Kia ora e te whanau
The Methodist Conference has come and gone. It concluded on Saturday. Biennial conferences are ‘in-person’. Each alternate year is on-line – this was such a year. As I claimed beforehand, the Methodist Church has mastered the on-line art – it was very well run, and well lead by the Presidential Team. There were times of rich engagement, and wise decision making – even, sometimes, in the face of difficult circumstances.
This coming weekend finds me in Northland. Lynne will be with me as we spend over a week visiting with as many parishes as we are able and have made themselves available. I tend to go into these meetings with no predetermined agenda, except to open a conversation and listen and respond with any wisdom and grace that comes. I’ve found these encounters nearly always to be a joy.
Leadership & Personal Development Resources
Culture is Contagious – The Overlooked Habit that Shapes Organisations
While about business, this Forbes article speaks directly to the Church, and how easily it can slip into dysfunction. While I have always been committed to including the contrary voices, this really invites reflection on the effects of constant negativity, and how one builds a healthy leadership culture. It can be accessed here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/julianhayesii/2025/10/08/culture-is-contagious-the-overlooked-habit-that-shapes-organizations/
Is This All There Is?
This article addresses why so many leaders hit a wall in their 50s – and what to do about it. It becomes about issues of significance rather that chasing success. The author speaks from his own age and stage of life – and sees the commonality with so many others. This applies also to those of us in church leadership. The article can be accessed here: https://www.inc.com/marcel-schwantes/high-achieving-leaders-executives-ceos-midlife/91264936
Neuroscience research says your next antiaging product should be Duolingo
There is significant evidence that one of the ways to slow the ‘biobehavioural’ aging process is being able to speak more than one language. As one who fears the onset of dementia more than most other aging outcomes, knowing this earlier may have been a greater incentive to apply myself more intentionally to Te Reo Māori. I’m hoping it’s never to late for a new beginning. There is a very good website (I’ve started a number of times) that can be accessed here: https://www.tokureo.maori.nz/ The article itself can be accessed here: https://www.fastcompany.com/91440567/neuroscientists-say-your-next-anti-aging-product-should-be-duolingo-learning-languages-keeps-brain-young
Homilies and Preaching Resources
My response to the lectionary for the 23rd of November is titled ‘The Banality of Evil, and Grace’ and focusses on the Gospel reading of Luke 23 vs 33-43. This text marks the end of our current lectionary cycle, with the feast of ‘Christ the King’, and deals with Luke’s account of the crucifixion. We explore the contrast between the ordinary everydayness of evil, and the ordinary everydayness Christ’s graced responses. It can be engaged with here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5nTqom5_14
Trevor Hoggard continues with the 2nd set of Lectionary readings. His texts for Sunday the 23rd of November are 1 Samuel 8 vs 4-20, Psalm 72 vs 1-7, and John 18 vs 33-37. Trevor’s sermon can be accessed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ra9lLSonWWM
Gospel Conversations – out of the Dunedin Anglican Diocese. They host a conversation of 4 Theologians / Practitioners around the Gospel lectionary text for the coming Sunday. The site with all its options can be accessed here: https://www.calledsouth.org.nz/gospel-conversations/ . The latest ‘Conversation’ is for the coming Sunday (Christ the King) based on the lectionary Gospel of Luke 23 vs 33-43. It can be accessed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HShb4odZDTA