The current situation at St Ronan's
St Ronan's Future - update from September 2010 Record
On Sunday 1st August the Interim Moderator (Peter MacKenzie) outlined some possible options for ministry in St Ronan's. Parish members were asked to consider all of the options and to talk with each other about what might be realistic and what might be unacceptable.
The next meeting is to be held on Sunday 5 th September to give more clarification on which option(s) might be further explored. Please think about these and build up your own ideas so we can discuss options, and make progress.
Options: Each of the options below has positive and negative elements.
There is a need to balance:
- the financial capabilities of the parish,
- the potential for development,
- the human resources of an ageing membership, and
- the situation of the local community environment.
Staying Independent
- Employ someone on half stipend
- Share a ministry with another parish
- Hire full-time "mission" position
- Employ locum ministries (retired, overseas)
- Appoint intentional Interim Ministry to lead change
- Move toward a lay ministry team
Co-operating with Others
- Become part of Hutt City Uniting Congregations
- Work with Knox, Lower Hutt
- Seek partnership with local churches (Anglican and/or Catholic)
Sunday 5 th September 2010
Congregational meeting & AGM with our Interim Moderator
Rev. Peter MacKenzie
Procedures in the vacancy
Now that Rev Sa Si'itia-Asi has gone, St Ronan's is required to follow established Presbyterian procedures in the vacancy.
Through it all, the parish needs to be working closely with the Wellington Presbytery (of PCANZ, the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand ) and its appointee as Interim Moderator, Rev Peter MacKenzie. It is the role of the Interim Moderator to ensure that ministry continues to be provided in the parish.
The Interim Moderator will consult with the parish on the most suitable arrangements during the vacancy, which could include any of the following:
- Pulpit Supply - where a minister(s) from another parish(es) provides Sunday worship, or a lay preacher from our congregation takes the service
- Stated Supply - the temporary appointment of an ordained minister during the vacancy
- Transition Ministry - a ministry provided by a specially-trained lay or ordained minister to a parish through a time of change and for a fixed period of six to 18 months
The Interim Moderator, a team from Wellington Presbytery, and representatives from the congregation will meanwhile be considering ways for a new appointment to St Ronan's.
Douglas Day
St Ronan's Interim Moderator will be Rev Peter MacKenzie.
Peter's experience includes minister of Johnsonville Uniting Parish, St Paul 's Presbyterian Church Oamaru, Cheviot Presbyterian Church, ministry in the United Church of Canada, Presbytery Clerk North Otago, Moderator Wellington Presbytery, active participation on Wellington JRC, and active participation in Wellington Synod and Methodist Conference.
Peter is currently Executive Officer for the Uniting Congregations of Aotearoa New Zealand (UCANZ).
We look forward to working with Peter on the future options for St Ronan's.
Simon Shaw