Kia ora e te whanau
The question I’m most often asked is “What do we get for all the money we pay to UCANZ?”
There is a basic misunderstanding here. The money is NOT being paid to UCANZ.
Please bear with me. It’s important to understand this. UCANZ is an instrument set up by the partner churches, now Anglican, Methodist, and Presbyterian – to facilitate the partner relationships at local, regional, and national levels. This is done according to the ‘Procedures for Co-operative Ventures’ (latest version 2021). Let me know if you’d like a copy and I’ll happily email it to you.
The Procedures lay down three primary Partner roles. The ‘Convening Partner’, the ‘Participating Partner’, and the ‘Appointing Partner’
The ‘Convening Partner’ has primary responsibility in sorting out ‘issues’ relating to the CV (Co-operative Venture), including reviews, change of ministry, pastoral issues etc. The ‘Convening Partner’ should be the first ‘port of call’ when the parish has a question or faces difficulties. The ‘Convening Partner’ should also be in reasonably regular contact to ensure that all is well.
The other partner(s) are ‘Participating Partners’. Their role is to be supportive of the Parish, and should be kept fully informed of what is happening.
These Partnership roles are exercised at Regional level – whether through a Diocese (Anglican), Presbytery (Presbyterian – who’d have thought!), or Synod (Methodist). It is expected that a CV will be appropriately represented at each of the regional bodies in which it has a partnership interest.
While both these Partnership roles follow the 3-year cycle, there is a third Partnership role that does not. This is the ‘Appointing Partner’. In the increasingly rare situation where there is some form of stipended ministry, and it is up for a change, or being initiated, the Parish gets to choose who their ‘Appointing Partner’ will be. This means that in terms of seeking ministry the Parish will use the processes of the Partner they have chosen: if Anglican, then the Diocesan ministry appointment process; if Presbyterian, then the Call system with a Ministry Settlement Board; and if Methodist, then through their Stationing process. This does not mean that the Parish will necessarily get it’s minister from the partner who’s process it is using, though one might expect this to be likely.
While it is likely that parish leadership will refer more naturally to the ‘Appointing Partner’ (where there is one) it needs to be understood that the primary line of accountability and support is through the ‘Convening Partner’.
Now, back to where we started:
The levies are paid to the current ‘Convening Partner’. This is on a 3-year cycle. We are about to enter the 3rd and final year of the current cycle. There will be a changeover of ‘Convening Partner’ on 1 July next year (2025). If a parish is in a two-way partnership, it simply flips from one partner to the other. In a three-way partnership, it will be according to who’s turn it is.
The rate of levies is agreed every year by meetings of the RAG (Resource Allocation Group) which comprises the General/Assembly Secretaries of each of the three Partner Churches, and the UCANZ Co-chairs and Executive Officer. Levy calculations according to the agreed formula, with approved deductions according to the agreed rules, are carried out in the Waiapu Diocesan Office to which UCANZ has contracted much of its financial and levy related administrative tasks.
The rate for the up-coming year is still being negotiated and should be made public soon.
To return to the Original Question – the Levies are not paid to UCANZ. UCANZ is simply part of the mechanism by which the levies are assessed. As an analogy, as far as this function is concerned, UCANZ it is to the Partner Churches what the IRD is to the NZ Government.
Finally, running UCANZ does cost money – and we are currently funded primarily by the Partner Churches.
Personal and Leadership Resources
Why Habits Fail
Jeff Haden very usefully dives into a Google study that examines the difference between a routine and a practice – what the motivating factors are for each, and which, if trying to form a new habit, is likely to work long term.
The article can be read here: https://www.inc-aus.com/jeff-haden/google-spent-months-learning-why-habits-fail-answer-often-comes-down-to-1-powerful-word.html
Homilies
Trevor Hoggard engages in an honouring and heart-warming discussion on the life, work and influence of Charles Wesley – the great hymn writer and brother to John, ‘founder’ of the Methodist Church – ultimately demonstrating Charles’ ecumenical passion. Trevor’s sermon can be experienced here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vxgYFqf6wc
My response to the Gospel text of John 15 vs 26,27; 16 vs 4-15 examines the role of the Holy Spirit. I ultimately conclude that the Holy Spirit continues to lead us forward into truth and new ways of seeing. It can be experienced here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VE7PQeRaX4o