Touchstone

November 2025

Welcome to the  November issue of Touchstone.

Grace and Transformation are key themes this month.

Trinity College recently hosted German theologian Dr Joerg Rieger. During a regional seminar series he shared  ideas on revisioning Methodism. Grace, mercy, solidarity and revolution were explored from a Wesleyan lens as Rieger encouraged and challenged seminar participants to be open to transformation and to a vision beyond institutional survival to one of “spiritual revolution”. Rev Abhishek Solomon accompanied Professor Rieger and in the lead article he reports on the key messages in the seminars.

The concept of transformation will be deliberated at Conference 2025 later this month. More than 240 people have registered to attend Conference that will be hosted online from the Mornington Methodist Parish in Dunedin from 11 to 15 November. The theme ‘God’s Aroha – a Call to Sacred Transformation” will guide reflection, and plenary session presentations and workshops. The General Secretary Tara Tautari  provides an overview of Conference 2025 and the key areas of discernment included in the five-day programme that will determine the ongoing mission and transformation of MCNZ.

Vice President Rev Peter Norman has given serious consideration to the evolution and transformation of the Methodist Church in Aotearoa and in the first of a two part series, he invites readers to imagine a church where “grace sounds with Aotearoa’s accent - a living movement of compassion, covenant, and co-creation.”

He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tāngata, he tāngata, he tāngata.

What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people. 

Te Hāhi Weteriana o Aotearoa lost a wise and faithful servant of God and church with the recent passing of highly respected Rev Donald Phillipps.  We share tributes from Rev Tara Tautari and Rev David Poultney who reflected on Donald’s life and legacy at a funeral service in Otepoti, Dunedin on 11 October.

Donald has been a long-time contributor to Touchstone and a lifelong taonga for Methodism in Aotearoa with his encyclopedic knowledge of the history of the Church and its people. His unwavering commitment to the bicultural journey and his ability to listen and create space for conversation were traits that deeply influenced his life and ministry.

One year on, the Ex Presidential team Rev Peter Taylor and TeRito Peyroux Semu, reflect on life beyond their term as MCNZ leaders.  Each of them is embracing new and different opportunities drawing on their unique skills, geographical locations and local communities.

As always, I hope you will find news and contributions that inform and inspire. I remind readers that the Touchstone content in the PDF is a reduced version of articles on the website. The PDF is designed to be printed and shared with those who do not have access to online forums, or prefer to read content off screen .