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Minutes of the General Assembly 2002

Session 1
St Patrick's College, Silverstream, Wellington
Sunday, 22 September 2002 at 2.00 p.m.

The Ministers and Ruling Elders of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand, elected as representative members of the General Assembly, together with associate and observer members, convened pursuant to the appointment of the General Assembly meeting at Dunedin, November 2000.

The Assembly was welcomed by representatives of the tangata whenua.

The Right Rev Robert Yule, outgoing Moderator of the General Assembly, by prayer constituted the Assembly in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the only King and Head of the Church, and conducted public worship. The Sacrament of Holy Communion was celebrated.

[02.001] The roll of the Assembly was laid on the table and accepted as follows:

The Roll of the General Assembly

Moderator Right Rev Michael Thawley
Clerk Rev Kerry Enright

Northland

Ministers: Verna Healy, Bruce Hellyer, Ron Webb.
Elders: Beryl Bartram, Duncan Gillanders, Jim Hodgson, Bruce Millar, Keith Webster, Erica Whyte.

North Shore

Ministers: Richard Colegrove, David Connor, Warren Deason, Andrew Dunn, Ron Mills, Wilson Orange, Uiva Vagana, Sherri Weinberg.
Elders: David Anstiss, Pat Cooper, David Graham, Colin Griffiths, Rob Ripley, Tupuola Suaniu.
Youth: Marcelle Orange.

Auckland

Ministers: Mervyn Aitken, Donald Battley, Roy Christian, David Clark, Vivian Coleman, John Evans, Clive Haliday, Don Ikitoelagi, Ock-youn Jang, Brett Johnstone, Ma`afala Koko, Stuart Lange, Doug Lendrum, Colin Marshall, Andrew Norton, Vaiora Robati, Marie Ropeti, Le`i`ite Setefano, Si'itia Si'itia-Asi, Ere Talagi-Ikitoelagi, Barry Tetley, Pelu Tuai, Sandra Warner, Rintje Westra, Henry Yau.
Elders: Alison Atchison, Cunny Atchison, Nora Blenkarn, Ward Buckingham, Heather Coster, Stephanie Hansen, Foai Foai, Ailsa Freeman, Lorraine Hessell, David Hope-Cross, Luifau Kapoa, Tei Kiliuyi, Mike Legg, Douglas Lilly, Blackie Mitimeti, Trevor Mosley, Nicky Rowntree, Tavita Solomona, Kerry Stotter, Isabella Tedcastle, Frank Thompson, Mutalau Unoi, Rudy Vogels, Lepaimasina Warren.
Youth: Louana Tooala, Elizabeth Whitehead, Tali Fonu Ametuanai, Tehio Tengaru, Stirling Tongiaheulu.

South Auckland

Ministers: Matavai Alefaio, Peter Bristow, Mika Fa`amausili, Aotafaga Lemuelu, Margaret-Anne Low, Simon McLeay, Geoff New, Penetekoso Togiatama, Maui Tourangi.
Elders: Aiolupotea Aiolupotea, Tepu Coombs, Alan Lipscombe, Andrew Scott, Douglas Tanner, Fiamafola Togiatama.
Youth: Arli Taimataora, Peneeta Togiatama.

Waikato

Ministers: Bryan Carey, Bill Cuthers, Shirley Fergusson, Neil Johnston, Alan Leadley, Garry Marquand, Alistair McBride, Hugh Perry, Lance Thomas, Ernie Trask, Malcolm Wall, Nancy Jean Whitehead.
Elders: Vic Clarke, Mary Clarkson, Pat Gibb, John Greenwood, Murray Henderson, Lance Kendrick, Bill Konings, Marii Mahutariki, Dawn Phillips, Janice Purdie, Freeman Raine, Margaret Waters.

Bay of Plenty

Ministers: Ray Coster, Russell Denne, Derrick Hills, David Kriel, Martin Macaulay, Jon Parkes, John Turton, Scott Wishart.
Elders: Tessa Beswick, Irene Clarke, Flora Dow, Ingulf Revfeim, Dawne Ross, Marion Sanders.
Youth: Elri Kriel.

Te Aka Puaho

Ministers: Nehe Dewes, Hariata Haumate, Rehia Rangitauira, Kay Taitoko, Peka Tautau.
Elders: M Jaram, P Koia, P Mason, Regina Manihera, Mona Riini, Hokimoana Tawa, Millie Te Kaawa, Regina Te Ratana, Betty Tipiwai, T Tuwairua.
Youth: Mahuika Harmer, Erana Hodgson, Amiria Pehi, Haley Manihera-Taka, Rangimarie Te Kaawa.

Gisborne

Ministers: Maheu Papau JP.
Elders: Gwenda Crawshaw, Bryan Yuile.
Youth: Alisa Aukuso.

