On Saturday 14 November the Diocese of Dunedin Synod met and agreed to not to sell Selwyn College – Te Maru Pūmanawa

Synod reconvened from the 12 September (virtual) session as a final attempt to meet in person to discuss Selwyn College – Te Maru Pūmanawa, with earlier plans being disrupted this year by COVID-19. The Synod voted to keep the College, reversing a decision to sell made at Synod in 2018.

What Happened

The day started with a mihi whakatu from Emeritus Kaumatua of Dunedin North Parish, Rev'd Wiremu Quigley as a party from Hui Amorangi O Te Wai Pounamu were welcomed, including Bishop Richard. Archbishop Sir David Moxon, Chair of the Selwyn College – Te Maru Pūmanawa consultation panel was also present. 

After Morning Prayer led by Bishop Steve, the Synod suspended Standing Orders to allow a plenary session on the College. Bishop Steve, Sir David Moxon, Anne Stevens QC (Chair of Selwyn College – Te Maru Pūmanawa Board) and Luke McClelland (College Warden) gave an update on the report submitted to Synod and what has taken place since this was published. There was then an opportunity for questions that has been pre-submitted as well as from the floor. 

Most questions were around issues that had been at the heart of the original decision to sell made at the 2018 Synod i.e. stability and strength of governance and leadership, concerns about activities at the College which could be seen to pose reputational risk to the Diocese as well as creating an unsafe environment for some students. The possibility of a sale to the University or other interested parties were also discussed, especially in terms of the impact of the current pandemic on the University. Synod was also challenged at this session (and during the following debate in the afternoon) to consider what would be lost by selling Selwyn in terms of the positive impact the church has on over 200 students a year who receive not only accommodation but pastoral care and exposure to positive Christian values. 

After lunch and moving back into the formal Synod process, three motions were considered around the future of Selwyn. The first Motion to Sell Selwyn College – Te Maru Pūmanawa (number 5) was put and then  lost after a considerable number of speakers emphasised their opposition to the sale. The second motion (Number 6, to keep the college) and the third motion (number 7, Mission in the Diocese) were carried. 

These results mean that the Diocese will need to engage in a process outlined in Motions 6 and 7. This will result in a new partnership with Selwyn where innovative ideas can be explored and processes put in place to strengthen it mission and place in the Diocese. 

We were honoured to have Bishop Richard from Hui Amorangi O Te Wai Pounamu close our Synod with a brief address and prayer. 

The full wording of these motions as put are: 

Motion 5: 

Recognising that Selwyn College – Te Maru Pūmanawa was established for what is now a three-Tikanga church, that this Synod authorises the Dunedin Diocesan Trust Board, at the specific direction of the Diocesan Council, to negotiate a sale of the business and buildings of Selwyn College – Te Maru Pūmanawa as follows: 

1. To sell to any body that the Diocesan Council has confidence in being able to govern and manage the College according to best practice, subject to a formal undertaking with the purchaser to maintain the special character of the College, including exploring a partnership with the Diocese to maintain this special character. 

2. the purchaser to honour any commitments made to staff and students for the following year. 

3. To undertake work towards revision of Statute 19, the Selwyn College Statute 2009 to enable a sale, and undertake any other legal processes to release funds from this sale under the Anglican Church Trusts Act 1981. 

4. To consult with the three-Tikanga partners on distribution of the proceeds of sale.

Motion 6:

That this Synod affirms the potential for Selwyn College – Te Maru Pūmanawa to witness to its foundational character and to the Anglican five marks of mission by keeping Selwyn College, under the following conditions: 

1. That the College and Diocese commit to creatively develop governance and management structures as suggested in the Selwyn College – Te Maru Pūmanawa Consultation Panel Report. 
2. That the College and Diocese undertake a strategic planning process to identify and plan the development of special character and mission, in reference to the Models outlined in the Selwyn College – Te Maru Pūmanawa Consultation Panel Report. 
3. That an outside facilitator be identified by the College and Diocese to assist in this planning process and ensuring the recommendations of the above report are taken into consideration.

Motion 7:

That the Diocesan Council as the Standing Committee of this Synod explore options discussed in the Selling options of the Selwyn College – Te Maru Pūmanawa Consultation Panel Report, and report back to a future Synod. These may include, but not be limited to: 

1. The development of the Cathedral crypt (or similarly identified central space) as a leadership training centre and minster to the Diocese. 
2. The development of a Diocese of Dunedin version of the (Taranaki) Bishop’s Action Foundation 
3. The development of community-facing youth mission. 
4. The development of a church planting strategy.