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Minutes of the General Assembly 2002

Session 2
St Patrick's College, Silverstream, Wellington
Monday, 23 September 2002 at 8.30 a.m.

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

Worship was led by the Rev Richard Gray, and students of St Orans and Scots Colleges.

Commemoration

The Assembly reverently stood to remember by name people who had recently died, whom the church in its courts had remembered:
Alan Anderson Brash
Ian Graham Ryburn
Kitty Temara

The Clerk tabled changes to the Ministerial Roll and reports of Judicial Commissions since the last Assembly.

Ministerial Roll Changes

Obituary:

Resignations:

Ordinations & Induction:

Transfers and Inductions

Retirements:

Assembly Procedure

The Revs David Brown and Pamela Tankersley, Assembly Business Work Group Co-conveners, explained Assembly procedures.

The Rev David Brown moved and it was seconded:

[02.006] That the Facilitation Group under Standing Order 15.1 (ii) comprise Mrs Alison Grimshaw, Mrs Nola Stuart, the Rev Neal Whimp and the Rev Ken Wall.

[02.008] That Mrs Heather McKenzie, Clerk of the Synod of Otago and Southland, be appointed Assistant Assembly Clerk until the close of this Assembly meeting.

[02.009] That the Assembly receive the greetings of partner churches, including those distributed by the Assembly Executive Secretary, and reciprocate the greetings.

There was no debate.
The motions were agreed to.

Memorial Minutes

The Clerk was granted leave to add the names of A Brash, I Ryburn, K Temara to the Memorial minutes.
The Clerk moved and it was seconded:

[02.010] That the Memorial Minutes for the following be placed in the records of the Assembly:
Revs: David Alexander Blyth, Stephen Clark, William Wallace Gibson, John Graham, Robert Ian Hall, Hannah Letitia Hawe, Arthur Ian Hewson, James Campbell Howat, Rhys Arthur George Maddock, David Brown Martin, Pepe Nokise, Basil Robert Charles Nottage, Ivan Beatty Powell, Alun Morgan Richards, Ian Graham Ryburn, Manatoa Tavelia, Harold Walter Turner, Alexander Clifton Webster, Alfred William Willoughby, John Lewis Wilson, Stanley Robert Wishart, Very Rev Alan Anderson Brash, Very Rev William Bell Watt.

Deaconess: Helen Arndt, Nolene Chalmers, Marion Gray, Jean Hanning, Calester Mavis Kaarup, Frances Marion McNamara, Mesdames Lena Mitchell, Lorraine Sealy, Kitty Temara.

Sister Helen Christina Arndt

Sister Helen Arndt was born near Hunterville and received her schooling in Morrinsville and Hamilton. She was involved with Guides, Sunday School, Bible Class and assumed a leadership role in the Waikato East Bible Class movement showing from earliest days an enthusiasm, indeed a passion, for the faith.

Sister Helen was ordained as a deaconess in 1947 and served with distinction in parish and social service situations.

For two years she was president of the NZ Deaconess Association, serving also on the Bible Class Dominion Executive and the Dominion Executive of the Presbyterian Women's Missionary Union. Sister Helen was one of the first women members of the Public Questions Committee.

Following her retirement Sister Helen went with the Rev Alison Grey to Whangarei as "lady of the Manse", a role she loved there and in several subsequent parishes, bringing the warmth and love of people which characterised Helen's whole ministry.

Shortly before Helen's death she returned to St Luke's Remuera - where she was Deaconess from 1959-67 - for its 125th Anniversary celebrations. There, past Moderator of the General Assembly Joan Anderson described Sister Helen as the "star of the piece".

None of the above does justice to Helen's warmth, exuberance for life, her interest in and phenomenal memory for people. To visit even in the last weeks of her life, was to be made to feel her interest not only in oneself but in life, children, grandchildren, mutual friends, the well-being of the church and the state of the Kingdom of God.

"By Love Serve", was the motto of the Deaconess Order - Sister Helen lived that motto in all that she said, did and was - to the end of her life's journey.

The Rev David Alexander Blyth

Born in Christchurch in 1913, Alec was brought up in Woolston, and within the community of St. Peter's Presbyterian Church. Leaving school, he found a job in the sheet-metal industry. He led one of the first Bible Class groups in the newly formed St. Martins Mission Station.

He was accepted as a student for the ministry in 1940. In 1942 he married Hilda Francis. In 1944 he was posted to Cheviot as a ' Student Minister ' (Stipend and conditions as for a 'Home Missionary'). Here he ministered for 2 years, while studying extramurally.

From Cheviot he was posted to the Parish of Belfast-Styx, for a further year. At the end of that year he completed the necessary minimum academic requirements and passed the entry examination to the Theological Hall. Moving south in 1947 he took the Parish of Sawyers Bay, as Student Minister, while studying full-time at the Hall. He graduated in 1949, and at the end of the year was licensed by the Presbytery of Christchurch, in St Martins Church.
Alec was ordained and inducted to the Parish of Maheno (North Otago) at the beginning of 1950. Hilda died of leukaemia at the beginning of 1954, leaving Alec with 5 year old Julie, who had been born at Sawyers Bay.

