Methodist Church of New Zealand
Welcome to the August edition of Touchstone. This month our lead article continues a three-part series on chaplaincy beyond the parish. Army Chaplain Rev Chris Purdie provides an insight into ministry in the field, and how he meets the spiritual and pastoral needs of defence personnel.
At the end of June, Rev Dr Dame Phyllis Myra Guthardt died peacefully at WesleyCare Rest Home in Christchurch. We reflect on her extraordinary life and the huge contribution she made to MCNZ, ministry, women, academia and the lives of so many. Along with news from around the Connexion, General Secretary Rev Tara Tautari and Rev Dr Susan Thompson report on their visit to Geneva to attend the WCC Central Committee where an extensive agenda included issues of special relevance to indigenous communities.
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Ngā mihi nui Ady Shannon
Editor Touchstone
Chaplains at Large – Ministry Beyond the Parish
Chaplains in schools, hospitals, prisons, aged-care facilities and universities, throughout New Zealand, provide support for the ... Read more…RIP Rev Dr Dame Phyllis Myra Guthardt 1 August 1929 – 29 June 2023
Kua hinga te tōtara i te Waonui-a-Tāne Moe mai rā e te Rangatira, i te aroha o te Atua. A mighty totara has fallen in Tāne’s great ... Read more…Methodist Church Initiative Walk for the Planet for Matariki.
Walk for the Planet joined forces with the Oxford Area School Observatory to organise a 5km planet walk around the streets of Oxford ... Read more…Confirmation Service for Waitakere Methodist Parish
After a break of many years, Parish Superintendent, Rev Augusten Subhan, decided it was time there was a confirmation service in the ... Read more…Prophetic Writings and Hymn Collection Available Online
William (Bill) Wallace, a retired Methodist Minister and one of New Zealand’s most prolific hymn writers, has ensured his legacy of ... Read more…Wesley Church Refit Wins Architectural Award
At the 2023 Wellington Architecture Awards in May, the extensively renovated and seismically strengthened Wesley Methodist Church was ... Read more…Trinity Methodist Church Pakuranga presents, ‘The Story of the Unsung Carol’
On 25 June Trinity Methodist Church in Pakuranga staged a mid-winter Christmas musical, primarily to ‘chase away the winter blues’. ... Read more…President’s Role Combines Privilege and Burden
“What’s it like being President?” some have asked me. It is a mixture of privilege and burden. Read more…Eco-human Future
It’s high time our two-legged species evolved from being human to being eco-human, and a significant role for churches in this ... Read more…Are We all in the Same Storm? Blinders of Climate Privilege
How the Rain falls Differently upon Māori is the title of a recent article by Rawiri Taonui, on the controversy over the $15 million ... Read more…Jim's Cartoons
Our regular cartoon that seeks to find the funny side of faith. Read more…Fire’s Big Impact
Fires within our buildings present the biggest impact of our known safety risks. Although fire impact is big, there are some things we ... Read more…Lay Preaching: A personal perspective
Samoan Judy McFall McCaffery started lay preaching in Tonga. Read more…The Future Has Arrived
Rev Andrew Doubleday, UCANZ Ministry Facilitator Read more…Finding Meaning in the Book of Proverbs
During my last university break I was lucky enough to go on holiday to the United States of America and visit Zion National Park in ... Read more…Non-Verbal Therapy Through a Māori Model of Health
Te ao Māori is the Māori world view where we believe that everything is connected. Sir Mason Durie’s model of health, Te Whare Tapa ... Read more…Inoi Poi Tukua Kia Rere
Last year we witnessed at the Women’s Rugby World Cup tournament, a national movement, the regeneration of the poi used in sport. ‘Wā ... Read more…Choose Faith over Fear
In the bustling city of Auckland, I found myself in deep thought about a crossroad and decision I faced that would shape the ... Read more…Great Minds
René Descartes Read more…Addressing the Enduring Challenges between Church and Indigenous Peoples
The agenda for the World Council of Churches Central Committee meeting in Geneva, Switzerland in June included developing the ... Read more…Aotearoa and Pacific Voices at WCC Central Committee
In June Rev Dr Susan Thompson attended her first meeting as a member of the World Council of Churches Central Committee (2023-2030 ... Read more…Children’s Time – Effectively Engaging with Children in Worship
For most churches today, Sunday morning worship includes a dedicated time to talk to the children of the congregation. Read more…Artificial Intelligence (AI) in New Zealand
AI is covered by existing laws, including the Privacy Act, the Human Rights Act, the Fair Trading Act, the Harmful Digital ... Read more…Witness for Peace
Christian World Service has put together materials for Peace Sunday on 6 August. Through this resource CWS encourages churches to ... Read more…Farewell to CWS National Director
National Director, Murray Overton, finishes his time with Christian World Service on 4 August. After two years, Murray decided to step ... Read more…Wellington Methodist Endowment Trust opportunity
The Wellington Methodist Endowment Trust supports and develops projects for children and young Māori or children and young people of ... Read more…The Last Daughter
A film review by Dr Steve Taylor Read more…Kotuku Shining Flight: Poems 1979-2022
Jenny Dawson reviews a poetry book highly recommended for those who think they do not like poetry. Read more…Prayers for all Seasons
Garth Cant reviews a collection of prayers compiled by the prayer leader of a Christchurch congregation that loves to worship. Read more…Welcome to the August Kidz Korna.
I hope you all had enjoyable school holidays although in many places the weather was not great. Are you enjoying reading the Kidz ... Read more…Adam Madill and his Bible
Rachel Hurd, Archivist Presbyterian Research Centre (Archives) Read more…Evangelism and Freedom of Choice
Leonard Monk Isitt 1855 – 1937 Read more…AUGUST IS THE MONTH THAT CROPS LOOK FOR SUPPORT TO FULLY GROW. (VULA NI VAVAKADA)
NA DUIDUI EDA KAUTA VATA MAI - (Differences that we bring together) Na Lesoni na Luke 12 : 49 – 53, e tukuna na tawase kauta ma na ... Read more…
