Occasional news and updates prepared for Uniting Congregations in Aotearoa New Zealand with Christian Churches/Churches of Christ participation. Shared with all congregations and interested individuals.

Christian unity - it’s the heart of the gospel and the hope of the world

Mention Christian unity these days and you won’t see a flicker of interest in the eyes of many Christians. Older folks, so used to putting their thinking and energy into ‘church union’, struggle to visualise an alternative to denominational cooperation or merger; younger Christians move freely amongst denominations but find it harder to see the ‘big picture’. Unity is seen as a fringe matter - something to tack on to your church life when everything else is attended to. But unity is a dimension of our whole Christian life. It is at the heart of who we are - individually, congregationally and as the people of God. We cannot preach love your neighbour when we practise ignore, compete with or put down your neighbour. Through its very structures the church contradicts the gospel - declares ‘neighbour’hood is impossible.

Christian unity is the will of God, the prayer of Christ, a major theme of the New Testament, a core understanding of the gospel and an essential mark of the community of faith. Divided church is an oxymoron. In this 21st Century we face unique challenges but we are called, as Christians in every century have been, to find appropriate contemporary ways to fulfill Christ’s prayer - or the world won’t believe.

World Convention

The 17th World Convention gathered in Nashville July 30 - August 3. There were about 2500 attendees. World Convention builds up unity, understanding and common purpose amongst Christian Churches, Churches of Christ and Disciples of Christ, often referred to as the ‘Stone-Campbell’ family after its pioneers.

Worship - contemporary and in several cultures - was a key focus. The program also included 46 valuable workshops and the global leaders’ forum

In addition to the Kiwi attendees listed in the last newsletter, it was great that our national president, Brent Liebezeit, and his wife Viv found they were able to attend. Also Steve Raine, principal of the a cappella Church of Christ Bible College (South Pacific Bible College, www.spbc.org.nz) was present and joined the NZ gathering. With him was Chris Dubose, a SPBC graduate, who has been called to be minister in Mataura.

I felt the program was excellent, the three streams of our movement were well represented and there was a good international representation although some 200 registrants could not get visas to enter the USA - a sign of the difficulty facing freedom of attending global gatherings these days.

Even the Executive Secretary, Jeff (& Rosemary) Weston (from Australia) have not been able to obtain resident visas to continue living in the USA so the World Convention Board is looking at how to work with that situation.

The final service saw` the launching of The Great Communion. 2009 is the bicentennial of the publication of the founding documents of the movement,

The 18th World Convention will be the first in South America - in Brazil, mid 2012.

The Disciples Ecumenical Consultative Council

The Reference Committee of the global DECC met over two days prior to World Convention. This is an opportunity for Christian Churches, Churches of Christ and Disciples of Christ with some national structure to share.

We spent a major part of our time receiving update reports on what is happening in the life of our churches and nations these days that impacts our ecumenical witness and programming. This time of sharing is always a highlight of DECC gatherings. All present were especially touched by the report given by B. J. Mpofu on the situation of the churches in Zimbabwe as they face such amazingly difficult and tragic days. In response to his report, the Committee drafted a pastoral word addressed to the Christian community in Zimbabwe that expressed our concern and our prayers for their future.

We also received a series of updates on our international dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church, our involvement in the Global Christian Forum, and our growing partnership with the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC). In regard to this last issue, the DECC Reference Committee approved a proposal that had been developed in conversation with representatives of the WARC and the Reformed Ecumenical Council (REC) to explore becoming an "associate member" in a new organization being formed by the merger of the WARC and REC to become the World Communion of Reformed Churches in 2010.

A significant part of our time was given to preparing a response to the World Council of Churches document on "Called to Be the One Church" that was issued by the last Assembly of the WCC (Porto Alegre), that sought response from its member churches and from Christian World Communions. I felt we made a good contribution with our response, helping to relate the ‘grass roots’ of the church to ecumenical thinking.

A new set of officers was elected to serve as the DECC Advisory Committee in the coming years: Shernett Smith (Moderator), from the United Church of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands; B.J. Mpofu, from the Associated Churches of Christ in Zimbabwe; Lyndsay Jacobs, from Christian Churches New Zealand; and, John Gilmore, from the Churches of Christ in Australia. www.disciples.org/ccu Appeal - Keep Hope Alive

Christmas

Christian World Service is an every day ministry of all of our congregations. Christian Churches New Zealand have a representative on the Board and help develop policy. These days there is great concern world wide that gifts are used in a way that benefits those in need and do not get used up in overheads. CWS works carefully with church partners in other countries and funds projects that truly benefit communities. I urge all congregations to support the 2008 Christmas appeal. Resources are supplied. Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it if you are not already receiving CWS information. Individuals can make annual or regular gifts too.

From Here and There

The National Ecumenical Dialogue (Anglican, Baptist, Christian Churches, Congregational Union, Methodist, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, Salvation Army, Society of Friends) met in Wellington on September 3. No consensus for possible future ‘together’ action has emerged at this stage. Representatives will meet again on March 2.

Uniting Congregations of Aotearoa New Zealand (UCANZ)

The Standing Committee is meeting in Johnsonville, October 14-15. uNETy will be emailed soon afterwards with an update from the meeting. The UCANZ office emails uNETy to Joint Regional Committees to re-send as JRCs can more easily keep up to date with email address changes. If you are not receiving uNETy and wish to receive it directly, let me know and I will see that you do. Most cooperative ventures now put copies on their notice boards, print off and distribute copies to members or reprint the information in their bulletins.

The Christian Conference of Asia is conducting a review of its regional ecumenical ministry. If you have any reflections (personal or from your congregation) please forward them to Carlos (Charlie) Ocampo ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ). Charlie, in Australia, is part of the review committee. I would be glad of a copy of any comments.

Rodney Cowell, former minister at Mairangi Bay Community Church (Christian Church) has written a book, God’s Secret Plan, on his experiences as pastor of Mairangi Bay as it developed into an intentionally multicultural Church. RRP $15. If you would like a copy contact Rodney at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

The USA-Canadian Disciple Women’s quadrennial assembly, often attended by New Zealanders is to have the theme, Awake, Awake. (See Judges 5:12). It will be in Greensboro, North Carolina 23-27 June, 2010. Contact me for more information.

My Association Diary

Please contact me with comments or questions for these meetings.

October 11: Oamaru Union Parish consultation

October 13: Trinity/Wellington South Union Parish. Consultation with minister

October 14-15: Uniting Congregations of Aotearoa New Zealand (UCANZ) Standing Committee. Johnsonville.

November 3-12: Auckland area - general visit including union/cooperating parishes.

November 22: Church Extension and Property Trust Board, Wellington.

Lyndsay Jacobs
Christian Churches NZ/Associated Churches of Christ in NZ
Cooperative Ventures Coordinator
Uniting Congregations Partner Representative
PO Box 211, Kirwee 7543, New Zealand.
Ph: +64 (0)3 317-8011 . Mobile: +64 021 424516
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it