UPDATE (12 December) – media have reported that the Speaker of the House has decided to retain the current prayer.
Concern over Parliamentary Prayer Decision
New Zealand Christian Network director Glyn Carpenter has raised concerns ahead of a decision on the prayer used in parliament.
Parliament’s speaker Rt. Hon. David Carter has written to all Members of Parliament seeking their views on an alternative prayer by this Friday.
Carpenter has written to MPs supporting the updating of language and inclusion of te reo Maori, but stating that if it’s an either/or choice between the current Christian prayer and the proposed alternative, there are good reasons to retain the status quo.
“This Christmas Day we mark 200 years since the Christian message was first preached in New Zealand” says Carpenter, “highlighting the fact that New Zealand is in many ways still a distinctively Christian country, even if many people no longer practise the faith.
“We’ve had many supportive responses, but also a couple that are hard to understand. One MP said that the House of Representatives must reflect the various faiths of all New Zealanders so that all New Zealanders feel represented by their Parliament, regardless of their religious beliefs”.
Carpenter says this is simply impossible. “How can the proposed new prayer that starts with “E te Atua Kaha Rawa (Almighty God)” make the 40% of New Zealanders who do not claim a belief in God feel included? How can a prayer not offered in the name of Jesus Christ make Christians feel included?
“It is a mistake to believe that all Christians will feel represented by a prayer that is made to some generic deity.
“If they want to get rid of the Christian prayer, then they should have the courage to be upfront and say so” says Carpenter. But let’s not pretend there’s a way to satisfy everyone on this matter”.
The Christian prayer should be retained in Parliament, reflecting our heritage, culture, and the faith that is foundational in our society, and still claimed by nearly 50% of New Zealanders.
New Zealand Christian Network is a broad-spectrum network of churches and Christian leaders, with a Board of Reference that includes leaders from all the main denominations. It seeks to present a biblically orthodox position on issues, reflecting the views of the majority of Christians in New Zealand. For queries or further information contact : Glyn Carpenter National Director, New Zealand Christian Network
NZ Christian Network commends Family First’s effort in keeping the media balanced.
Their recent mid-week update contained an example where our state broadcaster TVNZ made what Family First called a “highly derogatory and unjustified headline for a story on same-sex ‘marriage'”.
The story related to an invitation from the Australian Christian Lobby to the leader of the Australian Labour Opposition to their annual conference. The ACL and the leader disagree on the issue of redefining marriage but the fact the invitation was extended indicates an openness to dialogue.
Groups supportive of redefining marriage pressured the leader not to attend, and then mounted a campaign against the hotel that was hosting the conference.
The TVNZ headline for this story was “Aussie Labor leader takes aim at religious bigots”.
It is disappointing that this kind of sensational and unwarranted headline is used in any media, let alone New Zealand’s state owned broadcaster.
To TVNZ’s credit, after a complaint was made by Family First and possibly others, the headline was changed to “Aussie Labor leader backs gay marriage”.
NZ Christian Network does not agree with everything we’ve seen coming out of ACL, just as we hold different positions on some matters to Family First.
But we do want to thank Family First for their action on this matter. We also thank TVNZ for taking corrective action so quickly.
Free speech is important in an open free democracy, and a media that reports relevant news stories with accuracy and fairness is an indispensable part of that process.
A great evening last week in Parliament saw 6 Unsung Heroes awards presented and special thanks expressed to host Eric Roy (retiring after first entering parliament in 1993) and awards co-presenter Ross Robertson (also retiring, after 27 years in parliament).
