Kia ora,
I hope you’ve enjoyed your study break, and that it’s been
both fruitful and restful. I’m writing to let you know that two of our teaching
team will be retiring from their roles at the end of this year.
Dr George Wieland
After 23
years at Carey, George has decided it’s time to retire from his role as
Director of Mission Research and Formation. Since arriving from Scotland in
December 1999, George has made a massive contribution to the Carey community,
first as Lecturer in New Testament and then as Director of Mission Research and
Formation. George is a brilliant scholar, a gifted teacher, a compelling
preacher, a wise mentor, an insightful missiologist, and a deeply loved
colleague. Over the last generation, George has been at the heart of some of
the most significant developments at Carey. George writes:
It has been one of the great privileges of my life to be part of the unique Carey community. I have been able to grow and contribute in the context of rich relationships and shared purpose both within Carey and amongst Carey’s many partners in the worlds of church, mission and education. Over the past five years, since Jo and I moved to Pāpāmoa to share a home with extended family, I have been commuting between there and Tāmaki Makaurau, spending most of the working week at Carey and weekends with the family. I feel that it is time to redress the balance and be more permanently based with the family in Pāpāmoa. I leave with deep gratitude for this faithful, loving and courageous community and joyful anticipation of how Te Kareti Iriiri o Carey will continue to develop and serve in this exciting new season.
Dr Sarah Harris
Sarah has also recognised the time has come to step back
from permanent full-time teaching position. Sarah has been at Carey since 2012,
and during that time has made a very significant contribution. She has taught
the New Testament with conviction, passion, energy, and flair. Sarah is an
outstanding teacher, scholar, and mentor, who loves Jesus, the scriptures, and
the church. We will miss her regular presence on campus. For her part, though, Sarah
will not miss the weekly commute from Whanganui to Auckland! She writes:
Ever since the birth of our wee grandson in November 2020, Craig and I have realised that we are entering a new season of life. While loving my job at Carey so much, we sense it is time for me to stop working fulltime and travelling most weeks. I will miss seeing you all each week. You have helped me grow and you have all been so encouraging to me. I really appreciate you all.
Towards the end of this year the Carey staff team will be celebrating and thanking George and Sarah for their wonderful ministry among us all.
New appointments
In the coming few days we will also be announcing two new
appointments to the Carey faculty. We’re very excited about the way in which
the Lord has gone ahead of us, providing the perfect successors for George and
Sarah. I’m very confident these two new lecturers, with their deep love for
Jesus, the church, and mission, will continue the rich tradition at Carey of scholarship
and teaching that integrates faith, context and practice in a way that is truly
transformational. I’ll be in touch again soon with more news.
Kia tau te aroha
noa. Grace be with you.
John Tucker