UCANZ

Kia ora e te whanau

It’s officially winter. I know, not everyone will agree – it depends on your metric.

Church Life Survey

Yes, I’m giving this another push.

The 2023 Church Life Survey NZ is a nationwide survey of church attenders.

This is a 1-in-5 year opportunity for our movement to gain information from our attenders on demographics, church life, community, faith & leadership. These insights will be helpful for future decision making, for benchmarking in this post-COVID era.

If we miss this year, it’ll be 5 years before we have another opportunity

It will cost you nothing except a little time, energy and engagement - UCANZ has committed to funding survey costs.

The survey opened at the end of May and runs through into early November. We encourage all churches to participate. It will give valuable information to each congregation about its own life, and will help us as a movement to see where we are positioned and what shifts might be required to enhance our future.

You can register by following this link.

Our group code is 316363

A draft questionnaire can be seen here.

Please be in touch with the office for more details, or check out their website. We’ll continue beating this drum as we believe it’s too good an opportunity to miss.

When you participate you will invite all church attenders to complete a 12–14 minute survey via their smartphone, computer, or pen & paper. The survey will be available in English, Māori, Samoan, Tongan, Fijian, Chinese, Korean, Tagalog, Hindi & Spanish.

An invitation from Sharlene – one of our Standing Committee Members

‘The NZ Methodist Women's Fellowship is having their Convention on October 12^th to the 15th . Can those that are interested email Sharlene Malaeimi [E-Mail not displayed]. I would like to see if there are a number of lovely ladies from UCANZ who would like to attend our fellowship event (I can give more details if they are interested). There is a fee, we will be staying together at the Sudima hotel - this covers their room, food etc. If you require more information, please let me know.’

Lower North Island tour

As announced and repeating what I wrote last week, I’ve booked my Ferry Tickets – crossing over to Wellington on Friday the 23^rd of June, and back to Picton on Monday the 10^th of July.

The tour is being co-ordinated by Sarah Laurenson – Secretary of the Lower North Island Synod of the Methodist Church. Given that 30 out of the 36 Parishes in this synod are part of UCANZ it seemed like a useful partnership to capitalise on. The area we will be seeking to cover is that roughly below the line from New Plymouth to Napier. I anticipate covering above the line in the not-too-distant future.

This will give me three Sundays in the district – I’d love to be able to ‘preach’ as often as possible. While I’d prefer to ‘preach only’ with others taking care of the rest of the service, I’m happy to do multiple services each Sunday. I’d love to meet with leadership of as many churches as possible on weekdays / evenings and am more than happy to stay in your homes where hospitality is offered.

Please be in contact with Sarah at [E-Mail not displayed] if this appeals in any way. My goal is to be a source of encouragement as much as I can, to get to know you and the challenges you face.  I may not be able to solve all, or any, of your problems – I will give a listening ear and reflect on what possibilities might lie before you.

Personal and Leadership resources

Procrastination has been a regular companion of mine. A tendency to put off that which may be a little challenging.  I have a battery of articles on this. I’ll share two

Procrastination is an Emotional Problem This article drills down to the core of the issue, and ultimately offers a relatively simple strategy to get going. It can be read here.

 Try these strategies to beat procrastiworking and really get stuff done

And a much shorter offering, addressing the issue of ‘busywork’ – what the article refers to as ‘procrastiworking’ – avoiding ‘real’ work by filling in the time allowing the illusion that one has put in a good days work focussed on the unimportant. It can be read here.

But wait, there’s more.

I was on the road one evening, some years back, listening to National Radio and this song came on and grabbed me – really spoke to my procrastinating tendencies.  A group called Stornoway. The song? ‘The Great Procrastinator’. It can be heard here.

And finally, Another Homily  

The Gospel lectionary for this coming Sunday, the 11^th of June, is Mt 9 vs 9-13, 18-26. I have chosen to focus on the first section concerning the calling of Matthew. I’ve titled it The Grace of an Unlikely Choice. Clearly he was a problematic option and Jesus uses the push-back as an opportunity for a teaching moment. It can be experienced here.

Kind regards / Ngā Manaakitanga

Andrew Doubleday
Ministry Facilitator

Kia ora e te whanau

Serendipity – an Ordination

This Sunday past I had the joy of joining with hundreds of others at the ordination of Rev Lynmaree Sopoaga (affectionately known as ‘Aunty Lyn) at Trinity Darfield, 40 minutes out of Christchurch.

