Church turns to court

MICHELLE COOKE

AN ORAKEI church has been given one year to make major changes or it faces being closed for good.

The Orakei Presbyterian Church has successfully appealed a decision by the Presbytery of Auckland, who wanted the congregation closed.

In a letter to church members last July, the presbytery said they had not enough people or money and lacked leadership.

But church member and current treasurer Frank Suifili says there was little evidence to back the presbytery's claims.

The congregation feels the presbytery wanted them to leave so the building, on prime Auckland real estate, could be taken over by the growing Kohimarama congregation.

Earlier this month, the Judicial Commission of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand granted the congregation's appeal against the decision to close it.

The Presbyterian Church's assembly executive secretary Reverend Martin Baker says the congregation has one year to grow in numbers, increase its finances and develop stronger leadership and management.

But Mr Suifili says a year is not long enough and the congregation is heading to the High Court to fight the matter further.

"We went to them for help, but we didn't get help – we got the whip.

He says the congregation is growing "but we still want five years to make it strong and prove we've got everything".

"The problem is they don't want us, they want the assets."

Rev Baker says in 2008, when the decision was made to close it, the congregation was "too small to carry out the normal functions and processes we anticipate a normal congregation to fulfil".

He says no decisions about the future of the church building would be made until after the congregation was closed.

Rev Baker says in most cases where a congregation is struggling, they will join a neighbouring congregation.

But Mr Suifili and Orakei Presbyterian Church's former secretary Maara Uea say they have discussed joining together with the Kohimarama congregation, but there seems to be little interest.

Mrs Uea was married at the church, had three of her children baptised there, and had her mother's funeral there. She says the decision to close the church had members in tears, begging to stay.

Mr Suifili says that since the decision was made, the congregation's numbers have grown and there is often more than 50 people, mainly Samoans and Cook Islanders, at the Sunday service.

The finances are also increasing, he says, but money has never been the issue.

"I don't understand why they say we've got no money – that's the part I'm really angry with."

He says the minister's house is being rented to students for $500 a week, a playgroup that operates from the church brings in around $3000 a month, it is hired by a Tongan church on Sunday afternoons and there is an op-shop.

He is waiting for the presbytery to establish a board to appoint a minister, but Rev Baker says the congregation is unlikely to have the funds to pay for a fulltime minister, and that is why it has traditionally used lay ministers during the past 10 years.

Rev Baker says the congregation has 12 months ahead of it before a final decision is made.

"If the congregation is showing significant growth, if the cash flow has increased and good governance is in place, I think those things will be taken into account."

The congregation hired a lawyer to fight its appeal against the presbytery, a move that is "extremely unusual", Rev Baker says.

It has requested that the presbytery reimburses it for its costs, but the church commission did not order the payment to be made.

The congregation's lawyer, Olinda Woodroffe, says their invitation to the presbytery to solve the matter in a "Christian manner" was ignored.

"The Presbytery of Auckland, which is an organisation of church ministers, had failed to see the need to work hand in hand with Orakei parish," she says.

"Instead, the presbytery continues to act in a high-handed manner."

The congregation hopes its case is heard before the High Court by the end of the year.

- © Fairfax NZ News