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Te Inoi whakamutunga
He āroha te Atua,
whakatōhia mai ki roto ō mātau ngākau,
o mātau hinengaro tou atawhai mē tou ārohanui tonu.
E whakaarahia ana hoki ē ia te hunga ē whakapiko iho ana.
He tika ngā ara katoa ō Ihowa: He atawhai hoki ana mahi katoa.
Ka whakanui ahau ia koe ē Ihowa e Kiingi ō nga Kiingi
te Ariki o ngā Ariki, kia āwhina i ō mātau hoa tata anō ko mātau.
As we are nearing the end of another challenging year for God’s beloved church, we are reminded every time that our Lord is Sovereign and we continue to put our trust in God always.
Council has met a number of times since our last Council News. In our last meeting of the year – by zoom on the 4 December – our agenda covered a wider range of areas. Most of these meetings have seen the Council fully engaged in very important matters related to the Abuse in Care report, more detail on this work is below.
Council warmly welcomed Rev Arona Tusega, Moderator of Pacific Presbytery, as an associate member, and the following Presbyterians as members of our Council whanau: Rob McIntosh (Presbytery Central – Nukuhau Tapu), and Rev Elama Maea (Pacific Presbytery).
Royal Commission
As noted in our communication in November, Council is finalising our Church’s response to the Abuse in Care report recommendations. We were hoping to have this released the first week of December, but we needed a few more iterations in ensuring we get it right and commit to the mahi needed for necessary changes and progress. This task has required substantive work and it’s an area where we need a lot of aroha and awhi.
Council was to explicitly thank the task group it appointed to assist in this process. They have worked brilliantly with dedication and mana. Their wisdom and experience have allowed this mahi to be completed within the timeframe. We place on record our deep appreciation to group convenor Peter McKenzie-Bridle, and members: Dr Michelle Egan-Bitran; Professor Dr Anna High; Dr Jean Mitaera; Rev Mitch Jaram; and Moderator of Te Aka Puahou, Rev Tamiana Thrupp.
Council will have the finalised response to the report recommendations translated into Te Reo Māori and New Zealand Sign Language and this will be released to the Church, and public, before Christmas.
An apology is forthcoming by our Church to survivors, their families and whānau, for abuse, harm, and trauma they experienced, as required by recommendation 3. We cannot rush our apology as it requires the input of our survivors, so we are working to a timeframe that meets their needs for this sensitive process. Our Church - Moderator Rt Rev Rose Luxford, together with the Moderator of Te Aka Puahou and the Moderator of the Pacific Presbytery - will publicly acknowledge and apologise for abuse that occurred in the Church’s care when input from our survivors is complete.
Our apology will be translated into Te Reo Māori and New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL).
Council has endorsed the establishment of a Survivor Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) to advise our Church. During the work of the Royal Commission, it became clear that a Survivor Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) was needed to support our mahi. During a COA meeting in November [Auckland] a survivor who had been in faith-based care shared her story of abuse and spoke of the role she holds as part of a SAGE [as part of the SAGE to the Royal Commission]. After listening, the Council felt the establishment of a SAGE was important for us to have in place. We acknowledged that in order for the Church to fully understand the magnitude of the mahi ahead of us, we need a team of experts (SAGE) to provide the Church with guidance and support on engaging with survivors and their representative organisations. SAGE members need to cover diversity and representations and have valuable skills and experience. Our SAGE focused priorities will firstly be the following:
- Review the draft terms of reference from COA and include survivor voices in the designing of how to best work together.
- Continue to seek survivors who would be willing to sit on the advisory group including Tangata Whenua.
- Understanding and scoping the needs of our public apology:
- Appropriateness of what we will express,
- Where this should take place,
- Who will be best to deliver the apology, etc.
- Leadership safeguarding requirements.
- Child Protection Policy.
- Timeline of actions from recommendations of the Abuse in Care report.
Council knows that this work of responding to the report recommendations sounds challenging for our Church, it is, but we are putting in place what is required so we can fully commit. As followers of Christ, we draw on his guidance, light and hope. The Abuse in Care report shone a light on the experience of survivors, and now we see what was in darkness we know we cannot look away. Let your light shine for all to see.
Audited Accounts
The Audit and Risk Committee reported to Council on the process of preparing and assisting the auditors – Ernest and Young – in the audit this year. Thanks were expressed to the Assembly Office Finance Team for their endless work, to the auditors for their feedback and guidance.
