Session 5

Dunedin College of Education, Union Street, Dunedin
Monday 2 October 2000 at 7.00 pm

The Assembly met and was constituted with prayer by the Moderator.

The Rev Maua Sola led devotions.

The retiring Moderator, the Very Rev Bruce Hansen and Mrs Alison Hansen were presented to the Assembly. Mr Hansen addressed the Assembly.

In paying tribute to Mr Hansen, the Moderator acknowledged his statesman-like leadership during his moderatorial term.

Facilitation Group Report

Members of the Facilitation Group, Mrs Alison Grimshaw, the Rev Hamish Galloway and the Very Rev Graeme Murray reported on Dialogue Group responses to Motions 15, 16, 103. They advised there had been general agreement from the majority of Dialogue Groups on these motions.

There was no discussion.

Council of Assembly Report

Mr Tom Tennent re-introduced Motion [00.015]:

[00.015] That the Council of Assembly with Policy Groups continue to develop policies which help to achieve the goals stated in the strategic framework, especially in helping the Church face outward and engage more effectively with New Zealand society.

Mr Duncan Gillanders sought, and was granted leave, to amend Motion [00.015] by replacing it with Motion [00.122].

Mr Gillanders moved, and it was seconded:

[00.122] That the Council of Assembly with Policy Groups continue to develop policies, subject to confirmation of General Assembly prior to implementation, which help to achieve the goals stated in the strategic framework, especially in helping the Church face outward and engage more effectively with New Zealand society.

Mr Gillanders sought, and was granted leave, to amend [00.122] as follows:

[00.122a] That the Council of Assembly with Policy Groups continue to develop policies which help to achieve the goals stated in the strategic framework, especially in helping the Church face outward and engage more effectively with New Zealand society; these policies to be the subject of great consultation with Presbyteries and UDCs prior to final decision and implementation.

The amendment was carried.

The amended motion [00.122a] was then put as the substantive motion.
There was brief debate.
The substantive motion was carried.

Mr Tennent re-introduced Motion [00.016]:

[00.016] That the Healthy Congregations statement contained in Appendix 2 of the report of the Council of Assembly be accepted as a basis for policy development by the Council of Assembly.

The motion was briefly debated.

A procedural motion from the Rev Margaret Mayman seeking leave to introduce an amendment was lost.

Motion [00.016] was carried.

Overture 17

The Rev Richard Ward re-introduced Motion [00.013]:

[00.103] (Overture 17)
That the General Assembly commission each parish to formulate their own statement of mission and priorities in their mission focus in accord with the established principles of mission for the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand and that parishes be encouraged to share their resources according to their own priorities for service in New Zealand and overseas.

Mr Ward sought leave to replace the word 'commission' by the words 'continue to encourage'. This leave was granted.

The amended motion thus read:

[00.103] (Overture 17)
That the General Assembly continue to encourage parishes to formulate their own statement of mission and priorities in their mission focus in accord with the established principles of mission for the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand and that parishes be encouraged to share their resources according to their own priorities for service in New Zealand and overseas.

The Rev Susan Jones sought, and was granted, leave to have the two clauses of Motion [00.103] put separately.

Clause (a):
That the General Assembly continue to encourage parishes to formulate their own statement of mission and priorities in their mission focus in accord with the established principles of mission for the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Clause (a) was carried.

Clause (b):
That parishes be encouraged to share their resources according to their own priorities for service in New Zealand and overseas.

Clause (b) was agreed to.

Mrs Nola Stuart reported from the Facilitation Group on Dialogue Group responses to the reports of the Evangelical Presbyterian Missionary Fellowship, Christian World Service, Conference of Churches in Aotearoa New Zealand, Presbyterian-Roman Catholic Dialogue Group, and Global Task Group.

Mrs Stuart advised the reports were widely supported.

The Rev Stuart Vogel re-introduced Motion [00.048]:

[00.048] That the General Assembly endorse the policy direction set out in the Global Mission Task Group report.

There was no debate.
The motion was agreed to.

Mr Vogel re-introduced Motion [00.049]:

[00.049] That the General Assembly direct the Council of Assembly to develop appropriate policy in light of the recommendations contained in the Global Mission Task Group report.

Questions for clarification were answered by the Rev Dr John Roxborogh.
There was no debate.
The motion was agreed to.

Mr Vogel re-introduced Motion [00.050]:

[00. 050] That the General Assembly expresses appreciation to former conveners, secretaries, members, mission workers, partners, and supporters of the Council for Mission and Ecumenical Cooperation as its work concludes, and to the Methodist Church of New Zealand Te Hahi Weteriana o Aotearoa as this phase of the relationship concludes and a new form of partnership begins.

There was no debate.
The motion was agreed to.

Mr Vogel re-introduced Motion [00.051]:

[00.051] That Assembly, through the Moderator, communicate to Partner Churches in Fiji, the Solomon Islands, East Timor, and Indonesia, and convey its greetings and assurance of prayer and support during their times of political crises and change.

