History of Church Office Waits to be Written

Touchstone April 2005

History of Church Office Waits to be Written

By Yvonne Wilkie

It is curious that the Church's national histories give scant acknowledgement, if any, to the many lay men and women who behind the scenes dedicated themselves to the tasks of accountancy, clerical assistance, typing and filing in the central administration of the Presbyterian Church... Or is it?

The authority of the PCANZ in the past lay with the annual General Assembly. In its collective wisdom it formed policy, it authorised decisions, appointed its committee members and conveners, and gave pastoral oversight and approval of the means of ensuring the spiritual well-being of the people. In a 'quasi'- democratic and egalitarian way members of the Presbyterian Church, through their appointed Elders, had an input into the governance that was rarely seen in other institutions.

General Assembly Committees carried considerable weight in the governance structure. Usually convened by an ordained minister with half of the membership from the laity, they could appoint staff if required. From Union in 1901 the Overseas Missions Committee appointed a Secretary who had clerical assistance and later became a large operation. The Home Ministry Committee, later the Ministry Committee, likewise had a secretary, then assistant secretary with a supporting clerical staff. The Youth Committee had not only employees but supported the beginnings of a publishing house, later to become the Presbyterian Bookroom. Over time these Committees gravitated towards Wellington and centred themselves in the Presbyterian Church Office where at one time upwards of 50 people were employed.

The Presbyterian Church General Treasurer & Staff, c.1928

Back Row : (L to R) : unknown; Mr LB Mushet (General Treasurer 1941-55); unknown.

Front Row : Mr VG Chapman(General Treasurer 1928-41); Rev WJ Comrie (General Treasurer 1906-1928); Miss EM Hay.

Two inter-related questions come to mind if a serious history is to be written. What resources are available to a researcher? And can a history of central administration be written in its own right without skewing the inter-relationship and infrastructure that represents New Zealand Presbyterianism?

To explore this history will require looking beyond the obvious documentation. Nowhere in the General Assembly Proceedings or Reports, one of the first places of research, is mention made of the administrative structures, achievements or staff of the central office. The lines of accountability of administrative oversight appear then not to fall under the scrutiny of the General Assembly, at least for the first 100 years of the Church's history in New Zealand . Thereafter a thinly guised accountability can be located but with considerable gaps.

The treasurer's papers and documentation is scant, no wage records have been retained, and discussion documents covering office management if they ever existed are not extant. Occasionally in the Church's paper the "Outlook" a reference to a retirement, or a bereavement of an employee is reported. Ledgers give some insight into the running costs of the Office with the occasional name of a clerical assistant, but any itemised wage record is not available. Some of the Committee papers make reference to supporting staff and office reorganisation. What information there is raises more questions then it appears to provide answers for.

You may wonder then why be bothered about a history? To understand some of the tensions that have existed over the years and particularly in more recent years within Presbyterianism is to understand its administrative function, the development of centralisation, and its relationship to its mission outreach through ministry, presbytery and the total membership.

Over the next couple of issues of " Touchstone" I will unravel some of the lost history relating to the central administration of the Presbyterian Church in New Zealand . From the General Treasurer's Office at 6 Lambton Quay, to 236 Lambton Quay to the purchase and demolition of 114 The Terrace, to the building and sale of Dalmuir House to the present Laughton House, a fascinating tale reveals the clash of what it is to be God's people in the world.

I am keen to make contact with any person who worked in the Church's Office. Please Email the Archives using link on main Home Page.

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