Kia ora e te whanau
The year has started in earnest!
Leadership & Personal Development Resources
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in Aotearoa is traditionally set down between Ascension and Pentecost (this year, 18th to 24th of May [which also happens to be ‘Wesley Day’]). Resources are available here: https://www.oikoumene.org/resources/week-of-prayer-for-christian-unity
The Art Of Disagreeing Without Damaging Trust – 5 Leadership Practices
For one who is often at the front of the queue for opening my mouth and sharing my ‘wisdom’, this article was a great corrective in helping me to assess whether my contributions are helping, or simply undermining credibility. It offers clear, simple and helpful tools (usually in the questions we can be asking, including asking ourselves) in allowing space for differing perspectives to be heard and relationships to be honoured while we seek to move forward. The article can be accessed here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/tonygambill/2025/12/10/the-art-of-disagreeing-without-damaging-trust-5-leadership-practices/
Why most strategic plans fail just as often as New Year’s resolutions
We imagine the New Year is the ideal time to consider our priorities for what’s ahead. No argument. We live in an era where we’re obsessed with Vision/Mission Statements and Strategic plans – the church is heavily invested in these. The problem is that they so often take so much effort to produce, and ultimately give little to no return on the time and energy invested. This article offers some pointers on how we might make the planning effective – it suggests (in my reading) we need to include specific tactics of what we will actually do – and set this up within the planning process. It can be accessed here: https://www.fastcompany.com/91469099/why-most-strategic-plans-fail
Think You’re Too Old to Start a Business? Science Says People in their 40s, 50s, and Even 60s Have a Distinct Advantage
This is a drum that I’ve been beating for the past couple of decades. Not that older people should start businesses, but that there are some real advantages in being older – there is an accumulated knowledge and experience base that allows us to see solutions to problems and move forward with a confidence that younger people often miss. One of the real strengths of being older is that we will make connections that only experience can lead us to. So, while this article is about starting a business, the basic underlying principle gives it a wider application. See what I mean about ‘connections’? It can be accessed here: https://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/think-youre-too-old-to-start-a-business-science-says-people-in-their-40s-50s-and-even-60s-have-a-distinct-advantage/91285861
Homilies and Preaching Resources
My response to the lectionary for the 18th of January is titled ‘ Jesus – Lion or Lamb?‘ – reflecting on the announcement of John the Baptist that Jesus is “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world”, as found in John 1 vs 29 -42. The homily can be engaged with here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mot5P_p-tV4
As I indicated in my previous news update as we start this new year, Rev Dr Trevor Hoggard has informed us that with his shifting to a new Parish over this January break, he will not be continuing posting sermons on his YouTube channel into 2026. I’m grateful for the work that Trevor has done over the past couple of years in providing a different voice. We wish him well as he moves on. His new appointment is the Takapuna Methodist Church, on Auckland’s North Shore. They live-stream their services, so if you want to continue to tune into Trevor he can be followed here: https://www.youtube.com/@takapunamethodist
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/. Throughout January they are offering ‘Chats’. Their latest ‘chat’ is for this coming Sunday, the 18th of January, focussing on the gospel lectionary of John 1 vs 29-42. It can be accessed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiw1CABy5aY