Rev Di Woods is taking on an exciting new role as Dean of Waiapu Cathedral in Napier. Di will be moving on from the role she has held over the last six years in Wellington as Principal Chaplain, Class 2 (Wing Commander) for the New Zealand Defence Force. We caught up with Di about her time with Defence Chaplaincy and what she is looking forward to in her new role.

Di has been in-and-out of Chaplaincy over the years, and her latest stint has had her serving in Wellington and worshipping firstly in the Newlands-Paparangi Parish, and most recently at the Cathedral. She has really enjoyed being anchored within the diocese alongside these two faith communities.

Di tells us about her time in Chaplaincy
Part of my current portfolio is Operations, so anytime there is a deployment, I am trying to ensure a chaplain is part of that group. We are often forgotten until after the unit arrives and they say, “We really could have done with a chaplain!” We were pleased to get one on the team that went to Tonga.

Working among people who are significantly younger than I am is very energising and it’s rewarding to work not only with Defence employees, but also with their partners and wider families.

It’s both a huge privilege, and a responsibility, to work with the “tax-payer’s dollar”. Working within the construct of Te Whare Tapa Whā, we are particularly asked to look after the spiritual health and wellbeing of people, while understanding the critical nature of holistic care. I am grateful for the government funding that helps resource our care for the people of the Defence whanau - but it’s up to us to provide the prayer as Treasury doesn’t cover that!

I’ve been part of the Chaplaincy Leadership Team for the last six years– being a chaplain to the chaplains – and for the last year, responsible for recruiting new chaplains. I get to meet all sorts of people discerning God’s call at a crossroads in their lives. A lot of good chaplains never really considered themselves ‘chaplain’ material. I also have a heart for diversity, especially having more women in chaplaincy. I’m still in the role till the end of April if anyone’s interested!

Belonging to a group of chaplains is unique – 27 of us are full time chaplains from various denominations. In a parish you may have a team that includes 1 or 2 priests so it’s quite different being part of a bigger group. We often debate what the Collective Noun for a group of chaplains should be – polite suggestions are always welcome 😊.

Tell us a bit about your new role
I made myself available to the Bishop of Waiapu for discernment as the priest to fill their Dean’s vacancy. Waiapu is my tūrangawaewae in Aotearoa, so I have a sense of going home. When I first moved to New Zealand I lived in Hawke’s Bay and I was ordained there. I suspected God would want me to use the gifts and skills he has been adding to over the past six years in the wider Kingdom. We get some great training opportunities working for the government so I am excited to take the things I’ve learned back into a faith community.

I am looking forward to the ‘helter skelter’ – going round again but going deeper at each revolution – to a greater depth of ministry with fresh eyes. Discovering who the Waiapu family are now, years on from when I was last there, and helping to rebuild and renew the faith community after the ravages of Covid.

Parting thoughts
My passion is equally divided between chaplaincies and the way they enable us to be missional, and my passion for the church. I regret they are so often siloed and long to see greater permeability between these two cohorts of kingdom workers; to see us integrated and to lean on and support each other. I both take this challenge with me, and leave it behind.

Di is being installed on Thursday 19 May at 7pm and extends an invitation to support her on this occasion.

Please RSVP to admin.cathedral@waiapu.com – and for those who would like to connect with others from the Wellington whanau, please let Sarah King know you’re going: 027 4912 245 or sarah.a.king.nz@gmail.com.