| The Wider Church Newsletter - Number 8 - February 2008 |
GreetingsIt is some time since the last issue of The Wider Church. The new year provides an opportunity for a ‘wider church’ update. Uniting Congregations of Aotearoa New Zealand (UCANZ) NewsThe Forum held in November was very much focussed on the future and gave clear, practical direction to the Standing Committee. Enthusiasm was high. The challenge lies in developing the cooperative ventures with their unique witness as they play their part in the lives of the partner churches as well. Chris Nichol’s keynote address can be read at ucanz.org.nz John Jones is retiring as Executive Officer and Rev Peter MacKenzie has begun working in this role. The February issue of the Methodist monthly paper Touchstone has information about Peter and an article by him. Most cooperative ventures have forwarded their Charities Commission applications to the UCANZ office. Any who have not should do so urgently. The latest issue of uNETy, the UCANZ email newsletter was issued in January. If you don’t receive this and wish to, contact your local Joint Regional Committee or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it direct. The next Standing Committee meeting of UCANZ will be held in Wellington, March 12-14. World Convention will launch Stone-Campbell Bicentennial - July 30 - August 3On the Sunday of this year's world convention a global comunion service will be held that will lead to a series of Great Communion services throughout the USA and around the world in 2009. They will celebrate the publication of Thomas Campbell’s Declaration and Address in 1809 - documents that lifted up a bold vision for unity which became foundational for the Christian Churches. Perhaps you would like to share in this historic occasion! It’s not too late to register for the global gathering of the Christian/Churches of Christ/Disciples of Christ family! Contact David and Anne Coulter at 264 High St, Roslyn, Dunedin 9010. [ This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (03) 477-4269 ] Also worldconvention.org All women are invited to the Global Women Connecting women’s retreat prior to convention at the Millennium Maxwell Hotel, beginning evening Monday July 28 and concluding lunch Wednesday 30. Adonna Bowman is the Secretary-Treasurer: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 150 years in OtagoChurch of Christ Community Dunedin (St Andrew St Church of Christ) has organised a celebration of the sesquicentennial of Churches of Christ witness in Dunedin for April 4 -6. Friday evening - informal gathering at the church; Saturday - daytime bus trip around former church locations including Kaitangata and evening celebration dinner; Sunday worship 10 am. Registrations have officially closed for the Saturday events but if you’re interested contact Jim Bennett at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ASAP re possible spaces. Ecumenical leadership in the USAIn the USA the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is providing leadership in three significant national ecumenical partnerships. Dr Richard Hamm (previously Disciples General Minister and President) is Executive Administrator of Christian Churches Together in the USA (christianchurchestogether.org). CCT is a new forum growing out of a deeply felt need to broaden and expand fellowship, unity, and witness among the diverse expressions of Christian faith today. It is inclusive of the diversity of Christian families in the United States — Evangelical, Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Pentecostals, historic Protestant, Racial and Ethnic churches. CCT (and Christian Churches together in the United kingdom) is a model we could well study in relationship to New Zealand. Dr Suzanne Webb is president of Churches Uniting in Christ, a relationship among ten Christian communions that have pledged to live more closely together in expressing their unity in Christ and to combat racism together. (cuicinfo.org) News and NotesJohn Gilmore takes up the position of Executive Director of Global Mission Partners (Australian Churches of Christ overseas mission board) on February 11, taking over from Peter Overton. Kiwilink Zimbabwe has established an excellent web site at www.kiwilink.org Take a look for up to date news! With sadness we record the death of Edna Richardson, long time member of our churches and secretary of the association. Edna died during conference in November.. With sadness also we report the sudden death of Muriel Garrow of the United Kingdom on November 19. Muriel was an outstanding president of Global Women Connecting (formerly World CWF) and led their gathering at Brighton World Convention in 2004. Onehunga Cooperating Parish is looking for a further minister (part time) with particular responsibility for youth work. intetested people could contact Ron O’Grady at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Judith Todd has been in New Zealand promoting her new book, Through the Darkness, A life in Zimbabwe. Judith is the daughter of Sir Garfield and Grace Lady Todd. This is her third book on Zimbabwe. See www.zebrapress.co.za; available from amazon.com The 97 Churches of Christ in Vanuatu celebrated their 106th anniversary on November 26th. Ten years ago there were about 80 congregations. World Convention General Secretary, Jeff Weston, attended the Global Christian Forum in Kenya in November. This forum is an exciting adventure in bringing together the widest possible gathering of the Christian community. 240 leaders gathered ‘representing’ perhaps 95% of the world’s Christian population. See www.globalchristianforum.org for a report and details. A summary of our November conference (Christian Churches New Zealand) has been prepared and was distributed in December. Available from Debby Hoffman ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) or PO Box 2184, Stoke, Nelson Support for the Christian Conference of Asia2007 was the 50th anniversary of the CCA (formerly East Asian Christian Conference) and an appeal has been launched for a New Zealand Endowment Fund to support the work of the CCA. To honour Rev Alan Brash who travelled to the planning meeting fifty years ago to advocate for New Zealand’s inclusion, the fund will be a memorial to Alan. Individuals and congregations wishing to support the fund can send their gifts marked Alan Brash Memorial Appeal for CCA, to CWS PO Box 22652, Christchurch 8142. Both Ron O’Grady and Barbara Stephens are amongst the patrons. For more information see presbyterian.org.nz/brash From Cottages to CongregationsMark Willis has written and published a 245 page history of Churches of Christ in New Zealand, 1844-2004. It is the story of a cappella (non-instrument) Churches of Christ in New Zealand but in the 19th century there was only one story which both ‘streams’ now legitimately claim. The 20th century saw division and the development of two distinct paths. Mark is generous in some of his comments and there is some ‘bridge building’ with the association in his book. There is also some continuing misunderstanding but that is not surprising. Globally, there is a dismantling of fences within our movement and we can see our New Zealand story in this context. Of course there is still a distance to travel. I think all members of ‘associated’ churches who are interested in our history will want to have From Cottages to Congregations on their shelves. To obtain a copy send me your mailing address (to PO Box 211, Kirwee 7543), with a cheque for $30 made out to Mark Willis, by February 29. I will forward cheques and addresses to Mark at that time. Cooperating Ventures CoordinatorInitially I took up this role within the association for two years (2006/2007). That has been extended to 1 February 2009. Cooperating Ventures which include Christian Churches NZ congregations should contact me with any CV-CCNZ questions they have. It is also helpful, when you are contacting the CCNZ office in Nelson, to send me a copy of any letter/email. I will be working closely with George and Pauline Langford, Church Developers with CCNZ. Because I continue as partner representative on the Uniting Congregations of Aotearoa New Zealand Standing Committee I will be glad to help with any UCANZ related matters too. My Association DiaryPlease contact me with comments or questions for these meetings. Lyndsay Jacobs |