Review Roadmap

The Process and People

This time of reflection will be informed by two independent reviews which are being undertaken by a professional counselling service, Pathfinding, and legal counsel, Duncan Cotterill. Further, we’re also undertaking four other reviews with external experts to assess the board and governance structures, the place of a spiritual oversight and eldership, the handling of information and privacy and the financial management of the church.

It has been agreed that the findings of these reviews will be passed to an advisory council made up of church representatives. Amongst other responsibilities, this Review Advisory Council (RAC) will consult (hui) with staff and key pastoral leaders within the Arise congregation and then make final recommendations to the Arise Board by November 2022.

The key outcomes of this process is to help Arise become a better:

• Place that loves all people
• Place where all people are equipped and empowered in their calling
• Place that deeply cares about our wider communities
• Place where people are lovingly encouraged to grow in their Christ-likeness
• Place where the policies and practices are best practice
• Place where there is transparency and accountability at every level
• Trusted and safe place
• Culture where all people are welcomed, loved, and accepted, because that is Christ's vision for the world

The Arise Board acknowledges the significant cost of time and resource necessary to undertake this level of review, and reiterate we are committed to this journey and the investment it warrants.

God gives grace to the humble, and while we know this process will be uncomfortable, it is with a humble heart that we seek to reflect on Arise. We trust and believe that God will continue to bless His church as we repent, learn, and grow. It is our prayer that through this process those who have been hurt will find a pathway to healing and reconciliation. It is also our prayer that Arise will more fully embody who we are called by God to be: to bring transformation to cities with the truth and love of Christ.

As the review roadmap has a wide-ranging scope, it is important to recognise that aspects of the review structure, process, scope, and timing may need to change and adjust as it progresses. We expect that regular ongoing updates will be provided to ensure transparency and accountability is maintained.

The Review Advisory Council

It is important that the findings and recommendations from all the reviews are prayerfully considered and understood by all those they impact. It is also important, in order to rebuild trust, that there is transparency, accountability, and engagement with the review findings and their recommendations.

The key objective of this group will be to make final recommendations to the Arise Board and provide accountability over the changes being implemented.

The Review Advisory Council will be comprised of the following members:

• Arise Board representative: Kylie Fletcher
• Arise leadership representative: Ben Kendrew
• Arise pastoral/staff representatives: Pat Cunliffe, Brad Page, Teresa Letoa & Suhanya Green
• Arise congregational representatives: Graeme Cross (Wellington), James Capovilla (Hutt), Richard Linscott (Dunedin), Phil Bryant (Hamilton), Dave Squire (Wellington), & Kath Landreth (Christchurch)
• Theological expertise: Hudson Bond & Aaron Halvorson

Please note that we are awaiting a response from a couple more invitations. We will update this list when we have received confirmation.

Click here to access the Terms of Reference and criteria for the RAC.

Here are the key responsibilities of the RAC:

• Take receipt of the findings and recommendations from both independent reviews
• Take receipt of the findings and recommendations from the other four specialist reviews
• Lead a consultation and hui with key Arise pastoral leaders and staff
• Obtain theological and spiritual advice
• Make formal recommendations to the Arise Board
• Provide regular updates on the progress of implementing the agreed recommendations

The selection of representatives will be made using a skills matrix in consultation with key leaders, pastors, and external advisors to Arise.

The final membership of the RAC will be communicated to Arise members prior to the beginning of Staff & Members’ Hui.

 

Staff and Members Hui

These hui will be facilitated by the RAC together with Campus Pastors and will invite staff, as well as pastoral and congregational leaders across Arise’s campuses to consultative gatherings. Their purpose will be to receive consultative feedback around the findings of the reviews, and to input to the formulation of final recommendations made by the RAC to the Arise Board.

The Staff and Members’ Hui will take place over a 6 to 8 week period and include all staff and key pastoral and congregational leaders from all campuses. They will take place in:

Staff Hui:

• Wellington — Combining all North Island staff and Campus Pastors
• Christchurch — Combining all South Island staff and Campus Pastors

Members Hui:

• Christchurch — Combining Christchurch, Dunedin and Selwyn
• Wellington — Combining Hutt Valley, City, Kapiti and Palmerston North
• Auckland — Combining Auckland, Whangarei and Hamilton