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Introducing Presbyterian AFFIRM |
Why
AFFIRM?
AFFIRM'S
Agenda
AFFIRM is a
Reform Movement
AFFIRM is a
Network
What does AFFIRM
do?
Our
AFFIRMATIONS
Questions
about AFFIRM
Response
Who we
are PRESBYTERIAN AFFIRM
AFFIRM stands for mainstream Christian faith. It takes seriously the
PCANZ's biblical and credal anchors, and what it means to be a reformed
church. It warmly acknowledges the renewing work of the the Holy Spirit,
the social dimensions of the faith, the multi-cultural character of our
church, the ordained ministry of both women and men, and the ministry of
all Christian people.
NATIONAL EXECUTIVE AND COUNCIL
is a network
within the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand (PCANZ) which seeks
to promote the renewal of our church. There is no formal membership of AFFIRM, but we
seek the support of individual members, sessions/parish councils and
congregations.
Stuart Lange (Co-Chairman), Steve Jourdain (Co-Chairman), Cynthia
Tracey (Administrator), Brian Brandon, Peter Bristow, Joyce Campbell, Peter
Cheyne, Heather Coster, Peter Dunn, Keleva Faleatua, John Gullick, Ian Hyslop, Emma Keown,
Martin Macaulay, Colin Marshall, Wilson Orange, Rhys Pearson, Ralph Penno,
Tom Phillips, Alistair Smales, Alistair Taylor, Stuart Vogel
Emeriti:
The Very Rev. Dr. John Evans, Dr.
Beryl Howie, Rev. John McKinlay, Rev. Dr. Bruce Nicholls.
Be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. (1 Corinthians 16:13-14)
Presbyterian AFFIRM was formed in June 1993, in response to wide-spread concern about the direction of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand. Many NZ Presbyterians felt that our denomination had almost lost its way, with uncertainty about the authority of the scriptures, and no firm boundaries in doctrinal or ethical issues. There has been little agreement on even the most basic Christian beliefs. Many evangelical/orthodox Presbyterians have felt frustrated, powerless, and voiceless.
AFFIRM has worked to encourage a restored confidence in mainline, orthodox, trinitarian Christian faith. AFFIRM believes that the church must re-discover the timeless truth and transforming grace of Jesus Christ. Presbyterian AFFIRM stands for a dynamic, biblical, progressive and mission-oriented Christian faith. We are not afraid to make a stand on church issues, especially if they have serious implications for the church’s integrity and unity. But AFFIRM’s agenda is much wider - and more long-term - than any passing issue. Our agenda is the spiritual and theological renewal of the church. We realise that the PCANZ will not be wholly renewed. But we can - together - make a difference.
Presbyterian AFFIRM is a Reform Movement:
Down through the ages, God has frequently raised up movements of reform and renewal, to work within the church. AFFIRM encourages people to work for change in the church - rather than just to give up, retreat into the local parish, or walk out. We accept that there are no quick fixes.
Presbyterian AFFIRM is a Network
Both individuals and Sessions/Parish Councils may join the network. Supporters receive a newsletter several times a year, with information, prayer points, and encouragement. Supporters are encouraged to pray for the PCANZ, and to get involved through the normal channels. There are AFFIRM co-ordinators in most regions.
What do does AFFIRM actually do?
1 We encourage prayer for the PCANZ
2 We keep Presbyterians informed about issues at Assembly, through our widely-read newsletter
3 We help evangelical Presbyterians to work together, to prepare thoroughly for the meetings of the courts of our church, and to speak out their convictions with confidence.
4 We hold very well-attended meetings during (and after) each Assembly, for the purpose of briefing commissioners and of praying
5 We are an orthodox Presbyterian voice in the secular, denominational, and Christian media
6 We hold major regional meetings and consultations, as required
7 We advise parishes, as requested
8 We make submissions to church bodies
9 We have issued the widely-accepted “Vision for the Church” pamphlet
10 We try to keep contact with kindred movements within and beyond the PCANZ.
11 We jointly publish (along with the AFFIRM movements) the popular AFFIRM Booklets, on a wide variety of contemporary topics
12 We hold conferences (both natinal and regional), with an emphasis on the renewal and mission of local churches.
We affirm ...