Alec married Marjorie Painter in 1955, and in the same year commenced a fifteen year ministry in the Parish of Kaiapoi. At the close of 1955, Alec left Kaiapoi to minister at Rakaia. And it was from here he retired back to Christchurch in 1979.

Alec was a conscientious, down- to-earth Parish Minister -sensitive to the needs of his people, and devoted in his ministry to them. The effectiveness of that ministry is reflected in the respect and long-time friendship he won from those among whom he worked. He was not a politician, being a little too straight from the shoulder for that. But, while rarely taking regional or national office, he continued to honour God's call to be a ' good shepherd ' to the people entrusted to him.

Alec read widely, and maintained a lively interest in music. He had learned a little 'piano' as a child, but the serious study he would have chosen had to wait until, in his retirement, he enrolled at the University of Canterbury, eventually being capped Bachelor of Music.

Until sickness rendered it impossible, Alec worshipped regularly in his home church, St. Martins , Christchurch, though he chose to keep his' lines ' with the Presbytery of Ashburton until after Marjorie's death in March 2000. He took quiet pride in maintaining the commitment he had made as a member of the' Auld Lang Syne Club ' - to remember his colleagues in prayer every Saturday evening. And while being disenchanted with some of the directions he saw the Church taking, he remained faithful to and supportive of his own congregation and minister.

Alec died on 10 August, 2001. A faithful servant of his Lord and Master.

The Very Rev Alan Anderson Brash

The death of the Very Rev Dr Alan Brash on 24 August, 2002 at the age of 89 brought to a close the life of a leading minister and servant of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand and of the Church and ecumenical movement world-wide.

Alan Brash was born in Wellington on 5 June, 1913, the fourth child of Thomas and Margaret Brash. His father (T.C.) was later to be a leading figure in the N.Z. dairy industry and one of only four lay Moderators of the General Assembly in the history of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand.

After completing his schooling in Wellington Alan studied at Otago University where he gained an MA in philosophy. He then travelled to New College in Edinburgh for his theological studies. It was while he was in Scotland that the 1937 Faith and Order Conference was held in Edinburgh and the Life and Work Conference in Oxford. Alan was asked to attend these as a representative of the PCNZ. It was out of these conferences that the World Council of Churches was formed and it was from them that Alan received his vision for and commitment to the ecumenical movement.

In 1938 Alan returned to New Zealand to be minister of the St Andrew's parish in Wanganui. He was there during the war years when his pacifist convictions often made his voice a lonely one both in the church and in society. In 1947 he was appointed General Secretary of the National Council of Churches in NZ. It was a post he held until 1964 (with a brief return to parish ministry at St Giles, Christchurch from 1952 to 1956).

In 1957 Alan was appointed as one of the three professional staff members of the East Asian Christian Conference (now the Christian Conference of Asia) and in 1964 moved with his wife Eljean to live in Singapore and work full-time with the EACC. In the following four years he visited every country in Asia, apart from China, and brought a new understanding of Asia into the life of our own church and society here in NZ. From Singapore he moved to London in 1968 as Director of Christian Aid for the British Council of Churches and then to Geneva in 1970 where he headed the World Council of Churches Division on Inter-Church Aid, Refugee, and World Service. In 1974 he was appointed Deputy General Secretary of the World Council of Churches.

On Alan's retirement from the World Council of Churches in 1978 he and Eljean returned home where Alan was elected to be Moderator of the General Assembly.

A concern for justice for all people; a conviction that the Church should never forget that it is called to serve the poor of the world; an unwavering commitment to pacifism and the search for peace; and a life-long commitment to ecumenism and the unity of the Church were the hallmarks of Alan Brash's life. He saw these as challenges that should confront all who confess to follow Jesus Christ and he was absolute and fearless in his resolve to walk in that way.

We the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand are better for his having lived and served among us, and with his children Don and Lyn and his grandchildren remember Alan and his late wife Eljean with thanks and gratitude to God.

Nolene Chalmers

Nolene was born in Dunedin, one of five daughters of Robert and Eliza Finnie.

She had a passion to go to China as a missionary and began preparation for this vocation. However when she completing her training she found that no more candidates for service in China were being accepted at that time.

At about this time she was encouraged to apply for acceptance as a Deaconess by Miss Mary Salmond, then Principal of the Presbyterian Women's Training Institute (later known as Deaconess College). She was appointed Deaconess to St Andrew's Church, Palmerston North, for three years to work in the new housing areas of the city; and ordained on 15 September 1943.

On the completion of her appointment she moved to Hastings, then later became Deaconess at St Luke's Church Remuera.

She married the Rev Donald Scott Chalmers on 11 November 1950, and together they worked in St John's Church, Hastings. Later Nolene and Donald moved to St Andrew's, New Lynn, and later to Grey Lynn in a voluntary capacity, where with the Rev Liu Te Pou, a partnership was forged with the Pacific Islanders of that suburb.

Don's failing health forced an early retirement. They had bought a bach at Huia, and renovated it over the years, ready for their retirement.
After Don's death in 1988, she worked in the local community serving on the Residents and Ratepayers' Society, and was a regular speaker at the Laingholm Fellowship group where she contributed to the devotions.