The Audit and Risk Committee independent chair, Michael Lee, noted the financial consolidation process remains a priority as we work with both our auditor and Charities Services in what is a complex space to navigate.
Council approved receiving the audited accounts of the Church for the financial year 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024, and authorised the Convenor and Deputy Convenor of the Council of Assembly to sign the audited accounts on behalf of the General Assembly.
Financial Reporting for first three months of new financial year
Resource Sub Committee (RSC) Convenor Craig Donaldson reported on a very favorable first three months of the financial year. There remains significant pressure on our budget and with decreasing interest rates, and increasing compliance requirements, the need for ongoing careful attention. It is important to give thanks to God for this result to date.
Assembly Assessment review
Council will delay the RSC review of the Assembly Assessment methodology and calculation basis until the Te Kahui Whanaungatanga Work Group (ex-Te Haere Tonu) reports back on the strategic direction of the Church at General Assembly 2025.
Marae
The retaining wall required at the marae has been completed and final invoices received and paid. As Council advised the Church previously, Council underwrote the costs of this work to ensure it could be undertaken and completed. The final payment of $23,000 has been paid. Council expresses its thanks to those individuals, parishes and organisations that made a donation to assist in this work.
PressGo review
The Terms of Reference of PressGo require a review every five years. Council is setting up a group to undertake this and report to Council in May 2025. Should the review recommend matters that Council need to bring to General Assembly, Council will ensure this occurs.
Assembly Executive Secretary
Our AES Rev Wayne Matheson reported on a wide range of issues for Council. These included: his work in relation to Te Aka Puahou; the Moderator and Moderator Designate; leading online ethic workshops; providing support as required for workgroups including the Te Kāhui Whanaungatanga workgroup, and the Nominating Committee.
He also updated Council on the work of the Commission with Assembly powers to deal with such matters as may be submitted to it by the Church Property Trustees under section 5 of the Amendment Act 1914 and to be the Commission under Section 7 of the Presbyterian Church Property Amendment Act [1996] to consider applications under Part 1 of the Act.
Two Assembly staff – Rev Dr Geoff New and Rev Phil King - will be on study leave in the first part of 2025. Cover is already in place.
Wayne also advised Council of his intention to relinquish the role of Assembly Executive Secretary by 31 March 2026, when he turns 65. Council has begun the process to review the current AES job description, noting increased workstreams that will flow on from the recommendations of the Abuse in Care report. Council will seek to make an appointment in this area; in the New Year we will be seeking feedback from presbyteries on the proposed new job description, before finalising and advertising the role. Council will keep you updated on its progress.
Ohope
From 11-13 October, COA invited those who serve as part of our presbytery councils across the motu of the Church to Ohope. We also opened the invitation to have a couple of representations from each presbytery between the ages of 25-35 if not already part of the presbytery council. It was a wonderful turnout of 70 people from across the motu.
This was an opportunity for us to be together to re-tell our story, whose we are, and be one together. To use some of the reflections from the Te Kāhui Whanaungatanga workgroup model: helping us be us and finding times to ‘be’ and not just time to debate.
It was also an opportunity for us to acknowledge the hurt of those who were in the faith-based care with a Dawn Service and the breaking of bread together, and as the sun rises the light of Christ shines through. It was an emotional service, and we are grateful to God for allowing us the space to be together.
