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| v-Zine February 2012 |
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Glyn Carpenter on 2012 (and some books you might find useful)
on critical issues  National forums on Secularism, Marriage, and Sacred Life/Abortion will be held at Carey Baptist College in Auckland over 15-17 February. Attendance at the forums is by invitation only, however attendance at subsequent road trip meetings is open to all. The road trips will also include planning for the 2014 Bicentenary of the Gospel in Aotearoa New Zealand. Read more…
Religious diversity in Marsden cross excavation  As part of the preparations for celebrations to mark the 2014 bicentennial of the arrival of Rev. Samuel Marsden in New Zealand, the University of Otago and the Department of Conservation are combining on a joint project, the Marsden Cross Excavation. A website charting progress can be found at www.doc.govt.nz/marsdencrossdig, and there is a related Facebook page. There will also be a public open day on Saturday 18 February, starting at 10 am. Pope speaks to NZ bishops about secularism  In light of the increasing secularisation occurring in New Zealand, NZCN National Director Glyn Carpenter was pleased to read that Pope Benedict has told the bishops of New Zealand and the Pacific that the Christian faith provides the best foundation for society, and that promoting the New Evangelisation is the best way to build a Christian culture. Read more…Marriage Week in Tauranga  Local churches and organisations in Tauranga and the western Bay of Plenty have taken out a double page spread in local paper The Weekend Sun to promote Marriage Week events and resources. The initiative also carries an endorsement from Tauranga MP Simon Bridges, who writes: “Marriage is an important building block in the structure of New Zealand society. Strong marriages help build strong relationships and families which make for good communities and country.” |
The need for virtue  "Democracy and the market are not machines that can run themselves," according to public intellectual, George Weigel, from the Ethics and Public Policy Centre in Washington DC. "It takes a certain kind of people, who are living a certain set of virtues, to make democracy work. As we have seen in Europe recently, a deficit of democratic culture can be as dangerous to the future of societies as fiscal deficits." Read more…Has Europe lost its soul?  “The task ahead of us is not between Jews and Catholics, or even Jews and Christians in general, but between Jews and Christians on the one hand, and the increasingly, even aggressively secularising forces at work in Europe today on the other, challenging and even ridiculing our faith,” writes the Commonwealth Chief Rabbi, Lord Jonathan Sacks. Read more…Christians active in the public square  NZ Christian Network’s sister network in the UK, the Evangelical Alliance, has released research showing that Christians are not only web-savvy but using social media tools to help influence public debate, and to a far greater degree than the average British citizen, new research shows. Read more...
Research reveals barriers to faith
World Prayer Assembly - Pacific
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| Note: Notices do not necessarily reflect the views of NZ Christian Network. | |
| Notices | |
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Seminar on church, state and war The Anglican Pacifist Fellowship, in conjunction with NZ Christian Network, are planning a seminar on the theme “Church, state and war” in Auckland on Saturday 28 April from 9 am to 5 pm. The aim is to encourage Christians of every denomination to reappraise their attitudes in this area in the light of the Gospel. Speakers so far confirmed are Paul Oestreicher and Richard Jackson. Venue yet to be confirmed. For more information, contact Chris Barfoot, phone 09 575-6142 or email barfoots@xtra.co.nz Prayer at Parliament Hon Chester Borrows, MP for Whanganui, invites members of all church denominations to participate in the first "Prayer @ Parliament" for 2012. The event will be at 7:20 pm on Thursday 22 March in the Grand Hall, Parliament Buildings, Wellington, and is in association with Prayer @ Parliament Gathering, Convener Pastor Rasik Ranchord. It is essential to register for this event for security purposes. For more information, email admin@prayeratparliament.org.nz, or visit www.prayeratparliament.org.nz New postgrad approvals for Carey Baptist College For some years Carey Baptist College has been offering undergraduate theological degrees in applied theology. More recently it has wanted to teach its own postgraduate qualifications as well and on 23 November the New Zealand Qualifications Authority gave approval for two new qualifications, and accredited Carey to teach these. The two qualifications are a one-year full-time equivalent Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Theology and a two-year Master of Applied Theology. |
Fundraising for faith-based groups
Mark Holmen return visit |
Mark Holmen is a national and international consultant and speaker for the "Faith At Home" movement that equips congregations to make the home the primary place where faith is nurtured. His visit to New Zealand in November last year was truly incredible. There would seem little doubt that the Faith@Home message is a message whose time has come. Mark will visit Auckland, Hamilton, New Plymouth, Wellington, Lower Hutt, and Christchurch between 5-15 May 2012. For more information, email