What is our nature as human beings?

We are part of God’s creation, made in God’s image: male and female we are created.

What does it mean to be made in the image of God?

We are free to reflect God’s own nature, to make choices: to love, to create, to reason, and to live in harmony with God and all creation. However we are also free to disobey, or deny the reality of God.

Why is there so much disharmony in our world and in human lives?

From the beginning we have misused our freedom. We work against God and put ourselves in the place of God. We sin, we fall.

What help is there?

God has acted in Jesus to bring us back to a loving and forgiven relationship. In that action all humanity is offered re-creation and wholeness.

What does the Church teach about Jesus?

Jesus is the only Son of God, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, was buried. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

What does this mean?

Jesus is the promised Saviour or Christ, God with us. Uniquely conceived by God’s power and born as a human, Jesus lived lovingly and obediently. In the time of Pontius Pilate, Roman governor of Judea, he died unjustly by crucifixion. Jesus was raised from death and now lives and reigns in glory.

What does Christ’s death and resurrection mean?

Through Christ’s death and resurrection we are offered forgiveness and oneness with God.

What is the nature of God revealed in Jesus?

God is love.

Why did Jesus, the Son of God, share our human nature?

So that we might enter into a restored relationship or covenant with God and live as children and heirs of God’s Kingdom.

What did Jesus teach about our new relationship with God?

Jesus taught that we are to love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength: we are to love our neighbours as ourselves.

What is the Bible?

The Bible, or Holy Scripture, is a library of books divided into the Old and New Testaments.

What is the Old Testament?

The Old Testament consists of books written by the people of the Old Covenant before the birth of Christ to show how God was at work in nature and in the history of Israel.

What is the New Testament?

The New Testament consists of books written by the people of the New Covenant to set forth the life and teaching of Jesus and the Apostles, the growth of the early Church, and the good news of the kingdom for all people.

Why does the Church value the Holy Scriptures?

Because the Holy Spirit inspired their human authors and through the Scriptures God’s word continues to speak to the Church.

How do we best understand the Bible?

We understand the meaning of the Bible, the Church’s book, with the help of the Holy Spirit, who guides the people of God in interpretation and understanding.

What is the Apocrypha?

It is a collection of books written by the people of the Old Covenant and sometimes read in church, but not used to establish doctrine.

What are the Sacraments?

They are outward and visible signs of inward and spiritual grace, given by Christ to the Church.

What is grace?

Grace is God’s freely-given love for people, forgiving sins, enlightening minds, stirring hearts and strengthening wills. Through grace we are given strength to live as loving sons and daughters of God.

What is prayer?

Prayer is our response to God’s love. We pray in the name of Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit.

What are the different ways of prayer?

We can pray with or without words, by ourselves or with others. The main kinds of prayer include adoration, praise, thanksgiving, confession of sins, intercession to God for others and for ourselves. The prayer of listening to God is called meditation or contemplation.

What is a helpful way for us to begin?

We can realise God’s presence with us by being quiet and still, and by recognising God’s love within us and around us.

What is the Anglican Communion?

It is a world-wide fellowship of self-governing churches holding the doctrine and ministry of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church, and in communion with the Archbishop of Canterbury. It initially grew from the historic faith of the English speaking peoples but is now present in many different cultures and languages.

What part of the Anglican Communion is this Church?

It is the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia / Te Hāhi Mihinare, made up of Te Pihopatanga o Aotearoa, the dioceses in New Zealand, and the Diocese of Polynesia. In character this Church is multi-racial and multi-cultural.

How does the Anglican Church in New Zealand understand the relationship between Māori and Pākehā?

The Church recognises a special bi-cultural partnership, founded upon the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi, and seeks to express this in its life.

How does the Anglican Church regard other Christians?

Anglicans see other Christians as sisters and brothers in Christ, and pray and work for the unity which is Christ’s will for the Church.

How does the Anglican Church regard members of other faiths?

Anglicans believe that all people are created in God’s image and need to find meaning and purpose beyond themselves. All living faiths witness in some way to the reality of God, but in Jesus Christ God’s revelation is unique.

How does the Anglican Church respond to secular philosophies?

There is much we can learn from them in the common search for meaning of life, but Anglicans believe only God can satisfy the deepest human needs.

What is the hope of a Christian?

The Christian hope is that nothing, not even death, shall separate us from the love of God which endures and prevails forever.

What does the Church believe about the last things?

That God in Christ will come in glory to judge the living and the dead, in the fulness of time. We look to resurrection life and participation with the saints in glory.

How are we to live in this hope?

We anticipate the coming of Christ and we live now in the newness of eternal life which the Spirit gives: we work for the fulfilment of God’s purpose for the whole creation.