Please note that there is no livestream for GA23 as this Assembly is in-person and not online, however, there will be recorded video of daily business shared here as it becomes available. Unlike former years, there will not be a series of GA news emails but instead a daily summary of key decisions as noted by the Business Assembly Work Group during business - uploaded as soon as information to include is available.
Video: Sunday Worship
Note: On our GA23 Sunday 1 Oct page, watch video of the closing Service of the General Assembly, followed by the adjournment of the Assembly, at the Saint Kentigern chapel.
Download the GA23 Sat 30 Sept Daily Summary
Video: Saturday Worship
Watch here the video of Worship led by Rev Erin Pendreigh on the third day of GA business.
GA23 business
The summary of today's business is provided by the Assembly Business Work Group, with additional reporting on Proposal F6. For context, see the recorded video of daily GA business below.
Proposal F2: Church Council quorum (resumed)
Consideration of this proposal had begun at the end of the previous session but was suspended when the Assembly adjourned for the day. This now resumed.
Leave was granted to withdraw the original wording of motion [23.050] to be replaced by amended wording.
[23.050] That the quorum requirement for a church council be eased to allow the absence of a minister in some circumstances.
Rev Stuart Simpson moved, it was seconded and agreed
[23.050] (replacement wording)
That the quorum requirements in the Book of Order be changed so that where a presbytery has an ongoing inability to arrange for a minister to be present at meetings of a church council, the presbytery be authorised to permit the church council to meet without a minister for such period as the presbytery decides.
Rev Dr Kerry Enright, of the Book of Order Advisory Committee moved, it was seconded and agreed
[23.059] That chapter 7 in the Book of Order be amended by adding a new clause 7.16 (9) (with the existing (9) being renumbered (10)) as follows:
Where a presbytery has an ongoing inability to arrange for a minister to be present at meetings of a church council, the presbytery may permit the church council to meet without a minister for such period as the presbytery decide.
Rev Dr Enright moved, it was seconded and agreed
[23.259 a] That the amendment to Book of Order chapter 7 be remitted to presbyteries and church councils under the special legislative procedure.
Rev Dr Enright moved, it was seconded and agreed
[23.259 b] That the amendment to Book of Order chapter 7 be adopted as an interim provision having force until the next General Assembly meets.
Proposal F4: Presbytery Council Convenors
Mr Cunny Atchison, for Northern Presbytery, moved, it was seconded and agreed.
[23.053] That presbyteries be permitted to appoint a person other than the presbytery moderator as convenor of the presbytery council.
Ms Marilyn Wallace moved, it was seconded and agreed
[23.???] That Book of Order Section 8.10, which has the heading of “Officers of presbytery”, be amended by adding (3) A presbytery may elect or appoint a person other than the Moderator as convener of the presbytery council to constitute, preside over, and generally direct the business of its meetings to ensure due order and efficiency.
Proposal F5: Restarting congregations
Rev Dr Stuart Lange moved and it was seconded.
[23.054] That Book of Order Section 5.10 (6) (c) be amended to provide that a presbytery must give consideration to the feasibility of facilitating and possibly helping resource a restart of a worshipping community in that place under the leadership of another congregation within the presbytery.
Assembly engaged in a period of debate. The motion was carried.
Ms Wallace moved, it was seconded and carried.
[23.054 a] That Book of Order Chapter 5.10(6) (c) be amended to read as follows:
“(c) that the congregation should be dissolved. In this case, the presbytery must consider facilitating and resourcing a restart worshipping community in the premises occupied by the dissolved congregation, under the leadership of another congregation within the presbytery. In any event the presbytery must ensure the continued pastoral care of the congregation.”
Ms Wallace moved, it was seconded and agreed.
[23.054 b] That the amendment to Book of Order chapter 5 be remitted to presbyteries and church councils under the special legislative procedure.
Ms Wallace moved, it was seconded and agreed.
[23.054 c] That the amendment to Book of Order chapter 5 be adopted as an interim provision having force until the next General Assembly meets.
Proposal F6: Prayer of Repentance
Very Rev Richard Dawson introduced the proposal that the Assembly adopt and offer to the whole Church to pray a prayer of repentance. Richard began with the disclaimer that he was going to mention an incident from the Church’s past and in no way did he intend to embarrass the person it concerned. He said he hoped that through the prayer of repentance “we can all own our mistake” concerning how this person was treated. He said he thought that many of the problems the Church faces today stem from that time of divisiveness. Richard acknowledged that Assembly would think the proposal “out of the blue”.