Presbytery gives thanks for a life fully and courageously lived in the service of her master and His Church as a Bible Class leader, Girls' Brigade Leader, Deaconess, Minister's wife, and latterly as a devoted Church member.

Presbytery expresses its sympathy to Ross Chambers, her son, and to members of the extended family.

The Rev Stephen Clark

Stephen died at Waikato Hospital at the age of 88 on 23 March 2002. Born of Quaker parents he spent his earlier years in Hamilton where his parents settled. Stephen joined the Bible Class at St Andrew's and trained as a cabinet maker. Serving as a leader in successive Crusader camps on Ponui Island in the Hauraki Gulf, the call to ministry grew stronger and he was accepted for training as a Congregational minister at Trinity Methodist College in Auckland. Brief pastorates followed at Devonport and Whangarei. He than accepted an invitation to become a children's evangelist with the C.S.S.M and Scripture Union. These years used to the full his undoubted gifts of communicating with children.

Following this, Stephen decided to enter the Presbyterian Ministry and studied for two years at Knox Theological Hall, Dunedin. A call to St Stephen's, Melville followed. This brought him to serve in the Waikato Presbytery. He then accepted call to St Martin's, Papatoetoe which prospered under his ministry. He concluded his service as Bible Society Representative for Northland. Stephen Clark, through his various ministries, served not only the Presbyterian but the wider church as well. He and Gwenyth returned to live in Hamilton where he was a Minister Emeritus of the Waikato Presbytery.

Stephen Clark was a direct and uncomplicated person. His "yes" was "yes" and his "no" was "no". There was never any doubting what he meant nor where he stood. Stephen was a man whose faith permeated every part of life and made it an invisible whole. Whatever he did he gave it his best.

He was a man of strong evangelical convictions but these did not close the door on his understanding of and friendship with his fellow ministers. Stephen was a gracious Christian gentleman loved by all who knew him; possessing a gift of friendship and of sharing his faith with those whom he met.

Stephen Clark will be missed as a faithful Christian leader, as a great encourager, as a husband, father, grandfather & great grandfather, brother-in-law and friend of so many.

For Stephen Clark the promise of Revelation 22.3 has surely come true: "His servants shall serve Him; they shall see His face and His Name shall be on their foreheads".

May God's comfort and peace rest with Gwenyth and her family at this time!

The Rev William Wallace Gibson

Bill was born in Christchurch on 2 November 1930. The family moved to Lower Hutt when he was about to begin school. Bill went to high school at Scot's College. He was pipe major of the school band in his latter years. When he entered the work force it was in a law firm. He began studies in law as a part-time student at Victoria University. After a couple of years he moved from law into the commercial world building up experience as a salesman and then followed a move into lower level management and the opportunity to develop accounting and administration skills. Bill also joined the Territorials and rose to the rank of Captain in the Scottish Regiment.

He and Joan married on 28 January 1956 and they set up in a grocery store in Wadestown. Bill had been active in the church throughout his life. While living in Lower Hutt he had been active in St Stephen's and had a number of conversations about ministry with George Dallard the then minister. When he and Joan lived in Wadestown he talked over the issues with Andrew McFarlane the local minister. The decision to offer for ministry to Wellington Presbytery was not lightly taken. Bill and Joan with their young family shifted to Dunedin to attend the Theological Hall in 1963.

When they arrived they found that all the accommodation was taken but with a housing allowance and instructions from the late J.D.Salmond to go and find somewhere to live they set out to find their own housing. Their allowance covered the rent of a modest house with an outside toilet and as Bill once said-when it was wet an umbrella was needed to make the trip and having arrived the umbrella was still necessary as the roof leaked. They took it all in their stride saying to each other that things could only improve from this point in time. But the conditions did come as something of a surprise. Later they moved into church accommodation and the conditions eased. Bill was a hard working student who managed to balance the academic and practical demands of training with the demands of a young family. He and Joan were fortunate to have the friendship of others with young families in the class of 1963 and firm friendships were made.

As soon as the final examinations were over and the results declared Bill and Joan and their two boys set out for the Foxton parish in the Manawatu. He was ordained and inducted on 25 November 1965. On 6 February 1969 he was inducted into the ministry of St John's Hawera. He became a Taranaki representative on the board of Wellington Support Services and when the position of Executive Officer was advertised he applied and was appointed. On 2 February 1978 he was inducted into the new position in Wellington. Bill had applied because he thought that his background in law and commerce as well as his pastoral experience and his work in Presbytery and with the Assembly gave him a unique set of skills to bring to the position. When the Director retired Bill applied and was appointed to the senior position. He was inducted into this on 20 March 1986. When things did not work out he resigned on 4 March 1988. He was deeply disappointed with the outcome but with the intervention of members of the Board from the Wairarapa he was invited to take up stated supply at First Church Martinborough from 31 March that year. Thus began a period of successful, fruitful and satisfying ministry in the largest geographical parish in the Wairarapa. When Bill and Joan arrived the parish was in need of a caring ministry having been through some years of upheaval: the numbers of those attending church were at rock bottom. Bill worked to rebuild the congregation and played a valuable role in the Union District Council. He was very active in the wider community in Civil Defence. When Solway College a Presbyterian Church School was in need of assistance, Bill took over the financial reins for a short time and was then appointed to chair the Board through a difficult period of its life.

