Our Mission Statement
Our Church’s Mission in Aotearoa New Zealand is to reflect and proclaim the transforming love of God as revealed in Jesus Christ and declared in the Scriptures. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit to serve God in the world. The Declaration of Independence of New Zealand was the first formal agreement that declared the sovereign authority and leadership of the Confederation of Tribes of New Zealand. The purpose being to affirm the authority of tangata whenua and to establish an emergent bicultural nation. The Treaty of Waitangi is the covenant establishing our nation on the basis of a power-sharing relationship and will guide how we undertake mission.
Ko te pūtake ā ō tātou Hāhi Weteriana i Aotearoa nei, he whakakite atu, he kauwhau hoki i te aroha whakatahuri o te Atua, he mea whakaatu mai i roto i a Ihu Karaiti, me ngā Karaipiture. Ko te Wairua Tapu e whakakaha ana i ā tātou kia tū māia ai hei tuari mā te Atua i roto i te ao. He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni te whakaritenga tuatahi kua whakamanatia e te Wakaminenga o ngā hapu o Nu Tireni. Ko te tikanga kia whakakahangia e te rangatiratanga o ngā tangata whenua, ā ka aranga ai i te iwi kākanorua. Otirā, ko Te Tiriti o Waitangi te kawenata e whakaōrite ana i tā tātou noho hei tangata whenua, hei tauiwi hoki, ki tēnei whenua. Mā tēnei Tiriti tātou e arahi i roto i ngā whakariterite o tēnei whakahau, tono hoki, ki roto ki te ao.
Our Mission Principles
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Christian Community
To be a worshipping, praying, and growing community, sharing and developing our faith and working through its implications in our social context.
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Evangelism
To challenge people to commitment to Christ and Christ's way.
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Flexibility
To be flexible, creative, and open to God's Spirit in a changing world and Church, so that the Church is relevant to people's needs. To release energy for mission rather than to absorb energy for maintenance.
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Church unity
To foster networks and relationships with communities of faith having similar goals.
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Inclusiveness
To operate as a Church in ways that will enable the diversity of people (e.g. all ages, all cultures, male and female) to participate fully in the whole life of the Church, especially decision-making and worship.
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Every member a minister
To encourage each person to develop his/her full potential by accepting and nurturing each other, developing skills and providing resources, challenging and enabling for service in the Church and community.
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Cross-cultural awareness
To become aware of, and challenged by, each other's cultures.
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Justice
To work for justice for any who are oppressed in Aotearoa New Zealand, keeping in mind the implications of the Treaty of Waitangi. To share resources with the poor and disadvantaged in Aotearoa New Zealand and beyond.
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Peace
To be peacemakers between people and in the world.
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Healing
To listen for hurt and work for healing.
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Ecology
To care for creation.