The historic incident that Richard referred to dates from 56 years ago and is known as the heresy ‘trial’, when Presbyterian minister and principal of Knox Theological Hall the Rev Dr Lloyd Geering was charged with "doctrinal error" and "disturbing the peace and unity of the church”. What led to these unprecedented charges were his writings on the resurrection of Jesus and the immortality of the soul. The charges made Lloyd and the Presbyterian Church the subject of divisive high profile public debate in NZ. The charges were dismissed at the 1967 General Assembly.
Although Richard did not name Lloyd, and most at Assembly knew who he was referring to, during debate the Rev Dr Fei Taule'ale'ausumai minister of St Andrew’s on the Terrace Wellington, did. Sir Lloyd Geering has long been an active member of her church. She said at 105 he continues to live a peaceful life, and she supported the proposal.
Debate raised questions on what is being repented, why now, why relitigate the past? Richard responded that the principle of repentance doesn’t rely on the distance of time, using the example of the Waitangi Tribunal.
Some doubted that the challenges the Church faces today originate from this historic incident, others expressed concerns that congregations today would have no knowledge of the incident, others said that the wording of the prayer needed to be more general or had concerns that the proposal acknowledged the Church’s complicity in only one historical context.
Rev Reg Weeks proposed an amendment to make the prayer more generalised and this was carried.
After further debate, support was expressed for the proposal as a chance to recognise that as the body of Christ we make mistakes that we regret and in future hope to do better.
Rev Gary Mauga said that if the prayer is to be offered to the entire church “we need to consider languages”.
In his right of reply, Richard said the prayer was offered “to you as a means of opening up a possibility”.
The motion was carried.
Proposal F6: Prayer of Repentance:
Very Rev Richard Dawson moved, it was seconded
[23.055] That Assembly adopt and offer to the whole church to pray a prayer of repentance, as set out in the proposal.
Mr Dawson responded to questions for clarification.
Assembly engaged in a period of debate.
Leave was granted to accept an amendment to the wording of the prayer.
Rev Reg Weeks moved, it was seconded
That the third paragraph of the prayer contained in Proposal F6 (Prayer of Repentance) be amended to read:
“Forgive us as members of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand for any occasion where by word or action we have disregarded the fundamental doctrines of our church which we affirmed at baptism, confirmation and ordination.”
Assembly engaged in a period of debate. The amendment was carried. The motion as amended became the substantive motion, with the full wording being
23.055] That Assembly adopt and offer to the whole Church to pray a prayer of repentance, as set out in the proposal
Loving God, You who know us and love us from eternity,
You who through Jesus Christ have redeemed
us from a life of ignorance and sin,
Hear us now as we bring to you our cry for forgiveness.
Hear us O Lord
And forgive us we pray.
Loving Father, we come to You this day to seek forgiveness for the way we have sometimes used our processes to condemn and belittle each other.
Forgive us for preferring debate over prayer; for choosing sometimes not to listen well to you and to not to love as well as we should those with whom we have disagreed; for trusting more in our own ways than in Yours.
Hear us O Lord
And forgive us we pray.
Lord Jesus Christ, forgive us as a Presbyterian denomination for any suggestion made or implicit in our speech, conduct or confession in the past that Christ did not rise from the dead and appear to His disciples and many others before ascending to be with you.
Forgive us for any encouragement we may have given to others that they should doubt Your work in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus and deliver us from all unbelief we pray.
“Forgive us as members of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand for any occasion where by word or action we have disregarded the fundamental doctrines of our Church which we affirmed at baptism, confirmation and ordination.”
Hear us O Lord
And forgive us we pray.
Creator Spirit, forgive our denomination for trusting first in our own procedures instead of prayer and in using those processes as a substitute for Spirit-led obedience to your Word. Forgive us for rejoicing in the defeat of those we disagree with rather than begin sorrowful at the growing disunity amongst us.
Lead us back to full faith in your Gospel and confident hope in your rising from the dead and help us to encourage one another in the truth of your life and work. Let us bless the world with our believing worship and work.
Hear us O Lord
And forgive us we pray.
Assembly engaged in a period of debate on the motion as amended. The motion was carried.
Proposal F7: Transmitting Proposals to Assembly
Very Rev Peter Cheyne moved, it was seconded.
[23.056] That this General Assembly ask the Book of Order Advisory Committee to reconsider the ability of a presbytery to decline to transmit a proposal from a church council, consulting with interested parties and, depending on the outcome, bring a recommendation to the next General Assembly.
