news

Dear Friends, Thank you for your many cards and messages of support over the last two months.  I am particularly grateful for the food and support given to Stephanie and our children.  Thank you so much.  It has been wonderful to know that we are being prayed for and loved by so many. For those who might not be aware, on Maundy Thursday I perforated a diverticulum [part of my bowel] and underwent over a period of six weeks 3 operations as well as a number of procedures.  I am now continuing to recover at home.  Around September, when I'm deemed fit more...

Bishop Robinson offers his experience and thoughts to Pope Benedict in light the Catholic Church's response to child abuse. more...

Margaret Bedggood, former Vicar's Warden and presently vestry member at St Matthew's is to receive an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Waikato for her work for human rights internationally and in New Zealand. more...

Apparently someone does not remember anything Jesus said.  The Easter billboard was defaced some time in the morning on Holy Saturday. Have a happy Easter anyway.

A news report on the Advertising Standards Authority's decision not to uphold complaints made about St Matthew's Christmas Billboard including a link to the church's defence to the ASA and the text of their deliberation. more...

After "The Billboard" and the support for the Atheist Bus Campaign, came a visit by NZ Herald columnist Michelle Hewitson. What follows is her take on the vicar of St Matthew-in-the-City more...

Adrian Leason, Father Peter Murnane and Sam Land - the three men who were charged with intentional damage and unlawful entry at Waihopai spy base were found not guilty. more...

The NZ Herald published a news article today quoting from an opinion piece Archdeacon Glynn Cardy sent for their consideration. The Perspective piece he submitted is below. more...

    9 February 2010 Dear Colleagues,   Shortly before Christmas St Matthew-in-the-City put up a billboard outside its Church. Billboards, designed by M&C Saatchi, regularly feature outside St Matthew’s. Rather than advertise services they are created to make people think, and often smile.   This Christmas the billboard received enormous attention. In a space of five days we received hundreds of emails for and against, numerous phone calls, held numerous media interviews, and were the recipients of applause, engagement, questioning, criticism, threats, and abuse. The billboard featured in 177 different countries. In web-talk it went ‘viral’ and created more...

In a speech aimed at calming the warring factions within the Church of England and the worldwide Anglican Communion, the Archbishop of Canterbury apologised to gay people for the way they had been vilified and overlooked - but then said that unelected bishops in parliament were right to oppose equality legislation requiring the church not to discriminate against them. In his presidential address to the General Synod of the Church of England - the Established church's governing body, meeting in London this week - Dr Rowan Williams made more...