On the last day we reflected on our time together, our key highlights, our takeaways and what should we do next. Below is a snapshot of those reflections:
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Highlights Gathering relational not business, reconnecting with people. Peaceful and reconnecting with God. Respect, listening, sitting with people, encouraging life of who we are as a church, hospitality, humbled to have been invited, understanding Te Aka Puahou better and the relationships, seeing the leadership of the Church together as it’s never been done before, hearing the laughter, our diversity, an opportunity in just being together, the lament, being near the ocean, warmth of the community at Ohope, this place allows us to meet differently, ascertaining the future, being together talking, singing and laughing, seeing our place in the Church, Book of Order reaffirmation, first time on the marae, having youth in the room, being invited and welcomed, interviewing Te Aka Puahou people, being upheld, loved and supported, being the body of Christ in the body of Christ (the wharenui). Be bold let’s do this again together. Waiata shared by Honey. Takeaways Ways to reconnect, encouraging diversity, enriched cultural experience as first time on the marae, korero and listening as all together, the culture change of doing things differently, Abuse in Care response and the vulnerability in this space, spirit of unity takes work, Christ is centre of all we do, more Te Reo Maori, imagination and the spirit of God, important informal conversations, richness and beauty in diversity and power in unity, strength and hope in unity, friendships made in the last two days, renewed experience of cloak of the wharenui, friendships building, oneness of Church, checking in on what’s working, notice for others Turāngawaewae, Holy Spirit poured out in abundance. What should we do next? COA and GA should be more like this, putting in the effort to be together, every journey has a beginning and an end, in each season we prepare for the next and don’t be afraid but don’t be arrogant, let our brothers and sisters know that they have a family and are loved and clean up our backyard and move forward together, there is always new growth we need to ensure we make room for it, praying for our leaders, US not THEY, looking at this hui as something we do more often, our relationships brings us together so we can share our stories, sharing this experience with my congregation, work on Tino Rāngatiratanga, keep conversation going at local, regional and national level, more diversity, make GA be like this in terms of connection, gorse metaphor, Journey with God- this season - trust God, let my community know that we are part of the wider Church, power holders can be prickly- let’s not stand in the way of, make room, learn how to be here, relationship - one family, there’s only us let’s do this more often. |
Acknowledgement for those serving on Council and across the motu
We wouldn’t have been able to action and implement some of the work we do in our Church if it wasn’t for the amazing team we have on Council. We thank you for your work you make look effortless; you show up ready to serve, ready to listen, and ready to make decisions. We know at times it hasn’t been easy, especially with the mahi of Abuse in Care, but we commend the spirit in which we cared for this mahi. Thank you for your commitment, dedication, and at times going above and beyond for the Church. A special faafetai (thank you) to the following Council members who hold some of the key portfolios in the Church:
- Our Moderator of GA Rt Rev Rose Luxford, thank you for your grace and the spiritual wisdom you bring to the table.
- Our Moderator of Te Aka Puahou Rev Tamiana Thrupp, thank you for your leadership and willingness to accommodate the needs of the Church especially in whanaungatanga.
- Our Convenor of Resource Sub-committee Craig Donaldson, thank you for making our finances as something to embrace and not fear.
- Our Convenor of Leadership Sub-committee Rev Ryhan Prasad, thank you for looking for ways to always strengthen the training and development of our Church.
- Our Church Property Trustees Chair Andrew Souness, thank you for your willingness to connect with our churches in this way.
- Our Deputy Convenor Rev Roxy Gahegan, thank you for your wise counsel and the encouragement, when even I wanted to give up!
Thank you to Te Aka Puahou (Honey Thrupp), Pacific Presbytery (Rev Arona Tusega and Rev Elama Maea), Asian Council (Rev Micah Tang) and all the presbyteries represented on Council (Marion Sanders, Rev Dr Colin Marshall, Rob McIntosh, Rev Andrew Scott, Mark Heslip, Grant Holland and Rev Peter Dunn - Moderator Designate), I take my hat off to you all. I have no words, but a heartfelt gratitude filled with aroha for all that you do for our PCANZ.
To our Assembly Executive Secretary Rev Wayne Matheson, thank you for the huge role you play in our Church. Your faithfulness and commitment to always go above and beyond for the greater good of God’s people is to be admired. You serve with so much humility, grace. Your passion for the people in making sure we do right by who we are as a Church and as God’s people is unique and to be honoured. We are so proud to have you lead in this way, we honour you, I honour you for the great example that you are. Thank you for championing us in all areas and in the life of the Church. You are truly one in a million, faafetai, faafetai, faafetai tele lava.
My final thank you is to our beloved Church. Thank you for all the prayers that is uplifted on our behalf. We at times feel inadequate but we truly believe that if it wasn’t for your prayers, we wouldn’t have been able to make it through the year. Thank you for reaching out and checking in on us, we really appreciated your time. Thank you for the role you play in the Church, whether it be local, regional, or national, thank you for your servant hearts. It is people like you who allow us to keep going, so from the bottom of my heart I salute you, the Council salutes you, and we thank you for YOU. May you and your family have a blessed Christmas and a prosperous 2025.
Go now and walk in the light of the Lord.
Stay alert for the Lord is near.
Put on the armour of light.
And live openly and honourably.
Pray for peace for all God’s people.
And may God clothe you in the light of Christ;
May Christ Jesus teach you his ways;
And may the Holy Spirit keep you alert and prepared for the coming day of the Lord.
We go in peace to love and serve the Lord, in the name of Christ, Amen.
Mrs Kat Solomona
Convenor
Council of Assembly