As the Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry entered the final stages of public hearings, MCNZ was one of eight faith-based organisations asked to respond to questions from the commissioners and legal representatives. The Church placed survivors at the very centre of their unreserved apology and promised to take responsibility and action.

At a recent gathering to farewell MCNZ Archivist Jo Smith, former General Secretary Rev David Bush opened his address with a question to the colleagues, volunteers and family gathered for the occasion, “Do archivists retire or are they archived?”

In October members of the Anglican-Methodist Ecumenical Dialogue visited Northland to make a pilgrimage to a number of places of significance related to our respective missionary beginnings in Aotearoa.

Andrew Doubleday, Out-going President MCNZ, reflects on his role as it nears an end.

A Wellington-based nativity family is hopeful of finding a new home in time for the fast-approaching Christmas season.

Mission Resourcing is pleased to share with the Connexion the launching of the Year of Discernment (YOD) Programme, following Conference this year.

On the weekend of 24 - 25 September the Opawa Methodist Parish / Opawa Community Church celebrated 125 years of continual Christian service on their site on the corner of Opawa Road and Ainsley Terrace in Christchurch.

‘Changing Faith’ rather than ‘Losing Faith’ might be a better choice of title for the Honest to God column in Touchstone, July.

Throughout the 3000 years of Judaeo-Christian history there’s been more than one perspective on the three-way connectedness between God, humans and the earth. Each in its day has been highly influential. Each carries its own notion of spirituality. And traces of each still linger in the way people relate to the natural world today.

George Zachariah summarises one of his presentations at the Ecumenical Conversation on “Creation Justice Now! Climate Action and Water for Life” at the 11th Assembly of the World Council of Churches held in Karlsruhe, Germany.

As we count the days to Conference 2022 we look at what participants can expect and how the celebrations and deliberations will impact the future of Te Hāhi Weteriana.

Conference is coming, and Covid-19 cases have been slowly climbing, with new Omicron subvariants being detected in the country over recent weeks. Now is our time to step up and use all the lessons we have learned over the past three years.

Since the Queen died the word ‘duty’ has often been at the forefront of my thoughts.

Safeguarding is not a topic for the faint-hearted. Safeguarding involves measures to protect individuals’ health, wellbeing and human rights to allow people to live free from abuse, harm and neglect.

From the time we can talk, most Samoan children are taught to recite answers to a series of questions based on the bible and some of its well known stories. Some of the questions include: Who made you? God, Who is your Saviour? Jesus, Who were the first people on earth? Adam and Eve, Who struck the rock? Moses…

The law of tithing is simply stated as “one-tenth of all their interest” (D&C 119:4). Interest means profit, compensation, increase. It is the wage of one employed, the profit from the operation of a business, the increase of one who grows or produces, or the income received by a person from any other source.

Theo Johnston-Maurenbrecher is one of the many Mana Ake Kaimahi employed by Christchurch Methodist Mission, one of the 12 non-government organisations across Canterbury delivering Mana Ake in schools in Canterbury.

Te Taha Māori continues to gather together to wānanga and explore our aspirations as people of the journey, part of and belonging to Te Hāhi Weteriana o Aotearoa.

The NZMWF National Council met in Auckland from 14 to 16 October for their first face-to-face meeting since the last National Council held at Kings College in 2019.

I had the privilege of attending the World Council of Churches General Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany as a Methodist delegate. It was a fabulous experience, full of colour, diversity and inspiration.

The theme for the World Council of Church’s 11th Assembly, ‘Christ’s love moves the world to reconciliation and unity’ became a pertinent challenge in today’s world. Unforeseen when the theme was set was Covid and its impact, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

What it means to be Methodist and the responsibility of choosing what to read and watch.

In October the country celebrated Fiji Language week. Because it was school holidays, the Fijian children at St John’s Methodist were able to join with other Fijian children in Hamilton to celebrate the event.

Pelorus Jack was a white dolphin who established a big reputation, in Aotearoa and beyond.

Christian World Service is putting the spotlight on women like Luisa in this year’s Gifted catalogue. Luisa has cared for her family and the community all her life. However, nothing could have prepared her for the January eruption of Tonga Hunga-Tonga Ha’apai and the tsunami that followed in January.

In northern Kenya, the ground is almost bare except for the occasional shrubs and bones of dead animals according to one local member of ACT Alliance (Action by Churches Together). Without water, plants do not grow, animals cannot eat, and the people face hunger and worse.

Amsterdam is a crime thriller. The movie draws loosely on a political conspiracy to oust Franklin D. Roosevelt as United States President. Set in the 1930's, Amsterdam also strives somewhat awkwardly to be a modern morality tale.

This book was co-written by a mother and daughter who lost their husbands to Covid, 41 days apart.

Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks passed away in November 2020. He served as Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations from 1991 to 2013, and was a member of the House of Lords in the UK Parliament, where, in the Foreword by Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, “his sharpness of perception, economy with words and use of language leave a huge gap”.

You won’t find her name in New Zealand’s national bibliography. However, overlooked New Zealand writer Mary Ann Quaife was a published author living in Christchurch in the second half of the 19th century.

In this series we have usually talked of ministers who have completed a long and notable career. Not so with Walter Hawes Dyer (1872-1905) who served two years at Dunstable in England, and then came to this country for health reasons. After a year at Tauranga he went to Wanaka, where he died. His life-long battle with consumption led to him spending some years at the famous Nordrach Sanatorium in Germany.

Lotu Tamaiti - also known as White Sunday - is an annual special Sunday dedicated to all the children of Samoa.

Oswald Tapelu recently attended the Taekwondo Oceania Tournament in French Polynesia (Tahiti) winning a bronze medal in a division beyond his grade. Oswald shares his story and remarkable success over the years.

Lesoni; Vakatekivu 37, 39 ,40, 41, 45 (Nai Talanoa kei Josefa)

Kuo fili ‘e he Konifelenisi ‘o e Siasi Metotisi ‘o Nu’usila ‘a e va’a media mo e fetu’utaki ‘a e Vahefonua Tonga ‘o Aotearoa ke ne fakahoko e ngāue livestream ‘a e Konifelenisi 2022.

‘Oku fiefia ‘a e Vāhenga Ngāue Aokalani Manukau ke talitali leli ‘a e Tauhi Pa’anga Fo’ou (Finance Manager) Tali-ki-Vaha Latu’ila ki he ofisi ‘a e Vāhenga Ngāue ‘i 5 Milton Road, Mt Eden.

Kuo lava ‘eni e māhina ‘e ua mei he ‘aho na’e fokotu’u ‘e he Vahefonua ke fakamamafa’i ai ‘a e Feliuliuaki e ‘Ea (Climate Change) – Green Sunday.