Napier Parishes consultations now complete
Last weekend, members of the Anglican Church across Napier were invited to gather to engage in a consultation about how we may structure ourselves in the future to best achieve the mission of the Anglican Church. This comes after a Synod motion in 2024 that encouraged our parishes to consider a future together rather than separately, and the consultations mark an opportunity to collate the fears, dreams, hopes, and concerns of the people of the parishes for consideration by Standing Committee.
The letter which outlines the process is attached below, but the consultation itself was marked by engagement with three possible options - full amalgamation, amalgamation of Taradale an Westshore and the movement of the cathedral to a Cathedral particular rather than a parish church, or a maintaining of the status quo.
Questions such as this always raise concerns over identity and direction, especially in parishes that are smaller than other possible partners in an amalgamation. These fears were heard at the consultations. However, what was also heard was a resounding belief that the Anglican Church has something important to offer the city and the nation and so whatever is necessary to help that voice be achieved is worth it - if it is done with care and consideration.
From these consultations a report will be written to the Standing Committee of the Diocese outlining the reflections of the units, included all of the written submissions and the cards used during the consultation. From this report, the Standing Committee will decide whether the process continues. If it were to continue, the next stage would be a thorough review of the structures, the financial positions, the employment realities and needs and the details of how a merged parish could look and function.
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