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Minutes of the General Assembly 2002Session 11
St Patrick's College, Silverstream, Wellington
Thursday, 26 September 2002 at 1.30 p.m.The Assembly met and was constituted with prayer by the Moderator.
The Children's Assembly gave a presentation.
Moderator's Dialogue
Mr Roger McClay, Commissioner for Children, was introduced. The Moderator engaged in dialogue with Mr McClay. Mr McClay addressed the Assembly.
Churches Agency on Social Issues
Poverty
The Rev David Simmers moved and it was seconded:
[02. 121] That this General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand express to the Prime Minister its continuing deep concern at the extent of poverty which persists amongst the people of New Zealand.
The motion was debated.
The motion was agreed to.
Gambling
Mr Simmers moved and it was seconded:
[02.122] That General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand ask the Government to take measures to ensure that vital social and community services are not dependent for their operation on income from gambling.
The motion was debated.
The motion was agreed to.
Evangelical Presbyterian Missionary Fellowship
The Rev Paul Loveday presented a report.
Financial Assessment
Facilitation Group member Mrs Alison Grimshaw reported on responses from Dialogue Groups to motion [02.117] (single levy assessment to fund the work of the General Assembly). She reported very strong support for a single levy assessment.
Notice of motion [02.117] having been moved in a previous session, Administration and Finance Policy Group co-conveners, the Rev Brian Williscroft and Prof Ian Watson spoke to it.
[02.117] a) That one assessment be used to fund the work of the General Assembly.
b) That all other assessments currently used to fund the work of the General Assembly cease at the time of the commencement of the new assessment.
c) That the underlying principle for funding the work of the General Assembly remain an equitable sharing of burden among all parishes rather than user pays.
d) That the assessment be based upon the number of members in a parish and the parish income with the weighting to be 50% membership and 50% income.
e) That the definition of income contained in Appendix 1 in the report of the Administration and Finance Policy Group be used to determine the amount of income of a parish subject to assessment
f) That the single assessment be effective from 1 July 2003. [Appendix 1]
The Rev Reg Weeks moved an amendment, which was seconded:
[02.176] That clause d be amended by replacing the word "membership" with the words "average adult worship attendance".
The amendment was debated.
The amendment was lost.
Mr Rob Ripley moved an amendment, which was seconded:
[02.171] That before being implemented, clauses a-d be referred to presbyteries/UDCs and sessions/parish councils for urgent consideration and response to Council of Assembly by March 2003.
The amendment was debated.
The amendment was carried.
[02.117] clause (f), as amended, now read: That the single assessment levy be effective from 1 July 2003, subject to the responses received from presbyteries/UDCs and sessions/parish councils.
There was extensive debate.
The amendment was carried.
[02.117] The substantive motion as amended, now read:
a) That one assessment be used to fund the work of the General Assembly.
b) That all other assessments currently used to fund the work of the General Assembly cease at the time of the commencement of the new assessment.
c) That the underlying principle for funding the work of the General Assembly remain an equitable sharing of burden among all parishes rather than user pays.
d) That the assessment be based upon the number of members in a parish and the parish income with the weighting to be 50% membership and 50% income.
e) That the definition of income contained in Appendix 1 in the report of the Administration and Finance Policy Group be used to determine the amount of income of a parish subject to assessment
f) That the single assessment be effective from 1 July 2003, subject to the responses received from presbyteries/UDCs and sessions/parish councils.
That before being implemented, clauses a-d be referred to presbyteries/UDCs and sessions/parish councils for urgent consideration and response to Council of Assembly by March 2003.
The motion was carried.
Prof Watson moved, and it was seconded:
[02.172] That the definition of income contained in Appendix 1 of the report of the Administration and Finance Policy Group be referred to presbyteryies/UDCs, sessions/parish councils for comment and responses to the Administration and Finance Policy Group by March 2003.
The motion was debated.
The motion was agreed to.
Church Membership
Mrs Grimshaw reported on Dialogue Group responses to motion [02.025] (Church Membership.)
Motion [02.025] having been moved in an earlier session, Mrs Anne Thomson, Resourcing for Mission Policy Group Co-convener, spoke to it.
Leave was granted to amend clause c by adding the word "publicly" after the word "professing."
[02.025] That the following recommendations a to g be approved and sent to Presbyteries/UDCs under the Barrier Act. - That there be provision for two forms of membership in the Presbyterian Church, members and associate groups. that regulation 19 be amended to read:
Each congregation shall have a list of members, a list of associate members, and a register of all persons under pastoral care. that regulation 20 be amended to read:
The list of members consists of persons recognised by the Session/Parish Council as: having been baptised; and professing publicly their faith in Jesus Christ; and expressing their intention to live their discipleship as part of the congregation That regulation 22 be amended to read:
The list of associate members consists of persons recognised by the Session or Parish Council as expressing their intention to be associated with the congregation. That regulation 30 be repealed. That all members and associate members be entitled to a vote in congregational meetings. That members (not associate members) be eligible to be elders or Parish Councillors.
Rev Ernie Trask moved an amendment, which was seconded:
[02.158] That notice of motion 25 be amended by clause (d) being replaced with the words "(d) that Regulation 22 be amended to read 'that the list of associates consists of other persons professing publicly faith in Christ, actively participating in the life of the congregation and who ask to be recognised by the Session or Parish Council as Associate Members"
The amendment was debated.
The amendment was lost.
Leave was granted to withdraw notice of motion [02.169], which had also related to a list of participants in congregational life.
The Rev Steve Jourdain moved a further amendment to notice of motion [02.025], which was seconded:
That the term "associate members" be amended to "associates" in the appropriate clauses of 02.025.
The amendment was debated.
The amendment was lost.
Motion [02.025] clauses a - c were put to the vote en bloc.
These clauses were carried.
Clauses d, e, f, and g. were voted on separately.
All four of these clauses were carried.
(Thus the motion was carried in its entirety.)
These commissioners recorded their dissent to the decision of clause g of motion [02.025]:
Chris Nichol, Sa Si-itia-Asi, Verna Healy, Clare Brockett, Margaret Mayman, Sherri Weinberg, Norman Wilkins, Margaret Anne Low, Caleb Hardie, Alyson Atchison, Richard Gooch, Leilani Warren, Doug Lendrum, Mervyn Aitken, David Clark, James Cunningham, Kerry Stotter, Helen Beaumont, Nehe Dewes, Barbara Curteis, Cunny Aitchison, Ron Mills, Hugh Perry, Rini Gardinier, David Kriel, Mona Riini, Hoki Tawa, Duncan Gillanders, Tom Law, Ken Irwin, Errol Croy, Len Pierce, Catherine Fletcher, Bill Penno, Brian Hardie.
The Assembly adjourned to meet again at 7.00 pm.
The Moderator closed the meeting with prayer.
Michael Thawley, Moderator
Kerry Enright, Clerk
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