Media releases

Presbyterian Church brings new leader, 350 delegates and donations to earthquake-damaged Christchurch

Friday 1 October 2010

The Right Rev Peter Cheyne has been installed as the new Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand, at a ceremony opening General Assembly 2010 in Christchurch.

After the earthquake of 4 September, the Presbyterian Church considered shifting its biennial gathering away from Christchurch. But after months of work, the organisers (from local churches) were keen for the conference to go ahead as planned to show the Church’s solidarity with the people of Christchurch and to bring much-needed business, because the Church has heard the message “Canterbury is open for business”. More than 350 delegates from around the country are attending.

An offering (donation) taken up during Assembly’s service of worship on Sunday 3 October will go to the Canterbury Earthquake Appeal (Mayoral Relief Fund).

Peter became Moderator in a colourful ceremony that involves the laying on of hands by past Moderators, and the transfer of a heavy ceremonial cloak, Te Korowai Tapu.

Peter lives in Gore and has been the minister of Calvin Community Church since 1990. Prior to that he was the minister of St Paul’s, Kaikoura. Peter was an electrical engineer before he trained for the ministry.

The theme chosen by Peter for his two years as Moderator is “making disciple-making disciples”. He says it emphasises the importance of growing in faith and of mentoring others.

Peter is married to Christine and they have three adult daughters.

The Presbyterian Church is the third largest denomination in Aotearoa New Zealand, with more than 400,000 people identifying as Presbyterian in the 2006 Census, and 30,000 regular church attenders.

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Notes to reporter:

Presbyterian Church counting $8 million cost of quake; churches holding services in halls

1 October 2010

The Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand estimates it has sustained close to $8 million in damage to its Christchurch church properties. 28 of the Presbyterian Church’s Canterbury church properties were damaged in the 4 September earthquake and insurers are working with brokers and the churches to process claims.

The historic St Paul's Trinity Pacific Presbyterian Church in Christchurch, damaged by fire in August last year, suffered further damage in the earthquake. The church received a Christchurch City Council Heritage Incentive Grant in June 2009, and celebrated the commencement of its conservation and maintenance programme in April 2010. St Paul's church building restoration is still planned to go ahead.

The new Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand the Right Rev Peter Cheyne says that while the Church is concerned to see so many of its places of worship damaged, these can be rebuilt or replaced and the Church’s main concern is for the people of Christchurch.

“Churches with damaged property are coping by being innovative and holding meetings and services in their halls or joining with churches that have not been damaged. Our concern at this time is for those made homeless, suffering the disruption and stress from the ongoing effects of the earthquake and aftershocks.”

Peter says that during the Sunday 3 October service of the Presbyterian Church’s General Assembly, currently being held in Christchurch, an offering will be taken up to go to the Canterbury Earthquake Appeal (Mayoral Relief Fund). One of the international guests at General Assembly, the Rev Tae-jin Bae from the Presbyterian Church of the Republic of Korea, has brought a US$5000 donation from his Church for the appeal.

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Notes to reporter:

Angela Singer
Senior communications advisor
Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand
027 455 0098

Church to pressure Government on Alcohol Reform Bill

1 October 2010

At its General Assembly, currently being held in Christchurch, the Presbyterian Church urged the Government to implement all of the Law Commission’s recommendations on alcohol law reform, and endorsed the 5+ solution promoted by Alcohol Action NZ.

Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand the Right Rev Peter Cheyne said that, concerned about New Zealand's heavy drinking culture, in late 2009 the Presbyterian Church produced a submission to the Law Commission on New Zealand's liquor laws.

Peter says the Presbyterian Church is not against alcohol; “we are encouraging responsible drinking and saying it’s time to put a stop to the misuse and abuse of alcohol before more lives are lost.”

While acknowledging that the Government has gone some way towards strengthening the alcohol laws, past Presbyterian Church Moderator the Very Rev Dr Graham Redding says much more needs to be done.

"We will continue to encourage the Government to adopt the 5+ solution. We called for these changes in our submission and we will continue to do so once the Alcohol Reform Bill is introduced to Parliament and goes to a select committee for consideration."