The category winners were:
Secularism – Simon Greening, CEO of Churches Education Commission
Marriage and Family – David and Jean Moore, founders of the STEPS programme
Value of Life – Marina Young, founder of the Buttons Project
Missional Living – Mt Tabor Trust, founded in 1978 by Irene Hogan, Lorraine Popple and John Hill
Special category awards were presented for:
Unity and Mission – Bruce and Jinny Patrick (in memoriam)
Te Rongopai 1814-2014 – Stuart and Christine Lange (in memoriam)
Special thanks was expressed to:
Eric Roy (National MP since 1993)
Ross Robertson (Labour MP since 1987)
Following are the actual citations:
Stuart and Christine Lange (in memoriam) Our first award tonight is to a couple who have served God together for nearly 40 years, – in their marriage and family and ministry. Christine was a devoted wife and mother, active in church ministry and leadership, and a tower of strength and support for her husband Stuart. Stuart is a devoted husband and father, a lecturer in church history, an ordained church minister, and a member of NZ Christian Network’s board.
But he is increasingly known as the man who over the past 3 years produced the Te Rongopai DVD.
During this time Christine was his number one supporter, despite being very ill with cancer, which she was first diagnosed with at age 33, and which finally ended her life on earth just two weeks ago. If Stuart were with us today, he would say “To God be all the Glory. It is only by God’s grace and strength that he was able to complete this DVD, at the same time as doing his other jobs and also caring for Christine”. The DVD is a unique resource to mark the Gospel Bicentenary and inform the church and nation. But it also stands now as a loving memorial to Christine Lange from her husband Stuart. Stuart is unable to be with us today, but I invite you to put your hands together to congratulate the recipients of our first award tonight – Te Rongopai 1814-2014 – Stuart and Christine Lange.
Bruce Patrick with daughter Alexandra
Bruce and Jinny Patrick (in memoriam) Our second award is for a couple who have worked sacrificially to see Jesus’ prayer fulfilled: “Father, may they be brought to complete unity that the world will know …”
They have pastored several churches. Among these was a 16 year period at the Auckland Baptist Tabernacle, which grew significantly under their leadership. They have served in various leadership roles within their denomination. But they have also worked to help Christians network across denominations, so that the church as a whole could become more effective in its mission and ministry.
This passion led in 1990 to founding Vision New Zealand, and to organising the first Vision Christian Leaders Congress. We just ran the 7th Congress earlier this year. For most of the Congresses they produced a series of books entitled New Vision New Zealand which are highly regarded and sit on most leaders’ bookshelves.
In 2001 after attending a World Evangelical Alliance General Assembly with Graeme Lee, they returned to New Zealand, organised a number of gatherings with evangelical leaders, and re-launched as Vision Network (now called NZ Christian Network) in 2002. They served on the board from 1990. Jinny was focused mainly on women’s ministries, finishing in 2011, and Bruce served as board chairman until 2011, and board member until earlier this year.
New Zealand Christian Network would not be here today without them,
so it is an honour to present this Unity and Mission award to Bruce and Jinny Patrick.
Sadly, after the board made this selection, Jinny was diagnosed in June with cancer. Four weeks later she had a massive stroke, and three days after that she passed away. We are pleased that Jinny’s daughter Alexandra is here today to stand in Jinny’s place alongside Bruce. Please welcome Bruce and Alexandra.