There was no debate.
The motion was carried.

Mr Vogel re-introduced Motion [00.052]:

[00.052] That Assembly affirm, publicise and encourage, through all of its Policy Groups, the World Council of Churches' Decade to Overcome Violence.

There was no debate.
The motion was agreed to.

Mr Vogel re-introduced Motion [00.053]:

[00.053] That Assembly, through its Overseas Mission and Partnerships Policy Group, remind the church of the opportunities for global mission education created by the observance of Special Sundays, and that the Policy Group offer and inform the church of resources for worship and study around those Sundays.

There was no debate.
The motion was agreed to.

The Rev Neal Whimp re-introduced Motion [00.054]:

[00.054] That Assembly reminds the church of the principle that Christian mission places priority on a generous response to needs and urges action and expansion of resources.

Questions of clarification were answered by Dr Roxborogh.
There was no debate.
The motion was carried.

Mr Vogel re-introduced Motion [00.055]:

[00.055] That Assembly affirm that the Conference of Churches of Aotearoa New Zealand is an important network for unity in ecumenical mission both within Aotearoa New Zealand and globally.

There was no debate.
The motion was agreed to.

Mrs Stuart re-introduced Motion [00.056]:

[00.056] That Assembly affirms the work of Christian World Service and encourages parishes to support the Christmas Appeal and emergency appeals.

Mrs Stuart was granted leave to introduce an amendment.

Mrs Stuart moved the amendment (Motion 00.124), and it was seconded:

[00.124] That Assembly affirm the work of Christian World Service and direct the Council of Assembly to identify ways to extend parish understanding and support for Christian World Service activity.

When put as the substantive, Motion [00.124] was carried.

Mr Vogel re-introduced Motion [00.057]:

[00.057] That Assembly encourages parishes to undertake the educational programmes available through Christian World Service and participate in the Jubilee 2000 Campaign.

There was no debate.
The motion was agreed to.

Mr Vogel re-introduced Motion [00.058]:

[00.058] That Assembly encourages youth groups to participate in 'Wipe Out Poverty' when it is launched in 2001.

There was discussion and clarification.
It was agreed by consensus to add the words 'young people, including those in Church Schools,' before the words 'youth groups'.

The amended motion thus read:

[00.058] That Assembly encourage young people, including those in Church Schools, and youth groups to participate in 'Wipe Out Poverty' when it is launched in 2001.

The amendment was agreed to.
When put as a substantive the motion was agreed to.

Mr Vogel re-introduced Motion [00.059]:

[00.059] That Assembly commend the Evangelical Presbyterian Missionary Fellowship for its commitment to global mission through its care for Presbyterians serving overseas, and encourages continued close liaison between the Council for Mission and the Evangelical Presbyterian Missionary Fellowship.

There was no debate.
The motion was agreed to.

Overture 6

Miss Prue Neild sought, and was granted leave, to amend the wording of Motion [00.092] by replacing the word 'suggest' with the word 'prepare'.

Miss Neild moved, and it was seconded:

[00.092] (Overture 6)That a Presbytery be allowed to appoint elders from within its bounds to be its representatives on Boards of Nomination, and that the Book of Order and Judicial Reference Group be asked to prepare an amendment to Regulation 221 to bring about this change.

There was no debate.
The motion was agreed to.

Commission of Assembly

Dr Graeme Russell moved, and it was seconded:

[00.113] That the Council of Assembly be authorised to act as a Commission of Assembly to consider and act upon a request from the Manawatu Presbytery for an extension to the ministry of the Rev John Niven beyond October 2001.

After discussion and clarification, the Rev Rhys Pearson sought leave to move an amendment:

That the Council of Assembly be authorised to act as a Commission of Assembly to consider and act upon a request from a Presbytery to extend a minister's term if special circumstances so warrant.

Leave was granted.
The amendment was carried.
The amendment became the substantive motion:

[00.113] That the Council of Assembly be authorised to act as a Commission of Assembly to consider and act upon a request from a Presbytery to extend a minister's term if special circumstances so warrant.

The substantive motion was carried.

The Clerk moved, and it was seconded, that the Book of Order and Judicial Reference Group prepare an amendment to the Book of Order to embody decision [00.113].
The motion was agreed to.

Korean Churches

The Rev Borrie moved, and it was seconded:

[00.117] That this Assembly transmit to the Presbyterian Church of North and South Korea greetings in the name of Jesus Christ; declares this Church's support for the peaceful re-unification of Korea; and invites North and South Korean Church representatives to share their experiences and faith with New Zealand Churches.

There was no debate.
The motion was agreed to.

The Rev Richard Lawrence moved, and it was seconded:

[00.121] That this General Assembly applaud and affirm the efforts of the governments of the Democratic Peoples' Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea as they seek to work without outside interference towards the reunification of their nation.

There was no debate.
The motion was agreed to with acclamation.

The Assembly adjourned to meet again at 8.30 am Tuesday 3 October 2000.

Robert Yule, Moderator
Kerry Enright, Clerk