September 2008

News

From the Moderator

Dear friends

I’ve been thinking this month a lot about what it means to be ministering in a Presbyterian setting

Two conferences stimulated my thinking enormously: a Global mission summit, where a bunch of passionate folk who have experienced global mission, asked what we might offer beyond our shores. We considered what being Presbyterian in our NZ context means for us being in mission locally, nationally and internationally. Our Global Mission Team and I will be writing to you soon to give you the outcomes of this summit.

Next I went to the annual Church Schools Conference in Christchurch and met with principals and boards I had previously met with, in their school settings, over the last two years. Dr Mike Grimshaw challenged attendees toj take the best of our reformed tradition and apply it to working with these wonderful young people (who after all make up the biggest youth movement in the Presbyterian Church.) You can read Mike’s article: Seek the Heavenly Things - Or Where and How to Educate my Daughters?: New Zealand, the Enlightenment and the Value of a Presbyterian Education in a Pluralist World. (Dr Mike Grimshaw is Senior Lecturer in Religious Studies at the University of Canterbury).

The Annual Meeting of the Church Schools affirmed their commitment to being part of what I call the “Presbyterian family firm.” They are proud to be part of us.

Following this, I spent a week with the oldies in the game – ministers over 50 years old (and counting for some of us). Kevin Ward from the Knox Centre invited us to see parish ministry as white water rafting, where the only constant is change. We pondered on the lost days of yore and more importantly thought about how we might help our parishes move into a post-traditional era. Daunting and exhilarating, as white water rafting should be.

You will remember I talked about the alleged exploitation of Ni Vanuatu workers in my last article in Bush Telegraph. The outcome of that media release was much more than we had hoped for and has resulted in some injustices being righted. It has been good to make a difference with our input. View the recent TV3 Campbell Live coverage clip of our concerns

The rest of my month was spent in the Waikato, the last of the 22 presbyteries that I have visited as Moderator. While there are strong parishes in the city, I spent much of my time up towards the Coromandel and down into the King Country, meeting folk from small towns and country parishes. Their resources for mission may be less, but they often have greater impact on the local community. Christ-centred community-facing mission is always local and relational and requires partnership with others who seek the community’s well-being. I saw many excellent examples of this. I also attended a service of worship for the second celebration of the Maori King’s coronation at Ngarawahia.

This week I am off to Dhaka, Bangladesh to participate in a consultation of the World Council of Churches and the Christian Conference of Asia on the future of ecumenism in Asia. This will be followed by a meeting of the General Committee of the CCA, of which I am the NZ member. It will again raise for me questions of how we (and Australian churches) with our “Western culture” fit within the Asian church context, and also how our relationships are with Pacific churches. How can we contribute? How can we receive? It’s an ongoing discussion.

Now we head towards General Assembly, I am sure I will see many of your there. Let’s pray that our church will listen to what the Spirit is saying and discern God’s direction for us.

Grace and peace be with you all,
Pamela

Assembly Office update

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

There has been a strong focus on China in our news over the last weeks. On Saturday I watched a captivating documentary called, “Up the Yangtze” that began with a quote from the Chinese teacher Confucius, "By three methods we may learn wisdom: first, by reflection which is noblest; second, by imitation which is easiest; and third, by experience which is the bitterest."

The documentary was on the effect that the Three Gorges Dam will have on the lives of millions who are being displaced through its construction and subsequent flooding. There are a number of extremely poignant scenes in the documentary, but the one that stands out for me is a short scene of an elderly Chinese Christian woman praying alone in her house before a simple cross cut out of tin that is nailed to a rafter. Before praying she covers her head with a small square piece of cloth. Though she is obviously poor, her beautiful prayer is not so much about her situation but for her country and people and those who are hurt and in pain.

Visiting many of our presbyteries I am conscious of how consumed we can be responding to the immediate, practical demands of our situations. This can feed a sense of congregational isolation and parochialism that diminishes the realisation that we have both been blessed by the faithfulness and generosity of those who have gone before, and the challenge to look beyond our immediate situation and make decisions which will bless generations to come. It is a kind of hopelessness that prevents us from investing in our Church’s children and young people. It is a narrowness of vision that fails to see the wonderful unity of our faith, connecting us with the prayer of a poor woman praying for the victims of Chinese industrialisation. The challenges of being “mission focused” or “outward looking” (modern fashionable phrases to some) point us to an affirmation that lies at the heart of our faith: the sovereignty of God as Creator and God’s love for the whole world.

