By Josephine Reader
Having started in September 1996, this year’s General Assembly marks the end of 10 years of service as Assembly Executive Secretary for the Rev Dr Kerry Enright.
Change has characterised the Church’s life during this time according to Kerry, who believes that the future will bring more change along with many reasons to celebrate.
He speaks with enthusiasm about the opportunities that exist for the Church saying, “the Gospel has amazing potential to change people’s lives and society”.
He says that society’s increasing interest in spiritual matters provides those within the Church more opportunities to act as “channels of Good News”. The challenge, Kerry suggests, is how we respond to these opportunities as both individuals and as a body.
Living faith communities that are warm, relevant, supportive and encouraging to which people wanting to explore spirituality can be pointed are part of the answer, he says.
“Our purpose is to participate in the mission of Jesus Christ, not primarily to serve those who are already members. We’ve been saying this for at least 20 years, but haven’t grasped it in our being.”
Kerry believes that some people within the Church have become disheartened, when they’ve seen that the Church is not what it was 40 years ago.
“What I find heartening are the faith convictions which stand at our core, the perpetual thinking about how these call us to act, and the innovative ways churches are engaging their communities.”
The Church of tomorrow will probably be more diverse, with fewer parishes with full-time ministers, a leaner infrastructure and more informal networks and ways of gathering suggests Kerry.
“Larger regional churches have emerged with several staff, alternative funding streams, fresh styles of worship, and many community initiatives. At the same time, effective small congregations are emerging. Gatherings outside Sunday worship and church buildings have become normal.”
With worship happening in 14 languages around the country, Kerry also believes “the next step is to understand that those of anglo-celtic descent are but one strand, not the norm”.
He adds that he has felt truly blessed experiencing the wealth of cultures within the church and also in the personal relationships built up in the church world-wide.
Kerry concludes by saying, “being AES has been a wonderful privilege and opportunity for service”.
While Kerry has yet to decide what the future holds for him personally, it is certain that his ministry will continue in one form or another as he, and the rest of the Church, seek ways to respond to the challenges and opportunities of the future.
• A selection panel will recommend to General Assembly 2006 that the Rev Martin Baker (currently minister at First Church in Dunedin) be appointed to the position of Assembly Executive Secretary. Should Assembly approve the recommendation, Martin is expected to take up the role toward the end of 2006.