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Minutes of the General Assembly 2012 encompass a wide variety of Biblical, theological, sacramental and doctrinal subjects and themes together with numerous topical human and community issues. He was accustomed to following the Church liturgical year and lectionary. In his characteristic methodical and practical style, his first sermon entitled “On being both a disciple and a farmer” enlivened the minds and hearts of his congregation of mainly returned servicemen breaking in virgin land and paying off rehab loans. Don’s strengths lay in his open-mindedness, intellectual honesty, generosity and nonjudgmental attitude, compassion, conscientious commitment to ethical justice, personal integrity, unconditional love and faithful friendship. He attributed his growth in pastoral listening skills to his training as a voluntary marriage guidance counsellor. Widely read and always up to date, Don and Margaret became foundation members of the Knox Church social justice and conservation work group and committee members of Presbyterian Support’s Youth Grow. Don enjoyed discussion and debate which involved questioning, challenging, verifying, and extending and deepening personal understanding. His lively and enquiring mind and his sharp intellect, coupled with his scientific, philosophical and theological backgrounds, afforded him valuable perspectives and insights and balance in his approach to contentious social justice, ethical and numerous other conservation and faith issues. He was a constant seeker, delving into new concepts and their implications. For him the immediacy of living a full life in the here and now was paramount, the experience of knowing in the sense of personal faith took precedence over formal statements of belief (creeds). Not surprisingly, Don and Margaret became staunch members of the international Sea of Faith movement (exploring spirituality, religion and ethics) from its inception and contributed substantially in time and energy to the national committee and the Dunedin branch. In retirement, Don actively pursued many interests, including gardening, genealogical research, membership of the Goldfields Trust, holding committee and chair roles in the Dunedin U3A and University Club and as council member of the New Zealand Leprosy Mission. Gallen, Sir Rodney 12 August – 3 March 2012 Sir Rodney was an elder emeritus of St Columba’s Parish, Havelock North, and contributed in a significant number of ways to the life of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand. A distinguished career in law culminated in his appointment as a High Court Judge. Sir Rodney contributed his legal expertise to the Church’s Book of Order Committee, most recently in the re-writing of the Book of Order adopted by the General Assembly in 2006. Sir Rodney was closely associated with Te Aka Puaho for many years, serving on the Joint Committee of the General Assembly and Te Aka Puaho and as a trustee of the Te Whaiti Scholarships. His interest in education also led to service as trustee on the Iona College Council. 24 Session 2
Minutes of the General Assembly 2012 Involvement with Presbyterian Support continued from his participation on the Board of the Hillsbrook Orphanage in Havelock North to his appointment as a patron of Presbyterian Support East Coast, a position held at the time of his death. A competent musician, Sir Rodney was one of the organists at St Columba’s until only weeks prior to his death. His many interests included an abiding care for the environment. The above comments only touch on the wide ranging interests, knowledge and expertise of Sir Rodney. He will be missed by all who knew him. Our sympathy is extended to his sister, Claire, his nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews. Glenny, Reverend Donald 23 December 1924 – 8 July 2012 The Rev Don Glenny died after a short illness on 8 July 2012. He had spent 23 active years in retirement at his home on the North Shore in Auckland. During that time, he conducted services in a number of North Shore parishes, kept in touch with a wide circle of friends, and developed even further his well-known interest in reading— theology, biographies, poetry and especially novels. One of his colleagues said of Don, “He was the best read minister in the Presbyterian Church.” Don himself acknowledged the influence of the Very Rev E.F.Farr, who was his parish minister when Don was a teenager working for New Zealand Railways in Patea, Taranaki. Ed Farr encouraged Don to make up for his lack of secondary schooling by keeping him supplied with books from his own well-stocked library. Don went on to study in Wellington and then at Knox College. In 1950, he married Anne Steven and in December 1953, Don was ordained by Waikato Presbytery, and he and Anne began their parish ministry in Te Aroha. Other parishes were St Stephens in Bryndwr, Christchurch from 1961 to 1974, and St Luke’s, Remuera, Auckland for three years. The Church in May 1976 took a bold and imaginative step in appointing Don as Professor of Pastoral Theology at Knox Theological College on the retirement of Professor Ian Dixon. The Theological Education Committee’s expectation was that Don’s experience and concern for parish ministry would be “at the heart of the [Theological] Hall’s work”. Simon Rae in his 2011 book on the history of theological education and ministerial training at Knox College, Challenge and Change, summarises Don’s seven years as Professor, saying it was a period of confidence and stability. Rae records Don’s recollection that “by 1976 the Theological Hall had become a community of extraordinary variety.” Don was committed to helping students from all backgrounds gain the insights and skills needed in parish work. He did not seek re-appointment for a further term but in 1984 returned to parish ministry as a member of the pastoral team at St Francis’ Parish, an Anglican- Methodist-Presbyterian cooperating congregation in Hillcrest, Hamilton, where he enjoyed working in an ecumenical setting. Don was held in high regard by his colleagues and parishioners, not least because of his commitment to team work and cooperation. On retirement in February 1989, Don and Anne took up residence in Northcote, Auckland. There are many in the church and community who remember Don’s warm friendship and pastoral care. He was a sensitive leader of worship, well remembered for his Session 2 25
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