Aunty Lyn was ordained to the Local Ordained Ministry of the Presbyterian Church. Five years into her ministry and the measure of affection for her – from the locals, from the people of Trinity Pacific from whence she had come, and from the wider church, was palpable. In terms of joyous occasions it set the bar very high. It expressed something of the best of the Christian community which drew from its breadth – one of the real strengths of being part of the Cooperating Ventures movement.

I’ve linked a couple of photos belong from Trinity Pacific’s Facebook page. The first gives a sense of the way in which we were all packed in.

The second, of the laying on of hands – specifically chosen of its importance and because I’m in it.

Lower North Island tour

I’ve booked my Ferry Tickets – crossing over to Wellington on Friday the 23^rd of June, and back to Picton on Monday the 10^th of July.

The tour is being co-ordinated by Sarah Laurenson – Secretary of the Lower North Island Synod of the Methodist Church. Given that 30 out of the 36 Parishes in this synod are part of UCANZ it seemed like a useful partnership to capitalise on. The area we will be seeking to cover is that below the line from New Plymouth to Napier. I anticipate covering above the line in the not-too-distant future.

This will give me three Sundays in the district – I’d love to be able to ‘preach’ as often as possible. While I’d prefer to ‘preach only’ with others taking care of the rest of the service, I’m happy to do multiple services each Sunday. I’d love to meet with leadership of as many churches as possible on weekdays / evenings and am more than happy to stay in your homes where hospitality is offered.

Please be in contact with Sarah at [E-Mail not displayed] if this appeals in any way. My goal is to be a source of encouragement as much as I can, to get to know you and the challenges you face.  I may not be able to solve all, or any, of your problems – I will give a listening ear and reflect on what possibilities might lie before you.

Personal and Leadership resources

This one resonated with me – as a teenager believing I’d never marry as the idea of standing in front of a church full of people freaked me out – I can attest to the truth of this article. How Emotionally Intelligent People Use the Yerkes-Dodson Law to Turn Anxiety and Stress Into Optimal Performance and Achievement. Not all stress is bad – a measure of stress allows us to operate at a higher level. We need to learn how to make it work for us rather than against us. The article can be read here.

And finally, Another Homily  

This one is based on the gospel this coming Sunday – Matthew’s account of the giving of the Great Commission. As I sat with the text I was so struck by oddness of it all that I end up not talking about the Commission at all (presumably you’ve heard many discourses on this text). Instead I address why Matthew may have chosen to present this Commission in the way that he did. I hope you find it helpful as you continue to discern what is important in the life God has called each of you to.

As I’ve said before, use these messages as you will. I did hear of a region in Australia of 170 churches with only 4 fulltime paid clergy resourcing them. Apparently using this technology to share resources is key to how it is done. This Sunday’s homily can be seen here.

Kind regards / Ngā Manaakitanga

Andrew Doubleday
Ministry Facilitator

Kia ora e te whanau

Yep, me, Andrew, again.

First, a reminder that we’ve signed up for the Church Life Survey.

It will give valuable information to each congregation about your own life, and will help us as a movement to see where we are positioned and what shifts might be required to enhance our future.

The 2023 Church Life Survey NZ is nationwide survey of church attenders.

It’s a 1-in-5 year opportunity for our movement to gain information from our attenders on demographics, church life, community, faith & leadership. These insights will be helpful for future decision making, for benchmarking in this post-COVID era.

It will also contribute to a national picture of NZ church life.

UCANZ has committed to funding the survey costs. The survey opens this week - on the 26^th of this month, and runs through into early November. We encourage all churches to participate.

We understand that your results will be available in real time.

When you participate you will invite all church attenders to complete a 12–14-minute survey via their smartphone, computer, or pen & paper. The survey will be available in English, Māori, Samoan, Tongan, Fijian, Chinese, Korean, Tagalog, Hindi & Spanish.

You can register by following this link.

Our group code is 316363

Then simply follow the on-screen instruction.

Please be in touch with the office for more details, especially if you get stuck. We’ll keep beating this drum as we believe it to be important.

Personal and Leadership resources

Fear of failure preventing you from becoming at least an approximation of who you could be? This one might be for you

Breaking the Cycle of Self-Sabotage - How to Overcome the “Golden Larva Syndrome”

A roadmap for identifying and overcoming the self-defeating habits that hold you back.

It can be read here.

And now for something completely different. Not so much about leadership and personal development so much as interest with theological implications. Over the years I’ve though a fair amount about death. Mostly anticipating my own. The issue has been sharpened over this past weekend by one of my best friends being one day’s worth of antibiotics away from not making it through the night. He made it.

