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Anglican e-Life | 12 February 2025

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Dear Friends,

Last Thursday, Waitangi Day, the Ngaī Tahu commemoration of the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi was held at Ōnuku marae with the Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon present. I commend to you the Ngāi Tahu Kaiwhakahaere Commemoration Speech given by Justin Tipa on that occasion.

I commend to all in the Diocese the Open Heaven Combined Churches Prayer Event, 6.30pm for a 7pm start, to 9.00pm on Wednesday 26 February at the Wolfbrook Area, 55 Jack Hinton Drive, Christchurch. I will be there along with many other church leaders, leading prayers for our nation. Join me!

The following Wednesday is Ash Wednesday 5 March. I commend on this day our participation in ecumenical services, signifying our commitment to Christian unity as we follow our suffering Saviour, Jesus Christ. For those for whom a local, ecumenical service is not readily accessible, I commend participation in the Anglican-Catholic Ecumenical Service in the Transitional Cathedral at 5.30pm. All welcome (from all denominations). Bishop Michael Gielen will be our preacher.

Studying the Bible at any time of the year is a very good thing but I commend study groups being formed in our ministry units for the six weeks of Lent (beginning 5 March 2025). Theology House’s Lenten study for 2025 is available to order now. In the Spirit of Lent follows the lectionary’s Gospel readings for the six weeks of Lent. (Ash Wednesday is 5 March 2025.) Questions for discussion and prayers are provided in the expectation that groups who use the study will encounter the Word of God afresh. Discussion questions tend towards appropriate Lenten self-reflection, especially corporate self-reflection for our churches. Read more.

Bishop Ngarahu Katene, Bishop within Te Pihopatanga o Aotearoa for Te Hui Amorangi o Te Manawa o Te Wheke [King Country, Waikato, northern Taranaki, Bay of Plenty, Rotorua], has announced his retirement, effective from Easter Sunday 20 April 2025. +Ngaragu has been bishop there since 2006. I give thanks to God for his ministry and pray that he will have a fruitful retirement.

This weekend past Teresa and I have been in Melbourne for events connected to the conclusion of Archbishop Philip Freier’s ministry as Bishop of Melbourne and Metropolitan for the Province of Victoria for the past eighteen years – a period which included six years as Primate of Australia. Joy Freier has been fully involved in this ministry of leadership and together they have been warm and generous friends to many Anglicans around Australia and the whole Anglican Communion, including episcopal leaders in the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia. It was a pleasure and a privilege to join with most of the Australian bishops, with Bishop Anthony Poggo, the Secretary General of the Anglican Communion and with Archbishop Emeritus Philip Richardson from our church in the Farewell Evensong on Sunday afternoon in St Paul’s Cathedral.

Yesterday principals, chaplains and religious education leaders from our Anglican schools were able to meet with Simon Heath and Dr Averil Worner from the Anglican Schools Office. This “regional hub” meeting is part of a series being conducted by Simon and Averil as they move around our church in follow up to a significant report published last year which opens up the question of how we best resource our diverse set of schools from Dunedin through to Apia. I appreciate the commitment of our principals, chaplains and RE teachers to sharing our faith in Christ and developing the “Anglican character” of our schools. For one of our schools this year is particularly important: it is the 175th anniversary of the founding of Christ’s College. Special events take place this coming weekend, including a celebration service in the Chapel on Sunday morning. I am delighted to be a participant in this service, led by Chaplain Cameron Pickering and featuring Bishop David Coles, a former warden of the school and the Reverend Bosco Peters, a former chaplain of the school.

A revamped Association of Anglican Women website is now “live”. I look forward on Saturday morning 22 February to being part of the annual general meeting and commissioning service for our Diocesan AAW.

Many times in e-Life I have asked for prayer for the situation in the Middle East. Despite a ceasefire being agreed to, we need to keep praying, not least for the ceasefire to hold and to be honoured by all sides. Further, whatever we make of President Trump’s recent pronouncements about the future of Gaza, his comments highlight the extraordinary reconstruction project which lies ahead for Gaza and its inhabitants.

This coming Sunday, 16 February is Ordinary 6. The Gospel reading is Luke 6:17-26. We shift from the lakeside (last Sunday) to “the plain”, the setting for Luke’s representation of Jesus’ foundational teaching (in contradistinction to Matthew’s representation through “the Sermon on the Mount”, Matthew 5-7). At the beginning of this sermon Jesus presents four blessings and four woes (6:20-26). These are challenging, especially for those of us who are materially and emotionally blessed. Inherent in Jesus pronouncing blessing on the poor and the hungry is a challenge to us as readers: how might we be part of blessing those in need? At such a point of reflection we might, of course, jump straight ahead in our knowledge of Luke’s Gospel to the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) or to the Story of the Rich Ruler (Luke 18:18-30).

Arohanui,

+Peter.

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Anglican e-Life | 5 February 2025

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Dear Friends,

As 2025 gets underway in all post-holiday respects, may our commitment to prayer for the Regeneration of the Diocese continue.

Our key Regeneration prayer is this: As the kotuku gently rests upon the tree, come and rest upon us Holy Spirit as we pray for the regeneration of our Diocese… Everliving God, through your Spirit you constantly renew the whole creation; bring regeneration to your Diocese of Christchurch, grant us courage to grow disciples of Jesus, give us vision to reach young people and their families, and strengthen us to create vibrant communities of faith. All this we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen. The continuing encouragement from 2024 into 2025 is that this prayer is regularly prayed in our corporate services, prayer meetings and in our personal, daily prayers.