The General Assembly

Thank you to all those commissioners who have already confirmed details of their enrolment for this October’s General Assembly. Those attending GA08 will have registered online and can read the white book reports and other background material. Thanks to our staff, volunteers and local arrangements committee for their continuing hard work.

If you’re not attending GA08, I encourage to register for the daily email updates that we’ll be sending out during Assembly – (link removed)

Moderator-designate

The Nominating Committee has written to presbyteries to confirm that the Rev Peter Cheyne of Calvin Presbyterian Church in Gore has been voted our Moderator-designate. We congratulate Peter and thank those other candidates who had been willing to put their names forward for consideration.

Bringing issues before the General Assembly

The time has now past for any new legislative proposals to be brought before the General Assembly. Late proposals may deal only with matters that arise in the eight weeks prior to the General Assembly. Such late proposals need to reach me on or before 18 September 2008.

Appeals or references from Presbyteries/UDCs or church councils and any other papers from these courts shall be in the form of certified extracts (signed as such) from the records or minutes of the court and be with me on or before 18 September 2008.

Notices of motion received by the Assembly Business Work Group on or before 18 September 2008 will be printed with late reports.

Presbyterian Youth Ministry (PYM)

I have been coordinating a process of consultation and reorganisation of PYM. As part of the refocusing of the strategy and expectations associated with the national Church’s support of ministry with young people, we have needed to bring to an end the two part time North Island positions held by the Rev Steve Millward and the Rev Judy Te Whiu. Both Judy and Steve have made significant contributions in their work and these decisions have not been made easily. Judy has completed her work for us and Steve continues to fulfil his commitments until the end of October. For any more information or if you would like to contribute some thoughts or ideas on the role of the national Church in relation to the provision of youth ministry, please contact me. A report will be written and made available after the conclusion of the consultation process. It seems likely at this stage that a focal point will be the resourcing and encouragement of local congregations to openly welcome and nurture young people.

Working Safe Training Programme

The Working Safe training programme is now free to all parishes. This programme trains one person in your parish to develop a health and safety plan. We’ve made the programme free because we don’t want cost to be a barrier to any parish in undertaking this important work. People are our biggest asset, and it’s important that we do everything possible to keep them safe. If you have any questions, please contact Margaret Fawcett on margaret@presbyterian.org.nz. At some stage over the next two months the providers of this programme will contact your parish requesting that one person be nominated to participate in the web based training programme.

Spanz magazine

Spanz is now available for free to all congregations. This high quality quarterly magazine contains information important for keeping up to date with happenings around our Church. If your congregation would like to receive Spanz, please contact Katrina Graham, Katrina@presbyterian.org.nz or (04) 381-8283

Amorangi Graduation

The graduation of nine students from the Amorangi training programme will take place on Saturday 20 Sept 2008 at Ohope marae. Congratulations to these students and thanks for the work of Wayne Te Kaawa and his team.

Prayers

We pray for those working in preparation for the General Assembly. For Pamela and Graham through this time of transition. We give thanks for the new Amorangi ministers and for the developing strength of this area of leadership in our Church. We give thanks for the work of Steve and Judy and pray for the future of our work with, and ministry to, young people in our Church.

Thank you for your generous support of the work we do together as a Church.
Martin

Finance update

Updated Treasurers Manual

The updated treasurer’s manual has been sent to parish treasurers and posted on the website.

It is the first update in several years and the additions and alterations are noted in the table of contents and summarised in the introduction. As stated in the introduction, the widely differing needs and resources of parishes means this cannot be a definitive document that will answer all queries, but a general guideline. Interaction between parishes and the Assembly Office on finance and employment matters is encouraged and your comments and queries are welcome.

Year End accounts

A draft of the General Assembly accounts to 30 June 2008 has been prepared and is in the process of being audited prior to signing off by the convenors of the Council of Assembly. Detail cannot be released at this stage however the results show a continuation of the positive financial performance and position trends of the past few years. The report will be released to the Church prior to General Assembly in October.

