I am not one for excessive formality, and prefer to be more laid-back, but as President there are times when formality can work to my advantage.

For instance, I have been involved in three Synod Superintendent’s Inductions at the start of February and have been using the liturgy found on the Mission Resourcing website. Having a formal set service with suitable name changes means I do not have to make up a service myself – much time saved! Of course, there have been differences between these three services, including in the hymns and readings used, some of them chosen by the incoming Superintendents. I found this helpful in ensuring each service was fresh.

I was a Synod Superintendent myself for a few years, and a Parish Superintendent for more than 20 years, and know that formality can help in chairing meetings and dealing with tricky situations. These skills have been of use to me in chairing Conference, although tricky situations remain tricky! But even then formal language can enable others to hear how serious a situation has become, or take in what is expected of them.

However there are times when formality can become a barrier, creating a distance between myself and others that is rarely helpful. It can stop people sharing deeply if they think I am being cold towards them, or that I do not care. Even something like a written script for a sermon can make a congregation think you are talking at them, not sharing with them, which can mean the good news is not heard, however well-scripted the words.

In December I talked about humility as a quality of those who serve Jesus Christ, the Servant Lord. I will try to be a humble President not letting my status become a barrier to engaging with people. Those who think that because I am President I can throw my weight around do not understand either me or what Presidency really is.

The President cannot reverse decisions made by Conference simply because one group, or even one person, would like me to do so. The President cannot use force to bring about changes in a congregation or even in the Connexional Office.

Some think the President is almost on a level with God, and sometimes I might agree (!), but this all depends upon what you think God is like. For instance do we see God reversing what happens when we mess up, or using force to bring about changes for good? No. God comes alongside us (this is the meaning of Christmas), to influence and encourage, in order to show us a better way of dealing with each other, respecting each other and making the most of life. And this is how I see the President’s role. There is a deep humility about God (who in theory could force us to be good) whose role is one as influencer and encourager.

I humbly ask you to let me be the kind of President that God would wish me to be, to enable me to influence where a situation needs some fixing, and to encourage when a situation looks difficult, even impossible. Don’t put me on a pedestal. Don’t keep me remote and at arms’ length. Let me come close, and even vulnerable, so that God’s humble grace can be known at every level of the life of Te Hāhi Weteriana o Aotearoa, the Methodist Church of New Zealand.