I came across a couple of articles that I found stimulating – they speak to the day in which we find ourselves. Both are on the Big Think website. The first is titled A longer life often means a worse death and can be read here.

It holds up a mirror to our attitudes toward death and the lengths as a culture we go to in delaying it as long as possible without thinking too deeply whether or not the trade-off in misery is worth it.

The second article Why Death Matters highlights, as the article describes, ‘to be alive is always to live in a “precarious condition.”’ Life itself needs to be constantly recreated – there is a need for death, renewal, change within the living organism to actually keep it alive. Life is a risky business. At times tenuous. It can be read here.

And finally, Another Homily  

I know it’s Pentecost Sunday coming up. Usually we use the Acts passage. Since I’ve committed myself to the Gospel text for each Sunday, this time we will look at the alternative gospel text. The primary gospel text is John 20 vs 19-23, but I put up a homily based on this text for 16^th of April and have nothing further I wish to add. So this week, it John 7 vs 37-39 which is set in the Feast of Tabernacles/Booths/Sukkot. It is a prefiguring of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that happened at Pentecost. My title ‘How Thirsty are you?’ It can be experienced here.

Kind regards / Ngā Manaakitanga

Andrew Doubleday
Ministry Facilitator

Forum 2023 is receding further into the past. The talks by Dr Peter Lineham remain available on YouTube. They cannot be accessed without this link.

Rev Mary Peterson

Last week we acknowledged Mary’s passing and expressed gratitude for all that she has given to the wider church over an extended period of time.

A celebration of Mary's life will be held in the Grahamstown Chapel, 102 Kirkwood Street, Thames, on Monday 22nd May, at 1pm, followed by private cremation. Messages to: [E-Mail not displayed]

Church Life Survey NZ

UCANZ has committed to funding survey costs. The survey opens at the end of May and runs through into November. We encourage all churches to participate. It will give valuable information to each congregation about its own life, and will help us as a movement to see where we are positioned and what shifts might be required to enhance our future.

You can register by following this link.

Our group code is 316363

Please be in touch with the office for more details. We’ll keep beating this drum as we believe it to be important. More details to follow.

Personal and Leadership resources

Navigating Road Blocks

Get stuck when you hit obstacles and disheartened when you fail to meet targets or complete tasks you’ve set for yourself? As a serial procrastinator (apparently something like 80% of us are – so we’re in good company) I was encouraged by a set of strategies proposed by Nora Tobin in this Fast-Company article. Of course, reading an article is one thing. It’s easier to be like the one who reads the article but does not do what it says. Much like someone who looks at their face in a mirror and, after looking at themself, goes away and immediately forgets what they look like. (James 1:23,24). The value is in applying the specific strategies that Tobin advocates. Desperation is a wonderful motivator. Her article can be read here.

Using Either of These 2 Words Will Change How People Hear What You Say

Minda Zetlin advocates a simple change that will make our communications ‘stickier’ – helping our audience experience a greater level of identification and hence a greater likelihood of getting on board with what we’re saying. As one who has consistently advocated and sought to model owning my own ‘stuff’, this is inviting me to review that strategy. It can be read here.

And finally, Another Homily – actually two of them.

I found two distinct themes and could not prioritise one over the other. The Gospel text for this coming Sunday is John 17:1-11.

Titled ‘Glory’, I have an alternative look at what Jesus intends when he speaks of his coming glory and his intention to glorify God.

And

Titled ‘Eternal Life’. I briefly examine what this gift looks like and Jesus intention that it is something we might experience now, rather than needing to be dead before we can appropriate it.

Kind regards / Ngā Manaakitanga

Andrew Doubleday
Ministry Facilitator

Kia ora e te whanau

Once again I have expanded the mailing list.

If you have received this email, and wish to be removed, please let me know. I’ve not yet mastered the subscribe/unsubscribe technology. It’s on my ‘to do’ list. My intention is that a weekly UCANZ update continues to be sent out – typically on a Tuesday.

Forum 2023 has come and gone.

We shared a rich time together. Dr Peter Lineham was inspirational – both with his scholarly presentation, and with his warmth and generosity.

His three presentations can be accessed on YouTube here.