1 our whole-hearted response to the love and grace of
God in Jesus Christ, who is the unique and incarnate Son of God, who is the
image of the invisible God, who died for our sake, who rose from the dead, who
is forever alive and active, who brings forgiveness, reconciliation, new life,
and a new commissioning, to all who put their trust in him;
2 our full dependence upon and openness to the work of the Holy Spirit, in all aspects of life and mission;
3 our confident acceptance of the essential truths of the historic, apostolic, and trinitarian Christian faith, as revealed in Christ and the scriptures, and as formulated in the historic creeds - we stand against its erosion, and its substitution by relativism, subjectivity, secular humanism, and neo-paganism;
4 our full acceptance of the authority of the word of God, contained in the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, as the supreme standard of our Presbyterian church, and as our rule of faith and life;
5 our insistence on the key insights and achievements of the Reformation, including the centrality of Christ, the necessity for faith and the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit, the authority of the scriptures over the church, and the priority of the word over the sacraments;
6 our continuing respect for the subordinate standards of our church, which are subordinate to the Bible, but which remain helpful guides to the substance of the reformed faith - we stand against their relegation to historical status only, as we affirm the value of being a confessional church;
7 our acknowledgement that the scriptures call us to mission in God's world, not just to proclaim personal salvation through faith in Christ, but also to serve others in the love of Christ, to work for social justice, to encourage responsible stewardship of creation, and to build churches that demonstrate that unity in Christ transcends cultural, socio-economic, and gender differences;
8 the unity and ministry of all Christians together, whether female or male, ordained or not ordained, and regardless of age, race, culture, or denomination;
9 our appreciation of many aspects of the Presbyterian ethos, including the eldership, the call system, the oversight of Presbytery, emphasis on the preaching of the word, and the importance placed upon worship;
10 our full commitment to the renewal of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand and the ongoing reform of its life and mission in the light of scripture;
11 our recognition that no era, culture, denomination or theological stream has a monopoly on the gospel, that every generation must discover, interpret, explore, apply, and express Christian truth in its own way, and in reference to its own context, and that we all have much yet to learn;
12 our recognition that, as Christians, we are all subject alike to the authority of God and the word, that we must continually submit our own convictions, attitudes, traditions and practices to careful scrutiny, and that it is our solemn responsibility to study, interpret, and apply the word of God with the utmost integrity, so that we `rightly handle the word of God' (2 Tim.2:15) - we stand against any tendency to interpret the Bible in shallow or inappropriate ways;
13 our full support for the balance, sensitivity, and authority of the affirmations of the 1985 and 1991 General Assemblies with regard to sexuality, homosexuality, and church leadership, that `God's intention for sexual relationships, as affirmed by Jesus Christ, is loving, mutual and faithful marriage between a man and a woman, and that intimate sexual expressions outside of that context fall short of God's standard' - but we stand against any implication that homosexual orientation is in itself sinful, or that sexual sin is necessarily worse than other types of sin, or that any sexual sin is beyond the grace, restoration, and forgiveness of God;
14 our conviction that those who hold to the historic Christian faith with
confidence must now make a much more positive, articulate, and active
contribution to the life of the church as a whole - we acknowledge that our
primary focus remains the mission of the local church, but we declare ourselves
unwilling to retreat into our congregations, and we accept anew our
responsibility to work and pray for the mission of the whole church.
Is Presbyterian AFFIRM narrowly Presbyterian?
* Presbyterian AFFIRM is not about dyed-in-the wool Presbyterianism. It has warm links with like-minded movements in other denominations, such as the Anglican Latimer Fellowship, AFFIRM, and Mainstream, and the Wesleyan Methodist Church.
* Many of our supporters are in Union and Co-operating parishes. There is no problem about such people relating to more than one AFFIRM movement, if they so choose.
Is Presbyterian AFFIRM just a lobby group on current issues?
* No. Our aim is much wider, and - we hope - long term: it is the theological and spiritual renewal of the PCANZ.
* AFFIRM is not afraid to make a stand on current issues, especially if they have serious implications for our understanding of humanity, scriptural authority, Christian ethics, and the power of the gospel.
* AFFIRM believes the church cannot be pluralistic on some matters, and
retain its either its unity or vitality.
Is AFFIRM in competition with other groups within the PCANZ?
No. There are several groups within the PCANZ working for the renewal, doctrine, and mission of the church, and AFFIRM honours them all. AFFIRM draws support from many different quarters, and from that wide base works for unity and cohesion.
How is Presbyterian AFFIRM being financed?
* We trust God to prompt people to make donations. We believe AFFIRM has a significant role to play, and that it is God who has raised it up.
* Building a national organisation costs money. Basic expenses include printing, photocopying, postage, toll-calls, and travel. We are entirely a volunteer movement.