Media Release
14 May 2004
The decision of the Presbyterian Assembly Judicial Commission regarding the appeal from a decision of the Presbytery of Christchurch dissolving the pastoral tie between Rev Fitifiti Luatua and St George’s Iona was made public on May 13 2004. The appeal was dismissed.
The Judicial Commission, comprising four people – two lawyers and two senior ministers – convened in Christchurch on April 19, 2004.
At the hearing, Rev Luatua was represented by his lawyer, Ms Olinda Woodroffe, and the Presbytery by its lawyer, Mr Alister Argyle. A representative of the complainants, a representative of some Samoan members of the congregation and a representative of the Pacific Islanders’ Synod also made submissions.
Ms Woodroffe made 12 challenges to the original report of the Presbytery Commission. The Judicial Commission concluded the Appellant had not established grounds for challenging the recommendation of the original Commission and that the process had been fair to all parties.
The Commission found the relationship between Rev Luatua and key leaders of the parish had broken down to the point that the minsters relationship with the parish should be dissolved.
“The Judicial Commission decision has affirmed the Church process was fair and thorough, and gave Rev Luatua the opportunity to have his views heard and considered,” says Presbyterian Assembly Executive Secretary Rev Kerry Enright. “This decision means that, as Rev Luatua is no longer minister at St Georges Iona, he is now available to be approached by another parish – and the congregation at St Georges Iona will begin to look for another minister.”
Full copies of the reports are available from the Presbyterian Church website:
www.presbyterian.org.nz/2409.0.html
For more information, contact:
Leigh Bredenkamp, general media enquiries – 472 1193; 0274 572 821; leigh(at)metzger.co.nz