The Presbyterian Church has enthusiastically welcomed Pope Francis’s encyclical on the environment which addresses one of the great moral challenges of our time, climate change.
“Climate change is a global problem with grave implications: environmental, social, economic, political and for the distribution of goods,” the papal statement says. “It represents one of the principal challenges facing humanity in our day.”
Last week the Moderator, Rt Rev Andrew Norton, sent his White Paper It's a Matter of Faith to all parishes, presbyteries and Synods.
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In December this year, countries will meet in Paris to establish a new international climate change agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The Government sought submissions on what New Zealand’s target to reduce emissions after 2020 should be.
The fastest growing religion in New Zealand is a religion of no religion.[i]
This does not represent a decline in religion but a transfer of religious affiliation. The new religion of New Zealand is “civic religion”.
Christian World Service has launched an appeal to provide relief supplies in Nepal.
The magnitude 7.8 earthquake has caused widespread damage throughout most of the country. The death toll is around 2,000 people and continues to rise.
Many people are remaining outside as large aftershocks continue. Rural areas were particularly badly hit and it will take some time for a full picture of the damage to emerge.
Christian Conference of Asia has issued a pastoral letter to all it's members, including the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand, inviting us to join in prayer for the people of Nepal who have been devastated by the recent earthquake centred near the country's capital of Kathmandu.
Moderator, the Rt Rev Andrew Norton and Global Mission Co-ordinator, the Rev Phil King are currently in Vanuatu meeting with representatives from the Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu (PCV), offering pastoral support, and having discussions about how the Church can best help in the recovery efforts. Read these "Postcards from Vanuatu" to learn more about the situation in Vanuatu.
I am just letting you know that I'm bursting with pride about being part of the Presbyterian community.
ANZAC Day 1915 is a very special day in our history. It is this day that has shaped us as a nation. It is this day that the stories are told and passed from one generation to the next. It is this day that all agree “must not happen again”, and yet the cycle of history turns and each new generation must grapple with the issues of the present day. Lest we forget!
Last year I visited the Jerusalem memorial for over one million children who died in the Holocaust. Our guide asked, “Why did this happen?”
Have you undertaken study leave at any time during the past 10 years? Do you have a study leave report languishing on your desk or filed in your study or almost completed on your computer? If so, NOW is the time to share it with the rest of the Church. Please find it, dust it off, give it the last finishing touches if required and send it to KCML – we will be happy to accept paper copies or electronic versions.