Grieved Acknowledgement

Last week I referenced Rev Mary Peterson, and her inability to be present at the forum due to illness. She really did want to be there. I’ve been informed that Mary died this past Saturday surrounded by family. Her contribution to UCANZ and the wider church were significant. Among many other significant responsibilities over the past 3 decades Mary represented the Presbyterian Church on the Standing Committee with a whole-hearted engagement, in her own warm and gentle style. My memory of her goes back to the years she gave in Christchurch after the earthquakes as she resourced struggling parishes on behalf of the Methodist Synod.

We are grateful for who she was, and what she did. Mary will not soon be forgotten.

Personal and Leadership resources

Struggle to remember what you’ve just read? Once again Jessica Stillman provides very useful insights in The 5 Most Effective Study Techniques You Were Never Taught in School. She offers a variety of ways of helping us retain information, more  through understanding rather than just rote memorisation. This article can be read here.

But wait, there’s more, and it’s completely different -  How to train your brain to master memory and focus to unleash your inner genius. To quote the introduction to the article - Dave Farrow is the two-time Guinness World record holder for Most Decks of Playing Cards Remembered in a Single Sighting, as well as an entrepreneur, speaker, and memory coach. Farrow shares five key insights from his new book, Brainhacker: Master Memory, Focus, Emotions, and More to Unleash the Genius Within. Can be read here.

And finally, Another Homily

This one for this coming Sunday based on John 14:15-21. Titled  ‘Never Alone’ it can be seen here.

Once again, use it as you will.

Kind regards / Ngā Manaakitanga

Andrew Doubleday

Ministry Facilitator

Forum 2023 has come and gone.

While our numbers were modest, this gave rise to a more intimate event. We gathered in our newest CV church plant, Crossway Community Church in Richmond, Christchurch, superbly hosted by its people. Dr Peter Lineham was inspirational as he traced the history of the ecumenical movement, and particularly of UCANZ and its precursors, and suggested some possible pathways ahead. We discovered that the site we were meeting on, had previously been occupied by the Richmond Mission – a pacifist evangelical group strong on conscientious objection to war in the opening decades of the 20^th century. Its history had been written by Rev Mary Peterson, who would have been with us at the Forum, but is too unwell for her to attend. We are grateful for her long commitment to UCANZ and the ecumenical project and pray God’s presence and peace upon her as she faces the challenges ahead.

We specifically thanked Jenny Chalmers as she came to the end of her time as Standing Committee Chair, and Geraldine Coats as she had so ably ‘held the fort’ for an extended period between Executive Officers. We also acknowledged the contribution of Heather Kennedy as she completed her term on the Standing Committee, and expressed our gratitude to Stephanie Wells for her organisation that kept us extremely well fed and lubricated.

The Saturday was very full – bookended by stimulating presentations by Dr Peter Lineham. It included our UCANZ BGM (Biennial General Meeting) and first meeting of the new Standing Committee. The afternoon was taken up with a series of workshops – starting with a presentation by Hana Popea-Dell in helping us find ways to respond to domestic violence. This was followed by a presentation by local Merv Bassett on Alpha, as a tool for revitalising church. This in turn was followed by Neil Adams presenting on NCD (Natural Church Development) - offering an effective tool for assessing church health. Finally Mark Chamberlain, Archdeacon for Regeneration and Mission in the Christchurch Anglican diocese, gave a very encouraging presentation on the accessibility of digital media – and demonstrated that it was within the capability of most of us to produce compelling on-line material that could significantly extend the reach of our message and ministry.

My thanks to all who made for a very successful Forum. I’ve subsequently slept easier since.

New Standing Committee

Our Committee for the next two years is: Andrew Howley (Chair), Fei Taule’ale’ausumai (Co-chair), with current appointments from the partner churches being: Jenny Chalmers and Michael Hughes (Anglican); Ian Harris and Siosifa Pole (Methodist); Mary Peterson and Stephanie Wells (Presbyterian). Elected committee members are: Robyn Brown, Jean Faithful, Kaurasi Lagi, Sharlene Malaeimi, and Jeff Odhiambo.

Leadership Resource

A useful article by Rick Warren – encouraging us not to fill every moment that God gives:

This one for this coming Sunday on John 14:1-14. Titled  ‘The Christlike God’ can be seen here:

Kind regards / Ngā Manaakitanga

Andrew Doubleday

Ministry Facilitator

Kia ora e te whanau

Forum 2023 is with us. Almost

After weeks of waking up in the middle of the night worrying that this was going to ‘work’, I’ve finally concluded that it isn’t about me, and that even if I wasn’t there it would likely go off just fine.

