| The Wider Church Newsletter - Number 3 - August 2006 |
THE UNITING CONGREGATIONS OF AOTEAROA NEW ZEALANDThe national Standing Committee held a very positive meeting in July. DISCIPLES' ECUMENICAL CONSULTATIVE COUNCILThe Disciples Ecumenical Consultative Council is a ministry representing those national churches, within the 'Churches of Christ' global family, that have an ecumenical focus. Dr David Coulter of Dunedin is the moderator of the DECC. The following notes are based on a report supplied by David of a brief meeting that was held in the USA in July. The meeting is recommending to member churches that a gathering of the Disciples Ecumenical Consultative Council be held in conjunction with the World Convention in 2008 in Nashville. It is planned that the meeting will include updates from member churches on their national and ecumenical life, focus on the theme of being a missional church, receive an update on the DECC - Roman Catholic Church Dialogue (a written report will be prepared to share with member churches), review the partnership the DECC has with two other Christian World Communions (global Church families) - the World Alliance of Reformed Churches and the Reformed Ecumenical Council, and the World Council of Churches, and discuss the 'nature of the unity we seek' study from the Commission on Faith and Order of the World Council of Churches. The meeting is also recommending that the DECC (after reviewing possible gains and losses) does not accept the invitation of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches and the Reformed Ecumenical Council to join in the formation of a new 'World Reformed Communion'. A further recommendation is that the DECC express its openness to the proposal from the World Council of Churches to explore a 'common global gathering' of the World Council of Churches Assembly and meetings of Christian World Communions at the time of the next WCC Assembly in 2012. (The members of the WCC are national churches; Christian World Communions are global church families.) If you have DECC comments or questions please contact David at 264 Highgate, Dunedin or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it CELEBRATING COMING EVENTSPeace Sunday - August 6 World Convention Sunday (remembering partnership with Churches of Christ in 180 countries worldwide) - August 6 Churches Education Sunday September 17. Focussing on the work of the Churches Education Commission, especially the witness in schools. World Communion Sunday Presbyterian Assembly in Auckland - September 28 - October 1. Methodist Conference in Rotorua - November 3 - 7. (I would be glad to know of any 'Churches of Christ' people planning to attend.) ARE YOU VISITING THE USA?If you are visiting the United States you may wish to include the: If you are planning to attend either of these gatherings, please let me know. World Convention (Christian - Churches of Christ - Disciples of Christ), Nashville, Tennesssee, July 30 - August 3, 2008. If you are planning to attend (or considering attending) World Convention, please inform David Coulter This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it SNIPPETS OF INTERESTAbout 1000 members of the a cappella Church of Christ stream attended the North American Christian Convention at the end of June (total attendance 12,000) and speakers were from both streams of the movement. This gathering was an important step in the reversal of the division that occurred in 1906. We celebrate this 'intra-denominational ecumenism'. Over 3000 attended the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) quadrennial women's event in the USA, this year shared with the women of the United Church of Christ. Lorraine Jacobs represented New Zealand amongst the 100 international delegates. As the war continues between Israel and Hezbollah, the church in the Middle East is already meeting the humanitarian needs of many people there. Amongst those working with displaced people is the Middle East Council of Churches which has already assisted thousands of people. Similarly help is going to recent Tsunami victims in Java and help continues with last year's Tsunami victims. In fact emergency and long term help and development is occurring in many places. Gifts for this help can be made through Christian World Service. Amongst the horror and hopelessness, it is some comfort to know that the church - including each of us - is already in action. Mid July, leaders from two streams of 'Churches of Christ' in the USA (Christian Churches and churches of Christ), met with the Chinese Ambassador to the USA, enjoyed breakfast at the White House, and heard a briefing at the State Department by the head of the China Desk. This group is travelling to China early August to meet with government leaders there. (Information: Christian Standard) Registration of charities in New Zealand (to maintain income tax and gift duty exemptions) will now need to occur between 1 February 2007 and 1 July 2008. Go to www.charities.govt.nz for 'Updates' (the latest, number 11, June 2006). Items of interest from the July Board meeting of the World Convention (Christian - Churches of Christ - Disciples of Christ) will be included in the next issue of 'The Wider Church'. MY ASSOCIATION DIARYAugust 26: Church Extension & Property Trust Board meeting, Wellington. Part of this meeting will be a sharing with members of the national Churches of Christ Administration Team. August 27: Preaching and sharing at St Anselms, Karori, Wellington. Sharing with Trinity Church ('Wellington South'). September 24: Preaching and sharing with Matamata Union Parish. September 28 - October 2: Presbyterian Church Assembly (Observer) Auckland. October 1: Preaching and sharing with Onehunga Cooperating Parish. October 8: Preaching and sharing with Whangarei Union Parish. October 11 - 12: Uniting Congregations of Aotearoa New Zealand Standing Committee. Wellington. Nov 6 - 10: Association meetings in Nelson. 'Selective Ecumenism' is a contradiction in terms. As followers of Jesus Christ we must recognise our unique and God-given unity with all Christ's followers - even those most unlike us. It is our relationship with all Christians - as we discuss differences - that shows the world what it means to be the people of God, the body of Christ and the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. Do keep me informed of items of interest. I look forward to keeping in touch and building up our networks. The response to the first issue of The Wider Church was very positive - many encouraging comments and requests to be added to the circulation list. Some corrections to returned emails have also been made with this issue. |