Standing at the elevated lectern in Nelson Cathedral, Bishop Steve delivered his Charge to the assembled members of the diocese seated in the nave before him. With a backdrop of tall organ pipes, the illuminated cross and the table set for communion, the bishop spoke about the purpose of the diocese to be a vessel by which we bless our communities. The nave, he said, looks like the inside of a large ship – the word itself having the same origins as the word navy. The many ports of the diocese from Greymouth in the west, Picton to the north and Kaikōura on the east coast speak of our strong affinity to the sea.
“However, despite our amazing team, of late it feels like the crew in our boat has been reefing the rigging to trim the sails because the fabric is old and needs attention, and the weather is rough and unpredictable.”
In the Bible there are many references to boats, and especially important to us are the accounts of Jesus, who used boats for transport, teaching and demonstrating his power. The boat image will serve the diocese if we can be reminded of the presence of Jesus with us in the boat even when we go through storms at sea. Bishop Steve emphasised that the purpose of the diocese was not merely safety in the harbour but to be a vessel destined to journey meaningfully through the communities that surround it.
“Our Church exists to be a boat filled with hope! An ocean-going waka with a mission! And a boat filled with hope is destined for adventure – because if ever our communities have needed hope, surely it’s now.”
Bishop Steve referenced Revitalise Nelson as the five year project for the diocese to review, revision and reform our ministries to be of genuine benefit to the towns and cities in which we minister.
“We needed to deliver some answers to the questions that were raised at last year's Synod,” says Simon Martin, Bishop’s Chaplain. “We had asked parishes to spend much of the year in prayer and conversations in an effort to discern God's leading for the way ahead.”
After closing our Season of Discernment, the presentation of Revitalise Nelson was an eagerly anticipated delivery of the assurances given to consolidate the discernment into a list of priorities upon which to focus our response to the challenges across the diocese.
After a rousing service, diocesan leaders and representatives assembled for business. Even the more formal phase of Synod took on a markedly reverent tone that members found moving.
“We learned a great deal through the discernment season,” Simon Martin says. The many reflections over the season fell into four main themes:
“By weaving prayer into the business of Synod we want to continue to be dependent on prayer as a vital heartbeat of all our decisions and plans," Simon continues. "It is important not to restrict prayer to something that happens only in a church building. Or to something that ‘bookends’ more important business. We need to avoid the temptation to rush into making plans without prayer. Mixing prayer throughout Synod is like stirring a raising agent into a cake mix.”
“It was more prayerful, Scripture-focused, and 'spiritual’ than other Synods I have attended,” says Brandon Sparrow from Golden Bay.
It was the first Synod for Renata van der Wal from Nelson. “I had expected it to be mostly business, but we spent times in our parishes and with other parishes in prayer, and I definitely felt that the Holy Spirit was present and at work.”
“The formal business was dealt with smoothly,” Matt Watts from Buller remarks, “which enabled plenty of time for discussion, prayer and seeking God's way forward.”
“There really was hope in the boat!” says Ed Duggan, diocesan finance manager. He was struck by a sense of solidarity.
In closing his Charge, Bishop Steve quoted someone from one of our parishes who had contributed to the Season of Discernment:
“It may take time, and it may be hard to measure our success as we reorientate. But if we can be kind, patient and trusting as whānau on mission together, then I believe we can find numerous new opportunities to bring the bread and water of Christ to hungry and thirsty people.”
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
We have invited these writers to share their experiences, ideas and opinions in the hope that these will provoke thought, challenge you to go deeper and inspire you to put your faith into action. These articles should not be taken as the official view of the Nelson Diocese on any particular matter.
Standing at the elevated lectern in Nelson Cathedral, Bishop Steve delivered his Charge to the assembled members of the diocese seated in the nave before him. With a backdrop of tall organ pipes, the illuminated cross and the table set for communion, the bishop spoke about the purpose of the diocese to be a vessel by which we bless our communities. The nave, he said, looks like the inside of a large ship – the word itself having the same origins as the word navy. The many ports of the diocese from Greymouth in the west, Picton to the north and Kaikōura on the east coast speak of our strong affinity to the sea.
“However, despite our amazing team, of late it feels like the crew in our boat has been reefing the rigging to trim the sails because the fabric is old and needs attention, and the weather is rough and unpredictable.”
In the Bible there are many references to boats, and especially important to us are the accounts of Jesus, who used boats for transport, teaching and demonstrating his power. The boat image will serve the diocese if we can be reminded of the presence of Jesus with us in the boat even when we go through storms at sea. Bishop Steve emphasised that the purpose of the diocese was not merely safety in the harbour but to be a vessel destined to journey meaningfully through the communities that surround it.
“Our Church exists to be a boat filled with hope! An ocean-going waka with a mission! And a boat filled with hope is destined for adventure – because if ever our communities have needed hope, surely it’s now.”
Bishop Steve referenced Revitalise Nelson as the five year project for the diocese to review, revision and reform our ministries to be of genuine benefit to the towns and cities in which we minister.
“We needed to deliver some answers to the questions that were raised at last year's Synod,” says Simon Martin, Bishop’s Chaplain. “We had asked parishes to spend much of the year in prayer and conversations in an effort to discern God's leading for the way ahead.”
After closing our Season of Discernment, the presentation of Revitalise Nelson was an eagerly anticipated delivery of the assurances given to consolidate the discernment into a list of priorities upon which to focus our response to the challenges across the diocese.
After a rousing service, diocesan leaders and representatives assembled for business. Even the more formal phase of Synod took on a markedly reverent tone that members found moving.
“We learned a great deal through the discernment season,” Simon Martin says. The many reflections over the season fell into four main themes:
“By weaving prayer into the business of Synod we want to continue to be dependent on prayer as a vital heartbeat of all our decisions and plans," Simon continues. "It is important not to restrict prayer to something that happens only in a church building. Or to something that ‘bookends’ more important business. We need to avoid the temptation to rush into making plans without prayer. Mixing prayer throughout Synod is like stirring a raising agent into a cake mix.”
“It was more prayerful, Scripture-focused, and 'spiritual’ than other Synods I have attended,” says Brandon Sparrow from Golden Bay.
It was the first Synod for Renata van der Wal from Nelson. “I had expected it to be mostly business, but we spent times in our parishes and with other parishes in prayer, and I definitely felt that the Holy Spirit was present and at work.”
“The formal business was dealt with smoothly,” Matt Watts from Buller remarks, “which enabled plenty of time for discussion, prayer and seeking God's way forward.”
“There really was hope in the boat!” says Ed Duggan, diocesan finance manager. He was struck by a sense of solidarity.
In closing his Charge, Bishop Steve quoted someone from one of our parishes who had contributed to the Season of Discernment:
“It may take time, and it may be hard to measure our success as we reorientate. But if we can be kind, patient and trusting as whānau on mission together, then I believe we can find numerous new opportunities to bring the bread and water of Christ to hungry and thirsty people.”
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
