Dear Friends,
Important things have happened in our Diocese since last Wednesday. We had a valuable Rural Ministry Day at Darfield last Thursday, then our Synod began with the Synod Eucharist on Thursday night and concluded mid afternoon on Saturday. Last night, the Reverend Matt Maslin was inducted as the new Vicar of Bryndwr in a service led by our Vicar-General, Archdeacon Mark Barlow.
Our Synod traversed quite a bit of ground. Some important decisions – from my perspective at least – are that we approved Standing Committee having capacity between Synods to make changes to parishes (e.g. merging parishes) when circumstances arise which require this is done with urgency between sessions of Synod. We also approved Standing Committee being the body which determines Leave policy for clergy (in order that such changes can be made more simply and expediently than if we do it by changing clauses in a statute at Synod). We heard from CCRL about progress during the current “pause” mode for the Cathedral Reinstatement Project – and tomorrow there will be public announcement of that progress. We approved a strong motion on the situation in Gaza, and the text of our resolution is available on our website.
The full text of my Presidential Address to the Synod is available also on our website. There is more to say about other decisions and discussions but for this week, let this brief report suffice.
On Monday, the funeral service for my father, Bishop Brian Carrell, was held in a very full Transitional Cathedral and with many people tuned into the service through the Cathedral’s livestream facility. My mother, May, my family and I are grateful for the support we have received before and since the funeral, and for the great love that was present in the service. Thank you to all who have sent messages – they have uplifted us and helped carry us through this first part of our grief. Thank you to Dean Ben Truman and the Transitional Cathedral staff and volunteers who assisted with the service, and to the Reverend Dr Andrew Butcher, Fendalton Parish, for his homily. We have been blessed!
A memorial service for Melissa Shoaf, wife of the Reverend John Shoaf, will be held at All Souls Anglican Church, 30 Church Lane, Merivale, on Sunday 21 September, at 2.00pm. All welcome.
The Diocesan Missions events planned for 27 September: there will be two two events that day, in Ashburton and Merivale. Both will share the same programme, so that people in different parts of the Diocese can more easily participate. Each event will hear from the Reverend David Dell and the Reverend Luca Tovey-Duckworth from Anglican Missions. As well as an update on mission matters, Luca will share some material presented recently at The Abbey.
Deeper camp is a space for families and intermediate youth groups to grow deeper in relationship with each other and God. Saturday, 1 November 2025 is a day full of activities and fun! There will be music, talks, waterslide, bouldering wall, archery, air rifles, competitions, crafts, a preschool space and lots more. It is a great opportunity to connect with some fun community and faith. This is a dedicated space for whānau and intermediates to create connections in your parish and across our Diocese. Any questions: please email Azaria Brooker . Book in for Deeper through this link.
This coming Sunday, 14 September 2025 is Ordinary 24, and the Gospel reading is Luke 15:1-10. Like a shepherd with one hundred sheep or a woman with ten coins, God treats every human as precious. To lose one to sin is like losing a sheep or a coin. That which is lost must be found. The family made incomplete through sin needs to be completed again.
This is my last Wednesday message until Wednesday 19 November. From this weekend I am back into study leave mode for two months. Archdeacon Mark Barlow will be in the lead role as our Vicar-General while I am away, with Archdeacon Indrea Alexander, our Deputy Vicar-General.
Arohanui,
+Peter.