From the Moderator
At a meeting recently, someone shared the well-used image of the Church being like a ship, but then went on to say that while the image is true, it is only part of the story. The Church is more like a fleet with a large ship and many smaller boats. As I listened I responded favourably, as it gives a much better analogy of the Church in mission.
Living in Mount Maunganui, I see many large ships calling at our port to pick and unload tonnes of cargo a year. These ships are designed for a specific purpose, to carry huge volumes and face storms on the high seas.
But the Mount doesn’t only have large ships; it has hundreds of smaller craft too. Some are designed for fishing, some for sailing, some for pleasure cruising and some for landing on beaches. These boats are not designed for the high seas.
And so it is with the Church. We have a flag ship - the denomination - called the PCANZ, which is designed to do things that we cannot do on our own. It is designed to carry a ‘cargo’ that each parish can’t carry. It is designed to go places that a parish should not go. But it can’t do all the mission work on its own.
In mission, the local church has a different role to the national denomination. Both are needed and both must complement each other and work together, but we must be careful not to confuse the responsibilities. Neither must we compete or demean the work of the other.
In November, I have been asked to chair a meeting of various parts of our Church involved in property matters, along with some presbytery representatives. This meeting has been initiated by our Press Go Board. We believe an increasing number of congregations will be facing some pretty stark choices around either leaving their buildings or using up precious resources to fix them (on top of all the other costs) as a result of new legislation following the Christchurch earthquake.
We want to find ways through this ‘storm’ so that we can support congregations and presbyteries in keeping the challenges of serving God's mission at the forefront. We want to ensure that the ‘cargo’ – the good news of the Gospel – continues to be transported to impact our communities.
God Bless You,
Ray
From the Assembly Executive Secretary
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
I don’t think we can thank enough, those who have done so much to help organise and run our General Assembly.
With about 400 people, two locations, and some distance from a larger airport, this was perhaps the most complicated Assembly that we have organised.
I share with all those who attended, a real sense of gratitude, for the hospitality and welcome provided by Te Aka Puaho, the teams of people from St John’s in Rotorua and congregations from the Kaimai presbytery.
Welcome, hospitality, sharing food and drink , praying and worshipping , having our hearts, minds and bodies fed – the Gospel stories remind us of how central these experiences and qualities are, as we come together in the unity we find in Christ.
General Assembly evaluation
We have had a terrific response to the Assembly evaluation survey with well over half of those who attended Assembly completing it. If you have not had the opportunity yet please go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GA12Evaluation .The survey provides an opportunity to give feedback on our recent General Assembly which will assist the Business Committee and Moderator-elect, plan for the next Assembly in Auckland in 2014. The survey closes next Friday.
Assembly minutes and matters for consideration by presbyteries and church councils
All Assembly minutes will be posted online, after they have been confirmed by the Council of Assembly, at its 16-17 November meeting. Other matters for consideration will be sent out over the coming months.
Assembly Office changes
The Very Rev Pamela Tankersley has completed her work as Assembly Administrator (and prior to that Global Mission Coordinator) and retires this week from full time ministry. We will celebrate her ministry at a function this Friday 2 November, at 5.30pm, at St John’s Conference Centre (behind St John’s Willis Street) in Wellington. Everyone is welcome to attend.
Heather McKenzie also retires this week from her role as secretary of the Church Property Trustees. She will continue in her role as Complaints Officer and Book of Order secretary and advisor on a contract basis.
Both Pamela and Heather have made significant contributions to our national work, and we pray for God’s rich blessings for them in their retirements from full time work.
Council of Assembly matters
Please send all correspondence for consideration by the forthcoming Council of Assembly to me, by November 8, 2012.
Looking for a newly trained minister?
This month, seven well trained, enthusiastic and committed interns will be available to be called to a ministry. These students bring with them a range of experience, skills and gifts. Several of them have many years of church ministry experience and all draw from a range of backgrounds, which will contribute to the richness of their ministry and leadership. Information about all current interns including those in their final year can be found here.
If you are the convenor of a Ministry Settlement Board and would like more details about the students who are completing their training this year, please contact the Rev Allister Lane who is providing the liaison between interns and ministry settlement boards.
Ministry Development Programme
In order for ministers to retain their Certificate of Good Standing, it is essential that they participate in the Ministry Development Programme and complete their first ministry review by October 2013. Many have already benefited from the review process. A minister will not be in Good Standing if they do not have a review that is less than three years old as at October 2013. This does not apply to retired ministers unless they are in, or plan to return to, some active recognised ministry role. Full details here.
Certificates of Good standing are valid for six years, with a review needed to be undertaken every three years.
