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Minutes of the General Assembly 2002Session 7
St Patrick's College, Silverstream, Wellington
Tuesday, 24 September 2002 at 7.00 p.m.The Assembly met and was constituted with prayer by the Moderator.
Election of Moderator-Designate
The Rev Chris Elliot, Nominating Committee Co-Convener, presented a verbal report from the
Committee, recommending that the Rev Garry Marquand be the next Moderator-Designate.
Mrs Elliot moved and it was seconded:
That the report of the Nominating Committee be received
The motion was agreed to.
The Rev Lance Thomas, Waikato Presbytery, moved and the Rev Shirley Fergusson seconded:
That the Rev Garry Marquand be Moderator-Designate of the General
Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand.
The motion was carried.
Mr Garry Marquand, Mrs Val Marquand and their daughter, Lana, were presented to the
Assembly.
The Moderator-Designate addressed the Assembly.
Overture 8: About Doctrinal Standards
Rev Stuart Lange moved and it was seconded:
[02.090] That no attempt be made to alter the present relationship of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand to its confession of faith and other subordinate standards until such time as: - The Constitutional issues have been faced and resolved. Assembly has approved a substitute confession of faith that is (a) genuinely consistent with the historic apostolic and reformed faith, (b) fairly comprehensive, rather than just a brief affirmation, (c) more contemporary in language, (d) appropriate for New Zealand, yet consistent with Christian orthodoxy world-wide.
The motion was referred to Dialogue Groups.
Service Team
Service Team employees of the General Assembly gave a presentation.
Facilitation Group
Mrs Alison Grimshaw reported on Dialogue Group responses to motions [02.020] and [02.021].
Mrs Grimshaw reported that there was general support for the principle but not the process.
Assembly Lay Moderators
The Rev Ken Irwin moved and it was seconded:
[02.160] - Assembly affirms that the diversity of the church shall be reflected in the election of Moderators of the General Assembly. That the Council of Assembly undertake an analysis including resourcing of why so few lay people women and ethnic groups within the church have been nominated for the role of Moderator of the Presbyterian
Church of Aotearoa. New Zealand. That the Council of Assembly prepare and circulate a schedule of gifts of the Spirit that would be most appropriate in the next Moderator, before the next round of nominations are called for in 2003.
There was debate.
The motion was voted on clause by clause.
Clause 1:
The Rev Helen Wallis moved an amendment, which was seconded:
That the words "continue to be reflected" replace "shall be reflected" in clause 1.
The amendment was lost.
The Rev Steve Jourdain moved an amendment, which was seconded:
That the word "shall" be replaced by the word "should".
The amendment was carried.
Clause 1 as amended now read:
1 Assembly affirms that the diversity of the church should be reflected in the election of Moderators of the General Assembly.
The amended clause was agreed to.
Clause 2 was agreed to.
Clause 3 did not receive the required 60% support, and the Moderator declared it to lie on the table.
(Motions [02.020] and [02.021] thus lapsed.)
Forum of Cooperative Ventures
Mr Ian Omunsden moved and it was seconded:
Church Membership
[02.031] That in considering requirements for membership in the Presbyterian Church the Assembly acknowledges the agreed reciprocal membership as detailed in the Guide to Procedures page 12 and section 221 of the Common Provisions.
Cooperative Ventures
[02.032] That General Assembly acknowledge the important role that Cooperative Ventures have to play in the life and work of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand and affirm the June 21, 2001 statement of partner representatives.
The motions were debated.
The motions were carried.
Resourcing for Mission
The Rev Alistair McBride moved and it was seconded:
Ecumenical Agenda
[02.028] That General Assembly adopt the proposed Ecumenical Agenda (Appendix 3 of the Resourcing for Mission Policy Group Report). [see paragraph 9 of the report]
The motion was debated.
When the motion was put, 164 were in favour and 126 against (56.5% - 43.5%).
The Moderator declared the motion to lie on the table.
Facilitation Group
Mrs Alison Grimshaw reported on Dialogue Groups responses to notice of motion [02.035].
Mrs Grimshaw noted that responses were generally in favour but varied.
Israel - Palestine
[02.035] That the General Assembly: - Receive the supplementary report of the Church of Scotland on Israel Palestine and commend it as a document for study in the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand.
- Express profound sorrow and deep concern for the situation in Israel- Palestine where a continuing cycle of violence is bringing only suffering and despair, and offer continuing prayer and support for the people involved.
- Offer support to all the Christian churches in the area in their difficult task of building peace and reconciliation
- Condemn the attacks on innocent Israelis by Palestinian suicide bombers, gunmen and those who encourage them, as terror against innocent civilians is unacceptable to all civilised people.
- Condemn Israeli attacks against innocent civilians and calls on the Israeli Government to work to ensure the safety of Palestinian non-combatants.
- Support the World Council of Churches' Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel; and ask the Global Mission Office, in consultation with the Overseas Mission and Partnership Policy Group, to explore ways to express this support.
- Affirm the conviction that justice demands a viable independent Palestinian state guaranteed by international treaty and action.
The motion was debated.
The motions were voted on clause by clause.
Clause a was carried.
Clause b was agreed to.
Rev David Kriel moved an amendment to clause c which was seconded:
That the words "and all other faith communites" be inserted after the words "Christian churches".
The amendment was lost.
Clause c was agreed to.
Clause d was agreed to.
Clause e was carried.
Clause f was carried.
Clause g: Mr Rudy Vogels moved an amendment which was seconded:
That the word "justice" be replaced with the word "compassion".
The amendment was lost.
Mr Ian Pimm moved an amendment which was seconded:
That the words "and compassion" be inserted after the word "justice".
The amendment was carried.
Clause g as amended now read:
g) Affirm the conviction that justice and compassion demands a viable independent Palestinian state guaranteed by international treaty and action.
The clause as amended was carried.
Closing prayers were led by the Rev Ray Coster.
The Assembly adjourned to meet again on Wednesday, 25 September 2002 at 8.30 a.m.
The Moderator pronounced the benediction.
Michael Thawley, Moderator
Kerry Enright, Clerk
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