Chaplain Moves to Overseas Role (16 August 2002)

Media Release 16 August 2002

Rev Andrew Bell, formerly Senior Chaplain at St Kentigern College, has exchanged coaching schoolboy rugby and taking Chapel services for grappling with world issues in his new role as Global Mission Secretary for the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand.

In his new position Mr Bell will have oversight over a wide range of overseas mission tasks for the Church. This includes work on climate change and responding to the AIDS crisis in the Pacific and around the world. Here his experience in the African Church, where he trained, will be directly relevant. "In my time in Africa, I worked directly with those most affected by AIDS. One of the greatest dilemma's I faced was the question of whether we 'waste' expensive educational opportunities on a 5 year old with AIDS," Mr Bell said. Another part of Mr Bell's work will be liasing with churches around the world from England to India to the Pacific.

Mr Bell immigrated to New Zealand in 1996 and worked at St Kentigern from 1998. Mr Bell served the College as Chaplin, Senior Chaplain, and was the first ever chaplain appointed to the Saint Kentigern School. Andrew's contribution to the school was not just in the chaplains role, he coached several champion rugby teams and served the large old boy community through taking weddings and funerals. "I think that my four and a half years at St Kentigern College will be one of the highlights of my ministry for me. It was a time of robust interaction with a broad cross section of people but the highlight was the boys themselves. They were a daily reminder of the energy, colour, vitality and optimism of youth."

Mr Bell will inducted in to his new position as Global Mission Secretary at a service at St David's Presbyterian Church, 70 Khyber Pass Road, Auckland, 22 August, 7.30pm.