Today is Edwin Boyce‘s last day in office as our Diocesan Manager. Edwin has always worked above and beyond the letter of his job description and the nominal hours of the role. He has served this Diocese with grace, generosity, and good humour. Thank you, Edwin! This morning we had a lovely farewell in the Anglican Centre for Edwin and Essie. Their life in our Diocesan family continues as they serve within the Parish of Upper Riccarton-Yaldhurst. I look forward to continuing engagement with Edwin in his role as Vicar’s Warden of this parish.

Tomorrow is Waitangi Day. We have 15 years to go before the bicentenary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. This year we are in the midst of considerable national debate over the meaning of the Treaty and the application of the Treaty for the country we have become and are becoming (as new generations are born and as new migrants are welcomed to our shores). My prayer for this year’s Waitangi Day – with our Prime Minister close at hand at Ōnuku, Akaroa – is that we find ways in our kōrero to hold our unity as people together with our diversity as partners to our Treaty. Bishop Te Kitohi Pikaahu (Te Tai Tokerau) has written an excellent reflection in this morning’s Press (online/print) on the Treaty as “an accord centred around belonging“.

On Sunday morning we were in St Columba’s church, Hornby in the Parish of Hornby, Templeton and West Melton for a combined churches service for the whole of the parish. This was an important occasion in the life of this parish during its current period of transition after the conclusion of the Reverend Les Memory‘s ministry at the end of November 2024. On Sunday afternoon, we were at the Transitional Cathedral for the first Cathedral Grammar School service for 2025.

Theology House’s Lenten study for 2025 is available to order now. In the Spirit of Lent follows the lectionary’s Gospel readings for the six weeks of Lent. (Ash Wednesday is 5 March 2025). Questions for discussion and prayers are provided in the expectation that groups who use the study will encounter the Word of God afresh. Discussion questions tend towards appropriate Lenten self-reflection, especially corporate self-reflection for our churches. Read more.

This past week a fascinating debate has erupted around some remarks made by J. D. Vance, USA Vice-President, in favour of a hierarchy of love as his nation works out its priorities, underpinned, according to Vance by a notion called “ordo amoris“, which has its roots in the teaching of Aristotle, St Augustine and St Thomas Aquinas. Catherine Pepinster has an excellent report on what this debate has been about with particular reference to a pushback from UK politician, Rory Stewart. The debate has, however, been engaged online by a number of well-known theologians. Here, I don’t want to engage with the debate but to observe how wonderful it is, as tides of interest in Jesus Christ ebb and flow through this era, that we can still have a global exercise in public theology, with the heat of passionate engagement and the interest of politicians as well as theologians.

Our new Diocesan Manager, Rachelle Mathews began working with us nearly two weeks ago. I am most grateful to Edwin Boyce for inducting her into her new role through this time. I look forward to working with Rachelle – welcome, Rachelle, to your new role and to our Diocese.

This coming Sunday, 9 February is Ordinary 5. The Gospel reading is Luke 5:1-11. Jesus’ encounter with Simon Peter is a call narrative – Peter, representing all disciples, then and now, is called by Jesus to join Jesus in his mission (captured in other gospels by the phrase, “Follow me”). Within this encounter, as he and his fellow fishermen understand the miracle Jesus has performed before their eyes, Peter recognises his sinfulness (with shades of Isaiah’s experience as he was called to be God’s prophet in Isaiah 6:1-8). Humanly speaking, he is not a fit person to be in the company of the holy Jesus. But Jesus takes Peter on. By implication his sins are forgiven, and he is made right with God. Jesus declares, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.” We are made disciples by Jesus in order to work with him on making more disciples.

Arohanui,

+Peter.

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Anglican e-Life | 29 January 2025

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Dear Friends,

As 2025 begins the emphasis through this decade for Diocesan life continues to be Regeneration—praying and working for new generations of active, worshipping, serving members of our ministry units. In this work of God, we are focusing efforts on making disciples who make disciples, strengthening families (with “family” understood in all the variety of life we experience in our diverse families) and building community—the community of brothers and sisters in the body of Christ, the community of people in our neighbourhoods. As we move around the Diocese, we see with our eyes and also hear with our ear’s stories of generational change in our ministry units. I feel encouraged at the beginning of this year which is mid-point for this decade. We press forward in Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit according to the will of God that the church is built.

On Sunday, Teresa and I experienced a wonderful, combined parishes (Anglican and Presbyterian) Mid Canterbury service in All Saints, Methven. It was good to share leadership of the service with Archdeacon Indrea Alexander and our new deacon based in Methven, the Reverend Sage Burke. Ms Abi Travathan, the Kairuruku Whanake (Formation and Development Coordinator) for the Alpine Presbytery was our excellent preacher.

Last Wednesday evening, we had a great turn out, from both the local congregations, friends from Wairau Valley parish, and other supporters for the Reverend Joe Keighley’s Induction as Vicar of Burnside-Harewood Parish. On that occasion Ms Raewyn Parkes, from the Nativity parish, Blenheim, was our excellent preacher.

This year we are partnering with Laidlaw College to have a counselling placement. This means we are able to offer some free counselling for 2025. Bookings can be made through Sammy Mould or our placement counsellor, Emma Dunne. This opportunity is available to people from any parish: teenagers, young adults, families, couples—Emma is able to counsel any age group. For further information, please contact Sammy, youth@anglicanlife.org.nz, 022 021 5401.

Theology House’s Lenten study for 2025 is available to order now. In the Spirit of Lent follows the lectionary’s Gospel readings for the six weeks of Lent. (Ash Wednesday is 5 March 2025.) Questions for discussion and prayers are provided in the expectation that groups who use the study will encounter the Word of God afresh. Discussion questions tend towards appropriate Lenten self-reflection, especially corporate self-reflection for our churches. See further: Theology House Resources.