A member of the Masonic Fraternity throughout his adult life Bill sought to integrate the Christian faith with the beliefs and ceremonies of the lodge. His ministry in a number of leadership roles in different lodges gave him wide influence. He rose to become Provincial Grand Chaplain and in later recognition of his service to the Fraternity he was made a Provincial Grand Warden.

In retirement Bill and Joan continued to live in Martinborough and to be active and supportive of the parish and the Union District Council. His height always made him appear far more intimidating than he was. He was always interested in legal matters. He was widely read and thought deeply about theological and ethical issues. But he always felt that he was at heart a pastor especially to those in need in the parish or in the local lodge. Many in the different parishes he served would echo this comment but none more so than in Martinborough. Throughout his ministry he enjoyed the strong support of Joan and of his sons. He died on 1 June 2002 and was accorded a Presbytery funeral with Masonic participation by the Wairarapa Union District Council

The Union District Council and the Assembly give thanks to God for Bill's ministry and extends its deepest sympathy to Joan and his sons, David and Andrew, and their families.

The Rev. John Graham

John Graham died peacefully at his home in Titirangi on 7 August 2002, aged 98 years, after a retirement of 33 years. John was born in Omagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland on 4 August 1904. His father died when John was 10 and his mother died when he was 14. John and his two brothers were cared for by relatives on a neighbouring farm. After 3 years of farm life he left Beragh for Belfast where he joined the Royal Ulster Constabulary. In 1926 he emigrated to New Zealand and worked briefly for the NZ railways until winning a job as a Traffic Officer and Pointsman with the Auckland City Council. He attended St James Church and at a Mission Service felt called to the ministry and was accepted as a student by the Presbytery of Auckland in 1929. He was appointed student missionary at Hunua while attending lectures at Auckland University College. In 1935 he transferred to Waiuku. At this time he was married and was later ordained as a Home Missionary by the South Auckland Presbytery. He acted as Presbytery clerk for 3 years and in 1939 was appointed to Taumarunui. 5 years later he was sent to Kaitaia where he conducted a notable ministry for 10 years. Towards the end of his ministry in Kaitaia he successfully completed a course arranged for older men, at the Theological Hall, and being raised to the full ministry, accepted call to Helensville where he stayed for 5 years. Then followed a ministry of 5 years at St. Enoch's Owairaka and finally 6 years at Glen Eden. Following his official retirement in 1969 John and his wife Mavis settled in Titirangi but he spent several years taking services at Victoria Hall, Waterview. In 1971 they joined the Titirangi parish and for a time shared in the leadership of the Senior Fellowship group.

Throughout his ministry he has taken an active part in community affairs and his interests have been wide and varied. For a time he acted as an honorary Child Welfare Officer, was associated in various capacities with St. John Ambulance and served as secretary on School and Scout committees. He was secretary of the local branch of National Beekeepers Association and for a number of years made a valuable contribution to horticulture by contributing the gardening notes to the Northland Age. This service was suitably recognised when he was elected to a Fellowship by the Royal N.Z. Institute of Horticulture. In all these activities he carried himself with dignity and brought honour to the Church.

John Graham will be remembered as a preacher, his thoughtful sermons pointing the way to high ideals, and challenging young and old to commit their ways unto the Lord. But it was in his pastoral work that he excelled. In quiet country areas and in the new housing areas of a busy city, he went from home to home, carrying a message of comfort to the bereaved, hope to the despondent, and friendship to the lonely. He won the esteem of all sections of the communities in which he served, and in his sincerity and consecration, men and women saw his Master.

The grounds of the Manses he has occupied have been made places of great beauty and Mrs Graham, who throughout his ministry has been his devoted companion, has made the home rich with hospitality.

We give thanks to God for the wide and effective ministry of John Graham. He is survived by his wife Mavis, aged 93, and their 3 children.

Marion Gray (nee Scott)

When the name "Marion Gray" is mentioned people react immediately - with a smile. They remember the dynamic Scottish wife of a former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand - James L Gray. Stories abound - from her colleagues in India to those who shared with her in parishes throughout New Zealand. Her family smile too, their memories a kaleidoscope of admiration and loyalty, happy times and sad, of the mother they had to share with the church.

Born in Glasgow in 1898, Marion Scott was one of a family of eleven. In 1920 this vital, energetic girl, full of spirit and enthusiasm, graduated from the renowned English Physical Training College at Dartford. Holidays were spent at home in Mt Vernon, Glasgow. On one holiday a serious young student for the Presbyterian Ministry arrived on the scene - one James Gray, on study leave in Edinburgh. Some weeks of correspondence followed in which they discussed their Christian faith, and the Indian Mission work which was on James' heart. Somehow they wangled an hour or two together at the end of term on the train from Dartford to London, where he asked her to marry him. She accepted, and they parted for eighteen months - James to New Zealand and Marion to a teaching position in England. Her mother, now a widow, gave her blessing and encouragement, and Marion sailed alone to New Zealand.

