Church-planting a priority of

Wesleyan Methodist Church of New Zealand

AUCKLAND – New Zealand is the missionary environment for the growing Wesleyan Methodist Church of New Zealand (WMCNZ).

Internationally known for its spectacular beauty and material wealth, New Zealand is a spiritually poor country, with one 2006 study suggesting it is the most secular English-speaking country in the world.

The WMCNZ was established in 2000 as an evangelical network of churches in the Methodist tradition and part of the international Wesleyan Church. It is a multi-racial church with Anglo, Maori, Tongan, Fijian, Chinese and Rotoman members and today has grown to 21 churches with 46 licensed pastors and ordained ministers.

It is the newest member of the World Methodist Council (2007).

New Zealand Wesleyan Methodists have a youthful profile. Worship at the recent National Church Conference was led by a worship team from East City Wesleyan Church with an average age of 15 years. A one-week “Inside Out” film workshop for young people was held last September with participants learning new resiliency skills with the prayerful support of mentors. 

National Superintendent Rev Richard Waugh has just launched his five-part seminar called Discover Your Wesleyan DNA which was developed from his Doctor of Ministry studies at Asbury Theological Seminary in the United States. The seminar explores key characteristics of the Wesleyan theological tradition including mission, salvation, transformation/holiness, Means of Grace and ministry with the poor.

Through the seminar lay leaders, and especially the younger people, are appreciating the benefits of accessing the riches of the John Wesley tradition. Looking ahead, church-planting continues as a priority, as well as resourcing and equipping churches for effective children and youth work.

The WMCNZ continues to carry out its mission with a variety of ecumenical links as an important expression of living out the catholic spirit of Wesley.

In April, the Wesleyan Methodists, Methodists and Nazarenes in New Zealand supported the work of the World Methodist Evangelism Institute Seminar in Auckland with much prayerful preparation. 

A key new development in August 2009 will be the first annual WMCNZ theological symposium. Dr Joel Green from Fuller Seminary in the US and Dr Glen O’Brien from Kingsley/Tabor College in Australia will be the special guests. New Zealand leaders will also be presenting papers at the symposium.

It is hoped that this “Wesleyans Thinking Together” forum will be an annual occasion to foster the blessings of the Wesleyan theological world view. – World Methodist Council.