A statement on the Gaza ceasefire by our archbishops can be read here. On that Taonga page there are links to a statement by the Episcopal Diocese in Jerusalem and the Middle East and links to two appeals for financial help for those suffering in the Middle East. In the Jerusalem statement, this paragraph is very important—if only those in power will heed it:

“Having repeatedly called for such a negotiated outcome, the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem welcomes this ceasefire. Moreover, we appeal to fellow Christians and all those of goodwill to continue to advocate and pray not only for the adoption of the full agreement, also for the region’s leaders and people to invest as much of their political and financial capital towards peacebuilding, as they tragically have in waging warfare over these past many months and in the decades proceeding.”

Last week, at a post-inauguration service in Washington’s National Cathedral, Bishop Marian Budde preached a sermon which has echoed around the world (full text here). Her words have been received to fervent applause from some and to hostile vitriol from others, including from President Trump himself. I offer a reflection on the sermon and the controversy on my personal blog, here. +Marian has demonstrated the power of preaching to challenge, to stir and to expose the state of things. Unfortunately, in this case, we Christians are exposed by her sermon as being tragically divided even on the basic teaching of Christ that the merciful are blessed.

This coming Sunday is Epiphany 4 and The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. The Gospel reading is Luke 2:22-40. From the perspective of Epiphany, we celebrate the revelation of God presented to the world in the person of Jesus Christ (Luke 2:31-32). But the story told in this passage also draws us to identify with Simeon and with Anna, each a model of faithfulness to God and of hearts open to and eager for God’s plan for the world to be fulfilled so that the consolation of Israel (2:25) and the redemption of Jerusalem (2:38)—the same things—would come to pass.

Arohanui,

+Peter

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Anglican e-Life | 22 January 2025

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Dear Friends,

In this season of Epiphany, we remember and celebrate the revelation of God in the glory of Jesus Christ. There is always hope for our world because God has revealed his love for us in Jesus Christ.

I look forward to leading the Reverend Joe Keighley’s Induction as Vicar of Burnside-Harewood Parish tonight. All are welcome to this service at 6.30pm, Wednesday 22 January at St Timothy’s, Kendal Avenue, Burnside. Clergy are welcome to robe, especially those attending from the local Archdeaconry of Selwyn-Tawera: alb and red stole.

Theology House’s Lenten study for 2025 is available to order now. In the Spirit of Lent follows the lectionary’s Gospel readings for the six weeks of Lent. (Ash Wednesday is 5 March 2025.) For each week there is a written reflection by Theology House director Gareth Bezett and a visual reflection by the Reverend Sarah West from the Diocese of Auckland. Questions for discussion and prayers are provided in the expectation that groups who use the study will encounter the Word of God afresh. While there is no intentional theme lying behind the reflections, you will find that the discussion questions tend towards appropriately Lenten self-reflection, especially corporate self-reflection for our churches. See this link for further details.

The Reverend Justine Tremewan has been appointed Missioner Priest (0.4 FTE) for the Parish of Linwood-Aranui, from Monday, 20 January 2025. Please pray for Justine as she takes up this role and for the parish as it develops a new style of parish leadership shared between Justine and its parish manager, Martin Witty.

Other vacancies on my agenda for this first part of the year are for ministry leadership in the Parishes of Cheviot, Hanmer Springs, Hornby-Templeton-West Melton and the Mission District of Waimate. Work is underway for securing a Presbyterian appointment to the Co-operating Parish of Akaroa-Banks Peninsula. Your prayers, as always, are both needed and appreciate.

I congratulate Anglican recipients of New Year’s Honours. Taonga has an article on seven recipients, including Ross McQueen, MNZM, acknowledging Ross’ long service for the Christchurch City Mission and for Canterbury rural communities, Jim Goodwin, KSO, acknowledging Jim’s service in support of survivors of abuse, including his work in establishing the Christ’s College abuse survivors support group, and Jeremy Johnson, KSM, acknowledging his service to the Anglican church and to the LGBTQi community – this service has included Jeremy’s work for our Diocese as Vice Chancellor then Chancellor, as well as his work on the Christ’s College board for which he has recently become its new chair. Finally, I congratulate Sir Peter Skelton, a Fendalton parishioner, on his Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to environmental law.

Teresa and I have had a quiet, restful holiday with the undoubted highlight being the arrival of our second grandchild, Leonardo Peter Suckling on Sunday, 12 January, born here in Christchurch.

Meanwhile the news through these weeks has hardly been quiet and restful. The Treaty principles bill has attracted an extraordinary number of submissions. After many months of death and destruction, finally, in good news there is a ceasefire in Gaza. Intriguingly a decisive factor in the achievement of the ceasefire has been the involvement of President Trump. Nevertheless, welcome though a ceasefire is, there is much to be done if peace and justice are to be established in Gaza, West Bank and Israel. Terrific, tragic fires have burned through significant parts of Los Angeles – a reminder, though seemingly only to those willing to see the import of such calamities, that global warming/changing climate is a feature and not a bug of our weather through this century. Then, this week, President Trump has been inaugurated with much to be concerned about (especially if you are a citizen of Canada, Greenland, Panama and Ukraine, some things to be amused by renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America… I support the Irish politician who wants the North Atlantic renamed “Galway Bay”!) and much to be uncertain about (will tariffs really be imposed, and what effect will they have on the NZ economy?).

