[Council News is prepared by the Council of Assembly (CoA) after Council meetings. Everyone can sign up to receive Council News here.]
Welcome to our second Council News for 2024.
Our last two meetings in May and June were online. There is much deep reflection and discernment as we progress some decisions, a time when we lean on our own understanding and our own wisdom.
Our AES Rev Wayne Matheson reminded us during our time of devotion of the word trust [Proverbs 3:5-6]. Trust sounds so simple but how is it really working in our lives? To trust is to believe in the reliability and truth of something and so when we apply to God trusting in God’s reliability, God’s Word, God’s strength, might it be that to trust means the recognition that we are not in control? It is not about us? Therefore, why is trusting God such a difficult thing for us? After all, it is God – God who says do not be anxious; God who promises to be with us at all times and in all places; God who says I love you all; God who promises never to leave us; God who promises that we might have life in all its fullness. So, if we have difficulty trusting God, how much more do we experience difficulty trusting others. In a book titled, The Thin Book of Trust* the author notes four components of trust:
- Sincerity – do you act out your stated values?
- Reliability – do you follow through on your commitments?
- Competence – are you capable of doing the things you say you’ll do, and do you do them well?
- Care – do you have others’ self-interest in mind alongside your own when you make decisions?
Reflecting on trust has allowed us to anchor our thoughts and our hearts on trusting God as we navigate our way through some tough decisions as your Council.
* Charles Feltman (Author), Sue Annis Hammond (Ed). The Thin Book of Trust; An Essential Primer for Building Trust at Work Paperback (2008, Thin Book Publishing).
COA culture
We continue to remind ourselves of the importance of working together in unity, building stronger relationships with each other, be more permission-giving, showing more manaakitanga, and creating a space where we value each other’s wisdom. We will continue this journey of building our COA culture and keeping ourselves accountable by:
• Listening – Are you listening to understand or are you listening to hear.
• Speaking - Are you speaking to be understood or are you speaking to be heard.
Key decisions we want to highlight and be transparent about
Budget
Assembly Assessment will increase by 4.0% in 2024/25 in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase for the year to 31 March 2024. Any increase to Assembly Assessment is reviewed and approved annually by Council of Assembly. A recently prepared document, A snapshot of where your Assembly Assessment goes can be found here.
This year we are responding to various factors impacting the Assembly Office including inflationary pressures on costs and increased costs of compliance. Council resisted the pressure for a greater increase in AA recognising the financial pressures that are also impacting local churches at this time.
Furthermore, an important part of our stewardship and care of the Church’s resources is to ensure that we do not run an operating deficit, and that we invest and protect our reserves for the present and future. Any funding shortfalls come out of these reserves.
With that said, we are also looking at and will be exploring ways to seek to reduce costs to church councils. For example, the need to investigate alternative income streams, especially for the Presbyterian Research Centre (PRC) and KCML.
A review of Assembly Assessment will take place during the remainder of 2024 and be reported in due course. Council is also concerned with the pressure of increased costs and notes the closing of churches means there are fewer to contribute to AA. We need to look for other ways to fund national services and be realistic about services that can be provided. This work will be led by the Resource Sub-Committee and supported by the Council of Assembly
Mission Enterprise Fund (MEF)
We communicated with you in our last CoA News regarding this area, and also in a joint communication from Council and The Church Property Trustees which was sent to the wider Church. Council proposes to consult widely and review the Fund and will determine if any recommendations are required to come to General Assembly in 2025.
Celebrating our key highlights
It is the custom of Council that after we receive a report from a person or a group, that we pause and pray. It allows us to appreciate the mahi and is an important part of honouring, supporting, modelling, and living out the values by which we say we live and express our thanks to God for the on-going work of our life together.
Moderator update: key highlights
(Moderator Right Rev Rose Luxford)
- Our Moderator outlined her travel around New Zealand, and particularly attending the opening of the new Assembly Office. She also informed Council of her upcoming trip to South Africa for the Council for World Mission 2024 Assembly.
Leadership Sub-Committee update: key highlights
(Convenor Rev Ryhan Prasad)
- Great to hear of the mahi happening within the Leadership Sub-Committee with the revised terms of reference for the Personnel Work Group and the draft LSC handbook.