Most will know that I’ve updated the flyer. There are a number of email recipients (nearly all ‘methodist.org.’) that ‘pinged’ back, and didn’t receive the updated flyer with the inclusion of Rev Hana Popea in the first session for the Saturday afternoon. As the White Ribbon Ambassador for the Presbyterian Church she will be offering a workshop for how the church can respond to violence against women and children.

I’ve left the forum link below – we’ll still accept late registrations. The form can be accessed here.

Forum Booklets

I hope to be able to send out a digital copy in the next day or so to those who have registered – just one or two last items to include. Hard copies will be available at registration, and will include pretty well everything you need to know for the forum. 

Leadership Resource

Yes, the BBC produces very interesting resources. I came across this article on Illeism. Something I’d never heard of. Apparently an ancient strategy to help make better decisions. To give ourselves some emotional distance we put ourselves in the 3^rd person, and effectively take the personal out of the process. You can read about it here.

Ministry Resource

A colleague sent me a link to a podcast series produced by Rev Malcolm Gordon – on the staff at 1^st  Presbyterian Church, Dunedin. It’s on forgiveness. It is brutally and disarmingly honest. It opens with Malcolm’s acknowledgement that he doesn’t know HOW to forgive and has put the series together to explore the issue.

It struck me as I listened to the introductory podcast that, even if you believe you don’t have an issue with forgiveness, Malcolm has tapped into something that many people will find themselves powerfully resonating with. And, perhaps as importantly, he addresses his own struggle with such a measure of transparent honesty that he provides a powerful model of what Christian ministry should look like. It’s incarnational. You can tap into the series here.

But wait, there’s more….

I came across this article this morning – Pope Francis encouraging the practice of the daily examen. This is a key component of Ignatian (Jesuit) spirituality. It is one discipline I struggle engage with – not because there is anything wrong with it – in fact it can be very powerful and good - It’s simply a review of the day in company with Jesus. Yet come the end of the day, I just want to go to sleep. Yes, there’s something here for me….

For some, unaccustomed to the Catholic world, you may find references to Mary off-putting. My encouragement is to feast on what you can, and leave the rest. Here it is.

And Finally…..

Another homily

For this week, the 30^th  of April – the Gospel text is John 10:1-10.

Titled – ‘Only One Way In’ it can be seen and heard here.

As I’ve said before (even just last week),  I don’t expect clergy to be viewing/listening to these videos – why should you? We all have our own particular bias and areas of interest. However, it’s potentially a resource for churches that struggle to put something before your small number on a Sunday, or even midweek groups. Use these as you will.

Kind regards / Ngā Manaakitanga

Andrew Doubleday

Ministry Facilitator

Kia ora e te whānau

Forum 2023 looms

Registrations are low. I’ve had queries from a few that you have not yet been invoiced – they will not be far away. It looks like the forum this year will be small. I draw comfort from that text I oft heard quoted when growing up – “Despise not the day of small beginnings”.  It does raise questions of ‘why’? All to be considered after the event. We are now less than two weeks out.

I’ve updated the flyer. A copy is attached. Rev Hana Popea (White Ribbon Ambassador for the Presbyterian Church will be presenting a workshop on violence against women and girls and how we might respond as local churches.

I’ve left the forum link below – we’ll still accept late registrations. The form can be accessed here.

Standing Committee 2023/24

We have received 7 nominations for the next year. They are: Robyn Brown, Sue Brown, Jean Faithful, Andrew Howley, Kaurasi Lagi,  Jeff Odhiambo, and Fei Taule’ale’ausumai. Biographical details will be sent to those registered for the forum.

Leadership Resource

Found a fascinating article a while back on how much information we need to make a good decision. It sounds a wee bit like The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy where the answer given by a supercomputer to “the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything” is 42.

Apparently the answer is 37%. It’s a relatively short article, and provocative.

The 37 Percent Rule: The Mathematical Trick for Making Much Better Decisions

And Finally…..

This week I’ve posted a homily for this week, the 23^rd of April – the Gospel text is John 20:19-31.

Titled - The Burning Heart, a Work of the Spirit – Luke 24:13-35. It can be seen/heard here.

I don’t expect clergy to be viewing/listening to these videos – why should you? We all have our own particular bias and areas of interest. However, it’s potentially a resource for churches that struggle to put something before your small number on a Sunday, or even midweek groups. Use these as you will.

Kind regards / Ngā Manaakitanga

Andrew Doubleday
Ministry Facilitator