Hawkes Bay

Ministers: Craig Kilgour, Nolan Martin, Ian Pimm, Brett Walker.
Elders: Margaret Dorrington, Heather Hill, K Morgan, Heather Sanders.
Youth: Alex Wall.

Taranaki

Ministers: Christopher Bedford, Chris Burgin, Tom Millar, Guy Pilkinton, Paul Prestidge, Dorothy Wallace.
Elders: David Birchler, Cathy Morris, Jack van der Sar, Neil Walker.

Wanganui

Ministers: Fieta Faitala, Philippa Horrex, Ene Petaia, Talosaga Su`a, Tom Waight.
Elders: Michael Craig, Ann Flutey, Janis Tilyard, Enid Waters, Simon Williams.

Manawatu

Ministers: Bill Clifford, George Dempster, Linda Hope, Stephen Jourdain, Rilma Sands, Ron Townsend, Graeme Turnbull.
Elders: John Barr, Heather Haines, Ian Laird, Norman Orange.

Wairarapa

Ministers: Donald Biggs, John Currie, Barbara Curteis.
Elders: John Caughley, Barbara Evans, Ian Bayliss.

Wellington

Ministers: Clare Brockett, Jim Cunningham, Len Currie, Tom Etuata, Ken Irwin, Mark Johnston, Barry Jones, Perema Leasi, Margaret Mayman, Chris Nichol, Doug Pa'u, Graham Redding, Alan Shaw, Norman Wilkins, Derek Yule, Diane Yule.
Elders: Helen Beaumont, Margaret Birks, Tanya Duncan, Riini Gardenier, Richard Gooch, Robert Hopkirk, Doug Inch, David Isaia, Jenifer Kerr, Chris Konings, Glen Labrum, Stuart Lusty, Gail Malcolmson, Dallas Moore, Tom Law, Jill Taylor, Janet Todd, Fa'afetai Tui, Joanne Vilipaama.
Youth: Em Osborne, Jono Ryan, Erik Erika.

Nelson/Marlborough

Ministers: Arthur Barnfather, Paul Loveday, Robert McPhail, Bruce Murray, Kenneth Williams.
Elders: Kevin Dempster, Ruth Fraser, Marjorie Lamb.

West Coast UDC

Elder: Chris Auchinvole.

Christchurch

Ministers: Stanley Barnes, Joshua Choi, Neil Cowie, Carol Grant, Brian Hardie, Caleb Hardie, Phil King, Fitifiti Luatua, Graham Mansell, Winston Marshall, Sylvia Miller, Len Pierce, Bob Reid, Sandra Wright-Taylor.
Elders: Maureen Alabaster, Jean Brouwer, Michael Cooke, Catherine Fletcher, Malcolm Gray, Kutoli Ieremia, Roger Keey, Strathearn Lawrey, Joy Lloyd, Malcolm Lumsden, Robert McIntosh, Pat Manning, Allan Middlemiss, Shirley Page, Katherine Peet, Mary Stanton, Peter Spoelstra.
Youth: Patricia Kelly.

Ashburton

Ministers: David Brown, Malutafa Fruean, Helen Wallis.
Elders: Maureen Bishop, Errol Croy, Jocelyn Lill.
Youth: Dellwyn Moylan.

South Canterbury

Ministers: Chris Elliot, Michael Kerr, Russell Rofe.
Elders: Norma Bartrum, Judith Begg, Keith Davey, Brian Hutton, Gwyneth Jones, Alison Linscott, Bill Penno, McGregor Simpson.

North Otago

Ministers: Nancy Parker, Libby Smith, Russell Thew.
Elders: Judith Milmine, Marion Partridge.

Central Otago

Ministers: Diane Gilliam-Weeks, Peter Marshall, Reg Weeks.
Elders: Murray Brown, Gaynor Muir.

Dunedin

Ministers: David Coster, Richard Dawson, Jenni Elmes, Neville Emslie, Helen Harray, Kenneth Harray, Susan Jones, Apa Leali`ifanolevalevale, Robert Robati-Mani, Sa Si`itia-`Asi, Geoff Skilton, Martin Stewart, Susan Werstein.
Elders: Tony Borick, Olive Lewis, Shona McDonald, Joan McGregor, Margaret Meder, Patricia Scott, Elaine Scurr, Joan Sinclair, Lee Somerville, Catherine Todd, Timote Turu, Patsy Woodside.
Youth: Obed Unasa.

Mataura

Ministers: Peter Cheyne, Norman Allington, John Gullick, John Ranstead.
Elders: Bruce Allan, Poul Anderson, David Duthie, John Falconer, Pat McCall.
Youth: Browyn McCall.

Clutha

Minister: Les Gosling.
Elders: Joy Flett, Bruce Fraser, Joan Pearce.

