The report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care, considering the abuse of tamariki, rangatahi and adults in state and faith-based care in Aotearoa New Zealand, will be delivered in June. The release of the report will conclude one more chapter in the biggest and most comprehensive inquiry ever undertaken in this country.

Mr Micawber, a character in Charles Dickens’ novel David Copperfield, when faced with great problems declares that “something will turn up”. But it never seems to, and he lurches from one crisis to another.

We thank the individuals, organisations and parishes who responded to our recent survey to help us gauge what is relevant, read and recommended by our readers.

Earlier this year Carol Barron retired from her role as Methodist Alliance Coordinator. This month we introduce her replacement, Hamish Jarvie.

On Monday 22 April, the Connexional Office team relocated to the Christchurch North Methodist Parish Chapel Street Centre to spend a day reflecting on the Church’s vision, and to prepare a draft strategy and operational management plan for consideration by the Board of Administration. Drawing on a range of presentation tools and talents, staff shared their work roles and considered risks, opportunities and possible outcomes that will shape the form and function of the Connexional Office going forward.

At the Connexional Office we have been doing some thinking about values, what are values within the office and how they relate to the values of Te Hāhi Weteriana o Aotearoa. This has made me reflect (re-reflect?) is my work reflecting the values and Mission Statement of Te Hāhi?

Why does Jesus order the leper to “say nothing to anyone” about his healing (Mark 1:44)? Throughout Mark’s gospel Jesus tells demons, disciples and witnesses to be silent about who he is and what he has done. What possible reason could there be for this command to silence? This was one of the issues explored by a group of 25 lay preachers and others on Saturday 6 April at Wesley Methodist Church, Mt Roskill.

The Methodist Church in Waitoki held its first service on Sunday 27 April 1924. The community’s church and school had been transported from Horseshoe Bush to its new site by horse and wagon. To mark the centenary, the parish held two major events on the weekend 13 – 14 April.

On Friday 5 April a contingent of members of the Durham Street parish marched in the Ōtautahi Christchurch School Strike 4 Climate as a gesture of their solidarity and support for the next generation demanding climate action.

Trinity Methodist Theological College is a community of students and researchers producing and disseminating contextually relevant and transformative knowledge. The College seeks to go beyond the conventional roles of a theological institution, therefore we have decided to bring out our own publications and congregational resources to disseminate theological reflections to the larger public, including academia and the church.

I welcome feedback on content included in Touchstone.

Since joining the Te Hāpai Transition Team, I've been prompted to reflect on my experiences as a young Methodist. The tasks facing the Transition Team are varied, and one that excites me is the opportunity to deepen our understanding of youth ministry in today's church context.

Readers share their thoughts and concerns.

In the realm of faith, there are individuals who leave a deep-rooted mark on the hearts and minds of those they serve. On the weekend of 6-7 Jan 2024 Panmure Methodist gathered to pay tribute to a remarkable couple, our beloved Rev Fatuatia and his wife Suresa Tufuga, who dedicated 28 years of their lives to serve Te Hahi Weteriana o Aotearoa and the last six years to our Panmure Methodist Church.

Theological education (in)forms the church – insofar as church leaders and ministers are trained and formed in theological schools. Church leaders and ministers are also formed on the ground, in churches and in communities. A provider of theological education that forms church leaders and ministers in the ways and views of the past and from foreign contexts, are, put sharply, out of date and out of step with the present – and more so in the future. It is therefore necessary for providers of theological education to adapt their visions of what it means ‘to be’ church, and ‘to do’ church for the current time and living conditions.

“…she forgets the anguish because of her joy…” – Jesus, in John 16:21

The Climate Justice Group of the Hamilton East Methodist Parish invited members to share their diverse perspectives and experiences regarding climate justice. Adults, youth and children shared their talanoa/insights and reflections on their involvement in climate justice activities within the church and in their everyday lives. Be inspired by the voices and experiences of our parishioners.

Inoi Mo Te Hunga Iti Rawa

Our regular cartoon that seeks to find the funny side of faith.

What gathered steam as a great idea in the 1960s and almost came to fruition as a form of organic unity in the 1970s, stumbled at the last hurdle and crashed to never rise again. I’m talking about the ‘Plan for Union’.

I’m now in my fourth year as chaplain at Tamahere Eventide Home and Village. Nan likes to tell people that I don’t work but spend most of my time eating popsicles and dancing with our residents.

Charities come in all shapes, forms and sizes. Many charities have legal duties under a range of legislation, as well as under the Charities Act 2005. The law that applies to charities will depend on the legal structure, the size of the charity and the activities the charity provides. It is critical to understand the legal duties as an officer of a charity. This article focuses on charities within the Methodist Church.

A job description identifies your work role and outlines your purpose for being there. John 10:10 tells us the job description of Jesus and the job description of the devil. It identifies what they do, and who they are.

Youth Week is an opportunity to celebrate young people’s valuable contributions to their communities and aspire for Aotearoa to be a country where young people are vibrant, optimistic, supported and encouraged to take up challenges. The week also recognises the youth workers, youth service providers, and others working with and for our young people.

Baruch de Spinoza was a 17th-century Portuguese-Jewish philosopher of the Enlightenment known for pioneering the rationalist school.

I hope everyone enjoyed the school holidays and found lots of interesting things to do.

Since 2008 Christian World Service has worked with the Centre for Community Solidarity (CCS) to build 1,250 rainwater tanks for families in Uganda affected by HIV and AIDS. The tanks are saving and revolutionising lives.

In March, Human Rights Monitor drew attention to the worsening human rights situation in West Papua. Indonesian military forces, including the police, have increasingly acted with impunity resulting in more extrajudicial killings, incidents of torture and ill-treatment in 2023. More than 76,000 people are displaced because of the activity of armed forces.

A feature of contemporary life is trolls, people who post messages to social media to upset others and provoke a response. Many blame technology, suggesting that the anonymity of social media platforms magnifies human tendencies to gossip and encourages polarising behaviour.

Entertainment for the missionaries on Choiseul was limited to the occasional radio broadcast, reception permitting. Missionaries also sometimes had film or slideshows which they shared with the local people. Other diversions for the missionaries included the arrival of occasional visitors to the island, and visits away from Choiseul to celebrate the appointment of a new High Commissioner.

“… sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions …”

“Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognising him.” Luke 24:13-17