Five days after her arrival in New Zealand she was married in Eltham, her husband's first parish. Imagine this "lady of the Manse" thrown into a country parish where colonial women lived out their days performing the daily chores in expert fashion under basic conditions - cooking, washing, cleaning and childbearing in post-war New Zealand. With a little help at first from a family "housekeeper" Marion tackled and mastered the culinary arts expected of her. She started from scratch, bought books and followed them slavishly. Her determination earned her high praise. In time she could sew, knit, crochet and cook as well as and sometimes better then the "old hands". In one area she was to shine. Who could dance the Highland Fling and Sword Dance at her own wedding reception? The Minister's wife!

Eight months later James and Marion sailed for India, facing several dreary years of full-time language study in the dry intense heat and dust in an overwhelming new culture. Under canvas for three months of every year, moving from village to village at the painfully slow speed of straw padded, unsprung bullock carts in the Punjab hinterland, she again showed her characteristic strength and determination. Crossing rivers with her young children on an inflatable buffalo skin demanded a certain courage. It was hazardous. She laughs at the thought in hindsight and peers at the faded old photo in amusement, but it was not amusing at the time. The second six months was spent in the cooler climate of the Hills - separated for most that time from her husband - looking after the babies as they arrived - some with little assistance and only basic pain relief. The first baby, Scott, became desperately ill, and for many months her whole life was devoted to nursing him back to life. Later her role had to change from mother and nurse to schoolteacher. Strict, uncompromising, demanding perfection. "If a job's worth doing it's worth doing well!" "There's a place for everything, and everything MUST be in its place!"

On furlough in New Zealand, Marion Gray was in demand as a Missionary speaker. Well-prepared, enthusiastic and gifted, her Scottish brogue and sincerity gave the missionary cause a boost wherever she went. She despised "bunkum" and her forthrightness often shocked people into taking on positions, which they had rejected initially with pathetic excuses. They were to thank her for this in later years.

After twenty-five years in India, Marion returned alone to Devonport in New Zealand with five children to look after, Jim returning a year later. After a very different life in India and servants to help with domestic chores, she plunged again with energy into the New Zealand way of living.

From Devonport to Somervell in Remuera. Here again Marion enthused the women around her. Other ministers' wives took courage from her matter-of-factness, positive approach, and smart clothes. She wore make-up, and perky hats, and took the drabness out of the role of minister's wife. She enjoyed good movies, and the manse became a place of cordial hospitality to newcomers and lonely parishioners. She took a care in serving any meal - whether a three-course dinner, or a morning coffee -"with a little bit of help from the family"!

Wherever Marion Gray went, the Presbyterian Women's Missionary Union flourished. Busy Bees is synonymous with her name. This Children's Missionary Group knew more about Presbyterian missionaries than the congregation, so enthused did they become in writing letters, collecting stamps, handwork, running stalls and collecting money for overseas missionaries. With Marion Gray as their National President and resource person, Busy Bees became as well known as Sunday School and definitely more interesting!

She died peacefully on 29 July 2001.

The Rev Robert Ian Hall

The Rev Ian Hall was born on Thursday Island in the Torres Strait, North Queensland, Australia. He was the eldest of two children born to missionary parents Robert and Catherine Hall (nee Tonkin).

When Ian was aged five, his father was martyred by aboriginals on Mornington Island where he had established a mission station. Ian returned to Oamaru with his mother and sister where he grew up and went to school. In 1941 Ian was married to Isobel, his fiancee for six long years while Ian studied for the ministry at Knox College.

Ian was ordained to the Maori Mission in Whakatane on 19/2/1942 and served at Te Whaiti, Waiohau, Reporoa and Taumarunui before leaving the Maori Mission. His ministry continued in the Albury Parish in South Canterbury in 1946, the Knox Parish Gisborne 1950, Rongotea 1959, and Marton in 1967, He retired to Waikanae in 1976.

The hallmarks of Ian's life were integrity and faithfulness. He had a strong faith and was a great believer in the power of prayer. Ian was active in the community and in the support of the ministry in Waikanae in a variety of ways that were much appreciated. These included conduct of worship, pastoral visitation, leadership of study groups, support of the Bible Society and looking after the welfare needs of the Bowling Club for a number of years. He had a special understanding of matters relative to the Maori Church and his fluency in the language opened many doors. Ian was a quiet and humble person. He had a deep understanding of people which gave him a special ability in pastoral work. He valued his friends and they valued him in turn.

The death of his wife Isobel in 1996 was a blow as she had been a great supporter in all that he did. Her bore this loss and the infirmities of old age with dignity and endurance. He leaves behind three children, Gwenyth, David and Elspeth and many people whose lives he enriched with his ministry

Jean Hanning

Jean Hanning was born on 21 May 1916 into a strong Presbyterian family whose roots were firmly planted at Caversham, Dunedin. She attended the Caversham Primary School; then Otago Girls High School, where she involved herself in Crusaders, followed by the University of Otago where she was an outstanding student and an enthusiastic member of the Evangelical Union. The family were ardent participants of the summer Pounawea Conventions over many years.