Southland

Ministers: Doris Elphick, David Gordon, Donald Hegan, Kimi Henry, Geoff Holding, Neville Jackson, Iona Su`a, Alistair Taylor.
Elders: Betty Dickie, Frances Fredric, Patricia Gee, Karl Lamb, Neil Livingstone, Ron Loan, Peter Noble, Trevor Parkinson, Heather Sell, Alistair Calvert

Association of Presbyterian Women

APW President: Marion Brash.
Vice President: Joan Pugh

Associates:

Associated for all Assembly:

Rev Toa Afele (Congregational Christian Church of Samoa), Mr Keith Christie (Children's Programme), Rev Edwin Clarke (Business Work Group), Miss Kirsten Dale (Communications Co-ordinator), Mr Richard Davis (Communications Advisor), Mr Joe Fecteau (Children's Programme), Rev Lynne Frith ( Methodist Church of New Zealand), Mrs Alison Grimshaw (Facilitation Group), Rev Prof James Haire (President, Uniting Church of Australia), Rev Reuben Hardie (Enhancement Committee), Mrs Margaret Inch (Local Arrangements Committee), Rev Wang Kuang-sy, (Presbyterian Church of Taiwan), Mrs Heather Lane (Childrens Programme), Rev Clare Lind (Childrens Programme), Ms Mary Macpherson (Manager of Communications), Miss Mo Mansill (National Youth Co-ordinator), Rev John McCaul (Anglican Church of New Zealand), Ms Heather McKenzie (Assistant Clerk), Prof Nestor Miguez (Assembly Guest Speaker), Mr Bryce Morris (Congregational Union), Miss Prue Neild (MRT Co Director), Rev Graeme Nicholas (MRT Co-Director), Mrs Elizabeth Pau (Childrens Programme), Mrs Mary Petersen (Children's Programme), Mr Colin Pidgeon QC (Book of Order and Judicial Reference Group), Rev Arthur Pihigia (Ekalesia Niue), Rev Temere Poaru (Cook Islands Christian Church), Mr Chris Purdie (Assembly Chaplain), Mrs Richardson (Associated Churches of Christ), Rev Lynne Russell (Business Work Group), Mr Stewart Scott (Children's Programme), Rev Tui Sopoaga (Congregational Christian Church Tokelau), Rev Barbara Stephens (Methodist Church of New Zealand), Mrs Nola Stuart (Facilitation Group), Rev Pamela Tankersley (Business Work Group), Rev Ola Tofilau (Business Work Group), Mrs Rita Urry (Local Arrangements Committee), Rev Ken Wall (Facilitation Group), Jean Wete (Evangelical Church in New Caledonia), Rev Neal Whimp (Facilitation Group), Very Rev Robert Yule (Immediate Past Moderator).

Associated for specified reports and related matters:

Mr Aiolupote Ailupote (PI Synod), Mrs P Alefaio (PI Synod), Rev Asora Amosa (Equipping the Leadership Policy Group), Rev Andrew Bell (Global Mission Secretary), Mr Geoff Bell (Manager Financial Services), Rev Sally Carter (Lay Ministry Task Group), Mr Hamish Crooks (Pacific Island Synod), Dr Chris Downs (Churches Agency on Social Issues), Michael Earle (Conference of Churches in Aotearoa New Zealand), Mrs Thelma Efford (Lay Ministry Task Group), Mr Robin Guy (PSDS), Mr John Hallett (Nominating Committee), Rev Bruce Hamill (Subordinate Standards Task Group and Doctrine Reference Group), Very Rev Bruce Hansen (PI Synod Review Committee), Ms Jill Hawkey (Christian World Service), Dr Ruth Houghton (Presbyterian Support), Miss Tuifa'asisi Iosia (Pacific Island Synod), Mr Peter Isherwood (Church Property Trustees), Mr Fakaofo Kaio (Pacific Island Synod), Rev Alan Kerr (Subordinate Standards Task Group), Mr Doug Langford (Secretary, Church Property Trustees), Gaynor Larsen (Conference of Churches in Aotearoa New Zealand), Rev Elama Maea (PI Synod Constitution) Rev Samuel McCay (PI Synod Constitution), Mr Malcolm McLeod (PSDS), Mr John Marshall (Book of Order and Judicial Reference Group), Mr Stewart Milne (Presbyterian Support), Ms Freda Oloapu (Resourcing for Mission Policy Group), Mr Ian Omundsen (Forum of Co-operative Ventures), Mr Afamasag Pavihi (PI Synod, Dunedin), Very Rev Alister Rae (Subordinate Standards Task Group), Rev Bonnie Robinson ( Presbyterian Support), Rev Tala Simanu (PI Synod), Rev David Simmers (Churches Agency on Social Issues), Rev Maua Sola (Overture 11), Julia Stuart (CASI), Rev Tame Takao (Te Aka Puaho), Mrs Marina Takao (Te Aka Puaho), Mrs Anne Thomson (Resourcing for Mission Policy Group), Mr Ikipa Togatule (PI Synod), Miss Saumalu Tuitama (PI Synod), Rev Uea Tuleia (PI Synod), Mr Ian Watson (Administration and Finance Policy Group), Rev Brian Williscroft (Administration and Finance Policy Group).

