E-NEWS FRIDAY 24TH OCTOBER 2025
Talofa lava. Ellen Murray and I travelled to Christchurch, to St Paul’s Trinity Pacific, for the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa, New Zealand, which was held from Monday the 20th to Thursday the 23rd of October this week.
The theme was “We Believe” and the idea of a braided river was the theme that the moderator Rt Rev Peter Dunn chose for the week. In his opening sermon the moderator mentioned the diversity of the Church of Aotearoa within that braided river. And he included the rainbow community. I thought wow good on him, but then he continued to talk about the tributaries off that river, and some that went into false teaching and darkness. So basically, I know where he wanted to go with that comment which was implied, but not said. What I thought was a positive turned into a negative for me.
The debates of the Church, some were serious, but the ones that we needed to be addressed and debated weren’t. Basically they put a lid on all matters controversial. So we were unable to debate some of those really controversial issues to do with sexuality. Even Sir Lloyd Geering’s tribute did not reach General Assembly in the end, and was handed over to the Council of Assembly to deal with later as other business.
All the flights were cancelled on Thursday after assembly, so we were all stranded at the airport. But I was able to catch up with some of my Wellington colleagues and just do a debrief about our time over cheese rolls and coffee.
For me, it was great to be immersed back into the culture of my Pacific people and experience their hospitality and their love and in particular their generosity of giving and the young and old over 100 volunteers working together.
Some of the bits that were difficult were the Royal Commission. But we went, Ellen and I, we enjoyed our little cottage together it was called “the secret garden”. It was a good space and place for us to just talk and deal with some of the issues that the Church were going to look at.
At times it wasn’t the easiest conference, but I’m glad I went in the end. Ellen and I will be sharing our reflections on Sunday during the reflection time.
The concert I hear on Wednesday was a great success, with 140 people present to celebrate the 50 years of concerts at St Andrew’s on the Terrace. So well done to Lynn and all those who organised it, and Kris for making it such a wonderful occasion.
I’m having a day off inlieu today and just catch up on sleep I might even go for a massage. See you Sunday. Ka kite ano. Fei.
You can read the full E-news here: https://mailchi.mp/5cc560c48ead/this-weeks-newsletter-from-st-andrews-on-the-terrace-10137051