At the age of twelve Jean Hanning, as the result of a talk by Sister Esther Elliott, Matron of the Jagadhri Hospital, began to focus her life in answer to a God-given call to missionary service. It was her desire to train as a medical doctor, but was dissuaded by her father ["Men are doctors, women are nurses", he is reputed to have told her] so eventually she was channelled into the nursing profession. Graduating from the University of Otago with a Diploma of Home Science, Jean taught Home Science for two years at Thames and Ngatea prior to attending part-time, the New Zealand Bible Training Institute and commencing her general nursing training at Dunedin followed by her maternity training at Alexandra Hospital, Wellington and midwifery at St Helen's Hospital, Auckland. She also qualified as a Plunket Nurse in Dunedin. Throughout her nursing studies, and while gaining experience for her vocation, she was a leading light in the Nurses Christian Fellowship.

In November 1946 she sailed for North India to commence thirty years of outstanding service to the Christian Medical College and Brown Memorial Hospital in Ludhiana, India, a teaching hospital founded by Dame Edith Brown in 1891 as the first Christian medical centre for Indian women. Arriving in India as the British were withdrawing and the Punjab was being annexed, Jean witnessed dreadful violence and bloodshed. If she thought she was going to be introduced gradually to life in India she was wrong! Ninety thousand Moslems were evacuated from the city of Ludhiana while one hundred and fifty thousand Hindus and Sikhs entered. During the resulting riots the hospital was flooded with casualties and overnight the hospital had to cope with injured male patients as well.

Jean was appointed Sister-in-Charge of the maternity wards in 1947, coping with 45 mothers and babies in addition to another 40 expectant mothers, many of the latter being "housed" on the verandahs of the hospital. The hours of duty were long twelve hour days, yet in all those years, Jean had only two and a half days off sick!

In 1956 she was appointed as Midwifery Tutor in the Christian Medical College and for the next 20 years shared her vast knowledge with generations of nurses and doctors. She was instrumental in writing the syllabus for and then teaching the BSc (nursing) degree course at the College. During her first sabbatical she completed a Diploma of Nursing majoring in administration and the teaching obstetrics. Examination results at the College show that Jean's meticulous teaching produced the outstanding results which made Ludhiana a leading teaching institution in India. Jean was involved in the hospital during a time when senior staff increased from 18 in 1949 to 80 in 1958, staff nurses from 6 to 30, and student nurses from 60 to over 100. Over 600 women would apply for the annual intake of 50 trainee nurses the Hospital and College could accept.

Jean was a fluent speaker of the Urdu and Hindi languages, and spent her "free" time leading Bible studies and prayer meetings among nurses or, on a monthly basis, on the first Sunday, visiting a leper colony for Church services. In some ways, it could be said that Jean Hanning lead a privileged but demanding life in Northern India as the first missionary from the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand to work at Ludhiana.

"Retiring" back to Dunedin in 1977 she lived with her sister in Pitt Street, Dunedin, and involved herself at St Stephen's Church with the Chinese congregation, as well as working at Ross Home for the first seven years of her retirement. Being accustomed to authority and respect, being used to having servants to attend her needs, Jean did not quickly settle to ordinary life. She did not find establishing new relationships easy, and preferred to devote herself to Bible study and reading. Her latter years were spent in Iona Home and Hospital in Oamaru where she read avidly and cherished the opportunity to attend Chapel and sing by heart the old hymns which had nourished her faith during her long life.

With Jean Hanning's death on 14 August 2001 we have lost a unique gift generously given through our Church to the health of the people of Ludhiana, and more specifically to the well-being of generations of mothers and children in North India.
We praise God for her life of unselfish devotion to missionary service.

The Rev Hannah Letitia Hawe

After a lengthy illness, the Rev'd Hannah Letitia (Leta) Hawe, a much loved minister of our Church, died at the Home of Compassion, Wanganui, on 15 January 2002.

Born in County Cavan, Ireland, Leta came to New Zealand as an infant with her mother and brother, Howard, to join her father, who had already come to settle in the Waikato. Farming life was spent in and around Waharoa.

Leta attended Waharoa Primary School, Matamata Intermediate and Matamata High School (later to become Matamata College). She enjoyed her school years; its study, basketball (netball), cricket, speech and drama. After completing her 6th form year, Leta came home to help in the house and on a busy farm. Leta was a popular entertainer at local functions where she performed in musical monologues and recited poetry.

The Church was to play a very important part in shaping Leta's life. She taught in Sunday School and in the Bible-in-Schools programme. At St.David's, Waharoa, she cleaned, played the organ, arranged the flowers, attended P.W.M.U. meetings as well as participated in the lively Bible Class. She held a number of offices in the Waikato East Bible Class District Committee culminating in the position of Young Women's President.

In 1952 Leta went to Dunedin to study at Deaconess College and in 1955 she was ordained and inducted as Parish Deaconess at St.Paul's Parish, Wanganui, where she served in a team ministry first with the Rev'd Ian Borrie and then with the Rev'd Noel Williams. While in Wanganui she was introduced to Broadcasting on Women's Programmes in publicising the World Day of Prayer, and National Savings Week. After attending a Training School, Leta was accepted as a presenter of the Sunday night Evening Devotions which was 20 minute programme broadcast live.

The Y.W.C.A. gave Leta an opportunity to serve the community as a Board Member and later as President. When the Association of Presbyterian Women (A.P.W.) was formed she served as President of the Wanganui Presbyterial. The Women's Group on Wanganui's Durie Hill owes its formation to Leta's initiative having the aim of uniting the women 'on the Hill'.