While on holiday I enjoyed reading Robert Harris’ novel Conclave, a story about the election of a new Roman Pope. Currently the film version of this book is showing in cinemas. The Reverend Bosco Peters offers a review of the film on the Taonga site. I agree with an important point Bosco makes: the story may be fiction, but the fact is, church politics often works along the lines of Conclave’s plot. Speaking of the politics of finding a new “top” church leader, find out more about the appointment of the next Archbishop of Canterbury. Note that this is the first time representatives of the Anglican Communion have been directly involved as voting members of the Crown Nominations Commission.

This coming Sunday is Epiphany 3. The Gospel reading is Luke 4:14-21. Here Luke sets out, in Jesus’ own telling, using the words of Isaiah 61, the programme for Jesus’ ministry. Good news will be preached, freedom will be secured, the blind will see and the kingdom of God will come. But this is also the programme for our ministry as the body of Christ on earth, as followers of Jesus today. At the beginning of a new year, might we recommit ourselves to doing what Jesus did and still today wishes to be done in the world?

Arohanui,

+Peter.

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Anglican e-Life | 15 January 2025

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Dear Friends,

New Year greetings!

I am pleased to announce that Rachelle Mathews has been appointed to be our new Diocesan Manager. Rachelle is a committed Christian and a member of Grace Vineyard church. She has several tertiary qualifications and is a member of Educate Plus and a member of the Institute of Directors.

For the past seven years Rachelle has been Marketing and Communications Manager, at Medbury School, Christchurch. In this role she has been an ex-officio member of the school trust board including role of Board Secretary. She has experience in managing substantial budgets, overseeing archives, maintaining stakeholder relationships, managing change, building management, health and safety compliance and highly proficient in digital tools including MS Office, Adobe Suite, and Google Docs. Concurrently with her employed role, Rachelle has also been a director of Equitas Care Limited and deputy chair of Kilmarnock Enterprises Trust.

Rachelle will begin work with the Diocese on Thursday 23 January 2025, overlapping with Edwin Boyce, until his last day at work, Wednesday 5 February 2025.

My first day at work after some annual leave will be leading the Reverend Joe Keighley’s Induction as Vicar of Burnside-Harewood Parish. All are welcome to this service at 6.30pm on Wednesday 22 January at St Timothy’s, Kendal Avenue, Burnside. Clergy are welcome to robe, especially those attending from the local Archdeaconry of Selwyn-Tawera: alb and red stole.

Arohanui,

+Peter

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Anglican e-Life | 11 December 2024

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Dear Friends,

The Venerable Dr Anne Van Gend, Ministry Educator in the Diocese of Dunedin, has been elected as the next Bishop of Dunedin. There is a report at Taonga. At this stage, there is no date set for Anne’s ordination as bishop and installation as the Bishop of Dunedin, but it is hoped that this will be in the first part of 2025. Bishop-elect Anne was a speaker at our Clergy Conference around 2016; and she made a number of visits to Anglican schools in our Diocese in the years when she was Executive Director of the Anglican Schools Office. Please pray for Anne, and Michael, her husband, as they prepare to embrace this new role with its many joys and challenges.

Please pray for the Reverend Tina Thorpe (Rangiora)and her family as they prepare to celebrate the life of Alan Thorpe, Tina’s husband, at 1pm, this Friday 13 December, at St John the Baptist, Rangiora.

The Reverends Annette and Harvey Eggleston have served the Parish of Mayfield-Mt Somers for many years, in their respective capacities as priest and deacon. This Sunday at 10am at St Aidan’s, Mt Somers, Annette and Harvey will be farewelled from the parish. Teresa and I are looking forward to being with them and the congregation for this important occasion. All welcome. I am delighted that Annette and Harvey will continue to be available for ministry in Mid Canterbury where they will continue to live.

Some lovely news out of our Cathedral in the Square this week. It is very encouraging to see the interest taken in our cathedral with full bookings for the tours which have been arranged in the run up to Christmas. Unfortunately, this morning’s news from the Christchurch City Council highlights unnecessary uncertainty on the Council’s part about the recommencement of reinstatement. We are committed to that work restarting and are working continually on securing the necessary funds to do so. We are counting on the prior commitment of the Council to fund $10m (so far, we have received $3m).

Tomorrow, Thursday, 12 December 2024, a refreshed and redesigned Diocesan website goes live after midday. Visitors are very welcome to our site.

Congratulations to the following who this week graduate with theology qualifications: the Reverend Dr Andrew Butcher (Otago), and the Reverend Robert Jamieson (Laidlaw) – both Bachelor of Theology; Azaria Brooker, our Children’s Ministry Developer, and Nathan Muirhead, our Safeguarding Educator who both graduate NZ Diploma Christian Studies (Christian Ministry – Theology stream); and five students graduating with the Theology House Certificate in Ministry and Leadership who will receive their certificates in their local parishes on Sunday: Amy Clark, Nadia Fox, Riley Sutton, Sarah Coulson and Deen Coulson.

I remind readers that all are welcome to a farewell for Archdeacon Mark Chamberlain, from his role as Archdeacon for Regeneration and Mission, at 4pm, Thursday 19 December, in the Anglican Centre, 95 Tuam Street, Christchurch.

Theology House’s Lenten study for 2025 is available to order now. In the Spirit of Lent follows the lectionary’s Gospel readings for the six weeks of Lent. (Ash Wednesday is 5 March 2025.) For each week there is a written reflection by Theology House director Gareth Bezett and a visual reflection by the Reverend Sarah West from the Diocese of Auckland. Questions for discussion and prayers are provided in the expectation that groups who use the study will encounter the Word of God afresh. While there is no intentional theme lying behind the reflections, you will find that the discussion questions tend towards appropriately Lenten self-reflection, especially corporate self-reflection for our churches. Place your Lenten study orders here. Orders will be sent and invoiced from late January 2025.

