In conjunction with the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand, Presbyterian Support Northern is looking for someone with in-depth understanding of the Presbyterian Church to fill an Auckland-based Community Mission Liaison role. This newly created position will support Presbyterian parishes in developing and implementing community mission initiatives. Find more information about current job vacancies.
Church statistics for 2008 are now available. These statistics provide detailed information on membership and finance for Presbyterian parishes and presbyteries. The data is presented as an overall summary and also broken down by presbytery (region). Statistics forms for 2009 are also available for download.
We needed to shift the website to a new software platform, because we were having technical support difficulties with the old platform. This kind of shift is a large undertaking, with every page having to be transferred from the old system to the new; every link re-linked; and every file and image re-uploaded.
This month, Moderator the Right Rev Dr Graham Redding talks of the fine example set by the Very Rev Michael Thawley, whose funeral he attended in June; and of his visit to Presbyterian school Turakina Maori Girls' College.
If you are concerned about the swine flu and about how churches should react, please have a look at this recent issue of our Presbyterian People newsletter, which covers issues churches need to be aware of and how they can use their resources to help their communities.
The Council for World Mission (CWM) Pacific region Churches have criticised the Government's move to take New Zealand's aid emphasis off poverty reduction, and to merge NZAID back into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. CWM Pacific region spokesperson the Rev Martin Baker says the Pacific churches are particularly concerned that the New Zealand Government has changed its primary aid focus from reduction of poverty to economic development.
The Church Directory, which replaces the annual yearbook, is now available. For reasons of privacy, the Directory may only be accessed using a username and password which has been sent out today to parish clerks, presbyteries, synods and others.
Churches have an important role to play in reconciliation initiatives in troubled regions of the world, such as Madagascar, says the Right Rev Dr Graham Redding, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand. Over the past few weeks the Christian Council of Churches of Madagascar has attempted to convene a conference of reconciliation after weeks of violence in the country following a change of government, says Graham.
