Day one back as diocesan manager – and straight into the diocesan synod. What a welcome!
Synod began with a beautiful service at Nelson Cathedral on Thursday night. If you haven’t visited the cathedral recently, I highly recommend taking the time. The service was a joyful blend of worship and hospitality, with the bishop’s charge as its spiritual centrepiece.
Over the past three years, Bishop Steve has prayerfully articulated both our current reality and the diocese’s response. This year, his call was for “hearts that burn” with the love of Christ, urging us to walk together in faith, be courageous in mission, and nurture unity across parishes and generations.
That unity was palpable throughout the business sessions. Hosted by All Saints Parish, the team there provided a warm and welcoming venue – thank you for your hospitality!
Two moments stood out for me:
++Justin spoke powerfully about the situation in Gaza and the Church’s role in reconciliation. Our archbishops have chosen to follow the lead of the Archbishop of Jerusalem – a thoughtful and grounded approach. In a world quick to offer opinions, it was refreshing to hear a call to listen first, especially to those living the reality.
Luke, one of the few younger attendees, raised an important concern: the lack of youth representation at synod. Despite statutes allowing for two youth reps per deanery, this opportunity remains underutilised. Luke’s contribution was a timely reminder that engaging young people is vital to the life and future of our Church.
I was also deeply blessed by the warm welcome I received upon returning to the diocesan manager role – it was a great encouragement.
Overall, I would summarise Synod 2025 as far more than a governance meeting – it was an act of shared worship and fellowship, bringing together whānau from every corner of our diocese. If you’re considering standing for election as a synod representative in 2026, I encourage you to prayerfully consider it. Your voice matters.
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.
Day one back as diocesan manager – and straight into the diocesan synod. What a welcome!
Synod began with a beautiful service at Nelson Cathedral on Thursday night. If you haven’t visited the cathedral recently, I highly recommend taking the time. The service was a joyful blend of worship and hospitality, with the bishop’s charge as its spiritual centrepiece.
Over the past three years, Bishop Steve has prayerfully articulated both our current reality and the diocese’s response. This year, his call was for “hearts that burn” with the love of Christ, urging us to walk together in faith, be courageous in mission, and nurture unity across parishes and generations.
That unity was palpable throughout the business sessions. Hosted by All Saints Parish, the team there provided a warm and welcoming venue – thank you for your hospitality!
Two moments stood out for me:
++Justin spoke powerfully about the situation in Gaza and the Church’s role in reconciliation. Our archbishops have chosen to follow the lead of the Archbishop of Jerusalem – a thoughtful and grounded approach. In a world quick to offer opinions, it was refreshing to hear a call to listen first, especially to those living the reality.
Luke, one of the few younger attendees, raised an important concern: the lack of youth representation at synod. Despite statutes allowing for two youth reps per deanery, this opportunity remains underutilised. Luke’s contribution was a timely reminder that engaging young people is vital to the life and future of our Church.
I was also deeply blessed by the warm welcome I received upon returning to the diocesan manager role – it was a great encouragement.
Overall, I would summarise Synod 2025 as far more than a governance meeting – it was an act of shared worship and fellowship, bringing together whānau from every corner of our diocese. If you’re considering standing for election as a synod representative in 2026, I encourage you to prayerfully consider it. Your voice matters.
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
