UPDATE – Christchurch COVID-19 Case & WMCNZ ConneXion

WMCNZ AdministratorAnnouncements, COVID-19, National Secretary, News

Tēnā koutou, You may be aware that a health worker working at a managed isolation facility in Christchurch tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday. They are isolating at home along with a household contact who has since tested negative. You and those in your church may be wondering what this means for ConneXion 2020 which commences in Christchurch this Friday. Indications from the Ministry of Health are that there is minimal risk to anyone in the community. ConneXion 2020 will therefore proceed as planned. We will continue to monitor the situation and will update you if necessary. Rest assured that … Read More

Walking with Those Made Redundant

WMCNZ AdministratorCOVID-19, Ministry Resources, National Secretary, News, Pastoral Care, Redundancy, Unemployment

Redundancy – it’s not a word we like to hear, especially when we are the one being made redundant. Unfortunately it is a word that we will hear more often as the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic play out over coming months.   Many people will turn to their Pastor for support. Some will feel more prepared to offer that support than others. It might help to think of it this way – the provision of pastoral care during employment crises mirrors the general principles for crisis-response pastoral care.   Pastoral Guidelines for Redundancy Support aims to help Pastors … Read More

“Do this in remembrance of me” – Communion at Alert Level 2

WMCNZ AdministratorCommunion, COVID-19, National Secretary, News

In fulfilling our responsibility to make arrangements for Communion to be celebrated regularly in the local church, Local Church Ministers are accountable for ensuring that all who wish to come to the Lord’s table are able to do so. How do we do that in the current environment amidst the requirements of Alert Level 2?   There is no one correct way, but there are some principles to bear in mind which are captured in this Communion Guidance For Ministers Alert Level 2. In here you will also see examples of approaches being taken by 3 of our churches.   … Read More

Ministers CAN now officiate at Funerals during Level 3

WMCNZ AdministratorCOVID-19, Funerals & Tangihanga, National Secretary, News, Pastoral Care

As Pastors our call is to support people as they navigate the highs and lows of life. It is hard when we can’t be there in person and whilst that is still the case for most pastoral situations in Level 3 the good news is we can again provide support on the death of loved ones. But what we can do is still very limited. We have updated the Funeral Guidelines for Ministers to reflect the latest advice that Ministers may officiate as celebrants at Funerals, Tangihanga, So mate, Ala, and Putu under the direction of the Funeral Director. They … Read More

A glimpse of life at Alert Level 3

WMCNZ AdministratorCOVID-19, National Secretary, News

While New Zealand remains at Alert Level 4, the Government has released more information on Alert Level 3. The purpose of Alert Level 3 is to Restrict the spread of the COVID-19 disease in circumstances where the risk of community transmission remains high. It has been described as a “waiting room” where we as a country assess our progress in eliminating COVID-19. The principle remains to act in the direction of Loving Our Neighbours and to limit contact unless it is absolutely necessary. ​ These preliminary general guidelines have been prepared to help us understand what being at Alert Level … Read More

Resources for the journey

WMCNZ AdministratorCOVID-19, Ministry Resources, National Secretary, News, Stewardship

One of the many things I love about being a Minister in the WMCNZ is that we all support each other. When we face challenges in our ministry there are always others willing to share their God-given gifts, skills, abilities, knowledge and wisdom. I’ve been privileged to see that play out in a special way as we minister during the current challenging time as we’ve all had to find new ways to minister to the people God has entrusted to us in his church.     Stewardship of Resources & People available on the Covid-19 Local Church Resources page Stewardship … Read More