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21 December 2002.

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EXTREMELV CONFIDENTIAL
to all Ordained and Probationary ministers of the Assemblies of G id in New Zealand.
ISSUE: SEXUAL FAILURE OF SENtOR MINISTERS

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Dear P11tor
ThankfuUy, only a few leaders ta;1 morally. Sadly it doe& happe t However. it IS more heart· .
breaking when national Christian leaders fail. Our heart·ache is tf at Frank Houston. a previous
General Superintendent of the Assemblte1 of God in New Z931a: d and a leader In our nation,
was permanently removed from ministry In 2000 by the Austral: in AIG. This was for serious
sexuat offences that took place 30 years ago. Aftegations of r tank's offences came to our
Executive's attention In the mid.OO's, but were not llCted upon because they were
unsuostantiated and rhe witneasea were not dearty identified.

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However. with clear evidence forthcoming in 1999/2000 we !)el icipated In the dlsclpUne that
was carried out by the Au&tratian AJG ExeaJtlve, which permar intty removed Frank from all
ministry In Australia and New Zealand. Because of this remc tat and his sickness, it was
mutually agreed that It was not necessary to make a broad &la1ement to our ministers.
However, because of spreading conjecture through the nation t "Id the need to deal With this
within our ministry, it is now apparent that such a notif'ecation &h< utd be made. We &upport the
permanent stand..ctown from ministry administered by the Australi )n A/G and therefore he Is not
releaeed to miniSter in our New Zealand churches.
Frank haa been cooperating as weQ as can be expected co: :sidering his nealth and has
expressed great ~ to cur Australian brethren.
Another sad situation, that was dealt With In the mkt·90's by the I .ustratian A/G was the sexual
failure and discipline of MF
atso a
This
action was publicised n the AIG·NZ Ge
NS
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. the
following being a quote from the statement: • ... ~MF
has committed adullef04Js
offences snd other lndisctetions Involving different
en over an extended Pflriod of years.
Because of the serious nature and pattem of sin, he has be< n rrtm0ved from all fonns of
ml1>J&try. • ·
Althollgh he has been disciplined, stood down for-two yea~. an< reinstated by Austrelien A/G,
he Is not released to minister In our New Zealand churches beor JH of the number of offences
over a lengthy period of time in our country. and the fact that S< me of his victims would have
difficulty in seeing him In a position of trust
Our challenge has been how to deal with these men, as they v ·ere both resident in Australia
when the offences were discovered and~
couen were dis<lplined by the Australian AJG.
We feel as a Fellowship, because of tha - • •
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role th 1se men held in NZ, we must
adv!se our ministers so they might be aware as
w y they are not acceptable for ministry in
NewZeatand.

ONE PURPOSE • wtokilig t~ ptUJion a/J~ ~priority
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The Executive Presbytery. although Informing our ordained end 1robatlonary ministers through
this letter, also propose8 to work for a closura of this sad period and the pain it has caused to

many.
Three further step$ are proposed:
1) if you wish further per&onal clartflcatiOn please feel free to ring an Executive member.
2) obviously, some may wish to discuss the lasues in mlniStenaJ ~orum, so please convey your
desire to your R~lonal OVersaer whO wjth the Executive Rer resentative will arrange for at
least two Executive members to attend a reglonal meeting tc walk through the issues and
spend time in prayer and consecration.
3) at our Conference, October 2002 we will, in the context of 'lur theme ONE ARMY, give .
opportunity for consecration, prayer and closure of these In ~dents . A Biblical anaJogy is
clearty portrayed as Joshua prepared Israel through clrcumcit 'on before they moved ahead
as an army.

We are aware of the various points of View hetd by our mlnlatet9 ( n how failed ministers should
to ministry is pos ·:fble, the nature and extent of
the sinful behaviour of these two man requires a permanent at lnd4own. The nature of the
ohureh is restorative, but it is important to realize that restore~ entails ma"y steps - to God,
to spouse, to family, to church. to victims (if ponlble}. to fellow mi iiaters and friends, to service,
etc - and then only to leadership ministry if such a trust can b. · given with confidence.' We
must aJI, as the E>C&cutive have. wrestle With the foHawtng:
> whether to cover or expote,
> Whether certain elnful beh•vk>ur can exclude from bel"g n· stored to mlnlatry,
> whether there 15 a difference between forglvene11 and n ~toratiOn to POSitions of trust.

be disciplined. Whilst in some cases restoration

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what is the impact failed nationat leaders have.
We ask that each of you approach this process with a elear mind i nd sensitive spirit.

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We are aware that the above Information may be a surprise an ~ shock to some of you, and
th•efore, although we Will provide coUectiYe opportunities to proc ass the issues. you may feeJ
the need to speak With an Executive member.
We have deliberately chosen to restrict this letter to our ordalna. : and proba1ionaty ministers.
We cannot see any reason for this to be announced to your churd or further af'&eld.
At times, sad as it may be, we must addresa eud\ Issue&. Howe~ ~r. our focus must remain on
the good things God i8 doing, the vision He hu bumed Into our t aarts, and the fulf•llng of the
passion of Jesus to reach our communities with the gospel.
Yours in Christ's Service

R. Wayne Hughes

On t.half of the Executive Presbytery

' 1 Timothy S;22

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