Assembly engaged in a period of debate.
The motion was carried.
Notice of Motion 1: Review of Assembly Costs
Very Rev Peter Cheyne moved, it was seconded and agreed
[23.057] That the Council of Assembly be asked to conduct a review of Assembly costs and format, and find a way to make the cost of sending a commissioner to General Assembly much more affordable for congregations.
In brief…
The Moderator hosted a panel discussion with Mrs Honey Thrupp, Rev Roxy Gahegan and Rev Richard Ward on the theme of ministering in non-standard contexts; Rev Martin Stewart and Rev Phyll Harris gave a presentation on the life of Alpine Presbytery; a video message from the President of the Uniting Church in Australia, Rev Sharon Hollis, was screened; a presentation was given by representatives of the Southern Presbytery; after a video presentation on White Ribbon campaign against domestic violence the PCANZ White Ribbon Ambassador Rev Hana Popea was acknowledged; Ms Hannah North and Rev Gary Mauga thanked to all those who assisted with the running of the Assembly and those present voiced their appreciation.
Video: GA23 business sessions
Watch video of all GA23 Saturday business below.
- Morning session 1 video, watch here - This first morning session of the day has a video from Uniting Church in Australia; Proposal F2: Church Council quorum resumed from yesterday; and a presentation by Alpine Presbytery.
- Morning session 2 video, watch here - This session covers Proposal F4: Presbytery Council Convenors, presented by Mr Cunny Atchison for Northern Presbytery.
- Morning session 3 video, watch here - This session (up until lunchtime) covers Proposal F5: Restarting Congregations, presented by Rev Dr Stuart Lange for Northern Presbytery.
- Afternoon session 4 video, watch here - This session (after lunch) covers Proposal F6: Prayer of Repentance, presented by Very Rev Richard Dawson for Southern Presbytery.
- Afternoon session 5 video, watch here - This session covers Proposal F7: Transmitting Proposals to Assembly presented by Very Rev Peter Cheyne for Southern Presbytery; Southern Presbytery report presented by Rev Anne Thomson and Rev Erin Pendreigh; PCANZ White Ribbon video and acknowledgement; Notice of Motion 1: Review of Assembly Costs presented by Very Rev Peter Cheyne and Rev Dr Stuart Lange; Ms Hannah North and Rev Gary Mauga delivering the comprehensive vote of thanks for all who assisted with GA23.
Moderator meets with Young Adult Commissioners
During a break from GA23 business, the Moderator Right Rev Rose Luxford met with this year's Young Adult Commissioners to discuss their experience of participating in the Assembly. Pictured is Rose in the centre flanked by Presbyterian Church national and regional youth ministry staff and the Young Adult Commissioners.
New stole for Moderator
During GA23, new Moderator Right Rev Rose Luxford has worn a stole that connects her with the last woman to be Moderator of the PCANZ; she has worn a stole made for her by Very Rev Pamela Tankersley. The stunning stole is embroidered with the symbol of Rose’s Moderator theme and with the burning bush of the PCANZ.
Video: PCANZ ministry videos
Ministry videos were played at Assembly today giving a brief overview of the ministries' work and people: Presbyterian Youth Ministry, Presbyterian Children and Families Ministry, Presbyterian Research Centre including Hewitson Library and Archives, PressGo and PCANZ Finance and Operations - watch and share links to the videos below.
Video: PCANZ White Ribbon NZ
Watch the PCANZ White Ribbon NZ video played at GA23 today. it provides a brief overview of the White Ribbon campaign from our PCANZ White Ribbon NZ Ambassador Rev Hana Popea.
Books by Presbyterians on display at GA
In the business hall this year were tables set up with books by Presbyterians. Commissioners could peruse the titles, order copies, and talk to some of the authors. How was this set up? As then Moderator Hamish Galloway wrote in Bush Telegraph (August 2023), "As I have travelled around the Presbyterian Church community over the last two years, I have been interested in, and encouraged by, the number and range of books that have been written by fellow Presbyterians in Aotearoa. Rev Rose Luxford and I think this is something worth recognizing, celebrating and accessing."
Evening event: GA Quiz Night
On Saturday evening Commissioners and Observers gathered in the business hall to test their knowledge and memories in a quiz night hosted by Karo Wilson, Director Presbyterian Children and Families Ministry. Moderator Right Rev Rose Luxford had asked the Church's national ministries team for ideas for something fun and relaxing to do one evening and the Quiz Night was born. Rose says the evening was a lot of fun.
