Media Releases
Presbyterian Church Embraces its Ethnic Diversity
7 October 2014
In celebration of the increasing number of ethnically diverse congregations in its midst, the Presbyterian Church today declared itself to be a cross-cultural Church.
On Tuesday 7 October the Church’s General Assembly agreed unanimously to adopt a new policy statement that declares the Church to be “a cross-cultural and multicultural Church with a bicultural commitment”.
Presbyterians appoint new national Assembly Executive Secretary
The Rev Wayne Matheson has been appointed as the national Assembly Executive Secretary of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand. The role is the equivalent to a General Manager and will be based in the Church’s national office in Wellington.
Wayne will be inducted into the role at a special service at St John’s in the City Presbyterian Church, Wellington, on Tuesday 21 October at 6.30pm.
Presbyterian Church elects Moderator-designate
The Rev Richard Dawson of Dunedin will be the next leader of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Richard has been elected Moderator Designate and will take up the role of Moderator in late 2016. The result of the election was announced at the Church’s General Assembly 2014 in Auckland on Tuesday 7 October.
Presbyterian Church to consider divestment of fossil fuels
October 2014
At its biennial General Assembly yesterday, the Presbyterian Church agreed by a majority vote to request that the Church’s Property Trustees, who manage the major funds of the Church, divest from fossil fuel investments.
The General Assembly also encouraged all congregations and members of the Church to seriously consider the same action in relation to their own investments.
Presbyterian Church elects new leader
4 October 2014
The Right Rev Andrew Norton is the new Moderator or elected leader of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand. He begins his two year term from 4 October 2014.
Church leader calls for national day to commemorate NZ wars
The Rev Wayne Te Kaawa, Moderator of Te Aka Puaho, has spoken out in support of the call for an annual national day to commemorate the New Zealand Wars. Read more
Church leader supports call for national day to commemorate New Zealand wars
The Moderator of the Māori Synod of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand, the Rev Wayne Te Kaawa, has supported calls by Tainui and Kingitanga leader Tukuroirangi Morgan to have an annual national day to commemorate the New Zealand Wars.
The Moderator says, “This is no longer a Māori versus Pākehā issue as many New Zealanders had members of their family fighting on both sides. Today many Iwi have settled their outstanding claims with the Crown and a national day would also help the country grow in maturity by recognising its past”.
Decade of inspirational children’s leadership celebrated on Children’s Day
Ten years ago, a tireless passion for the value of children led one woman to set about improving the way the Presbyterian Church engaged with children both in churches and in their communities.
A decade on, Jill Kayser has established the Kids Friendly movement, created a national network of more than 600 people who are committed to ministering with children and led countless workshops on fostering faith in school-age children.