Insurance invoicing

Parishes and schools in the Presbyterian Insurance Group will receive invoices for premiums for the 2008-09 insurance year in the next week or so. The Insurance Group are required to pay the insurance brokers AON in September so prompt payment of the parish invoices is appreciated. Loyalty and prompt payment discounts apply. If you have any insurance queries, please contact Margaret Fawcett, phone 04 801 6000.

Solar panel update - Correction

Thank you to those that pointed out my mistake in the last newsletter regarding the Right House solar panel offer. The offer of 12 panels at a discounted price is enough to generate 1 kilowatt, not 1 megawatt of electricity. It’s a good offer, but not so good you could power a small city. I will provide an update on the offer next month.

Parish Contact Database – Treasurers email list

In an effort to save tree’s FSD wish to commence electronic delivery of the Finance newsletter. If you have not already done so, please advise Katrina Graham in this office of your email address, so we can commence emailing from September. Email Katrina@presbyterian.org.nz

Financial Services Staff

I regretfully accepted the resignation of our accountant, Melania Botar, who has relocated with her family to Australia. Mel has been a popular and valuable team member over the past 18 months and we wish her well. Her workload is to be absorbed by the finance staff, Margaret and Katrina.

Brendan Sweeney
Finance Manager

GA08 News

How to enrol for GA08 online

If your attendance at GA08 has been confirmed by Assembly Office and you have received an enrolment pack, you can now enrol online. (link removed)

Subscribe to GA08 News

If you're not attending, you can sign up to receive an email every evening of GA08, which starts on Thursday 2 October and concludes on Monday 6 October. This daily email will summarise decisions and events, as well as providing links to fuller information. Go to the GA webpage If you'd like to subscribe or find information on GA08.

Global Mission update

With winds of up to 190 kilometres per hour, Cyclone Ivan was one of the biggest storms to hit the island of Madagascar. More than 160,000 were affected in the four districts that bore the brunt.

Did any of you hear about this cyclone, and the damage that it did to Madagascar in July this year? Maybe I am biased because I used to live there, yet underneath my question and this seeming lack of knowledge of the disaster lies something a little sinister: a possible reason why many may not have heard of Cyclone Ivan is because it effected a relatively unknown country, of which the world seems to be saying, “It has little going for it.”

Around the world power games are going on; the media will only report on what raises ratings and powerful countries will choose to only help nations where there are economic or political benefits to be had. There also seems to exist in some quarters of the “Western Church” (I realise that this is often an unhelpful term, which the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand has been lumped into, so I use it as a generalisation) a similar mindset although it might go unrecognised.

An important question that we should ask ourselves as a Church is why we want to help poorer nations? It was interesting to read in Time magazine (18 August 2008) that,: “Over time, sustained food aid creates dependence on handouts and shifts focus away from improving agricultural practices to increase local food supplies.”

The article, written by Alex Perry, said further on, “Western governments are loath to halt programs that create a market for their farm surpluses.”

Is the motivation of the “Western Church” to help others born out of love or because it makes us feel better about ourselves? This cannot be answered simply and of course the pendulum swings from one answer to the other constantly, yet the question still needs to be thought about.

The “Western Church” in the past has created a dependency in other nations, a dependency on our Western theology, our Western technology and our Western currency to name a few. On one hand many of these facets have saved lives and provided possible ways to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Yet, on the other hand this “aid” has also created nations who live with a mindset of, “What do we have to offer?”

Recently I went to Vanuatu and spent some time at the ministry training college. I was impressed with their community lifestyle and the way people treated each other, however when I shared this with them and told them that we could learn from them, they were shocked and said, “How can we help the Church in New Zealand?”

Has the desire to share in God’s mission with our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world become a tool for making us feel superior, making us feel good about ourselves? Does our ability to help financially make us better? Is it all about us and what we can get out of it? Can we be involved in God’s mission by ourselves?

The Global Mission Office is working hard to enable congregations to become involved in God’s mission around the world. We want to help you build and nurture relationships with brothers and sisters in Christ overseas, as they too are involved in God’s mission. In that relationship, that friendship, let us learn from each other, encourage each other and challenge each other.

