we are continuing to add.
Over June and July, the Library recorded how many users were borrowing and what was being borrowed: our biggest user group was Otago University theology students and staff (42 borrowers and 129 books); ministers (29 people and 54 books) followed by the Knox Campus students and staff (35 borrowers and 106 books). We hope to refine this survey and run it at least three times a year in order to keep in touch with our users’ expectations of the Library.
Remember the Library is an important Presbyterian resource and you are all most welcome to join and to borrow – check out our postal service on our website and the latest list of new acquisitions: www.schoolofministry.ac.nz/library
Church Register
The Church Register lists additions to, deletions from, and changes in status on the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand Ministerial Roll as advised by presbytery clerks as at 1 September 2005.
Please amend the roll in your yearbook accordingly
<typohead type="4">Inductions and Appointments </typohead>
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Rev Duk Kyung Kim, was inducted to the position of Local Ordained Minister at St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Mount Maunganui , on the 10th July 2005.
Rev Jennifer Doyle, was inducted to the position of Local Ordained Minister at Kawerau Presbyterian Church, Kawerau, on the 24th July 2005.
Rev Chris Ambrose, of the Church of Christ Church has commenced term as minister in the parish of Linwood Avenue Union Church, Christchurch, on the 1st February 2005.
Rev David Coster, formerly of the Coastal Unity Parish, Dunedin, has been inducted as Minister of the Cashmere Hills Presbyterian Church, Christchurch, on the 9th June 2005.
Rev David North has been appionted as the Transitional Minister, for Pt Chevalier Cooperating Parish, Auckland, on the 31st July 2005.
Rev Ruth Caughley, formerly Minister within the Bounds, Christchurch, has been appointed as Intentional Interim Minister for St George’s Iona Presbyterian Church, Christchurch, on 14th June 2005.
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<typohead type="4">Retirements </typohead>
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Rev Aubrey Stevenson, formerly of Banks Peninsula Presbyterian Church, Akaroa, to Minister Emeritus, on 17th April 2005.
Rev John A Elvidge, formerly Executive Director of Presbyterian Support, Christchurch, to Minister Emeritus, on 14th June 2005.
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<typohead type="4" align="left">Transfers </typohead>
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Rev James R Battersby, Minister Emeritus, has transferred from the North Shore Presbytery to the Auckland Presbytery.
Rev Enere (Henry) Wichman, previously of the First Church of Otago, has transferred from the Dunedin Presbytery to the Auckland Presbytery.
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Ministerial vacancies
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A ministerial position is available in Glendowie Presbyterian Church, Auckland (the board of nomination and terms of ministry have not been set up. The position may be one for a transitional minister). Interim Moderator: Rev Richard J Ward
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Click here to see the full table of vacancies
Events
Check out the latest listings on our events page.