Simon Greening (centre) with Ross Robertson and Eric Roy
The Secularism award this year goes to a man who understands that secularism does not mean that children should not learn about Jesus and the Christian stories which are an integral part of this country’s foundation. He has worked in a number of youth ministries including YFC’s Rock programme. At law school he was awarded the David Mummery Scholarship in law for academic achievement and service to the community. He works now as a lawyer, but is known to most people as CEO of the Churches Education Commission, a part-time position he has held since 2011. CEC runs Christian Religious Education programmes, often referred to as Bible in Schools in approximately 600 schools around the country. This involves a huge nationwide team of volunteer teachers and the challenge of ensuring adherence to CEC content and policy throughout. In his role he is attacked regularly by groups and individuals who do not want CRE in schools, some of whom can get very personal and vicious in their comments. He appears regularly in the media explaining why CRE is important and why it is not illegal. On every occasion he speaks with gentleness and grace. Under his leadership CEC has innovated with new curricula and programmes, and continues to work at communicating well with schools and parents. Please welcome – Simon Greening The Marriage and Family award goes to two people who have worked for over 25 years in the area of problem sexuality leading to pornography addictions, affairs and similar issues. These problems can affect leaders in the church as well as people outside. Understandably, marriages are devastated when the “bombshell of discovery” surfaces and many marriages don’t survive. But these two people have helped save many marriages from divorce over the years. David has developed a very successful treatment program, and support groups for men facing issues of problem sexuality, addiction and abuse. Jean has been successfully leading a woman’s support group for wives that provides a safe place to share, and to receive hope again for their relationships. They themselves have been married for 43 years, working together first in social work and later as Salvation Army officers. For the last 25 years they have worked as counsellors at the Tamaki Family Health centre. Demand for the sort of help this couple have developed is huge and comes from all over New Zealand. David has workbooks and programs ready for publication and online use but no funds to progress these – not even set up a proper website. If you know people who could help, please talk to them afterwards. In the meantime, please welcome David and Jean Moore. The Value of Life category award goes to a brave, caring woman who in 2008 started the Buttons Project. Flowing out of her own abortion experience, her aim is to help women and family members who have been affected by abortion to work towards closure and healing. For many this can be difficult when there is no grave to visit, no tangible way of remembering. The Buttons Project invites women who have been affected by the loss of an unborn baby, and other family members, to send in a button. For some it is a way of simply remembering; for others a step on the journey of healing. The dream is to collect thousands and thousands of buttons which will be displayed as a memorial – a collective statement which simply says, “what happened mattered.” A way to remember, to grieve and to love. This person currently works as the Family, Whānau facilitator at Equip Mental Health Services, and has previously done a variety of voluntary work including Pregnancy Counselling Services, ministering to the homeless and youth at risk, music and movement for intellectually and physically disabled people. The Buttons lady now has three adult children and a husband of 28 years, Peter, who is with her here today. Please welcome Marina Young
Annette, Lorraine, John, and Stuart (front row) from Mt Tabor Trust
The Missional Living category award (previously known as All of Life Faith) is being presented to Mt Tabor Trust, founded 36 years ago by Irene Hogan, Lorraine Popple and John Hill, as an intentional community to welcome people with intellectual disabilities from out of the big institutions of the day – St Johns, Mangere, and Carrington Hospitals. Irene was a nurse and midwife with VSA experience in Malaysia, Lorraine a teacher who had been a missionary in Papua New Guinea, John was a young businessman in Auckland. In 1978 they invited seven people with disabilities to come and live with them. These people became the first core members of Mt Tabor Community. The ideal of living, working and praying together like a family, in the spirit of the Gospels and Beatitudes, was inspired by L’Arche Communities and they adopted their Charter as part of the Trust Deed in 1979. From there, more people came and lived in houses and flats in Grey Lynn, and then Helensville, supported by trustees, neighbours, friends and families, churches and community groups. Over the last 36 years, Mt Tabor has grown and now has seven family sized homes for people who are intellectually disabled, living alongside support. Currently there are 31 core members and 35 support people. Their community encourages interdependence, personal value, personal responsibilities and awareness of individual choices for all community members. A favourite song at Mt Tabor is “we are friends” and we welcome Stuart and Annette as friends here today. The passion and self-sacrifice of the founders, and more recently Lorraine’s husband Michael and other key people, is an inspiration and challenge to us all Please welcome Lorraine Popple and John Wood
It was with deep sadness that we heard the news that Christine Lange, wife of Stuart Lange, had passed away last Friday night.
Stuart is a current NZ Christian Network board member, a lecturer at Laidlaw College, minister at Massey Presbyterian church, and increasingly well known for producing the Te Rongopai DVD.
Christine will be known to many people involved with the Network, in addition to all those who knew her through Laidlaw and the church and other circles.
Although I only met Christine personally a few times, I remember her as a very warm, gracious person, always smiling, despite the fact that for most of that time she was living with the knowledge of the cancer in her body.
From the first time we met she always addressed me by name, and she was always interested in what I was doing and how the Christian Network was going.
