by Michelle Budge

Wanted: person experienced in counselling, event management, public relations, teaching, marketing, fundraising and accounting. Must have sense of humour, the ability to manage several tasks consecutively and be willing to work all hours God sends.

If these were the criteria for a situation vacant, the Very Rev Bruce Hansen has the experience for the job. At 58 years young, he has welcomed in 2002 with his first foray into the job market and along with wife Alison, his first mortgage.

The former Presbyterian Church Moderator and Minister of Knox Church in Christchurch surprised many when he announced in July 2001 his intention to retire at the end of the year.

"After 33 years involvement with parish ministry, 16 years of which I spent at Knox, I felt it was time to move on but didn't really want to leave Christchurch," he explains.

Initially based at a rural parish in Clinton (South Otago) for five years, Bruce then moved to St Andrew's in Hastings before heading to Christchurch and has witnessed many changes during that time.

"Society and the church have changed since I trained 35 years ago, in a way I trained for a different situation," he says.

Access to better transport and the end of a 40-hour working week have impacted on peoples' lives and on the church's role in their lives.

"Sunday used to be a day for church. If you didn't go to church there was nothing else to do. That's not true now, the church has to compete with many things, including people's employment," he says.

"The church no longer has a place in people's lives as of right. People within the church have to create space for it in the wider community. I've said for a long time that that means being outward rather than inward looking, which takes a lot of energy."

Despite these changes, Bruce believes the values the church represents, in particular its spiritual basis, have valuable contributions to make to modern society.

New Role

Bruce's new role is as Director of the Ecumenical Institute of Distance Theological Studies (EIDTS).

The Institute was formed 30 years ago to offer theological studies leading to Licentiate in Theology. It is a co-operative venture between the Anglican , Methodist, Presbyterian and Salvation Army churches and the Churches Education Commission. It has pioneered distance theological education for people in their own communities and also offers residential 'schools' that focus on specific theological themes.

The aim is to equip church members for ministry and mission in their own community. In his new position Bruce will be based in Christchurch and direct a programme open to people of all denominations in locations throughout New Zealand.