In 1970 Leta was inducted as Parish Deaconess in the Khandallah Parish. While at Khandallah, Leta was elected National President of the Presbyterian Deaconess Association. As President she travelled overseas to represent the Association at conferences in the United States of America and in Germany. On returning to New Zealand and convinced that there was need for change, Leta shared in working toward the ordination of women to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament and to the decision of the General Assembly that as the Ministry was now open to women that the Church cease recruiting women for the Deaconess Order. In 1975 Leta, herself, was ordained to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament and became Assistant Minister at Khandallah and later, Associate Minister, with the Rev'd Neil Churcher.

Three years later, in 1978, Leta accepted a Call to serve as minister of the Burwood United / St.Kentigern's Parish in Burwood, Christchurch - a name, Leta always claimed, sounded more like that of an English football team than that of a parish. Leta's twelve years in this Parish saw the extension of the two centres and Leta always spoke warmly of the privilege of ministry among people who opened their hearts and homes to her. While serving at Burwood the Presbytery elected her for a term as its Moderator, being only the second woman to serve in that capacity.

Also while serving in the Parish at Burwood, Leta, in 1986, took study leave and travelled to Geneva in Switzerland and to Princeton in the United States of America to attend courses. While at Princeton she attended a workshop on "Coping with Loss" by Elizabeth Kubler Ross. This led, on her return to the Parish, to an introduction to the Hospice Movement in Burwood, and developed into her priority interest in Wanganui when she retired to live there - not so much to retire as 'to be recycled'!.

Leta often marvelled that God would choose to call a quiet country girl into service and give her such an enriching ministry. It surely could only be because He loved the ordinary people so very much.

The Church gives thanks to God for the loving-care, for the loyalty to her Lord, and for the leadership Leta brought to all amongst whom she served; and it extends its sympathy to her wider family.

The Rev. Arthur Ian Hewson

On June 18 2001, the Presbytery/UDC of the Wairarapa gathered to celebrate Ian's life and ministry. He died peacefully at home after a short illness, with his wife Barbara with him.

Ian was born in Timaru in 1923, the older of two sons. He grew up on the family farm in the Esk Valley south of Timaru. He attended the sole charge school there.

At age 12 he became a boarder at Timaru Boys' High School. As one of the younger boys he developed a feeling for the under-dog. This helped to develop his concern and compassion for people, especially the little people.
The school developed his early love of singing and music, and he learned the euphonium. The band-room was a refuge for a boarder.

Ian set out to become a teacher, but military training and service overseas in Italy intervened. He was wounded in the leg at Farenza, and continued a long convalescence in Dunedin. His life-long interest in the Peace movement during this unsettled time as well as in S.C.M. and the Moral Rearmament Movement assisted him to readjust and continue with studies at Otago University, and the challenge that would come as a divinity student of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand.

Ian's time (1950-52) in the Theological Hall both excited and drew him out. This was the time of the New Life Movement, and expansion in the Church. He appreciated parish life at Opoho and the friendship of the Manse folk. The then minister, Lloyd Geering, involved students in radio programmes.

Ordained in early 1953, he began ministry in the Heriot - Kelso Parish in the Mataura Presbytery. Ian married Barbara (Squire) later that year in St.Giles Wellington. They had met at the Jubilee Bible Class Conference in Invercargill at a time when 600-1000 young people would attend such gatherings. They began a long and fruitful ministry together, which saw them as team mates for forty-seven and a half years.

With two children they moved in 1957 to pastures new in the Hawkes Bay Takapau - Norsewood parish where the farming community responded to the challenges of the Stewardship Campaign and New Life Movement.

In 1963, now with four children, the Hewsons shifted to the newly formed parish of St. Peter's Napier. These were the boom years with great demands. 170 new people added to the roll in one year. 12 babies baptized on one Sunday morning!

Wairarapa Presbytery, later to become UDC., inducted Ian into First Church Martinborough in 1966. In this extensive country parish, life included Interview 1969, Community '71. Together with the outlying areas the parish celebrated its Centenary.

In 1974 St. James Union Church Masterton called Ian. This was a time of ecumenical growth in the town. Ian enjoyed the educational involvement on a secondary school board, and followed his teen-aged sons sporting endeavours.

In 1981, the last move was to St. Marks Palmerston North where he stayed until 1988. This was a return to Presbyterian ways, but with a different view of matters ecumenical. In each parish, and after retirement, Ian was a member of the P.S.S.A, and later Support, Board, where his advice was always wise and his influence on other matters always gracious.

Ian was a people's man; he loved to yarn. He was a thoughtful man, setting up study groups, and joining the Sea of Faith to keep in touch with the latest thinking. He kept his spirit alive during his last illness, seeing it as part of life under God.

In retirement, back in Masterton, Ian enjoyed reading without interruption, helping out with pulpit supply, playing his new interest of bowls, good food, R.S.A., and singing tenor with the Wairarapa Singers. (They sang 'Thine be the Glory' at his funeral).

The loss of their youngest son, Paul, at 19, broadened Ian and Barbara's understanding of grief. Ian loved to talk through with people in his care the great experiences of birth, marriage and death. His pastoral care of people after the funeral was exemplary.