Some ways for this relationship to be nurtured are:

  • South Africa and Zambia: The Global Mission Office is providing an opportunity for a group of youth leaders to go to Zambia and South Africa in January 2009
  • Vanuatu: Are you interested in Vanuatu? The Global Mission Office can enable your youth group to go to Vanuatu and experience and take part in what the church is doing there.
  • Training in Mission: Run by the Council for World Mission. Ten young adults from around the world. South Africa and India. Fully funded. Applicants for the 2010 programme please apply to the Global Mission Office.
  • Thailand: Are you interested in prison ministry in Thailand? Are you interested in experiencing the ministry of Kathryn McDaniel? A two month stay in Dec and Jan. Partly sponsored by the GMO
  • Global Internship: “My Year at the Global Mission Office was fantastic; I was blown away by how much I learnt.”
  • “My year consisted of working for the GMO two days a week, involvement in St Andrew’s Church in Otahuhu and some study, plus two mission trips.” It can be flexible if a year is too long.
  • New Zealand: Want to host a group from overseas? Why not host a group who will come and share their stories. An opportunity for us as a Church to be hosts, to share our faith and to be encouraged by what is happening in other churches
  • Madagascar: Have you ever wondered about what the real country is like now that you’ve seen the movie? Go and work at Akany Avoko, which is a home for young girls in Antananarivo. When?
  • Early 2010.

Many Blessings
Stuart

Knox Centre for Ministry and Leadership update

Summer School: Christianity & Science

In January of each year the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Otago and the Knox Centre for Ministry and Leadership offer a week-long block course. This is what we have planned for January 2009:

From Monday 26 January to Friday 30 January Professor Ted Davis will teach a paper entitled, “Christianity and Science: Historical and Contemporary Interactions”.

The course will be held at St Columba, Botany Downs, Auckland and will end at 1pm.

As in previous years, the paper is available as a university paper (visit the University of Otago web site) or for “audit” through the Knox Centre for Ministry and Leadership. The fee for auditing the paper is $600. Presbyterian ministers and ordinands may apply to the Knox Centre for a $300 study grant.

Enquiries about auditing the paper, including applications for study grants, should be directed to the registrar at the Knox Centre: Email registrar@knoxcentre.ac.nz Phone 03 473 0783.

Professor Davis describes the course in this way:

”Often conceived of as a battle ground, the history of the interactions of Christianity and science has frequently been a field of fruitful engagement and mutual enrichment. This course surveys the history of Christianity and science, examining a wide range of interactions from the early church until today. Specific examples of interaction will include religion and the rise of modern science, the trial of Galileo, evolution and religious responses to it, and contemporary theology of nature. History of science is the core discipline for lectures, readings, and discussions, but some attention is given to theology and biblical interpretation, especially in the modern period.”

Professor Ted Davis is Professor of the History of Science at Messiah College, Grantham, Pennsylvania, USA. His main research interests are:

  • Christianity and science since 1600
  • The "Scientific Revolution," especially Robert Boyle (1627-1691)
  • Early history of antievolutionism, especially Harry Rimmer (1890-1952)
  • Protestant modernist efforts to control the image of science in America
  • The physical sciences since Copernicus

Further information about Professor Davis is available at: http://home.messiah.edu/~tdavis/.

National Mission update

National Mission office has been working on producing packages of information about trends in cultural areas, such as the changing face of ethnicity in New Zealand. The first of these focuses on Asian peoples in New Zealand.

One of the questions we have only answered in part in this package is how well the Presbyterian Church co-operates and integrates with our Asian partners. How well do we actively work together? We would like to know more about situations in which European and Asian New Zealanders mix together within the Church, or within their communities. We would like to know how multicultural Presbyterian churches are, and what difficulties lie in the path of churches seeking to be multicultural.

Another important question is how well does the Presbyterian Church mesh with the 1.5 generation? This is the generation that was born overseas, came here in their formative years and were schooled here.

In general, we know that ethnic congregations report difficulty in holding the 1.5 generation to a spiritual/Christian way of life. Similar questions exist with the second generation, those born here who speak mostly English or only English. Often it is only in the third generation that there is a return to the ethnic congregation, as people seek the community identity and celebration of their own culture. 

These are areas we would like to be able to report on more effectively, and in the next couple of months, we will be sending out short questionnaires to parishes. In these we will ask similar questions to the ones above in an effort to gain a greater insight into the varied ways in which these issues are being dealt with around the country. We will be focusing not just on the Asian people of New Zealand, but on those of Pacific Island origin as well.

