Anglicans propose drastic reduction in number of parishes

Tuesday, April 23rd, 2013

In the wake of the 2010-2011 Canterbury Region earthquakes the New Zealand Diocese of Christchurch has voted to take the next step towards a dramatic redrawing of its map.

The Christchurch Anglicans met in a special synod on April 13-14, and chose to proceed on a path which could see the 46 parishes in and around Christchurch being significantly reduced, even halved in number, as a result of parish mergers.

The synod received a Draft Proposal that had been prepared by a Structural Review Group. It will now be sent to the Diocesan Standing Committee for review.

In her address to the special synod, Bishop Victoria Matthews described the challenge facing the diocese :

“How will we as a diocese respond to the devastation of property, and the re-arrangement of the population of our region following the earthquakes in Canterbury?

“Will we be set free? Or will we become even more imprisoned by our possessions and structures?”

The diocese’s Church Property Trustees have advised that there are around 200 earthquake-damaged buildings across the diocese – including 38 which have either been destroyed, demolished or require repairs that will cost more than $50,000 each.

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