Tues 15 Nov 2016
The Right Rev Richard Dawson of Dunedin is the new Moderator or elected leader of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand. He begins his two year term from Tuesday 15 November 2016.
Richard is minister at St Stephens/Leith Valley Presbyterian Church in Dunedin. Born in Dunedin, he studied at the University of Otago. After graduating in 1980 he worked for Youth For Christ and then as a forestry contractor until 1985. He then studied at the Presbyterian Theological Hall completing his training in 1988.
Richard ministered at the South Otago Presbyterian church of Stirling/Kaitangata/ Lovell’s Flat from 1990 until 1999 when he returned to Dunedin to minister at Leith Valley Presbyterian Church.
In 2002 he helped to launch ‘studentsoul’, a ministry to students of the University of Otago and the Otago Polytech which is hosted by Stephens/Leith Valley Presbyterian.
Richard says the theme of his Moderator-ship will be ‘hope’. The theme, he says, means to feel one has a future. Without hope, life loses meaning, momentum and importance.
“We tend to dismiss hope as being less important than love and overlook how important it is to everyone’s living daily life. People lose heart when they can’t see a future worth living.
“We must not feel that God has given up on any of us. If we can return to a hopeful focus on Christ we can do more than simply survive, we can thrive.”
Richard has served the Presbyterian Church as moderator of the Presbyterian Synod of Otago & Southland, as well as on its Council of Assembly and National Assessment Committee, and was convener of the committee which created the Church’s new confession of faith, Kupu Whakapono.
Richard is married to Fran and together they have three children. Over the past 25 years he and Fran have developed together a team ministry.
The Right Rev Richard Dawson will be installed as Moderator at the beginning of the General Assembly 2016, at Knox Presbyterian Church, Dunedin on 15 November. The service involves the transfer of a ceremonial cloak (Te Korowai Tapu) and the laying on of hands by past Moderators.
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