Please note that the guidelines have been updated to take account of ministers serving overseas and active ministers who are not currently serving in parish or chaplaincy positions.
Thank you again for your support and prayers.
Martin
Global Mission
The highlight for the past month was the General Assembly in Rotorua, with 16 overseas guests attending, mainly from the Asia-Pacific region. All the international guests were invited to bring greetings to the Assembly on Saturday night. With the pressure of business, time was tight and I was conscious that with so many guests, they would run on well past their allotted half hour. However, all the feedback I got indicates that their input was well received and struck a positive note. I was pleased about that, because I think it is important that we use our Assemblies to highlight the fact that we are part of something much bigger than ourselves, and we can learn a lot from each other.
Imagine if we were just alone, and had no input from any other Church partner. We would become isolated and irrelevant. It is important to maintain and develop our relationships with our global partners. The best moment in these presentations for me was when the ecumenical secretary for the Presbyterian Church in Korea, the Rev Chang-bae Byun, gave our Moderator Ray Coster a fan; and as he unfurled it, he referred to the theme of Assembly, and demonstrated, “This is for fanning the flame”. It was very well done.
The Assembly was short but my time for casual conversation was limited. However, it was good to meet some of the members of the PCANZ who are interested in our Global Mission work. As a result of that, I have one preaching engagement arising out of a contact I made there. I am available to speak and to preach as I travel around the country raising the profile of GM, so please get in touch with me if you would like to follow that up.
Rice Bowl Mission would like to thank all the churches and individuals who recently hosted the Presbyterian Church of Myanmar. Thank you to those who came to hear our friends share about life in Myanmar. Rev Thang, the General Secretary of the PCM, was overwhelmed by the generosity, love and concern New Zealanders have for both Myanmar and the Rice Bowl Mission partnership.
To find out more about the Rice Bowl Mission check out the YouTube link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JogShTJ9gbI and website www.ricebowlmission.org.nz
Phil King
Global Mission Coordinator
Presbyterian Youth Ministry
I was encouraged by the quality of our youth delegates at this year’s General Assembly and a number of them stood up and spoke during discussion. Youth representation at GA, on our major committees and at presbytery level only happens if we encourage it to. I would like you to let PYM know if you are aware of young adults who can serve at these levels, so that we can shoulder tap them. We definitely need more people under-30 taking part in the decision-making processes of our Church. It would be wonderful to have a full quota of youth delegates at GA14.
Registrations for Going Further 2013 are continuing to come in. I received a call from a church this week, saying that is paying their youth worker to go, as part of her professional development. What a fantastic way to invest in her. Their parish council has also agreed to stretch funding to cover three of their year thirteen’s, who are graduating this year.
Spaces are still available so encourage one or two of your young adults to come, and help get them there. We have travel subsidiaries available for those coming from the South Island. Visit http://goingfurther.org.nz/ for more information.
It is good to have Gordon back following a month’s annual leave visiting family in the UK and USA.
Carlton Johnstone
Youth Ministry Development leader
Kids Friendly
Valuing our volunteers
Last weekend I attended a dinner organised by the Manawatu Wanganui Presbytery to thank those who work with children. It was a wonderful gesture for the leaders (mostly volunteers), who impact the lives of so many children and families in their churches and communities. Volunteers are largely responsible for mission within our communities and yet they are often undervalued, unappreciated and undeveloped.
Howard Webb, the chief executive officer of CViC (Churches Volunteering in Communities Trust), says that churches spend most their “professional development” budget on their few paid leaders, while active volunteers are left to get on with their mission with little or no training.
He suggests that the main reason “community-facing ministries” fail (of which many target children and families) is because they are often built around one (or few) person. For example, many of our churches have outstandingly successful mainly music sessions, but are limited in the way they can deepen relationships with those who attend, because their congregation doesn’t see it as a “their” ministry. The potential for pastoral care and attracting new members is therefore overlooked or diminished due to lack of buy-in.
Howard says “the ministry-led model of church is critical for growing disciples and church survival and it depends largely on volunteer leaders who need development”.
The CViC Community Link Training Course, is a two-year development track of six modules for passionate church-based volunteer leaders, to help them make the right start, build a team and develop leaders to succeed them. Leaders can “try before they buy” by enrolling for the next two days of training in Auckland on 16 and 17 November.
“While the training is aimed at volunteers, we do have many pastors and paid workers participating and applying their learning to growing volunteers in their churches,” Howard says.
For more information contact howard@cvic.org.nz or visit www.cvic.org.nz.
And as soon as you have new volunteers (or paid workers) join your children’s ministry teams, please alert us, so we can welcome them to the Kids Friendly Network and encourage and resource them in their ministry.
