UCANZ Review

The UCANZ Forum held at Onehunga Cooperating Parish 31st of May through 2nd of June2025 affirms that:

1. We acknowledge the historic concluding section of the 1984 Statement of Accord. We affirm that even in our failures God speaks to us that the unity of Christ’s church onearth is His will and our hope that the unity we seek is not uniformity, but a unity enrichedby our diverse heritages, traditions and cultures.This unity will be marked by an ending of prejudices and hostilities and a lifting ofcondemnations and barriers and sharing of one faith in God and the Trinity, a mutualrecognition of one baptism, one Eucharist, and a ministry recognised by all ways ofdeciding and acting together.

2. The Forum and Partner personnel present affirm their on-going commitment to supporting the life of CV parishes and congregations throughout the nation.

3. We recognise the need for a broad and thorough review of UCANZ – of the very need for its existence, its purpose, procedures, and basis.

4. In the light of 3. (above), we invite the current partners – Anglican, Methodist, and Presbyterian – to establish a commission of nationally recognized Partner leaders (3 from each) to establish terms of reference and engage in a facilitated process to develop a new way forward together – embracing each of their bicultural, multi-cultural, and gospel commitments.

a. We anticipate this work to be completed within a two-year time frame, reporting to the forum of 2027 and allowing time for the implementation of changes before 1 July 2028.

a. Regular progress feedback (minimum three times per year) will be provided to UCANZ Standing Committee and disseminated across its constituency.

b. The UCANZ Standing Committee will initiate the process with the Partners.

c. We invite each of the Partners to populate their portion of the commission by 1 July 2025.

e. Terms of reference would be desirable by the 1st of September this year.

Notes

1.There was a call for the Partners to ensure that their commission membership reflected balance – cv/denominational, lay/clergy, gender, culture, etc 2. Some wanted a clearer understanding of ‘nationally recognised Partner leaders’. The intent was not to populate the Commission just with the obvious leaders – it is hoped it will include those with mana who carry the necessary skill and knowledge sets appropriate to the task. 3. There was also a call to make sure the commission includes ‘grass-roots conversations’