Rod Robson, the Chair of National Council, brings you this update from their last National Council gathering 1 – 2 August 2025.
You can listen to a verbal update on the Chair Chats podcast where Rod Robson talks with Catharina Siraa: Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube – or find it on the Baptist NZ app.
Hi Peeps
National Council recently met for our two-day August meeting. Here’s an update on some of the happenings.
The Friday was spent gathering with the Regional Leaders, Chairs of the Regional Associations, National Support Centre staff, Carey Baptist College Principal, General Director of Arotahi, and Chair of the Baptist Women’s Board. The National Council want to gratefully acknowledge the work that this group of people contribute, many of them out of their own time, to our movement of churches.
This annual gathering is quite strategic in terms of relationship building amongst leaders in our movement. This year’s content was prepared by the Regional Leaders and focused on three areas: an update on structural changes that have happened, an overview of the upcoming Baptist World Alliance Acts 2 initiative (taking us to the year 2033 – the 2000th anniversary of the death and resurrection of Jesus, and the beginning of the church), and discussion around church revitalization. You will get the opportunity to hear more about these at National Hui in November.
Speaking of National Hui, this year there will be virtual registrations available to enable more people from your church to be a part of this annual gathering of our Baptist whānau. You can register now at hui.baptist.nz.
On Saturday we spent the morning in discussion and prayer around a potential person for National Leader that was put forward by the search team. You can read or listen to more about that process here. We’ve got a few more key groups to go through the discernment process alongside, but we’re hoping to bring a final name to you at the beginning of September.
In the afternoon we accepted the final report from the Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Enquiry (ACRCI) Baptist Response Group. Please be assured that the National Council will be taking time to consider and implement recommendations from this report. A public apology will be part of this.
We also received an update on progress toward the constitution of Te Whāriki – our Baptist Māori leadership group. This is a significant step in the Baptist Union of New Zealand’s te Tiriti journey.
Paul Cossey, pastor at Motueka Baptist Church was appointed as the Baptist representative on the Chaplains’ Defence Advisory Council.
The final version of Te Wao Tōtara Code of Ethics and Conduct was approved and will be celebrated at National Hui. In the next Baptist Registration cycle starting on 1 November 2025, all leaders will agree to this new code of ethics and conduct. Thank you to the review group who have worked on this for the last two years for the entire movement, and thank you to all of you who participated in the consultation process.
There is lots going on! But much to be thankful for. God is at work in our movement and gospel renewal is happening in local communities.
Cheers,
Rod
Chair Chats podcast
You can listen to a verbal update on the Chair Chats podcast where Rod Robson talks with Catharina Siraa: Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube – or find it on the Baptist NZ app.
Photo credit: Cathatrina Siraa
