By Duncan McLeod

A pragmatic optimism for the Presbyterian Church's future and a healthy sense of humour lies behind the Synod of Otago and Southland's recently retired Clerk.

The image of his almost namesake Grizz Wyllie could not be further from the persona of Lex Wylie and as he says that slight difference in spelling makes "one 'L' of a difference.

You get the feeling that Lex has also made "one 'L' of a difference" in his numerous life pursuits whether it be his long leadership service to the church or his work as an AA Service officer, YMCA manager and orchardist.

Soon after starting his new role as Presbyterian Support's field officer for the Dunedin and North Otago areas Lex spoke about his role as Synod Clerk.

What were some of the most memorable events during your six years as Synod Clerk?

"There were three major highlights for me during my time as Synod Clerk: the 150th anniversary of formation of Otago//Southland, the new millennium and the centenary of the southern (Synod) and northern church union to form the Presbyterian Church of NZ."

What does the Synod do?

The Synod administers the profits from a trust fund which was established at the same time as settlement of Dunedin, says Lex.

Today the Synod has an annual budget of about $1M.

Until recently the rules of the Trust stated that one third of it's income could be spent on education while two thirds was to be spent on bricks and mortar of the church. But in 1992 Parliament's Otago Foundation Trust Act let Synod spend a larger proportion of the bricks and mortar fund on mission and evangelism.

"At that time Synod moderator David Borne said if we kept going the same way we would have the best kept buildings in the country but they would all be empty."

Since 1998 just under half of the bricks and mortar money has been directed toward mission work as varied as providing funding for Presbyterian Support's Buddy programme to lay ministry training.

Over the last three years about $600,000 has gone into establishing the Bio-ethics department at Otago University, money has been spent on developing distance learning in the theology and religious studies department and supporting Ecumenical Chaplaincy at Otago University.

At Lex's last Synod AGM, as clerk, it was agreed to again increase the proportion of the budget spent on mission work.

Did the parishes support the changes in spending priorities?

"This time the decision to increase the spending was unanimous but in 1992 some parishes were against the idea.

"As part of the 150th celebrations the moderator of the Church of Scotland Sandy McDonald held a seminar on the churches future and said if you try to do new things there will always be some who say over my dead body and in that case it may pay to hope for an early bereavement."

Has church politics been a frustration?

"It does slow up some change but it gives everybody the opportunity to have a say and perhaps less mistakes are made by not rushing-in," says Lex.

Is there hope for future growth church participation?

"Of the 90 or so congregations within the Synod there are only about half a dozen or ten making a real go of it," says Lex

"The tide is very much out for the church but it will turn and the church has to be ready, theologically ready for it.

"It may not be a future of turning up to church at 10 am on a Sunday lined-up in the ecclesiastical toast-racks."