It was a privilege last Friday to join with several hundred family and friends of the Reverend Jo Latham Gribbon to give thanks to God for her life and ministry. On Sunday morning Teresa and I worshipped with God’s people in the Church of the Epiphany, Hanmer Springs – Jo’s most recent parish.

Through the past two weeks (and concluding next Tuesday), it has been a joy to share in prize-givings and carol services for our Anglican schools. Tonight, I look forward to participating in the City Mission’s annual Carol Service in the Transitional Cathedral at 7.00pm.

The Reverend Lawrence and Mrs Elizabeth Kimberley have worked for many years on the NZ Lectionary, our church’s essential guide to Sunday and weekday Scripture readings and celebrations of feasts and festivals. I am delighted to see in Taonga this article which reports on their faithful work on this important annual publication.

The latest Anglican Life e-magazine is out, in time for Christmas, with the theme of Hope and a lot of really great reading as we head through Advent towards Christmas and the NZ holiday season.

The Gospel Reading for Sunday 15 December 2024, Advent 3 is Luke 3:7-18. As we journey through Advent, get ourselves ready not only for Christmas celebrations but also for the judgement of God, we find in this reading one of the greatest questions we can ever ask, “What then should we do?” (verse 10).

Arohanui,

+Peter.

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Anglican e-Life | 4 December 2024

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Dear Friends,

The Service of Thanksgiving for the life of the Reverend Joanne Latham Gribbon will be at 1.30pm this Friday 6 December 2024 in the Transitional Cathedral. All are welcome to this service. Clergy (at the wish of Jo) are asked not to robe but to wear our clerical shirts. Please pray for Brent Gribbon, Jo’s husband, and the Latham family as they mourn Jo’s death and prepare for this service. (the service will also be live streamed and can be accessed here)

It is good to hear that Dr Nick and Dr Tessa Laing are home on leave from their mission work in Uganda. All are welcome to hear from them at an NZCMS sponsored meeting at St Barnabas Fendalton, 7.30pm Wednesday 11 December 2024. They will be speaking on the intriguing topic of Colonial Hangover or The Best Job Ever: the Overseas Mission Question.

The latest Anglican Life e-magazine is out, in time for Christmas, with the theme of Hope and a lot of really great reading as we head through Advent towards Christmas and the NZ holiday season; read it here.

I congratulate Archbishop Don Tamihere on achieving his Doctor of Philosophy from Charles Sturt University on the topic “Ka kohia atu awau ki tōku iwi: A Kauwhau Whakapapa Reading of Genesis 49:1-50:14.”

Recently a new theological studies diploma was launched at Hoani Tapu—St John’s Theological College, Auckland, with Gareth Bezett, Director of Theology House, representing our diocese at the event. This diploma is an NZQA-Christian Studies diploma with Te Takawai, an education network of Te Manawa o Te Wheke, Te Waipounamu, Te Tairāwhiti, and Te Upoko o te Ika Hui Amorangi, in which traditional Anglican theological studies is blended with mātauranga Mihinare to deliver world-class theological education. Beginning in 2025, this NZQA-accredited Level 5 diploma offers part-time study over two years in partnership with Te Takawai. The course will be delivered across Aotearoa New Zealand, combining block courses, online lectures, and local formation, ensuring graduates are equipped with a ministry foundation that authentically resonates with their communities. For Expressions of Interest, please click here. For prospective students from the Diocese of Christchurch, note that the main teaching site in our island will be at Te Waipounamu, Ferry Road, Christchurch.

On Saturday, Standing Committee and the Diocese’s Senior Leadership Team met in a joint workshop to begin work aligned with the Diocesan Mission Action Plan as we continue work on how our diocese is structured. The plan is to have a paper and any proposals in it for Synod to consider ready by early June 2025. One basic question for us as a diocese is whether we are “fit for purpose” in ever changing contexts of society as a whole and in respect of local communities.

On Sunday it was good to be with God’s people at St Mary’s Addington in the morning and at the Transitional Cathedral on Sunday evening. In both services we celebrated the first Sunday in Advent—our season of anticipation of the coming of Christ into the world.

On Monday morning, Dean Ben Truman and I led an early morning service inside the Cathedral in the Square. Since Monday was the last day on site for construction staff (that is from Naylor Love and from associated contractors), we gave thanks for their work to date and for the progress made on reinstatement of the Cathedral, and prayed that we may yet complete the work begun. Between now and Christmas there are opportunities to join tours of the cathedral, and as part of those tours to make donations for the City Mission, including presents to be placed at the foot of the City Mission’s special Christmas tree which has been reassembled inside the cathedral.

The Gospel Reading for Sunday 8 December 2024, Advent 2 is Luke 3:1-6. If last week we looked ahead through the words of Jesus himself to his Second Coming, then this Sunday we look through the eyes of John the Baptist, who envisages the mission of Jesus as God’s anointed servant who calls all humanity to repentance—to a change of mindset so that we are aligned with the rule of God in the world.

Arohanui,

+Peter.

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Anglican e-Life | 27 November 2024

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Dear Friends,

The Service of Thanksgiving for the life of the Reverend Joanne Latham Gribbon will be at 1.30pm Friday, 6 December 2024 in the Transitional Cathedral. All are welcome to this service. Clergy (at the wish of Jo) are asked not to robe but to wear our clerical shirts. Please pray for Brent Gribbon, Jo’s husband, and the Latham family as they mourn Jo’s death and prepare for this service. The service will be livestreamed and the link is here.