Our Asian package gives a good deal of information about the way New Zealand society is changing, about the increases in the various Asian ethnic groups, about some misconceptions regarding Asians in New Zealand, and about interaction between European and Asian New Zealanders.

We want to be able to go further than this, to hear stories about the way the Presbyterian Church is aiding mission amongst the different people groups who now call themselves New Zealanders. If you are aware of any other background studies or information within the Presbyterian Church on these topics, please advise the National Mission Office at jckd@maxnet.co.nz, or phone (03) 4777 948.

Youth Ministry update

What does it mean to truly belong to a church family?

A 13 year old girl who had lost her mother to cancer four years ago recently lost her father to the same disease. His funeral was on a Thursday and on the Friday, much to everyone’s amazement, she turned up at youth group. It wasn’t for the exciting programme planned for that night or the loud music, good food and fun games; she came because she belonged to a bigger family than the one she had just lost. She truly belonged.

Similarly in my own youth ministry in Gore we tragically lost one of our core young men in a motorcycle accident earlier this year. As you can imagine it was a tragedy too intense for words, it shocked our church, our school and our small community. At his funeral the young people attending not only heard about his faith in God but they also saw it, they saw a community of people that loved and cared for him and were immensely affected by his death; his church family.

Since then we have experienced growth in our youth ministry. His grieving friends and school mates saw that he belonged to something bigger than family, school and sport, they saw that he had something more in his life. He belonged. Some of those young people have come to faith through this, but what brought them to us in the first place was their desire to be loved and cared for; the desire and need to belong.

It’s awfully depressing to be writing about so much death, but the point I am trying to make is that young people are trying to work out where they fit and where they belong. The increase in gang affiliation by young people throughout the country is a negative example. The challenge for youth ministries and churches around the country is not to run the best and flashest programmes with the loudest music, brightest lights and best food. It’s about creating an environment where young people “fit” and feel like they belong. What are you doing in your church and youth ministries to create such an environment? What a challenge!

I promise to use cheerier examples next time
Bless you,
Steph Redhead

Noticeboard

40th anniversary of the Uniting Church in Papua New Guinea DVD available

In conjunction with the Pipel exhibition, Uniting International Mission is releasing a DVD to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Uniting Church in Papua New Guinea. Available for a suggested $5 donation to Uniting International Mission. To order please contact Amy on amyg@nat.uca.org.au or for more information visit http://www.uim.uca.org.au/uim/welcome

The Introduction Workgroup

The Introduction Workgroup seeks further church / parish profiles for the exiting ordinands from the Knox Centre of Leadership and Ministry.

Please consider an ordinand for your vacancy.

Although this will be their first fulltime post, they bring life-skills from previous employment, church experience and fresh ideas and knowledge gained from their training that could be beneficial to your setting.

Please contact: Amanda Guy, IWG Convener, 4 Mount Street, Wakari, Dunedin.
Ph: (03) 476 6559 or email amanda.guy@healthotago.co.nz

Hospital Chaplaincy Week 22 to 28 September 2008

The third national Hospital Chaplaincy Week to raise the profile of, and funding for, Hospital Chaplaincy in NZ will be held this month.

This year Hospital Chaplaincy Week will conclude with an ecumenical service of thanksgiving for the Hospital Chaplaincy Service, to be held at St Mary’s Parnell, next to Holy Trinity Anglican Cathedral, in Auckland, at 2pm on Sunday 28 September.

Representatives of the nine ICHC partner denominations will take part in the service and the address will be given by the Rt Rev John Paterson, Anglican Bishop of Auckland. An invitation is extended to all those who may be in Auckland on that day, to come and join in this occasion.

For further information on Hospital Chaplaincy Week, and on the work of Hospital Chaplains, visit www.ichc.org.nz or phone ICHC on (04) 801 8008 or (04) 381 3496

APW Study Grant

APW is pleased to offer a grant, to help with course costs, to women in our Church seeking Christian training in 2009.
Application Forms may be obtained from:
Jill Little, National Secretary, APW, PO Box 489, Feilding.
or Phone: 06 323 -8218 or Email jlittleapw@orcon.net.nz
Applications close on 30th September 2008

L’Arche community Paraparaumu seeks assistants

L’Arche is an interfaith community for people both with and without learning disabilities. L’Arche seeks young people who would be interested in living and working in this deeply spiritual community, assisting its four core members short or long term. Each assistant will be assigned an accompanier to provide support to them in their new role.

