Open Letter of Support for Decision on the Cathedral

01 Apr 2012

On Monday afternoon, Bishop Victoria took a few moments out of her busy Holy Week schedule to receive an open letter of support from over 70 Christchurch church leaders for the decision made by the Diocese about the Christchurch Cathedral.

Steve Graham, spokesman for the letters’ organising team, says the letter comes from people who know what it means to actually lead churches and manage church buildings, a viewpoint largely overlooked in the current debate.

“We wanted to encourage Bishop Matthews and other Anglican leaders during this difficult time." he said.

Bishop Victoria said it was just wonderful to receive it.

The letter says:

An Open Letter about Christ Church Cathedral

The recent decision to deconstruct the Christ Church Cathedral announced by Bishop Victoria Matthews has been very controversial. The Cathedral is a symbol of Christchurch.

Many have given to it. We have all benefitted from it. We all care about it.

As church leaders we know how important church buildings can be. But we also know that God is too great to be limited to a building no matter how sacred or special it might be. God’s real ‘church’ is the people and people matter more to God than any building.

We support Bishop Victoria Matthews and the Anglican Diocese of Christchurch in their decision to deconstruct the Cathedral.

We grieve the loss of a building that has meant so much to all of us

We recognise how difficult a decision this has been.

We affirm the responsibility and the right of the Anglican Church to make that decision.

We pray for the Bishop and other leaders as they face the challenges this brings.

We believe that a new Cathedral will better serve the people of Christchurch.

Signed

Alan Aitken, Managing Trustee, Community Development Network Trust

Alan Jamieson, Senior Pastor, Spreydon Baptist Church

Alan Missen, Co-Moderator, Presbytery of Christchurch

Alemayehu Asres Fenta, Evangelist, Medhanealem Evangelical Church (Ethiopian)

Amy Page-Whiting, Senior Pastor, Cashmere New Life Church

Andrew Doubleday, Pastor, Opawa Community Church (Methodist)

Anthony Rimell, Senior Pastor, Breezes Road Baptist Church

Bernhard Wewege, Senior Pastor, Every Nation Christchurch

Bob Robinson, Senior Lecturer, Laidlaw College, Christchurch Campus

Chris Ponniah, Lead Pastor, Parklands Baptist Community Church

Christy Parry-Jennings, Manager, Affinity Child and Family Services

Clint Ussher, Lead Pastor, The Well Church

Craig Fairhall, Pastor, Bryndwr Baptist Church

Daphne Marsden, Pastoral Care Pastor, Spreydon Baptist Church

Di Sargent, Leadership Team, Spreydon Baptist Church

Donald Scott, Senior Pastor, Northcity Church

Doug McConnell, Senior Pastor, Avonhead Baptist Church

Dugald Wilson, Minister, St Mark’s Presbyterian Church, Avonhead

Edward Karlsen, Senior Pastor, Papanui Baptist Church

Ginette Edmonds, South Island Ministries Coordinator, Overseas Missionary Fellowship

Jack Stuart, Senior Pastor, Christchurch Chinese Church

James Peter, Pastor, Open Door Christian Centre

Janet Perry, Elder, Westchurch

John Alpe, Senior Pastor, St Albans Baptist Church

Judy Harvey, Secretary, Canterbury-Westland Baptist Churches

Ken Shelley, Senior Pastor, Kings Church

Kim Peters, Senior Minister, Lincoln Baptist Church

Lionel Brown, Missioner, Order of St Luke the Physician in New Zealand

Matt Watts, Vicar, Anglican Parish of Burnside-Harewood

Maurice Atkinson, Pastor, Oxford Baptist Church

Maurice McLaughlin, Coordinating Chaplain, Christchurch Men’s Prison

Max Palmer, Executive Director, Life Resources

Michael Brown, Pastor, Westside Church

Michael Tan, Chairperson, Community Development Network Trust

Mike Dodge, Director, Canterbury Youth Services

Murray Frost, Chairman of Elders Rutland Street Church

Murray Robertson, Pastor Emeritus, Spreydon Baptist Church

Murray Talbot, Senior Pastor, Hornby Presbyterian Community Church

Nathan Schwartfeger, Manager, Resonate - Online Sermons

Nancy-Jean Whitehead, Co-Moderator, Presbytery of Christchurch

Nigel Crocombe, Pastor, Temuka Baptist Church

Nigel Ripley, Pastor, Burwood Christian Centre

Paul Askin, Regional Leader, Canterbury Westland Baptist Churches

Paul Bennetts, Senior Pastor, Life Church

Paul Cossey, Pastor, Darfield Baptist Church

Paul & Jillian Larsen-Robertson, Directors, Ellel Ministries Aotearoa New Zealand

Peter & Vera Hira, Oversight Pastors, Christchurch Worship Centre

Phil King, Minister, St. Margaret’s Presbyterian Church, Bishopdale

Philip Stedman, Pastor, Riccarton Community Church

Phyllis Harris, Minister, Lincoln Union Parish

Ray Gorrie, Senior Pastor, Travis Junction Life Centre

Rachelle Brown, Canterbury Area Chaplain, Order of St Luke the Physician in New Zealand

Rob Purdue, Executive Chairman, Bright Hope World

Rod Robson, Pastor, Ilam Baptist Church

Roger Spicer, Pastor, Halswell Baptist Church

Sally Cowie-Curham, Coordinator, Christ’s Church Pray

Samuel Maddimadugula, Coordinator, Shekinah Trust

Sandra Palmer, Pastoral Leadership Team, Riccarton Baptist Church

Stephen Leppard, Pastor, Emmett Street Christian Centre

Steve Burgess, Senior Pastor, C3 Christchurch

Steve & Sarah Hira, Senior Pastors, Christchurch Worship Centre

Steve Graham, Dean of Studies, Laidlaw College, Christchurch Campus

Stewart McLellan, Pastor, Christchurch North Elim Church

Steve McMillan, Ecumenical Chaplain, Christchurch Hospital

Wes & Janet Chambers, Senior Pastors, Living Waters Christian Centre, Christchurch

Wilhelmus Noordanus, Pastor, Cambodian Fellowship Baptist Church