NEWS FROM SGM
SGM Convenor Mike Wright will be sadly missed
The Spiritual Growth Ministries Workgroup has been shocked and saddened by the sudden and unexpected death of our Convenor, Mike Wright. Mike passed away on 26 July as a result of a brief but extremely aggressive illness. Our thoughts and prayers are especially with his wife Sheryl and his three grown up children. Mike's loss has been felt keenly throughout New Zealand, as a result of his work as a university chaplain, spiritual director, supervisor and friend to many. The loss is hard to comprehend, and leaves us, the Workgroup team, feeling the import of this well-known whakatauki (Maori proverb): Kua hinga te totara i te wao nui a Tane A totara has fallen in the forest of Tane (Jane Wilkinson is filling the role of Workgroup Convenor in the interim). |
BEHOLD!
During the SGM ‘road-show’ to Auckland, Palmerston North, Christchurch and Dunedin in 2014, feedback from many involved with SGM over the years revealed that there is a keen desire for SGM to work strategically in the community. So, in addition to continuing to offer the Spiritual Directors’ Formation Programme and the bi-annual ‘Refresh’ Journal, SGM is now in a position to explore a way forward which will make the riches of our resources and experience more widely available.
We are therefore seeking to establish ‘BEHOLD’, an outreach of SGM devoted specifically to provide:
UPDATE:
We are delighted to report that we have recently made an appointment this position - more details to come!
During the SGM ‘road-show’ to Auckland, Palmerston North, Christchurch and Dunedin in 2014, feedback from many involved with SGM over the years revealed that there is a keen desire for SGM to work strategically in the community. So, in addition to continuing to offer the Spiritual Directors’ Formation Programme and the bi-annual ‘Refresh’ Journal, SGM is now in a position to explore a way forward which will make the riches of our resources and experience more widely available.
We are therefore seeking to establish ‘BEHOLD’, an outreach of SGM devoted specifically to provide:
- enriching and engaging professional development opportunities for pastors and clergy who want to deepen their relationship with Jesus by exploring contemplative prayer, retreats and workshops;
- short events geared to the general public which will open up topics relevant to Kiwi spirituality as a response to the spiritual hunger of 21st century people. Through these creatively presented ‘taster’ events, people will be encouraged to explore how they and their communities might benefit from a deepening sense of connection with themselves, the world and the sacred.
UPDATE:
We are delighted to report that we have recently made an appointment this position - more details to come!