Australia Speaking Tour 2007 - New Zealand and the Methodist Church

04:49 pm - New Zealand and the Methodist Church

While in Auckland, NZ, I had a delightful opportunity to have lunch with Rev. Barry Jones, Rev. Gillian, and Telita, the National Director for Youth Ministry. I emailed Rev. Jones at the last minute while in New Zealand and he arranged to have our two other guests there as well. We had lunch and conversation at the church of Rev. Jones, the Pitt Street Methodist Church. He prepared a lovely lunch and we talked and talked between the three of us! The Pitt Street church is multi-ethnic and urban. We talked alot about the challenges facing children's ministries and in working with youth. We talked alot about intergenerational ministry so that as people enter our church buildings we are not separating people off by ages and there is no contact between them.

When I saw the Pitt St church sanctuary it so much reminded me of the Chicago Temple sanctuary, but on a smaller scale. It has the original pews - very long and with no center aisle. The pulpit is a central feature. Very much the style of some of the first Methodist churches where the emphasis was primarily on the preaching rather than both preaching and sacraments. Beautiful large stain glass windows. The stain glass window above the balcony was given by the congregation in memory of the son of a member who was killed in WWII. What a wonderful gift it was for me to share a meal and be in conversation with these three warm people.



The memorial stain glass window:



The pulpit:




The sanctuary view: