Anglican Centre Holds its Annual Orientation Day

Parish administrators, treasurers and wardens from across the Diocese gathered at the Anglican Centre on 28 July for the annual Orientation Day, an opportunity to learn more about the people and resources that support parish life throughout the Diocese.

The day began with a mihi whakatau and morning tea, before participants were divided into groups and guided through a series of presentations from Anglican Centre teams including Finance, Compliance, Mission and Ministry, the Bishops’ Office, Communications and Governance. Attendees visited different parts of the office to see where Anglican Centre staff work and the faces behind the email and phone calls.

For many participants, one of the most valuable aspects of the day was gaining a clearer understanding of how the Diocese is structured and where to go for support. Several attendees reflected that the experience helped them understand the breadth of work undertaken by Anglican Centre staff and gave them confidence about who to contact when questions arise in their parish roles.

New parish leaders and administrators particularly appreciated the opportunity to meet staff face-to-face. Participants said it was helpful to put names to faces, build relationships with Anglican Centre kaimahi and gain a better understanding of the expertise available across the organisation.

The opportunity to connect with others serving in similar roles was another highlight. Attendees shared that conversations with fellow parish leaders and administrators were both encouraging and empowering, helping them realise that while every parish is different, many of the challenges faced are shared across the Diocese.

Participants described the day as informative, insightful and worthwhile. Many commented on the welcoming atmosphere and the generosity shown throughout the event, expressing appreciation for the time and effort invested by staff in hosting the day. Others noted that the experience provided practical ideas they could take back and implement in their own parishes.

One participant summed up the experience by describing it as something they would recommend to all church leaders, while others said they were already looking forward to attending again in the future.

Orientation Day is held during July each year.