We had a wonderful ordination service on Saturday during which Robert Jamieson (for St Michael’s and All Angels), Andy Dickson (for All Souls, Merivale-St. Albans), Anne Shave (for the Transitional Cathedral) and Sage Burke (to be based in Methven, serving within Rakaia, Methven, and Mayfield-Mt Somers parishes) were ordained deacons. A big thank you to our preacher, Archdeacon Indrea Alexander, to the Reverend Jenny Wilkens for planning for the service, to Dean Ben Truman and the Cathedral staff for their hospitality, and to our musicians and morning tea organisers.

At the end of November, several clergy are concluding roles in our Diocese.

The Reverend Les Memory had his last Sunday in the Parish of Hornby, Templeton and West Melton on 24 November 2024. After eight years in charge of this parish, Les is moving into a different mode of life and ministry. I am very glad that after a long holiday through the summer, Les will be available for interim ministry. Thank you, Les and Margi, for your ministry together through these past eight years in this parish and wish them well for the future.

The Reverend Sue Dickson has also had her last Sunday, in the Waimate and Pareora district. Sue has been Priest-in-Charge since 1 December 2022 of firstly the Waimate District Cooperating Venture, then, since it was been dissolved, of the Mission Unit of Waimate District and Pareora. Thank you, Sue and Neil, for your ministry together through these past two years in this southern-most region of our Diocese’s east coast. I am glad you will continue to be available for ministry in South Canterbury.

The Reverend John de Senna at the end of this month completes his contract with the Diocese for the preparation and delivery of safe ministry training across our Diocese for licensed ministers. Nearly all our clergy, for instance, have participated in one of the many training days that John has organised and taught. A huge amount of work has both gone into this training and into development of our administration system in respect of knowing who among our licensed ministers has been trained and when that has occurred – safe ministry training is always recurrent and never “one off”. Thank you, John for your work among us.

In respect of safe ministry training and the future, I observe here that in 2025 we expect to see further progress on a national Anglican training response in the light of the Royal Commission on Abuse’s recommendations. During 2025, in the Diocese of Christchurch we will offer safe ministry training to licensed ministers provided by a contracted trainer external to the Diocese. We will continue, through the work of Nathan Muirhead, to continue training for our ministry unit safeguarding officers.

On Sunday evening, during Evensong at the Transitional Cathedral, Marcus Read was installed as a new Lay Canon. Across the Diocese services celebrated Christ the King and/or this “Sunday Before Advent” as “Stir Up Sunday”. One such celebration was at St Augustine’s, Te One, Chatham Islands, where our Missioner Priest to this parish, the Reverend Mike Hawke and Patsy Hawke have been on a pastoral visit.

On Monday evening I was able to hear and see Cole Yeoman‘s presentation on the suffering of Palestinians in the West Bank. Cole was able to visit the West Bank earlier this year and has brought back superb photos and short videos. Whatever views we may hold generally on conflict in the Middle East, or particularly about the genesis and continuity of the current conflicts in Gaza and southern Lebanon, it is manifestly unjust and frankly “terrifying” (i.e. a form of terrorism) that the Israeli government and Israeli Defence Force continually presides over the destruction of Palestinian homes and livelihoods on the West Bank, and permits two forms of law to apply there so that recent Israeli settlers are always privileged over Palestinian families who have lived for generations on their traditional land. I thank Cole for his vivid and challenging presentation of the raw deal Palestinians receive on the West Bank.

Archdeacon (also Canon) Mark Chamberlain has announced his retirement from his role as Archdeacon for Regeneration and Mission, effective 31 December 2024. Mark has also resigned as a Clerical Canon of Christ Church Cathedral from the same date. An opportunity to honour Mark’s contributions to our Diocese will take place at 4pm, Thursday 19 December 2024 in the Anglican Centre, 95 Tuam Street, Christchurch. All welcome.

We are blessed across our Diocese with superb musicians, excellent singers and a variety of worship styles to potentially choose from as we worship our God. Two special services of worship during the Advent season, to which all are welcome, take place in the Transitional Cathedral: the Advent Carol Service, 7pm this Sunday evening, and the Christmas Carol Service, at 7pm on Sunday, 22 December.

Congratulations to the Reverend Chris Ponniah has a new 0.5 FTE role. He will be the Director of Mission Interlink NZ – an organisation which supports a host of NZ mission agencies in their work in global and local mission.

The Chapel of the Upper Room at College House was re-opened a couple of years ago, after substantial fundraising to pay for its strengthening and post-quake repair. I am delighted that it is used through the year for College House services on significant occasions. It was also very pleasing to learn last week that it would be used for worship during a national conference of Spiritual Directors and then, this week, by Bishop Michael Gielen and the priests of the Catholic Diocese of Christchurch during their annual retreat.

The Gospel Reading for Sunday 1 December 2024, Advent 1 is Luke 21:25-36. It is all but impossible at this time of the year not to focus on the celebration at Christmas of Christ’s first coming, to say nothing of a busy round of End of Year events. Yet the first focus of the Advent season is on Christ’s Second Coming, on the day yet to come when Christ returns to judge the world and end human history. Our gospel reading, drawn from the Gospel of Luke, the gospel for the Year C of our lectionary cycle which begins this Sunday, looks ahead to that Coming and not back to Christ’s birth. Christ foresees a future time of trial and tribulation for his followers before the End takes place. Are we ready and waiting for Christ’s return? Are we active in doing what Christ wants us to do as his faithful servants?

Arohanui,

+Peter.