Jill Kayser
Kids Friendly Coach
Presbyterian Women
"Reviving the Flame" was a perfect theme for this year’s General Assembly and good timing for Presbyterian Women Aotearoa New Zealand to launch our book. We are embarking on a programme built originally by our predecessors and now seeking revitalisation within the organisation. This was the first time our national secretary and I have attended an Assembly and we were impressed with the wonderful welcome at Ohope Marae. We were also able to make new friendships with Presbyterian women from around the country at Assembly. The Right Rev Ray Coster launched "A Braided River of Faith" edited by Judy Bedford which sold like "hot cakes" at GA12. For those who want to purchase a copy, please contact judy.bedford@slingshot.co.nz. It is $20 per copy, or less, for multiple copies.
The same weekend of GA12 was the National Council of Women conference in Dunedin with the theme "Women and Work: No Barriers". It was attended by the deputy national convenor for Presbyterian Women, Liz Miller. If you would like more information about the conference send an email to liz.miller@xtra.co.nz.
We encourage parishes to put forward names of young women who wish to become involved in Presbyterian Women Aotearoa New Zealand. The names should be sent to your local presbyteries by the end of this month. The young women will have the opportunity to become involved in a consultative workshop located near a main city centre throughout the country. Further details can be obtained from Valerie Anderson. We have also recently awarded education scholarships for women pursuing their calling to serve the PCANZ.
Remember Galatians 5:1 - "Serve one another in love".
Jan Harland
National Convenor
Notices
Presbyterian Investment Fund
The Church Property Trustees advise that the interest rate paid on Presbyterian Investment Fund deposits remains at five percent. This rate became effective from 1 February 2012. The Fund is open to parishes, but not to individuals. For further information, email the Trustees’ Executive Officer Kos van Lier.
Glen Innis vacancies
November 26 - December 3 Homestead
January 7 - 14 Cottage
January 14 - 21 Cottage
January 21 - 28 Cottage
Please note that bookings for the January holidays are now open to everyone regardless of whether they have school aged children or not.
United Nations Walk for Women 2012
UN Women Aotearoa New Zealand invites you to walk/run/bike individually or as a group to support development projects for women in the Pacific and progress toward Millennium Development Goal Three –‘To promote gender equality and empower women’. You set the date, the place and the pace. Have a quiet walk with a friend or organise a larger walk to show your solidarity for women in the Pacific with a suggested contribution of $5-$15 per person. To donate or for more information visit the website.
Child Matters Buddy Day
Child Matters began Buddy Day last year with the purpose of raising awareness of the issue of child abuse, so that more people take action to speak up when they believe a child is in danger. This year’s event will take place in Hamilton on 16 November. Child Matters is providing ‘event kits’ for purchase online to allow all New Zealanders to participate in the awareness day this year. For more info visit www.buddyday.org.nz or email Janine@childmatters.org.nz.
CWS invite to clergy and parish advocates
Christian World Service is inviting you to one of 15 regional forums around NZ to promote your congregation’s awareness of CWS’s current ministry with its overseas partners and to make use of CWS’s latest resources, including the Annual Christmas Appeal kit that your parish recently received. Download the flyer for more information.
Alcohol Healthwatch ‘From Harm to Harmony’ symposium
This free two-day symposium focuses on addressing the impacts of alcohol on the lives of women, and the burden of alcohol-related injuries and violence in New Zealand. It will be held from 13-14 Nov 2012, at the Waipuna Conference Centre in Mt Wellington, Auckland. To RSVP please email Suzanne Lopes or call 09 5207036 by 8 Nov, 2012. For more information visit http://www.ahw.org.nz.
International day of prayer for the persecuted church
Today over 100 million Christian believers are suffering for their faith in Jesus Christ. They are threatened, arrested, imprisoned and some are even killed for their faith. This annual event is aimed at encouraging prayer for the persecuted church. For more information visit www.idop.org.nz.
Theological essay competition
An essay competition for theology students and young pastors is asking for a response to the concept of “Paradise” as a source of inspiration for the renewal of global social and economic structures. Theology students or pastors, 35 years of age or younger, are invited to submit essays in English, French, Spanish or German. Deadline for applications is 23 December 2012. Further information about the competition is available on the World Communion of Reformed Churche’s website.
Christian Pro-Life song writing contest
Fifth Voice for Life National Pro-Life Song writing Contest. Auckland, Saturday 24 November. Entries and enquiries donbrebs@xtra.co.nz.
Study Leave Reports needed – now!
