Without hesitation, the Taranaki Cathedral Dean will be able to don a short-sleeved shirt and hit the beach with his family.

"It's incredibly liberating," said Allen, who has spent the past six years consciously covering the tattoos that cover much of his body.

Aware of the negative stereotypes tattoos still carried, Allen, 44, was reluctant to reveal his symbolic body art because of the sensitivity he had for his role at the Cathedral. Continue reading

He was installed at the Wellington Cathedral of St Paul, surrounded by leaders of the Central Baptist Church in Palmerston North, where he previously served.

He described the service as "the first steps of an unexpected journey" for him and his family.

Digby is an ordained Anglican priest but has spent most of the past 20 years in the Baptist Church.

He says he aims to get to know Wellington's people and culture, as part of the church's role is to represent those in its community.

"The challenge of it is keeping people together on a commonsense of purpose, despite the differences and diversity. But also presenting some sense of hope in all the context in which people find themselves."

Source

• Stuff.co.nz
• NewsTalkZB
• Image: Anglican Taonga

The vicar of St Matthew-in-the-City, Glynn Cardy, is leaving his Anglican church to lead a Presbyterian church in Remuera, Auckland.

Last week the Anglican church appointed Digby Wilkinson, the senior pastor at Palmerston North's Central Baptist Church, to be the Dean of the Wellington's St Paul's Cathedral.

Cardy said he was changing because after nine years he needed a change. And although he was switching denominations, the core values of St Luke's weren't so different from his current workplace.

"It's not that usual [to switch denominations] but I suppose more in common is my theology - what I believe in [about] God fits very comfortably with St Luke's people.

"I believe that faith isn't just for people who are believers. It's about a way to promote compassion in society as a whole. There's a message there about how to treat one another and how to be just in society," he says.

The Rev Craig Vernall, who is the National Leader of the Baptist Church, has congratulated Wilkinson on his appointment.

"As a Baptist family of churches we congratulate Digby Wilkinson on his appointment as Dean to the Wellington Cathedral.

"It's tremendous to see this cross pollination of Christian traditions strengthening the body of Christ in our land," he said.

Auckland University School of Theology head Dr Stephen Garner said there were few issues with Anglican, Methodist or Presbyterian ministers moving between denominations.

There were agreements in place for that to occur, although Rev Cardy would have to apply to the relevant regional presbytery first. He would still remain an ordained Anglican priest even when he moved to St Luke's, Dr Garner said.

Source

• The New Zealand Herald
• Stuff.co.nz
• Anglican Taonga
• Image: StMatthews.org.nz

In 2003, the pastor was 37 years old and addicted to spending, going as far as committing insurance fraud and stealing from members of his church to fuel his need.

Now he is the senior pastor at Palmerston North's Central Baptist Church, and preparing for a relocation to Wellington after being named the dean of Wellington's Anglican Cathedral of St Paul. Continue reading