Those interested in becoming a L’Arche assistant please contact assistants coordinator Genevieve O'Neil at genevieveoneill@larche.org.nz or Marg Schrader at margschrader@clear.net.nz

Knox Centre for Ministry and Leadership Ministry Study Grants

Are you a Presbyterian minister planning on further study? Do you know that you can apply for a study grant from the School of Ministry?

Applications are invited in March and September each year for post-ordination study grants for ministers in good standing of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand. These grants are made possible through the generosity of the Mary Ann Morrison and M S Robert­son estates and are administered by the Senatus of the Knox Centre for Ministry and Leadership.

What are the rules?

  1. The proposed course of study will aid the applicant's professional development.
  2. There is a potential benefit to the Church and the probability of significant service to the Church.
  3. Parish and presbytery approval has been obtained for the study, where appropriate.

In normal circumstances grants do not exceed one-third of the study costs involved and may be held in conjunction with other scholarships and grants other than the Postgraduate Scholarship. Grants are not made retrospectively and relate only to costs to be incurred by the scholarship holder themselves.

How do I apply?

Applicants are asked to address the criteria and set out their expected costs including con­ference fees, tuition fees, basic accommodation and travel, and to supply any other informa­tion that may be relevant.

Enquiries to:

The Registrar, Knox Centre for Ministry & Leadership, Knox College, Arden Street Opoho, Dunedin. Email registrar@knoxcentre.ac.nz
Due date: 30th September 2008.

CWS notices

www.cws.org.nz

Don’t forget Father’s Day...

Want something different for your father this Father’s Day. Want a gift that really keeps on giving? Check out the CWS Just Gifts Father’s Day specials.

Thirst quencher $25: Clean water is a lifesaver. Shout your father a year’s supply of water in Uganda. It may not be his favourite tipple, but it will help a household of 6 to better health. By contributing to a rainwater harvesting tank, you ensure a family gets safe water, improved sanitation and no longer walk miles for this essential of life.

No 8 wire special $35: Give your father a stake in fencing an agriculture training plot. Fence posts, a great Kiwi icon, can make the difference between food and hunger in Sudan. New fencing will keep animals out, protect workers from attack, and ensure food is produced for participants of the training programme. The skills people learn will be taken back to their own communities to feed even more people!

Other gift ideas at http://www.cws.org.nz/what-can-i-do/donate/just-gifts including goats and mangroves! Phone 0800 74 73 72 to order.

Darfur Appeal

We urge you to support this appeal and pray for the people suffering in Darfur. The humanitarian situation in Darfur, western Sudan, is one of the most desperate in the world. 2.5 million people have been forced from their homes. They are living in displaced persons camps, dependent on international aid for their survival. Without it, 1,000 people could die every month. CWS has prepared a range of resources and also has some compelling images. In Christchurch, the cathedral hosted a stunning photographic exhibition showing the reality of day-to-day life in the camps. These images, 1.5 m high and 0.6 m wide, are available for display in other centres. Please contact the CWS office if you are interested in displaying them. cws@cws.org.nz or phone 0800 74 73 72.

CWS seeking new National Director

Jonathan Fletcher has announced his resignation from CWS after serving nearly 5 years as National Director, deciding to move on for family reasons. CWS is now recruiting for this full time position based in Christchurch. The successful applicant will work with others to set the overall direction of CWS. They will lead a staff team of 16 and be responsible for the overall work programme and financial management of the organisation. This challenging position requires close working relationships with churches, government, the development sector and ecumenical networks at the national and global level. The successful applicant must be able to promote the ethos of CWS and will have significant experience in the areas of international development, management and finance. Contact CWS for a job description and conditions of employment. Telephone: 03 366 9274 or e-mail mandla-akhe@cws.org.nz Applications close on 28th September 2008.

Day of Prayer for Peace

September 21 is the UN’s International Day of Peace. Churches and communities throughout the world will observe the day with prayer, meditation and other forms of spiritual observance. The World Council of Churches has prepared prayer and liturgical resources. See www.oikoumene.org for materials.

Resources

Hewitson Library latest acquisitions

Click here to see the new acquisitions list for June 2008.