Have you undertaken study leave at any time during the past 10 years? Do you have a study leave report languishing on your desk or filed in your study, or almost completed on your computer? If so, NOW is the time to share it with the rest of the Church. Please find it, dust it off, give it last finishing touches if required and send it to us – we will be happy to accept them in whatever format you have them - paper copies or electronic versions. The reports can then be made available online, and will be a wonderful resource for many. We will also be interested to receive copies of relevant dissertations, theses and doctoral research. As is the current procedure, hard copies will continue to be filed with the Presbyterian Archives Research Centre. Study leave reports already filed with the Archives are listed here. The postal address is The Registrar, Knox Centre for Ministry and Leadership, Knox College, Arden Street, Opoho, Dunedin 9010. Email: registrar@knoxcentre.ac.nz
PCANZ Yearbook 2012
The Church’s 2012 Yearbook information has been updated to include recent changes to contact details. Please download for November 2012 here using the username and password emailed to you in March.
CWS Notices
CWS to host WCC Asia Secretary
Christian World Service will be hosting a high-flyer from the Korean Presbyterian Church, who is also the Asia Secretary of the World Council of Churches, the Rev Kim Dong-Sung.
Rev Kim is a high flyer in the global inter-church movement and a specialist in new morally based thinking on economics and global finance. He is part of a strengthening global faith based search for new ways of running the world economy, which emerged after the global financial crisis tipped much of the world into recession and economic uncertainty.
At his reception, Rev Kim will speak about current developments in the WCC and in particular about the statement on alternative global financial and economic architecture, developed at the Global Ecumenical Conference.
The importance of Korean Christian churches to the global ecumenical movement is particularly significant, given that South Korea will host the World Council of Churches Assembly in Busan next year.
While here, Rev Kim will be taken on a tour of Christchurch, to allow him to get a personal look and insight into the impact of the Christchurch earthquakes on the city and churches. He is familiar with earthquakes, as he was involved in the post Japanese earthquake and tsunami recovery efforts. He will also been given a tour of the hard hit eastern suburbs of Christchurch, an area still in need of missional support.
Rev Kim is also in New Zealand for the Anglican Consultative Council and he will be attending the Methodist Church Conference in Wellington.
If you would like to attend Rev Kim’s reception, it will be held at 5.30pm, Thursday 8 November, at the CWS office on 7 Halkett Street, Christchurch. For catering purposes, please RSVP by Tuesday 6 November to cws@cws.org.nz or ring (03) 366 9274.
Church Register
Ordination and Inductions:
Very Rev Peter Cheyne, Member, Southern Presbytery, to Minister (50%), Mornington Presbyterian Church, Southern Presbytery, 15 October 2012.
Rev Hai-Chang Jung, Stated Supply, Ebenezer Presbyterian Church, Northern Presbytery, to Minister, Logos Church, Northern Presbytery, 11 October 2012.
Rev Chang-Ho (Philip) Kang, Stated Supply, God’s Garden Church of Auckland, Northern Presbytery, to Other Recognised Minister, Northern Presbytery, 11 October 2012.
Rev Hail (Hyun Sook) Kim, Stated Supply, New Covenant Presbyterian Church, Northern Presbytery, to Minister, New Covenant Presbyterian Church, Northern Presbytery, 11 October 2012.
Rev Young-soo Kim, Stated Supply, Jesus Love Presbyterian Church, Northern Presbytery, to Minister, Jesus Love Presbyterian Church, Northern Presbytery, 11 October 2012.
Rev Chang-Bum Ko, Stated Supply, New Zealand Good Neighbour Church, Northern Presbytery, to Minister, Good Neighbour Church, Northern Presbytery, 11 October 2012.
Changes in status:
Rev Malcolm Gordon, Minister, Katikati-St Paul’s Presbyterian Church, Kaimai, to Other Recognised Minister, Kaimai, 20 October 2012.
Short-Term Appointments:
Rev Robert Andrew Scott completed his term as Stated Supply at Brockville Community Church, Southern Presbytery, 21 September 2012.
Deaths:
Very Rev Kenape Faleo’ese, Minister Emeritus, Northern Presbytery, died on 28 September 2012.
Rev Donald Knight, Minister Emeritus, Presbytery of Christchurch, died on 19 October 2012.
Sr Rouie Lawrence Mercer, Deaconess, Northern Presbytery, died 24 October 2012.
Parish Register:
Ebenezer Presbyterian Church, Northern Presbytery, changed its name to Logos Church, 11 October 2012.
New Zealand Good Neighbour Church, Northern Presbytery, changed its name to Good Neighbour Church, 11 October 2012.
Events
Check out our listing of national and regional events.
Jobs
Check out our jobs vacancies page and the ministerial vacancies table.