- Special appreciation of Kate Wilson’s assistance in the production of the LSC new handbook
Resource Sub-committee update: key highlights
(Craig Donaldson)
- Resource Sub-Committee noted that the Church was continuing to see an improved financial result. The RSC report included a detailed Profit and Loss account to date, and related information.
- RSC also reported that Ernst & Young had undertaken an interim audit of the ‘parent’ PCANZ accounts, with no significant issues identified.
- There was, however, a practical difficulty from an audit perspective, arising from consolidation of accounts nationally. Further work on this is being undertaken and an exploration of options available.
- RSC also tabled a paper issued by IRD on charities and business tax, which signalled potential tax implications for many congregations. Advice will be obtained so that we can consider the impact of this.
- RSC reported an improved financial position after nine months of financial year against budget, due to increased revenue (higher interest rates and bequest) and expenditure down against budget.
Note: Read more about Craig’s journey below .
Conflict of Interest
- As a Church it is important that we have checks and balances in place for all our committees including CoA.
- The AES reported on the establishment of the standard conflict of interest register, and how updating of information would be managed.
- The AES noted that committees are to maintain their own registers.
- The AES clarified that the Council would request updated registers from national committees each November, though committees will be expected to advise significant changes as they occur.
- We encourage you to utilise our standard conflict of interest register and to keep ourselves accountable to our mahi in all ways.
Feedback on our CoA News
- Thank you to those who enjoy reading our updates.
- Thank you also to those who have provided us with some feedback on some areas we shared in our news.
- We will endeavour to do better when we bring you our CoA news.
Task Group to review Assembly Cost and format
We shared in our last news the below task group so we thought we would share again their terms of reference, so you understand why this group exists. We may be able to get an update from them for our next CoA News.
Task Group to review Assembly costs and format. Their Terms of Reference are:
- Consider the primary purpose and function of General Assembly as currently described in the Book of Order 14.2.
- Consider how Assembly might best function to fulfil the requirement to;
(a) to worship God,
(b) to facilitate and resource the life, worship, and spiritual nurture of the Church.
- Consider models and format for the Assembly to fulfil its judicial capacity; to act in an administrative capacity and to act as the legislative body of the Church.
- Consider the frequency, time, locations of Assembly – including but not limited to physical locations that enable easy travel; impact of carbon emissions on frequency and size of gathering; to meeting in person; meeting electronically; a hybrid of in-person and electronically.
- Consider the current participation model – including issues of ethnic diversity and age of commissioners; how presbyteries communicate about their commissioner selection process.
- Consider the costs and resource efficiency of the current model and consider other options.
- Consider funding options – including but not limited to an additional charge to Assembly Assessment so all churches make a financial contribution to the costs of Assembly; presbyteries including a charge in their levy to each church to assist in ensuring funding is not a prohibitor for those they commission to attend General Assembly and use those funds to assist in sending commissioners.
- Consider the decision-making processes of the Assembly.
- Consider the expectation and processes of reporting.
- Consider the process for bringing proposals and the time Assembly spends on these.
- In its considerations - consult widely – and include in that the Te Kāhui Whanaungatanga (formerly Te Haere Tonu) work group.
- Take advice as required from but not limited to: the Book or Order Advisory Committee; the Assembly Business Work Group; the clerk of the Assembly.
The Task Group will be engaging and listening to ideas, feedback, and reporting to Assembly in 2025.
The co-convenors of this group are Mrs Abi Trevathan and Rev Andrew Howley.
Hui at Ohope
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Invitations have gone out to presbytery councils, and Assembly committees etc for an opportunity for us to gather to re-tell our story, whose we are – that we are God’s - and be one together.
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Thank you to Te Kāhui Whanaungatanga workgroup for allowing us to use some of their reflections to frame our purpose for the weekend – helping us be us and finding time to ‘be’ and not just time to debate.
A journey of faith, language and service: Presbyterian Minister receives Order New Zealand Merit (ONZM)
The Very Reverend Taimoanaifakaofo Kaio has been recognised in the King’s Birthday honours for services to the Pacific community.
We passed on our warmest and sincere congratulations to The Very Reverend Fakaofo Kaio on being awarded the ONZM in the King’s Birthday Honours. We honour you, your deep faith, and the outworking of that in all you do. This is a very fitting recognition of a lifetime of service to Pacific people in general but to the wider community of which you are a part.