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Anglican e-Life | 20 November 2024

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Dear Friends,

This Saturday I am looking forward to ordaining as deacons Robert Jamieson (for St Michael and All Angels), Andy Dickson (for All Souls, Merivale-St Albans), Anne Shave (for the Transitional Cathedral) and Sage Burke (to be based in Methven, serving within Rakaia, Methven, and Mayfield-Mt Somers parishes). All are welcome to the service at 10.30am on Saturday 23 November in the Transitional Cathedral. Clergy are asked to robe with red stoles. Please pray for our ordinands as they are in retreat this week, and for their retreat leader, Archdeacon Indrea Alexander, who will also be the preacher at the service.

On Sunday night it was a privilege to be part of a moving final service for Antioch, the 7pm evening service at St Barnabas, Fendalton which has been a feature of the life of that parish for the past 17 years.

This week, Monday to Wednesday, our Diocese has been hosting a conference for diocesan general managers, finance managers and registrars from dioceses across the Anglican Church of Australia and the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia. Over 70 people have been involved in this conference which has been based at the Novotel in the Square but has included visits to the Cathedral, the Transitional Cathedral, All Souls, Merivale-St Albans and St Peter’s, Upper Riccarton-Yaldhurst. Everyone has enjoyed being in Christchurch (which, as always, is particularly beautiful at this time of the year) and complimented Edwin Boyce, our Diocesan Manager, on his superb organisation of the conference. Planning for this conference has involved a lot of work, over more than a year, for Edwin and his local team from within our Anglican Centre (Lynda Alexander, Scott Walters, Veronica Cross in particular) and I thank them all for their energy and enthusiasm in this task!

Following yesterday’s hikoi about the Treaty principles bill (the subject of a Special e-Life yesterday), I draw your attention to two recent newspaper articles. First, a report on some specific Treaty action in the Diocese of Wellington, seeking to right a wrong from the past over land. Then, secondly, a report on past writing of current National MP, Tama Potaka, who rightly makes the point that debate on the Treaty should be led by Māori – something which is not happening with the Treaty principles bill. Finally, I note that the text of the bill can be read at this link.

This Sunday afternoon, during the 5pm Evensong at the Transitional Cathedral, the dean and I will be installing Marcus Read as a new lay canon. All are welcome to this service.

Continuing our emphasis on Discipleship, within the Regeneration of our Diocese, I note that at 2pm on Saturday 30 November 2024, there is a launch for a missional discipleship gap year, under the oversight of Headspace NZ – led by Jon Slack, a member of one of our parishes in our Diocese. Details for the event and for the gap year programme can be found at the following links: Facebook and website.

Please pray for:
- Healing for the Reverend Jo Gribbon (nee Latham) (Hanmer Springs).
- The Diocese of Dunedin preparing for its electoral synod which will take place over the weekend 22-24 November 2024.
- Andy Dickson, Robert Jamieson, Anne Shave and Sage Burke preparing for ordination as deacons.
- Peace and justice in all places torn apart by war, destruction and chaos.
The Gospel Reading for Sunday 24 November is John 18:33-37. There is a lot going on this Sunday which can be celebrated as “Christ the King” or “The Reign of Christ” or as Aotearoa Sunday or as the Sunday before Advent often known as Stir Up Sunday from the Book of Common Prayer collect for that celebration, “Stir up, O Lord, the wills of your faithful people…”. Focusing on Christ the King, as we look around our world today, we see some very, very poor if not downright evil leadership by those who are our modern kings (i.e. presidents and prime ministers). For example, even before he has become president, Trump is signalling he wishes to promote vassals with appalling personal lives and philosophies which could literally kill people (e.g. through rejection of vaccinations). Our privilege as God’s people is to know the best king ever – the King of kings and Lord of lords – who is truly wise and reliably beneficent.

Arohanui,

+Peter.

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Anglican e-Life | 13 November 2024

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Dear Friends,

I am conscious that for many readers the news of the day is the resignation of Archbishop Justin Welby as Archbishop of Canterbury. Nevertheless, I will note this news near the bottom of this message and stick to the order I otherwise had in mind before this news broke.

Archdeacon Mark Chamberlain: when Mark was appointed to begin his work as our Archdeacon for Regeneration and Mission, in early 2022, it was for a three-year term, to lead work across the Diocese which implemented the DMAP. The three-year term ends shortly and Mark wishes to transition into an active retirement mode from the beginning of 2025. Accordingly, I have accepted Mark’s resignation as our Archdeacon for Regeneration and Mission, effective Tuesday, 31 December 2024. Nevertheless, I am delighted that in 2025 Mark will continue one important aspect of his current work: he will continue to lead Mission Impact Reviews for the ministry units of our Diocese (in a 0.1 FTE role). I will be working with Standing Committee on how we will continue the other work Mark has been leading.

I am pleased to announce that the Reverend Jo Cotton (Parish of Fendalton) will move to the role of Assistant Priest (0.5 FTE) of the Parish of South Christchurch from Sunday, 2 February 2025. Jo will be working with her husband the Reverend Jeff Cotton who is Vicar of South Christchurch.

I remind readers that all are invited to share in the ordination service for Robert Jamieson, Andy Dickson, Anne Shave and Sage Burke who will be ordained deacons at 10.30am on Saturday 23 November in the Transitional Cathedral. Clergy are asked to robe with red stoles. Please pray for our ordinands as they go into retreat next week, and for their retreat leader, Archdeacon Indrea Alexander, who will also be the preacher at the service.

On Friday it was a privilege to share in the requiem eucharist for Sr Annette of the Community of the Sacred Name. About 85 colleagues, friends, CSN supporters and local parishioners were present for this moving occasion, led by the CSN Warden, the Reverend Dr Geoff Haworth.

