NEWS
News from our member churches and the wider ecumenical movement, with our monthly roundup and a library of stories from ecumenical bodies around the world.
Quakers pray for peace around the world
For World Quaker Day on 4 October, the Friends World Committee for Consultation hosted a six-hour online meeting for worship on the theme “Let Peace Be Among Us”, with more than 900 registrations from at least 50 countries.
Methodist Conference 2026
The Methodist Church of New Zealand’s Conference for 2026 was set for Wesley College, Paerata, from 2 to 7 October, under the theme “Maranga!
The Lutheran World Federation visits Australia
Rev.
Catholic and Anglican bishops meet in Auckland
New Zealand’s Anglican and Roman Catholic bishops met in Auckland in September for their regular joint gathering, which takes place every year or two, and an Assistant Anglican Bishop from Polynesia joined them.
Bible Society marks 180 years in New Zealand
Bible Society New Zealand marked 180 years of Bible mission in New Zealand on 2 September, giving thanks for the generations of supporters around Aotearoa who have prayed, given and served.
Na Laca, a new newsletter from Pasifika Communities University
Pasifika Communities University launched Na Laca (“The Sails”), its new newsletter, in September.
125 years since Presbyterian church union
The Presbyterian Research Centre has mounted a display in the Hewitson Wing of Knox College, Dunedin, marking 125 years since the Northern and Southern Presbyterian churches in New Zealand united in 1901.
Methodist and Uniting Church women gather in Auckland
Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland hosted the 15th World Assembly of the World Federation of Methodist and Uniting Church Women from 25 to 29 August, on the theme “Arise and Shine for the Glory of God is Upon You”, from Isaiah 60:1.
Weaving an Indigenous thread into the World Methodist Council
About 180 people from the worldwide Methodist family met in San Salvador from 13 to 17 August for the World Methodist Council meeting, on the theme “The Kingdom of God is justice and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit”, and visited places connected with Archbishop Óscar Romero.
Tim Pratt retires from Christian World Service
Rev.
Beyond Small Talk: conversations across difference in Taranaki
Writing in the August Friends Newsletter, Margy-Jean Malcolm described Beyond Small Talk, an initiative of Taranaki Quakers that helps people practise respectful conversation across difference.
A liturgy tour of all six dioceses
At the bishops’ invitation, the American liturgist Fr Paul Turner, a priest of the Diocese of Kansas City-St Joseph in Missouri and a consultant to the Vatican, was due to visit all six New Zealand dioceses between 21 July and 8 August, starting in Hamilton and finishing in Christchurch.
The first Māori Dean of Waiapu
The Venerable Ruihana Paenga, Archdeacon for Leadership in Te Pīhopatanga o Aotearoa, has been appointed Dean of Waiapu, the first Māori dean of the Cathedral of St John the Evangelist in Napier.
Nominations open for the Delargey Awards
Nominations opened in July for the 2026 Delargey Awards, which have recognised people who serve young Catholics in Aotearoa New Zealand every two years since 2004.
The Council for World Mission meets in Auckland
The Presbyterian Church hosted the Council for World Mission’s Annual Members Meeting in Auckland in June, following the council’s “ReVisioning Education” programme in Auckland and at Te Maungarongo Marae in May.
Remembering Rob Wayne
Christian World Service paid tribute to Rob Wayne, its colleague of many decades, who died suddenly in March.
Bishop Susan Wallace ordained for Te Waipounamu
Bishop Susan Hinemoa Wallace was ordained and installed as Bishop of Te Hui Amorangi ki te Waipounamu, the Māori Anglican church in the South Island, at the Transitional Cathedral in Christchurch on 6 June, with more than 500 people present.
Two hundred years of Christianity in Tonga
Leaders of Te Hāhi Weteriana o Aotearoa, among them the president, Te Aroha Rountree, the vice-president, Rev.
Five licensed for ministry at Te Maungarongo Marae
In early May, five people who had completed Amorangi training, in partnership with the Knox Centre for Ministry and Leadership, were licensed for ministry in Te Aka Puahou at Te Maungarongo Marae in Ōhope, the Presbyterian Church’s national marae.
A New Zealand response to Pope Leo’s letter on artificial intelligence
Bishop Richard Laurenson of Hamilton welcomed Magnifica Humanitas, Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical, which was published on 25 May and is about protecting the human person in an age of artificial intelligence.