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Minutes of the General Assembly 2012
John Elvidge was the son of a stock agent and as result moved many times as a boy
until his family finally settled on a farm in the Hawke’s Bay where he finished his
schooling at Hastings Boys’ High School. He then headed to Otago University where
he studied history and then theology.
While John was in Dunedin, he met and married Diane, and they had three children
together. John was awarded a scholarship to Princeton Theological Seminary in New
Jersey in 1962. John was ordained and inducted as minister of St Paul’s in Timaru in
1965 and three years later was appointed as ecumenical chaplain at Canterbury
University. John was then appointed Director of Human Relations Education at the
Campbell Centre, and in 1983, became the Director of the Centre. In 1990 after the
retirement of Mr Maurice McGregor, John was appointed Executive Director of
Presbyterian Support Upper South Island, a position he held until his retirement.
John led Presbyterian Support through some major changes, not the least of which
was the sale of its rest home business which enabled a greater focus on the
organisation’s work with families and the care of the aged in their own homes. At that
time, John had the vision that was open to a changing future and saw a need to future
proof the organisation and widen the donor base in light of a declining Church in a way
that matched changing social conditions with a focus on meeting unmet needs. At a
time when Support was growing out of office space, John led the development of its
present site on Bealey Avenue next to Knox Church.
Alongside his considerable leadership responsibilities with Presbyterian Support, John
also took his membership of Christchurch Presbytery seriously. At one stage, he
chaired its Public Questions Committee and was involved in funding for youth work.
John always felt that working to support people in need also involved advocating on
their behalf and he was often quoted in the media on issues such as power prices,
elder abuse and expansion of gambling. At one time, he chaired the national combined
Christian Social Services organisation and through its initial frustrations was a strong
supporter of the movement to form a national Presbyterian Support organisation to
both facilitate cooperation among the regions and speak to government with a
combined voice on behalf of clients. He also fronted a TV series on parenting and
family life, took part in radio talkback, and wrote newspaper columns.
The Rev John Elvidge diligently and thoughtfully played out the role of Executive
Director of Presbyterian Support, Upper South Island, but he was also always a
minister of the Gospel. When the disciples of John the Baptist came and asked Jesus if
he was the Messiah, his reply outlined what he was doing, the healing and hope he
was delivering. Jesus’ ministry was a ministry of doing not of titles, and that also was
the ministry of the Reverend John Anthony Elvidge.
He was able to grow his ministry of caring for others into a ministry of managing and
directing an organisation to care for many more people. John was always true to his
calling and committed to bringing justice, loving kindness and support to the
marginalised of our community.
Faletolu, Reverend Lapana Niuapapa
1 June 1951 – 6 October 2011
The Reverend Lapana Niuapapa Faletolu was born on 1 June 1951 in the village of
Fasito’o-uta on the island of Upolu in Western Samoa. Lapana was the twelfth of
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