Observers:

Mr Makesi Alatimu, Mr Phil Bettany, Rev Edward Brash, Mrs Jean Cuthers, Mr John Daniel, Mrs Akele Etuata, Miss Tala Fa'amausili, Rev Myoung-SooHan, Mr George Kopa, Mrs Ngapia Mahutariki, Mrs Val Marquand, Miss Lana Marquand, Mrs Flora Martin, Ms Helen Martin, Mr Roy Pearson, Ms Richardson, Rev Joan Ross, Very Rev Margaret Schrader, Mr Cameron Sinclair, Mr David Solomona, Mrs Gwen Spoelstra, Mr Johannes Suwantika, Mr Taulapapa Tauasosi, Mrs Dorothy Thawley, Ms Carol Thorley, Rev Solomona Uitime, Mrs Christene Yule.

[02.002] The Clerk, moved, it was seconded:

That pursuant to the nomination of the 2000 General Assembly the Reverend Michael Thawley be elected Moderator of the General Assembly to hold office until the election and induction of his successor at the next ordinary meeting of the Assembly.

There was no debate.
The motion as agreed to.

Mr Yule inducted the Reverend Michael Thawley as Moderator of the General Assembly. The Moderator and Clerk of Te Aka Puaho presented Mr Thawley with the Moderator's Korowai. Mr Thawley signed the Centennial Bible. Mr Thawley addressed the Assembly on the theme "Many Words, One Word".

Act of Commemoration
The Moderator and Clerk, with the congregation, reverently standing, conducted the Act of Commemoration, recalling by name the following whom the Church in its courts had remembered:

Revs: David Alexander Blyth, Stephen Clark, 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, Manatoa Tavelia, Harold Walter Turner, Alexander Clifton Webster, Alfred William Willoughby, John Lewis Wilson, Stanley Robert Wishart, Very Rev William Bell Watt.

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

Refer also to minutes of Session 2 for the Very Rev. Alan Anderson Brash, Rev. Ian Graham Ryburn and Mesdame Kitty Temara.

Welcome
The Moderator welcomed:

• Ministers, elders and youth attending their first Assembly. Representatives of Co-operative Ventures. Representatives of partner churches: Rev John McCaul (Anglican), Mrs Edna Richardson (Associated Churches of Christ), Mr Bryce Morris (Congregational Union), Rev Lynne Frith and Rev Barbara Stephens (Methodist). Representatives of overseas churches: Rev Prof James Haire (Uniting Church in Australia), Rev Michael Wang Kuang-Syh (Presbyterian Church of Taiwan), Rev Jean Wete (Evangelical Church in New Caledonia and the Loyalty Islands).

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:

[02.003] That the reports, extra and late reports of the Council of Assembly, Policy Groups, Work Groups, Reference Groups, Task Groups, Groups, Committees, Special Committees, Commissions, Overtures 1 to 12, Memorials 1 and 2, as printed in the Assembly Reports and Extra Reports, be received and be the working documents of this Assembly.

There was no debate.
The motion was agreed to.

Mr Brown was granted leave to add clause 15(xi) to Standing Orders, inadvertently omitted in the printing of Assembly papers.

15(xi):
Whenever it is proposed that a matter under the Barrier Act be adopted ad interim, such a proposal shall be considered as a motion separate from, and after that, which refers the issue under the Barrier Act. This motion will be lost unless there is 60% majority of those voting in favour.

Mr Brown moved, and it was seconded:

[02.004] That the Standing Orders of the 2000 General Assembly be accepted as Standing Orders for the 2002 General Assembly.

There was no debate.
The motion was agreed to.

Mr Brown moved, and it was seconded:

[02.005] That Standing Orders of the Assembly be amended as follows:

There was no debate.
The motion was agreed to.

Welcome Overseas Guest
The Moderator welcomed the Reverend Professor James Haire, President of the Uniting Church in Australia. Prof Haire addressed the Assembly. He brought greetings from the Uniting Church in Australia. The Moderator thanked Prof Haire and presented him with a gift.

The Assembly adjourned to meet at 7.30 p.m. at the State Opera House, Wellington, to celebrate the diversity of the church in an evening of musical and cultural presentations; and then to meet again at 8.30 a.m. Monday, 23 September 2002 at St Patrick's College, Silverstream, Wellington

The Moderator pronounced the benediction.

Michael Thawley, Moderator
Kerry Enright, Clerk

Go to Session 2

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