Church Register

Church Register Changes for Bush Telegraph as at 20 August 2008

Licensing:

Ordination and Inductions:

  • Rev Jonathan Ryan, Licentiate, Wellington Presbytery, to Minister (stated supply) Highgate Presbyterian Parish, Dunedin, Dunedin Presbytery, 28 July 2007.
  • Rev Anne Thomson, Licentiate, Dunedin Presbytery to Minister (stated supply) First Church of Otago, Dunedin, Dunedin Presbytery, 13 July 2008.
  • Rev Jonathan Parkes, Other Recognised Minister, Bay of Plenty Presbytery, to Minister, St David’s Presbyterian Church, Richmond, Nelson-Marlborough Presbytery, 12 February 2008.
  • Rev Ross Scott, Other Recognised Minister, Wellington Presbytery, to Ecumenical Chaplain Wellington and Wakefield Hospitals, Wellington Presbytery, 20 April 2008.
  • Rev Nancy Jean Whitehead, Minister (Methodist appointment) Morrisonville Methodist Church, Waikato Presbytery, to Minister, Hurunui Combined Parishes of Cheviot, Kowai and Waikari Presbyterian Churches. Christchurch Presbytery, 21 August, 2008.
  • Rev Vosalevu Finai, Licentiate, Auckland Presbytery, to Chaplain Middlemore Hospital, South Auckland Presbytery, 11 May 2008.
  • Rev Messina Roberts, Licentiate, Te Aka Puaho, to Amorangi, Whakatane Maori Pastorate, Te Aka Puaho, 18 March 2007.
  • Rev Tukua Tuwairua, Licentiate, Te Aka Puaho, to Amorangi, Whakatane Maori Pastorate, Te Aka Puaho, 5 May 2007.

Changes in Status:

  • Rev Chris Konings, Minister (stated supply) Mosgiel-North Taieri Presbyterian Parish, Dunedin Presbytery to Other Recognised Minister Dunedin Presbytery, 7 August 2008.
  • Rev Tino Scanlan, Minister, St Paul’s Manurewa, South Auckland Presbytery, to Other Recognised Minister, South Auckland Presbytery, 24 August 2008.
  • Rev Rintje Westra, Minister St Aidan’s Presbyterian Church Northcote, North Shore, to Other Recognised Minister, North Shore Presbytery, 2 June 2008.

Transfers:

  • Rev Dr Alan Kerr, Minister Emeritus Mataura Presbytery, to Minister Emeritus, Dunedin Presbytery, 29 July 2008.

Changes in Co-Operative Venture Ministries:

  • Rev Paul Eden, Baptist Church, to Minister Ellesmere Co-operating Parish, Christchurch Presbytery, 18 March 2008. This charge is under Methodist oversight (incorrectly stated as Presbyterian last month).
  • Rev Peter Norman, Methodist Church, to Minister, Motueka Uniting Parish, Nelson-Marlborough Presbytery, 31 January 2008.

Retirements:

  • Rev Elizabeth Clark, Minister Motueka Uniting Parish, Nelson-Marlborough Presbytery, to
  • Minister Emerita, Nelson-Marlborough Presbytery, 6 January 2008.
  • Rev Ian Haszard, Minister, St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Stoke, Nelson-Marlborough Presbytery, to Minister Emeritus, Nelson-Marlborough Presbytery, 28 September 2008.
  • Rev Arthur Barnfather, Minister St Paul’s Kaikoura, Nelson-Marlborough Presbytery to Minister Emeritus, Nelson-Marlborough Presbytery, 27 July 2008.

Deaths:

  • Sister Maisie Queale QSO, Deaconess, North Otago Presbytery, died 22 July 2008.

Ministerial vacancies

Visit the Ministerial Vacancies page for a complete list of the latest regional vacancies in New Zealand.

General Vacancies

For the latest job vacancies, visit the Job Vacancies page.

Vacancies closing soon:

  • Ecumenical Hospital Chaplain - Nelson-Marlborough DHB
  • Ecumenical Hospital Chaplain Hawke’s Bay Regional Hospital
  • Ecumenical Hospital Chaplain Waikato Hospital, Waikato DHB
  • Prison Chaplaincy Service of Aotearoa New Zealand

Events

Visit the Events page for upcoming events near you

September Events

  • South Island Regional Association of Presbyterian Women Conference
  • 125th Anniversary Celebration, Church of Suva, Fiji