The 2013 New Zealand census shows that of the total population of 4.2 M, population, 3.9 M stated their religious affiliation. Of those, 1.635 M, (1 in 4), say they had no religious affiliation, up from 1.297 M who did so in the 2006 census. This represents a 26% increase and it means New Zealand one of the most secular countries in the world.

• People affiliating with Christianity fell 8 per cent to 1.9 million.
• All the major Christian churches have declining membership,
• The smaller Pentecostal church and other smaller evangelical institutions have show an increased membership of their respective churches.
• The Anglican Church has lost almost 100,000 members with the total population down to 459,000. The sharp decline means Catholicism, even though recording a small decline in membership - (17,000 fewer than in 2006) - with a total population of 492,000 has become the most populous religion in New Zealand.
• The membership of other religions, those associated with migrants to New Zealand, has significantly increased.
• A Christian majority in New Zealand is uncertain. The number who identified as "no religion" or who didn't answer the religious affiliation question was more than the total number who identified as Christian.

Source

• International Business Times
• NZ Catholic
• Supplied
• Image: New Zealand in HDR

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