Dear Friends,
Thank you for your prayers for our Synod this past weekend. We managed to get through all the business before us. My Presidential Address is available to read at: https://www.anglicanlife.org.nz/christchurch-diocesan-synod/.
Among decisions made, I want to underline the following to you:
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support for CPT and Standing Committee finding a way forward to fund two contributions to the Re:Opening of the Cathedral ($20m and $15m), provided that other major contributions to the $95m are either in promised or we are confident of securing them;
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$160,000 is our target for giving to Anglican Missions Board across the Diocese;
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Standing Committee will commission a working group to develop policy on AI use in the Diocese; and
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a suite of policy templates will be developed by Diocesan staff for the use of all ministry units in order to save administrative time in ministry units across our Diocese.
(Papers for the Synod are publicly available at: https://www.anglicanlife.org.nz/christchurch-diocesan-synod/, but readers should not assume each motion or all parts of each bill were passed).
In respect of elections at Synod, congratulations to Archdeacon Nick Mountfort (to Standing Committee) and the Reverend Sue Paton (to the Craighead Diocesan School Board of Proprietors), both elected unopposed, and to the Reverend Dr Carolyn Robertson and the Reverend Peg Riley, elected to the Church Property Trustees.
Through the past week, ministry units have been receiving copies of the latest print version of our Diocesan AnglicanLife magazine. This issue’s theme is “Growth: Grow Wherever God Plants You” and it comes with a bonus feature. The latest VIP Tamariki Magazine is bound into the middle of it. Please take a copy of the magazine home with you this Sunday if you have not done so already.
On Sunday morning it was good share in worship with God’s people at St. Bartholomew’s, Kaiapoi. Since Sunday evening I have been in Auckland for meetings of the Tikanga Pakeha Ministry Council, the Tikanga Pakeha house of bishops and the house of bishops for our whole church. Today, we meet with the Catholic bishops of New Zealand to discuss matters of common interest between our churches.
On Monday morning, the Reverend Felicity Whitcombe died after a sudden illness. Felicity was ordained deacon in 2002 and priested in 2003 in the Diocese of Nelson where she served in the Parish of Spring Creek (2002-2005) and at Victory Community Church (2005-2013). She served as a Canon of Christ Church Cathedral, Nelson (2013-14) before moving to Christchurch to become Vicar of Kaiapoi (2014-2016). After two interim ministries, in the Parish of Geraldine and as chaplain at The Cathedral Grammar School, Felicity became Vicar of Woodend-Pegasus in 2018. Unfortunately, ill-health led to her retirement from that role in 2019. Please pray for her husband, the Reverend Aubrey Whitcombe and their family as they prepare for her funeral which will be at 11am, tomorrow, Thursday 10 September 2026 at Grace Vineyard Church, Beach Campus, 111 Seaview Road, New Brighton (access and parking through Beresford Street).
Many readers will have seen video footage of the terrifying floods which swept down from the China/Tibet/Nepal border into Nepal, with large loss of life, many missing persons and destruction of villages. Financial assistance in response to this disaster may be given via our Anglican Missions Board with details at: https://www.anglicantaonga.org.nz/news/worldwide/nepal_appeal_am.
All are invited to the annual Michaelmas service at 7pm Tuesday 29 September 2026, at St. Michael and All Angels, Oxford Terrace, Christchurch. In 2026 we are celebrating on this occasion 175 years since the establishment of the Parish of St. Michael and All Angels. Our guest preach is Archbishop Emeritus Sir David Moxon. Refreshments in the parish hall follow after the service.
As we head to the General Election on Saturday 7 November, Common Grace Aotearoa is mobilising churches for election enrolment. Their recommendation, which I support is that our churches hold an “Enrolment Sunday” in the second half of September (13/20/27 September) to inform their church members of the enrolment deadline. What this could involve for a local church is: Play a 3-minute video as a notice during a service about why and how to enrol, tailor-made for a church audience. This video features Archbishop Justin Duckworth, Catholic Archbishop Paul Martin, and others, available on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GSD-XRckhI. Also, enrolment forms and laptops can be made available to people can update their details have a service on Enrolment Sunday, via: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/sign-up-to-be-an-enrolmentturnout-champion-in-your-faith-community deadline for enrolment / changing details is Sunday, 25 October. For further details, please email Kate Day.
This Saturday, 12 September 2026 at Theology House, 95 Tuam Street, Christchurch, 9am to 3pm, you are welcome to participate in “Science for Churches”, a day-long seminar, free to students, $15 for others, featuring Steph Bevan, Joshua Wilson-Black, Cirũ Muriuki, William Hurren, Philip Pattemore and a Climate Panel of Richard Milne, Kathleen Rushton RSM. Delicious morning tea provided. For lunch, bring your own or head to nearby cafes. More details at: https://theologyhouse.ac.nz/events/science-for-the-churches-seminar/.
This coming Sunday, 13 September 2026 is Ordinary 24 and the Gospel is the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, Matthew 18:21-35. The message here is simple (forgive others, as generously as your Heavenly Father has forgiven you) and consistent with what Jesus says elsewhere, most notably when teaching us to pray: “Forgive us the wrongs we have done as we forgive the wrongs others have done to us.”
Arohanui,
+Peter.