There are three marks carved into the pastoral staff that the new Anglican Bishop of Wellington, Justin Duckworth, has been given by inmates at Rimutaka Prison. They symbolise the core values of Urban Vision, the movement he and his wife helped to found 25 year ago.
- having a Jesus centre
- belonging deeply together
- giving our best for the least
Bishop Duckworth told the cathedral congregation of close to 2000 who attended his ordination that he was thinking about those who couldn’t be with them today – that is, the inmates – and he told the congregation of a wero that those inmates, who are in the faith-based unit at Rimutaka, had laid upon him.
Please, never forget us. We need you to stand up for us, and to stay faithful to those of us who need you most.
Bishop Duckworth was ordained in the Cathedral of St Paul in Wellington on Saturday 30 June.
Bishop elect Duckworth was led into his cathedral by about 140 supporters. They included his wife, Jenny Duckworth, and his family and members of the two movements which he and his wife helped to found: Urban Vision, and a contemporary monastery of St Andrew’s at Ngatiawa, near Waikanae, where they have been living.
Archbishop David Moxon was the chief presider, supported by Archbishops Brown Turei and Winston Halapua.
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