Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand Autumn 2018, ISSUE 72 Will euthanasia be legalised? COMMENT: DR ROD WATTS What is happening with Northern Presbytery? Northern Presbytery was established in The intent of the strategic restructure was 2011 from the union of the Church’s four to place more emphasis on the regions, northernmost presbyteries. and to provide greater opportunities for ministers and elders to work together, Over time, there were a range of issues regionally. The mantra I am using that indicated the establishment of one is: “region-led, Presbytery connected, large presbytery was not fulfilling what supported by the Presbytery office”. was intended, and there were unintended In the first five months a number of consequences. A review was undertaken, steps have been taken, such as revision referred to as a strategic realignment, of the Property and Finance Workgroup resulting in a proposal that was consulted to be more strategic and proactive; upon. A new structure was adopted in establishment of a Conflict Advisory August 2017. Workgroup, with the purpose of adopting The main structural changes included: the best process to address a particular dispute or issue; decision to revise the Youth • The establishment of five regions to Workgroup, with the aim of increasing further the Northern Presbytery’s the voice of youth and enhancing youth mission and ministry. leadership; establishment of a revised • Each region consists of ministers Mission Pathways Fund to provide and elders from each congregation, governance over the distribution of Dr Rod Watts chaplains, retired ministers and other Presbytery development funds; and the associated ministries. establishment of a new Learning and Presbytery, including congregations, Development Workgroup to increase • The Presbytery office was restructured workgroups and leadership. For example, leadership capacity and capability. to establish two new positions the Presbytery Council is similar to a (Executive Officer and Administration To begin to change the focus to regions Board, with the Convenor similar to the Officer); the Youth Coordinator role leading ministry and mission, each region role of Board Chairperson. The Executive was not affected. (with the exception of Northland at this Officer role is similar to a Chief Executive, stage due to complexities with Churches • The full Presbytery is to meet twice with responsibilities of implementation Together in Northland) has established a per year and the Presbytery’s Council and being accountable to the Board Chair strategic plan. This sets the priorities for is to meet four times per year. – in our case to the Council Convenor. each region, collectively to work together. Exploring what and how to apply • The Council consists of ten elected These are underpinned by a Presbytery organisation excellence should enable members (two from each region), strategic plan, which is close to being streamlining Presbytery processes and with voting rights, moderator (casting finalised. Our mission is to extend trust vote only Standing Orders 1.2), and and relationships by ensuring Presbytery systems; maximize results from activity associated members including operations are timely, transparent, fair, undertaken, and engender a desired immediate past or designate and outcome focused. One goal is for culture. I think my main contribution in moderator, Executive Officer; work- congregations to trust and gain benefit serving the Presbytery is to continue to group convenor; Treasurer, other from the Presbytery. explore how the structures, processes and Presbytery and national Church staff systems of high-performing mission- Based on my 21 years as a senior health/ as appropriate. driven organisations can contribute to social sector executive I think that ministry and mission. • Presbytery workgroups at that stage appropriately applying characteristics consisted of: Property and Finance; of a mission–driven, high-performing – Dr Rod Watt is the Executive Officer Mission Fund, and Youth. organisation would considerably assist of Northern Presbytery. 2 AUTUMN 2018 Presbyterian Church of MODERATOR'S MUSINGS Aotearoa New Zealand The Right Rev Richard Dawson contributes a regular column to Spanz. AUTUMN 2018, Issue 72 Who we are Why Presbyterian? Spanz is published quarterly by the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand, In this day and age of declining interest in Secondly, we are deeply committed to PO Box 9049, Wellington, New Zealand denominational difference, it is perhaps the ministry of lay people and to the full odd to ponder why I have stayed in the development of every person regardless of Presbyterian family of the Christian gender or race. We are ruled largely by lay church, but I think it is a worthwhile people (lay elders). We give these people Editor exercise, especially at a time of year when equal access to our power structures and we Angela Singer we contemplate for a moment what work to involve them at every level of ministry [email protected] investment we shall make in the Church that they wish to be. While this may require Ph 04 381-8284 in the coming year. constant vigilance and we need to keep asking whether we are keeping the spirit of the belief Advertising Let’s begin with the most common fallacy alive, it is still part of our DNA. Jose Reader – that our commitment isn’t in fact to the [email protected] denomination, but to the local expression As a part of this we believe in a very flat Subscriptions of the denomination – to our local church. leadership structure. We do not believe that “big Katrina Graham It simply isn’t the case that we either can or do leaders” no matter how talented they are will be ignore the wider identity of the denomination. [email protected] the salvation of the Church. Rather we believe The heat of the last 25 years of debate in our Ph 04 381-8283 that the character and content of believing Church would not have occurred if all we care people is the fruit of God’s Spirit moving in our ISSN 1175 5202 (print) about is the local expression of our Church. lives – and it is this which will keep us on the ISSN 1179 3473 (online) It is clear that all of us have a real stake in the straight path. Good leaders are wonderful, but as denominational face of the Church. Israel found out to her peril – bad leaders magnify Next issue So why am I still Presbyterian? As a denom- their mistakes and cast a pall over whole nations. Winter 2018 ination we’re an incredibly eclectic Church. Consequently, we believe in limiting this effect. Advertising deadline There are five major things that I value highly We are committed to the word as a living 20 April 2018 in a denominational structure, which I think we document and an open invitation to meet include in the Presbyterian family well. Design with the God of our mothers and fathers. This Tangerine 1 We have a national and international means we commit to studying it in-depth from identity. the standpoint of belief. We do not come to Printing the scriptures sceptically or in a capricious or Service Printers 2 We are deeply committed to the ministry and expression of lay people. ambivalent manner. The word interrogates us – not the other way around. Only in this way can Copyright 3 We believe in a flat leadership structure. The contents of Spanz may not be we be open to the Spirit’s living word today. 4 We are deeply committed to the reproduced without permission of Finally we take the incarnation seriously. historicity and theological integrity of the publisher. Opinions expressed As the core belief of the Christian faith the the biblical scriptures. in Spanz are not necessarily those incarnation holds all things in balance. It of the Presbyterian Church of 5 We take the incarnation seriously. holds the love and judgement of God in one Aotearoa New Zealand. The first value may seem rather insignificant act. It holds the perfection of God and the but given that our reach is always determined imperfection of our sin in one person and it Cover Photograph by our vision it is important to have a sense of holds the finiteness of our life together with iStock scale that is reflective of the reach of the gospel. the infiniteness of God in Christ’s death and God’s love is for the whole world. The Church’s resurrection. vision needs to reflect this and a national The Presbyterian Church has significant structure goes a long way towards doing this. flaws which we should work on, but we also The national structure acts as a very important have some treasures. I hope you, too, might corrective to the narrowing influence of the feel some sense of pride towards our Church local focus which is proper in its context, but because of these things. should always be seen for what it is – a very small slice of God’s world. God Bless you this year. AUTUMN 2018 3 PRESBYTERIANS SPEAK UT ON EUTHANASIA BILL A bill that would give doctors the legal right to end a person’s life is choice and dignity. The debate is about whether the State should making its way through Parliament. condone and facilitate the suicides of some of its citizens. Very few people fully understand the issues involved in taking that In January, death came up close and personal for Rev Wayne Te step, and the risks.” Kaawa, with a call from the hospital. His mother’s stroke meant Helen adds that euthanasia puts doctors in an invidious she would not last the day without life support. position. “Why should physicians be asked to assist with suicide “The whanau had to decide on her behalf what to do,” he says. when that’s not part of their training or their medical ethics? “She was 82 and had already told us she didn’t want her life International experience shows that doctors in countries prolonged, so we didn’t.