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Notes to reporter:

1. Raise alcohol prices
2. Raise the purchase age
3. Reduce alcohol accessiblity
4. Reduce marketing and advertising
5. Increase drink-driving counter measures

Angela Singer
Senior communications advisor
Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand
027 455 0098

Korean Churches gift $47,000 for Christchurch earthquake victims

2 October 2010

Visitors from Korea have gifted $47,000 (US$35,000) to the Presbyterian Church for Christchurch earthquake relief.

The Rev Tae-jin Bae, General Secretary of the Presbyterian Church of the Republic of Korea (PROK), who is in Christchurch as a guest at the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand, yesterday brought a US$5000 donation from his Church, and the Presbyterian Church of Korea (PCK) gifted US$30,000.

The gifts will be presented to the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand on Sunday during its General Assembly (currently being held in Christchurch) and the Church will ensure the money is distributed to those suffering from the effects of the quake.

On Sunday 3 October the offering taken up during General Assembly’s service of worship will go to the Canterbury Earthquake Appeal (Mayoral Relief Fund).

The new Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand, the Right Rev Peter Cheyne, says that the Presbyterian Church is "grateful for this very generous gift from the Korean churches; it will make a real difference".

The Rev Tae-jin Bae of the PROK says that he saw the damage caused by the Christchurch earthquake on our national news and "we were understandably concerned for the people of the city. Our Church decided quickly that I should bring this gift to help".

Christchurch has a strong Korean community. The Christchurch Korean Presbyterian Church is the biggest Korean community in Christchurch; with more than 700 members it is experiencing strong growth. Much of the congregation emigrated to Christchurch from Korea for work or for study. The church recently bought and renovated a warehouse adjacent to its Packe St worship centre. Members of the Christchurch Korean Church will give a musical performance at the Presbyterian Church’s General Assembly in Christchurch at 8.30pm on Saturday 2 October.

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Notes to reporter:

  • General Assembly 2010 is being held at St Andrew’s College, Christchurch, from 30 September to 3 October.
  • The Moderator is the elected leader of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand. General Assembly is the Church’s top decision-making body.
  • A high resolution photo of the Rev Tae-jin Bae, General Secretary of the Presbyterian Church of the Republic of Korea is available on request.

Contacts:

Angela Singer
Senior communications advisor
Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand

027 455 0098 

Pamela Tankersley
Global Mission Coordinator
Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand
027 491 0677

Presbyterian Church elects Moderator Designate

3 October 2010

The Rev Ray Coster of Tauranga will be the next leader of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Ray has been elected Moderator Designate and will take up the role of Moderator in late 2012. The result of the election was announced at General Assembly 2010 in Christchurch on Sunday 3 October.

Ray is the senior pastor of St Andrew’s Presbyterian in Mount Maunganui.

Born in Southland, he studied at the University of Otago and the Presbyterian Theological Hall. After completing his training in 1976, he ministered at Trinity Presbyterian in Timaru until 1985, when he shifted to St Andrew’s.

Ray says he feels strongly called to parish ministry. “Because I know how rewarding, and yet how difficult parish ministry can be, I look for ways to encourage and help others in ministry.”

He is married to Judy and has four adult children.

Ray has previously been on the Council of Assembly and is currently chair of the Press Go Board, which oversees a radical new approach to growing the Church. Press Go distributes funds donated by Presbyterian churches to promising church growth projects.

/ends

Notes to reporter:

  • A high res photo of the Rev Ray Coster is available at: http://www.presbyterian.org.nz/sites/default/files/ga10/ray_coster.jpg
  • The Moderator is the elected leader of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand. The current Moderator (from General Assembly 2010 to General Assembly 2012) is the Right Rev Peter Cheyne of Gore.
  • The Presbyterian Church has 415 churches around New Zealand, with about 30,000 people attending a Presbyterian Church weekly.

 

Media contact:

Amanda Wells
Communications Manager
Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand
027 5353-020