On Sunday it was good to be with a very full congregation at St Barnabas’, Woodend-Pegasus, for the confirmation of Amy, Cohen, Luke, Nadia and Sue.

Through Monday and Tuesday this week around 25 people from across the Diocese participated in Building a Discipling Culture training held at the Riccarton Community Church. Within the Regeneration of the Diocese discipleship is a significant emphasis (along with families and communities). A noted strength of Building a Discipling Culture is that disciples are followers of Jesus who make disciples… who make disciples – the principle of multiplication.

Last Wednesday I offered congratulations here to Dame Sue Bagshaw on the opening of the Youth Hub in Salisbury Street, Christchurch. Yesterday I was able to be at an event at the Youth Hub where donors and supporters of the project were thanked, and given a tour around the facilities. I appreciated, on behalf of the Anglican Care Trust Board, that the provision of the land by this board was acknowledged, along with Bishop Victoria, whose initiative it was that support for the Youth Hub should be given by the board.

St Mark’s School, Opawa, held a wonderful fair on Saturday. The school is celebrating a noted success by a group of its students (Lucas C, Aaish P, Harry S, Indi J, Lucy H and Violet J) who secured first place in the Language Literature category for Primary Schools at the Tournament of Minds International Finals 2024 hosted recently in New South Wales.

Cursillo is a “Short Course in Christian Living”. In Diocesan Cursillo news, the next Diocesan Cursillo weekend is 21–23 March 2025 at Cracroft, Christchurch, with Heather Driessen as Lay Director for the weekend. The next Diocesan Ultreya service / commissioning is on Friday 6 December 2024 at St Nicholas’ church, Barrington Street, Christchurch. It begins at 5.30pm with an “own food” tea and follows at 6.45pm with worship and commissioning of the Cursillo weekend team. Further details from Don Pilgrim.

Please pray for:
- Healing for the Reverend Jo Gribbon (nee Latham) (Hanmer Springs).
- The Diocese of Dunedin preparing for its electoral synod which will take place over the weekend 22-24 November 2024.
- Andy Dickson, Robert Jamieson, Anne Shave and Sage Burke preparing for ordination as deacons.
- Peace and justice in all places torn apart by war, destruction and chaos.
Sale of St Albans’, Ohoka: a recent Press article reported that this church, which we sold recently, is being used by the Sons of the Redeemer, a Catholic group sometimes also known as the Alpine Redemptorists, and currently controversial due to media-reported exorcism practices. Their priests are not licensed to preside over the Mass. There may be a further Press report before the end of this week. I share with you what we have conveyed to the Press in answer to questions they have raised on the assumption that we knowingly sold to this group – we did not. “We sold the church via a lawyer for a trust to be formed. The name of the trust concerned a group styled ‘friends of St Albans’. At no point in our dealings with the lawyer was there information provided that identified that the effective owner would turn out to be the Alpine Redemptorists.” Our relationship with Bishop Michael Gielen and the Catholic Diocese of Christchurch is very important to us. Bishop Michael and I have been in communication in the course of the past week, and he understands that we sold the church in good faith to a potential ownership trust whose stated purposes betrayed no connection with the Alpine Redemptorists.

Last week President Trump was elected to be President of the United States of America. He will take office in January 2025. His policies (as actually enacted, not whatever we may have heard in the past months) may or may not make the world a safer place. Meanwhile the conflicts I have been drawing attention to, in Gaza/West Bank/southern Lebanon, in Ukraine and in Sudan continue. As do severe restrictions on rights of women to live as freely as men in countries such as Iran and Afghanistan. There is much evil in the world. The kingdom of God is not yet established on earth as in heaven. Armistice Day on Monday earlier this week should remind us that war is only guaranteed to achieve unnecessary death and destruction. We pray more earnestly than ever for peace and justice in all our world – in every corner, since God’s love is for the whole world. In our corner, the Treaty principles bill is galvanising protest which rightly argues that this bill undermines the Treaty as the cornerstone of just and peaceful relationships between Pākehā and Māori.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has announced his resignation. The publication this week of the Makin Report into the Church of England’s handling of complaints about the sadistic abuse of young men by a layman, John Smyth QC, has highlighted some mistakes Archbishop Welby made in his response to the situation – mistakes he has admitted he has made. Pressure from many quarters within the Church of England, including a public call for ++Welby to resign by Bishop Helen-Ann Hartley, has rapidly mounted and ++Welby has had no alternative but to resign in order to maintain confidence in the organisation of the Church of England as a whole.

One of the best ‘explainers’ of this situation is at this link (albeit written shortly before the resignation was announced).

And a very good episcopal statement, by Bishop Guli of Chelmsford, in the light of the news is at this link. For official announcements, I note the following, copied from an Anglican Communion News Service email this morning: “You can also read [the resignation statement] on the Anglican Communion News Service here. For more information visit the Lambeth Palace website here”. I understand that our Archbishops will also be working today on a statement.

Let’s pray: for all survivors of abuse, and especially the survivors of John Smyth’s abuse; for Archbishop Justin and Caroline Welby; for all in our church who seek to improve our safeguarding processes, from training ourselves to be safe and to lead a safe church through to how we handle complaints and redress; and for our nation as we continue the work of the Royal Commission, noting yesterday’s formal state apology made in parliament.

The Gospel Reading for Sunday is Mark 13:1-8. The disciples want to know when the event of the destruction of the temple will happen. Jesus wants them to remain faithful to him and his gospel message. A date in the diary is not vital to Christian engagement with the future. What is vital is not being led astray in the run through the future to the end of all things – a conclusion to history that will occur in God’s good time.

Arohanui,

+Peter.

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