Given the deteriorating state of her health it was a huge joy to see Christine at Laidlaw College for the launch of the Te Rongopai DVD in March this year, and to see the depth of love and affection that people had towards her. Although she was unwell, Stuart often spoke of the support he received from Christine during the period (2012-2014) that he was working on the script and production of the DVD.
On behalf of the Board, Leaders, and Members of the Network, we would like to express our deepest sympathies to Stuart and the Family, and assure them of our prayers and any support we can offer.
Glyn Carpenter
The following note was sent out by Stuart Lange
Dear friends,
Last night, after so many years of grace and courage in the face of very serious illness, our much-cherished Christine went to be with the Lord.
Following five weeks in hospital, Christine was so pleased to be once again at home. Most days she spent out in the family room, enjoying time with family and also a few friends. During those nine days her strength and mobility were gradually diminishing. A project she was able to do in that time was to record over twenty children’s Bible stories, primarily for her future grandchildren (Christine was excellent at reading aloud, with a lovely voice and tone, and very natural expression). She completed that on Thursday. On Friday she did not feel well, and stayed in bed. That was the only day she was confined to bed. About 5 p.m. it became apparent that her life here was coming to an end. The family were all on hand, and at 11 p.m. she passed away.
Stuart and Christine Lange
Christine was a very lovely person, full of warmth, faith, hope, love, sparkle and fun. It has been a delight, and an immense blessing, to be married to her for nearly thirty-five years. From start to finish, she captivated me. Christine also deeply loved our four sons, and poured so much into them. Their sturdy Christian faith and character is a fitting reflection of that. We will all miss her very deeply. So will many others, in church and elsewhere. In her own unique way, Christine brought joy, encouragement, and inspiration to many people.
The years of Christine’s illness have by no means been continuous suffering. Along the way, there have been countless good times. But the last six weeks have been increasingly challenging. Even so, Christine has had relatively little pain. We are relieved, though, that Christine’s worsening physical troubles are finally over, and that she has now entered into that realm of God where there is no suffering, and where all things will be made new in Christ.
Christine has been a firm believer in Christ since middle childhood. As the end of her life approached she was in no doubt that she was going to be with the Lord, and that she would also enjoy fellowship with those who have gone before. One scripture verse that sums up both Christine’s life among us and her life with God in eternity is Psalm 23:6: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever”. Those were also words which she heard again last night.
A few weeks ago Christine wrote down her thoughts about a service of thanksgiving to God. That service will be held next Saturday (23 August), at Massey Presbyterian Church, at a time still to be decided.
Our thanks to all who have given wonderful support, in prayer, in messages, in visits, and in practical help.
To God be the glory, Stuart, and our sons René, Richie, Chris, and Jono
(and daughters-in-law Caitrin, Kathy, and Emily)
JINNY PATRICK 9 Sept 1946 – 23 July 2014 Former board member, NZ Christian Network
Jinny Patrick passed away on 23 July 2014. She was diagnosed with cancer at the beginning of July, but while waiting for a decision on treatment options, had a stroke on 20th July from which she did not recover.
Jinny’s funeral was held at Greenlane Christian Centre on 30th July. As I was overseas and unable to be at the funeral, and knowing that any opportunity for messages to be read out at the funeral would be limited, I sent Bruce Patrick the following short tribute.
Jinny has been a very significant part of my life. In partnership with Bruce, she was a huge part of bringing Vision Network (now called New Zealand Christian Network) into existence.
She was a founding board member. And when I was called in 2002 to serve the Network, Jinny along with Bruce helped me learn the ropes in what was at the time to me a very unfamiliar environment.
Jinny served on our Board until 2011 during which time she helped with 3 Congresses in addition to the 3 that ran in the ’90s, and also headed up a project through the Network’s Woman’s Ministry to combat domestic violence. God used Jinny in her support for me personally when I went through a number of difficult work situations where I wasn’t sure if I could continue.
I think it’s fair to say I may well have not been still doing my current job if it had not been for her support during those times.
I thank God for her life and her support, and pray God’s peace and strength for Bruce and all the family at this time.
Glyn Carpenter
Click here to view the order of service of Jinny’s funeral