Well done, good and faithful servant

The Rev James Campbell Howat

James Campbell Howat died on 31 August 2001 at the age of 87.

Jim Howat was 26 years old when he took up work in the Rangitaiki Outfields Home Mission Station in the Bay of Plenty. He had been nurtured in the Bible Class movement of the Presbyterian Church, and had worked on farms in the Whakatane area.

When he became convinced that he was called to the ministry, he was advised to train by serving in the Home Mission field. Home Mission Stations were for the most part parishes in remote areas, many of them struggling to survive, typically a string of small rural communities with tiny congregations and connected by poor roads. Home missionaries received a substantially lower stipend than trained ministers. Jim Howat was sent straight from the farm to Rangitaiki Outfields without training. He had never taken a service of worship, a wedding or a funeral.

Jim married Agnes Cleland in his second year at Rangitaiki. They lived in a bach on a farm, only party lined, with primitive cooking facilities and no bath.

In Rangitaiki Outfields, and in other Home Mission Stations to follow, Jim Howat conducted worship, usually at three or four different places on a Sunday, often in schools or draughty public halls. He did the rounds of a number of country schools, taking Bible lessons, a task that throughout his ministry he always saw as important. He prepared for it thoroughly, and children looked forward to his visits. He kept in touch with the people of the parish - and this pastoral concern was at the heart of his ministry wherever he went.

Jim believed in the dignified and reverent conduct of worship, and his sincerity and his solid faith shone through his preaching. His compassion and humility were obvious and were warmly appreciated.

After Rangitaiki Outfields, Jim Howat served in Home Mission Stations at Mangapai, Hauraki Plains, Waimarino, and Mangere. Then he accepted an appointment with Te Hinota Maori, as it was then known, in charge of the David Hogg Memorial Hostel at Whakatane.

At the end of Jim's three-year appointment there, he was advised that there was no ministry vacancy suitable for him. The Howats moved to Hamilton where Jim worked for a steel company and tackled University classes. He took occasional services in churches in and around the city when called on.

Some of his colleagues in ministry believed that Jim's gifts and experience should be put to better use, and at their prompting, he was, in 1962, offered the position of Home Ministry Assistant to the Minister of St Andrew's, New Plymouth, the late Very Rev Stan Read. In the following year the General Assembly agreed to recognise him as a minister in full standing of the Presbyterian Church. It has been a long road - 22 years - from farm worker to Minister.

There followed nine and a half happy years of ministry at Waihi, and prior to retirement, a shorter time as Minister of the Eltham Parish.

The Howats retired to Hamilton where Jim was in demand to conduct services and funerals - the latter an aspect of his ministry that was warmly appreciated wherever he was.

Jim saw his role primarily as the shepherd of the flock. He had that rare gift - a pastor's heart. He cared deeply for the people of his parish, whether or not they were churchgoers.

The Presbytery remembers with gratitude to God the life and ministry of James Campbell Howat. To Agnes Howat and their family it offers its warm sympathy in their loss.

Calester Mavis Kaarup

The death of Mavis Kaarup on 16 February 2001 brought to an end a long and faithful ministry.

The last few years of Mavis' life were difficult as she coped with the frailties of age and having to be in continuing care. It was a testing time for both body and spirit, a time when she often 'told God off.' Yet this should not detract from a rich life wherein she walked the path of faith always looking to the guidance and fidelity of her Lord.

Born in Pahiatua in January 1908 to Annie and Albert Patterson, a dairy factory inspector, Mavis was one of two children. The family travelled extensively around rural New Zealand.

Mavis made her commitment to Jesus Christ in Bible Class at the age of 14. At 17 she became a member of St Andrew's Hamilton, teaching Sunday School and also being part of the Bible Class. Mavis continued her involvement in the Bible Class movement when she moved to Auckland. At this time she responded to the call to train for full time ministry. Initially she hoped to serve as a missionary in China.

In 1936 Mavis Patterson entered the Presbyterian Women's Training Institute to undertake training for the deaconess order. She was ordained a deaconess at Knox Church Dunedin on the 22nd November 1938. Her duties were to establish and maintain Sunday School work.

In 1942 Mavis moved from Knox to St Andrew's Ashburton to work under the Very Rev Stan Murray. Here she first met Charles Kaarup, who was working on farms round about and linked to the parish.

She moved to St Andrew's Hamilton in 1948. After only a few years Mavis had to resign from the parish. A TB infection in the spine led to hospitalisation for an extended time.

During this period Charles Kaarup, who by now had been accepted for Home Mission and appointed to the Mangakino hydro project, visited Mavis regularly in hospital. Whilst a captive audience Mavis allowed herself to be wooed and captured by 'her Dane' Marius Carl Kaarup.

They were married on the 9th January 1952 and for ten years had an extremely happy life. They served together as a deeply committed team in the parishes of Reparoa-Galatea, Keri Keri and Takaka., During this time Charles, as he preferred to be called, was ordained and raised to full status within the Presbyterian church. The work was often hard, but rewarding. Alas after only ten years Charles contracted cancer and after a short illness, died. Even to the end of her days Mavis held 'her man' close in her heart.
In 1966 Mavis took up a position with the P.S.S.A. as a deaconess at Nik