These dates are an indication of the future process that will be followed in the ‘we believe’ project

1st Draft

October 1st, 2009

Up until this date you may view the current draft here, and it’s accompanying commentary here, and make comments and recommendations either via the commentary page, or though the response form.

1st Response Deadline

December 30, 2009

This is the last date for submissions.

2nd Draft Completion

April 15, 2010

This is the date the 2nd draft is due to be released

2nd Response Deadline

June 30, 2010

This is the last date for submissions on the 2nd draft.

Final Report

August 31

The final Report will be released and presented to General Assembly.

How we got here

The process of writing a contemporary confession is one that has taken time and discussion to get to where we are now. A short summary of the process so far:

1999 Special General Assembly – Christchurch

General Assembly recommends a review of the Subordinate standards with regard to their ‘relevance as confessional documents.

2002 General Assembly – Wellington

The subordinate standards task groups reports to Assembly. Recommends the creation of a Focal Identity Statement and a rewrite of the regulations to reflect a new relationship with this statement. FIS Workgroup is set up.

2004 General Assembly -  Christchurch

First report of the FIS Workgroup is rejected by GA. Sent back for further work.

2006 General Assembly – Auckland

Second report. Assembly asks that the work of the Taskgroup it be reviewed again because of last minute changes to the document.

2008 General Assembly – Wellington

Third report of the Taskgroup’s work is taken through the Assembly small group process and finds wide acceptance. There is much debate about the work and general acceptance that the Westminster Confession must be replaced. The vote yields a 53% result which is still 7% shy of the threshold required by Assembly. The work is referred again back to a strengthened Taskgroup for further work.