You minister from a big heart and walk with people and serve them as Jesus would. The Church recognised this in electing you as our Moderator, and the wider community also recognised this with this honour. We rejoice and celebrate with you, your good lady Ruth, and the family.
May God continue to be your strength and guide and may you continue to serve with dedication and passion. The Council congratulates you and well done oh faithful servant.
You can read more here on the Radio New Zealand website.
Our new National Office location
The official blessing and opening of the Assembly and The Church Property Trustees office in Wellington was held on Tuesday 4 June, led by Moderator Rose and Moderator Tamiana.
Council would like to acknowledge all the staff who have gone the extra mile and put in additional time to assist in this move. We want to especially acknowledge the role Tracy Setters from the Trustees staff who did an outstanding job in leading the ‘move team’ giving countless hours and dedication to this task; one word that describes this – outstanding.
Thank you to our RSC Convener Craig Donaldson who encouraged the team in their exploration of the space, and helped with the cost-benefit analysis; the Trustees who provided expert advice; the Property Commission who warmly endorsed the purchase, and all those who provided legal advice to guide the process, and those who helped design, fitout and upgrade the space to be a work environment the staff can enjoy every day. Wonderful mahi tahi.
If you get a chance pop in for a visit and a cuppa – Level 4 of Orbit House, 94 Dixon Street, Wellington.
Introducing the Convener Resource Sub-Committee
As part of getting to know your Council of Assembly, we thought it important you get to know us on a personal level. This is the beginning of our series of ‘getting to know your Council of Assembly members’. Let us introduce you to Craig Donaldson.
1. If people were to ask, “Who is Craig Donaldson?”, what would you reply?
I would say a people person who enjoys serving the Lord in whatever role – be it family, church, or as an accountant.
2. How many in your family and what was the family order and dynamic?
I am married to Sharon and have four wonderful girls. The girls are now working or at tertiary education in Christchurch and Dunedin. Sharon and I are actively serving Windsor Community Church (Presbyterian) in various roles and homegroups. I am from a family of seven – five children, of which I’m the middle child. I am the 10-minute younger twin.
3. What is your favourite memory of your childhood?
Lots of great family holiday memories, the advantage of having schoolteachers as parents. We would go often to Dunedin to stay with my Gran and catch up with all my parents’ families, who all lived in Dunedin.
4. Tell us a bit about your role on RSC?
RSC looks at counselling the PCANZ in terms of ensuring its income and expenses balance with a view to grow so that the future generations in the Church have the resources they also need to disciple future generations.
5. What is it like to sit at the CoA table?
The CoA reminds me that despite being a broad Church that we have some really good talented people who are willing to serve and take responsibility.
6. What would your advice be for someone who is looking at joining one of the Church committees?
We all have been given talents by the Lord – don’t hide that light under a bushel, you are needed to make things happen. You may actually enjoy it!
7. How do you balance these committees, your church commitments, as well as your job as an accountant?
That is a constant battle though I have some people I am accountable to and can share with. I am also reminded of Oscar Wilde’s quote, “Everything in moderation - including moderation”.
8. Why is money important from a church perspective and why Xero?
We have to be good stewards of the earth – it says ‘The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it’ – and we have responsibilities to look after that that which belongs to God. Money is also a resource we need to be good stewards off. Someone in the IRS was quoted once as saying “The problem is that they think it’s their money”. Money is the Lord’s and its important it is treated well and grown so it doesn’t lose value over time. Xero as a package has been adopted as a package that as a church as many parishes can use then consolidation becomes easier.
9. If you were to have someone over for dinner, who would it be and why?
Sir Michael Jones. He gave a great example by putting his faith and beliefs above the status of the All Blacks. It was a big thing at the time.
10. With what you know now what would you say to your 20-year-old self?
Invest your time in His Word, faithful friends, and family
Until our next update, may you always know God’s peace.
“‘Ia e fa‘atuatua i le ALI‘I ma lou loto ‘atoa; ‘ae ‘aua le fa‘alagolago i lou lava atamai. ‘Ia e manatua o ia i ou ala uma, ‘ona fa‘atonuina ai lea e ia lava ou ala.” Proverbs 3:5-6
Yours in Christ
Mrs Kat Solomona Rev Roxy Gahegan
Convener Deputy Convener
Council of Assembly Council of Assembly