Download the minutes of GA12 - Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa ...

Minutes of the General Assembly 2012
At national level for the PCANZ, he served in a variety of workgroups and committees.
He valued Jesus as a model of leadership that has an encompassing vision, a care for
the distressed, and a willing friendship for anyone.
Early in 1970, General Assembly appointed him, along with other lively young elders
and ministers in the Waikato, to the Life and Work Committee of the General
Assembly. This committee led the Church to consider such issues as secular marriage
services, the charismatic renewal movement, and dealing with conflict in the Church.
These and other matters were important and significant issues which were challenging
to our Church in the early 1970s for life in Aotearoa New Zealand was changing rapidly
at this time.
Of particular note was his work with the Revs Barrie Keenan and Robin Lane in
shaping what became the Department of Parish Development and Mission in 1975.
This also arose out of the work of the Life and Work Committee.
In 1973, General Assembly established a Council of Assembly to give strategic
leadership to the Church between Assemblies, and Lex served on Council from 1974
through 1979, offering his particular combination of strategic vision and awareness of
the detailed resourcing that was needed to achieve success with particular initiatives.
In the early 1980s, the PCANZ became concerned about the education and training of
lay leaders in the Church. People like Lex Grocott, Revs David Grant and Jean Cotter
with others shaped a new style of Covenant groups. These small groups met regularly
to share together the delights and challenges of their lives and so supported one
another in their Christian discipleship. Out of this came a new initiative by the General
Assembly to establish a workgroup and committee called Education for Lay Ministry.
As a further service to our Church, Lex was asked to convene another new initiative in
1991 when he, together with several colleagues including Rev Sharon Ensor, became
a Co-convener for the Mission Resource Team. Once again, his warmth and
personality, his long experience and his astute advice were valued by a large staff of
mission consultants throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. For he and others had to steer
this experienced team through the troubled waters of restructuring and dissolution of
late 1990s.
Of late, he and his second wife, Chris, settled in Aotea near Kawhia harbour. Once
again, new friendships were developed and old friends visited, too. It was an
environment that he loved with its ever-changing harbour, the wild weather and
tranquillity after storms.
Following his retirement as a practising optometrist, he guided a number of groups of
tourists, visiting countries such as Turkey, Canada, Russia and Alaska. His interest in
people, his ease in relationships, and fresh perspectives equipped him well for this role.
He died suddenly at home at Aotea on 7 July 2012 and was farewelled by a large
gathering back at St Andrew’s on 14 July. Many people paid tribute to his generous
spirit and his wide welcoming smile. Those present recalled his breadth of vision for the
communities in which he lived wherever he was, and gave thanks for his guiding vision
and his contributions to his profession, the Church and the many communities of which
he was a part and a contributor. His guiding vision and question was “What will shape
and build community connections in this place?”
Session 2 27