Mission Resourcing Looks Back on Four Decades

Mission Resourcing this year, in transition, rounds up more than 39 years of its general prescribed role of resourcing parishes, synods and leaders for contemporary mission and ministry. Over the years this has included stationing, ministry candidacy, distribution of various grants for ministry, production of multi-lingual contextual resources for parishes throughout the Connexion, the recently introduced Year of Discernment Programme, resources produced by the Tauiwi Children, Young People and Family Ministries, TCYFM and more.

Early in the 1970s MCNZ embarked on a serious review of its national structures. One of the significant outcomes of the review was the formation of five Divisions in 1973: the Administration Division, the Education Division, the Overseas Division, the Māori Division and the Development Division. The latter two replaced what was the Home and Māori Mission Department. The late Rev Rua Rakena was appointed Tumuaki of the Māori Division, and Rev Barry Jones was appointed Superintendent of the Development Division.

Rev Barry recalls that the Development Division was given a wide brief which included:

· evangelism - handled by a Making Disciples task group in Palmerston North

· funding of hospital chaplaincies – Methodist and ecumenical

· the development of advisory committees for Samoan, Tongan and Fijian-Rotuman ministries

· grant-in-aid for parishes needing financial assistance

· supporting the development of innovative forms of ministry e.g. The Porirua Social Justice Unit

· Providing consultative services to synods and parishes relating to strategic planning

· Oversight of the formation of co-operative ventures in collaboration with Anglican, Associated Churches of Christ, Congregational and Presbyterian partners.

In 1985 Rev Norman Brookes succeeded Rev Barry Jones as Superintendent of the Development Division. Norman recalls that in addition to the responsibilities carried out by the Division, they were largely responsible for the Methodist Stationing process. As head of the Division, Rev Norman also became minute secretary of a newly initiated Bicultural Committee. The purpose of the group was to encourage power sharing between the Māori and Tauiwi (non-Māori) sections of the church.

Another significant area which Norman recalls having addressed at the time, was the need to build good working relationships with each of the Pacific Island Advisory Committees. This took a lot of time and conversations with the Pacific Church leaders here, as well as in Samoa, Tonga and Fiji. It all led to the Advisory Committees, over the years, morphing into National Synods with the same powers and responsibilities as the traditional District Synods.

The National Synods then gave oversight to their respective congregations and parishes within the Methodist Church: Sinoti Samoa, Vahefonua Tonga O Aotearoa, and Wasewase ko Viti kei Rotuma. Just as the District Synods were responsible to Conference, these new Synods, being part of the Connexion, came under the discipline of Conference.

Norman recalls that 10 years after his induction, towards the end of his term as Superintendent of the Development Division, there was a great deal of discussion and consideration within the church about creating a new body, by merging some of the roles of the Development Division and the Committee on Ministry, including the Trinity Theological College Board. This ultimately failed.

However, the Development Division was modified and renamed Mission Resourcing, a title likely to be better understood within the church context than the term Development Division.

A New Unit and New Director

In 1995, Rev John Murray was appointed as the first director of the new unit and he led the development of Mission Resourcing through to 2004.

Given the extensive mandate of Mission Resourcing and the strong growth of the Samoan and Tongan sections of Te Hāhi, the move to appoint a second director of Mission Resourcing was timely and warmly welcomed. The newly created position was to be filled by one who would oversee the Pasifika side of the work. In 2005 Rev Nigel Hanscamp was appointed Director of Mission Resourcing, English Language Ministry and the late Rev Aso Samoa Saleupolu was appointed Director of Mission Resourcing, Pasifika Ministries.

Rev Dr Trevor Hoggard succeeded Rev Nigel Hanscamp as Director of English Language Ministry in 2013. Under the co-directorship of Trevor and Aso was the pivotal additional Tauiwi Children, Young People and Family Ministries, TCYFM in line with the Conference 10-year theme, Let the Children Live.

Michael Lemanu was commissioned at Conference 2014 as National Coordinator for TYCFM through to 2023. Directors for Pasifika and English Language Ministries, Setaita T. K. Veikune and Rev Siosifa Pole, joined Mission Resourcing in later years.

Despite changes over the years and additional responsibilities for Mission Resourcing since 1995, the standard brief given to the Development Division in 1973 has been continued and basically remained the same.

It is timely that changes are made to enable MCNZ to be relevant and effective. Findings from the review carried out in 2023 included the need to identify and meet the demands of the Church today, with many respondents calling for a clear bicultural approach to resource the whole Connexion.

Ways forward are proposed with Ko Te Hápai ó ki muri – A Bicultural Partnership approach. After discussions in Conference 2023, I believe it is timely and warmly welcomed that changes are made so that Te Haahi may continue to be a life giver in God’s name.

As Mission Resourcing transitions into another new beginning in 2024, we welcome the valued assistance of Rev Dr Mary Caygill this year.

‘Ofa atu mo e lotu