The Hamilton Urban Deanery is the creation of a cluster of parishes and ministry units in the south of the city for mutual support, collaboration and resource sharing. It is a model of individual ministry units working together which is well established in Taranaki and indeed in many parts of the Anglican Communion. At present the relationship is largely informal, with one representative from each ministry unit involved.  Most of us are clergy, but we do have one lay member, meeting together every three weeks and supported by the Waiakato Bishopric Educator. As we talk, share and pray together we will have a better understanding of each other, of our giftings and the churches and communities in which we work. It is our belief that from these foundations we will have a new sense of priorities and begin new undertakings in mission and ministry, which separately we would not have been able to envisage. It is interesting to reflect that this form of collaborative ministry was promoted by George Selwyn when he was in Cambridge, UK, prior to him being  ordained a Bishop and arriving in New Zealand.

At the moment the Urban Deanery consists of the Cathedral, St. Luke’s Melville and Ohaupo, St. David’s West Hamilton and St. James Nixon Street. In the future others may join us and they will be very welcome. This is an initiative which rejoices in a voluntary response from clergy and people and has at its heart a willingness to work together. The model does not replace or indeed tamper with any other existing structures and each ministry unit remains autonomous. Of note is the fact  that a similar model is being piloted in the south of the bishopric in a rural setting and led by the Venerable Christine Scott.

 It would be fair to say that we are being led by the Holy Spirit and we are not quite sure where this journey will take us. However, for those committed to it there is a strong sense of being “better together.”

Ven Paul Weeding