What we do
“To be church is to be missionary; to be Methodist is to be ecumenical.”
This statement reflects the commitment of Methodist Mission and Ecumenical (MME) as part of the ethos of ecumenical diakonia and koinonia of the Methodist Church of New Zealand - Te Hāhi Weteriana O Aotearoa.
Our diakonia is to promote an understanding of international mission as joining evangelism and ministry to human needs, concern for social justice and for the world. This is represented particularly in mission with the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea; and more broadly in partnership with the ecumenical overseas aid agency Christian World Service, and through our relationships with international ecumenical bodies.
Our koinonia is also for mission, to work towards embodying Jesus’ prayer the “they may all be one … so the world may believe” (John 17: 21-22). This is expressed internationally in our active membership of international ecumenical bodies, domestically in the National Dialogue for Christian Unity, and in our bilateral dialogues in conjunction with Faith and Order. A specific relationship with Te Runanga Whakawhanaunga i Nga Hāhi O Aotearoa is nurtured directly by Te Taha Māori.
Who we are
Governance of the work of MME is given by the Mission and Ecumenical Board, which is appointed by and reports to MCNZ Conference. The management of the functions of MME is the responsibility of a Director, who is a ‘Connexional Appointment’ of Conference.
Board Chairperson: Jackie McGeorge
Director (acting): Rev. Tony Franklin-Ross
BCom, BTheol, BTheol (Hons) [Auckland]; CCEcumSt [Bossey/Geneva]; CA
Tony has been in this role since October 2020, currently serving on a part-time basis (three-quarters of full-time). He draws on a longstanding commitment and experience in practical, academic and spiritual expressions of ecumenism for the purposes of Christian unity and mission for justice and peace.
Tony has previously served MCNZ in parish appointments (Aotea Chapel in Auckland, Trinity Methodist in Napier), and as Co-Superintendent of the Lower North Island District Synod. He is a member of MCNZ’s Faith and Order Committee, member of the Methodist-Roman Catholic Dialogue, and Methodist Co-Chair of the Anglican-Methodist Dialogue; and the Secretary for the National Dialogue for Christian Unity. He has previously served on Council of Conference, including as Tauiwi Co-Convenor, and Tauiwi Strategy and Stationing; and various other committees.
Tony is the Chairperson of the Ecumenical Relationships Standing Committee of the World Methodist Council; is a member of the Council and its Steering Committee.
Prior to ordained ministry, Tony was an accountant.
Contacts
Director (acting): Rev Tony Franklin-Ross
Phone: (+64 0)21-481 816 (mobile)
Address:
C/- 20a Georgina Street
Freemans Bay
Auckland 1011
New Zealand
Email Rev Tony Franklin-Ross
Our Vision
Our vision is to support and strengthen the mission and ecumenical understandings of the Methodist Church of New Zealand by:
- Working to further develop effective communication with parishes, rohe and co-operative ventures, through monthly newsletters, occasional papers, information leaflet and articles in "Touchstone".
- Developing ecumenical understandings and commitment throughout the connexion using the "To be Methodist is to be Ecumenical" paper.
- Using the "Transforming Mission" paper as a working paper that provides a theological base for the work of the committee and secretary.
- Strengthening partnership relationships with the United Church of Papua New Guinea and the United Church of the Solomon Islands through personal visits, regular correspondence and sharing of resources.
- Strengthening relationships with ecumenical agencies of which the Methodist Church of New Zealand is a member – Conference of Churches of Aotearoa New Zealand, Christian World Service, Christian Conference of Asia, and the World Council of Churches.
- Producing resources (study and liturgical) on ecumenism and mission, suitable for use in parishes and rohe.