Grace Presbyterian is a national Presbyterian Church changing lives through Gospel truth

“For the glory of God, we are committed to geographically strategic mission in order to bring the Gospel to the whole nation.”

1. What is unique about Grace Presbyterian Church of New Zealand (GPCNZ)?

GPCNZ is a national Presbyterian Church founded in 2003 with a commitment to the Bible as its only rule of faith and life. We are passionate about God and about people. In all we do we seek to bring glory to God and to be aware of where he is leading us through his Word and Holy Spirit. We are dedicated to proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ, the only means of salvation, to those who are lost, both in New Zealand and throughout the world.

2. How does GPCNZ view the Bible?

We believe that the Bible is God’s word, fully inspired by the Holy Spirit. In its words God has revealed everything we need – to know Him, be saved, understand the world and know how to live. The Bible is infallible, and forms a perfect rule for both faith and life so that as God’s people we need to be immersed in its truth to understand how to live for God in this world. This is why a central part of our worship
gatherings is the preaching of God’s Word.

3. What does GPCNZ believe?

The best summary of what we believe the Scriptures teach is found in the Westminster Confession of Faith, one of the several great summaries of doctrine that emerged out of the Protestant Reformation in the 16th and 17th centuries. All Pastors and Elders subscribe to the Westminster Confession as a statement of their theological commitments. This gives members an assurance of the standard of belief the Church holds to.

4. How would you describe GPCNZ?

GPCNZ is Presbyterian in government, Reformed in theology, and Evangelical in spirit. Please read on for definition of these terms.

5. What does it mean to be “Presbyterian”?

The term Presbyterian refers essentially to the way in which a church is governed. A Presbyterian Church is governed by elders according to the pattern seen in both the Old and New Testaments. There is a teacher elder (the Pastor) and ruling elders. All share authority in the church together and form what we call a “session”. This is in distinction to being ruled by bishops in a hierarchical model, or by members in a congregational model. In a Presbyterian church, biblically qualified elders are recognized through congregational election and lead the church together. This government is exercised locally, regionally and nationally through a graded series of courts usually known as Session, Presbytery and General Assembly. It provides a way for the whole Church to be connected in mutual accountability and responsibility, and demonstrates organizationally our common bond as the body of Christ under His Headship.

6. What does it mean to be “Reformed?”

To be “Reformed” means several things. Historically, it means that we trace our roots to the Reformation, when John Calvin and others led a movement to reform the Church according to the Scriptures. Theologically, it means that we believe in the absolute sovereignty of God and in God’s glory as the highest good. This historical and theological heritage is often expressed in the “alones” of the Reformation, namely:

• Grace alone as the only way to be reconciled to God.
• Faith alone as the only means of receiving God’s grace.
• Christ alone as the only ground of God’s saving grace.
• Scripture alone as the only infallible authority for belief.
• God’s glory alone as the ultimate purpose for the lives of men and women.

7. What does it mean to be “Evangelical’?

To be “Evangelical” means to believe in the importance of sharing the good news of God’s salvation in Jesus Christ. It is to proclaim that through Jesus Christ the kingdom of God has been inaugurated, freeing people from the guilt and power of sin and death through personal faith and repentance. As a Church we express this priority by stating in our governing documents that after worship, evangelism is the first work of the church. We also show its importance through our emphasis on church planting and world missions.

8. Does GPCNZ believe in missions?

Absolutely! Within New Zealand we have been working out a strategy for Church Planting since we began, and internationally, we have missionaries and missions’ involvement in Africa, Asia and the Pacific. Local congregations also actively support missionaries serving overseas in this way, and we encourage people to experience mission work through short-term mission schemes. It is our prayer that our people will catch the vision of worldwide missions and become active and fruitful in many different places.

9. What is your relationship to other Presbyterian and Reformed denominations?

We have a warm relationship with other Presbyterian and Reformed denominations that share our commitment to historic Christianity. In particular, it stands alongside those who look to the Bible as the final authority on matters relating to sin, salvation and judgment, and on issues of morality and practice. We enjoy a range of relationship with churches and groups such as the Reformed Churches of New Zealand, the Presbyterian Church of Australia, the Westminster Presbyterian Church of Australia, the Presbyterian Church of America, the Presbyterian Church of Brazil, and the World Reformed Fellowship.

10. What is GPCNZ’s view of women in office?

We believe that all men and women are valued members of God’s kingdom, being made in God image, and therefore having equal dignity, value and worth. We also believe the Bible teaches unique roles for men and women which are not about status but about finding fulfilment in serving God in the ways He has designed. The difference in roles is particularly evident in the formal meetings of the church where we understand the Scriptures to teach that suitably qualified, trained and ordained men have the responsibility for teaching Scripture and leadership over the whole Church. This means that the office of pastors and elders is only open to men. We believe this is the pattern God has established in His Word and that it is ultimately for the flourishing of both men and women in the roles and responsibility that God gives. We do encourage every member, male and female, to develop and use their God given skills and gifts for His glory and the blessing of all.

11. In GPCNZ, who owns the property of a local church?

Each local congregation has the right to own and control its own property, that is, it is not owned by a central body outside the local church.

12. How are local churches represented in GPCNZ?

As every congregation is a part of the whole Church, congregational delegates are present and involved in the regular meetings of their regional Presbytery and the national General Assembly.

13. How big is GPCNZ?

Our denomination began in 2003 with seven congregations and at this point consists of 26 churches or church plants from Invercargill to Auckland’s North Shore.

14. Does GPCNZ have its own colleges and seminaries?

GPCNZ does not have its own denominational theological colleges or seminaries. It does, however, have several students studying for the ministry at Grace Theological College, an independent Theological College in Auckland. The first General Assembly of our Church approved Grace Theological College as the training institution in New Zealand for our denomination. The website for Grace Theological College is www.gtc.ac.nz

15. Does GPCNZ have student ministries?

In a number of key centres our churches embrace a tertiary student ministry called “Engage”. Through this ministry we have seen many young people brought to Christ, renewed in their faith in God and activated in a life of service to the church and in the world. Please contact us for more information.

16. What is on the horizon for GPCNZ?

Since our beginning we have felt that we represented a unique movement of God in our country and God has blessed us with a warm spirit and an uncommon oneness of heart. We have a deep desire to see the kingdom of God extended through missions, evangelism and church planting – planting churches that plant churches. One of our goals is that there would be a faithful Grace Presbyterian ministry within reach of every New Zealander. We look in dependence to Him who said, “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain”.

17. Where are your denominational offices?

GPCNZ does not have any denominational offices. The Clerk of our General Assembly is the point of contact with our Church. The clerk can be reached by email at statedclerk@gpcnz.org.nz 

18. How can your church become part of GPCNZ?

The process of becoming a member church in GPCNZ begins with getting to know one another. This would be followed by a careful formal process. You can start by contacting the Clerk of Assembly (see above), or one of the pastors of the Church. We can provide you with contacts to begin the process.

19. Where is the GPCNZ congregation nearest to me?

You can find out where the nearest GPCNZ congregation is by referring to our church finder. If there is no GPCNZ congregation in your area please contact us. We are always eager to meet individuals or groups of people who share our beliefs and who are interested in church planting.