About Us

Vision and Values

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Vision and Values

“To be a redemptive community, sharing the love of Christ in the world, by word, sign and deed;
helping people become lifelong followers of Jesus Christ.”

This vision is personal – helping people become life-long followers of Jesus – and yet it is also something we live out together, as we form and grow redemptive communities.  We want to support individuals and grow a deep sense of ‘we’. God also calls us to each take slow deliberate steps toward deeper engagement with a people and a place. So, our goal is to be faithful followers of Jesus who shape thriving vibrant communities; bringing life and creativity, hope and healing.

We  value  love for God, ourselves, each other and the world.

We’re a church on a journey. In partnership with other churches and groups, as tāngata whenua and tāngata tiriti, we seek to live out a deep commitment to global and local mission, to bring positive, Jesus-shaped transformation in our personal lives, and communities; both here and around the world.

Will you  join us? Following Jesus in the places we live.

The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.

— Luke 4:18-19

Te Tiriti Partnership Journey

Over the past years our church has been grappling with a big question: how do we, as a community of believers, be relevant, authentic and available to the communities and cultures in which our church resides, in all that we do, including the Sunday gatherings? It’s what we’ve come to call the ‘cross-cultural journey’. This journey has not begun recently, some may remember the work that Lionel Stewart and others did 45 years ago. The passion has remained a fire in people’s hearts over many years.

The flame was re-fanned when Duane Major shared a challenge that he and the other 24-7 Youth Workers felt by the diversity evident in the youth communities in South West Christchurch.

At a wānanga retreat on Ōnuku marae, Banks Peninsula, in February 2011, the church leadership teams determined that the church would actively journey to be authentic and inviting to all the different ethnicities and cultures which make up the wider church communities. Also, that this journey would endeavour to draw insight from the Maori cultural heritage that is unique to Aotearoa, New Zealand.

This journey would be done in the context of the  church vision:

… by word, sign and deed; helping people become lifelong followers of Jesus Christ

… ma te kupu, ma te tohu, ma te mahi e awhinatia mai te tangata kia whakawhai noa ai i a Ihu Karaiti.

This determination at Onuku was a spoken commitment to the journey… ma te kupu.

Our  kōwhaiwhai  and  pou  are part of demonstrating this commitment… ma te tohu.

The manifestation of this commitment is determined by what we do… ma te mahi.

Many are fully committed to this journey and are excited about where it might take us. However, others are perplexed by it and do not see its relevance. Yet despite these reservations, most have determined that it is what Jesus is calling us to do.

(noun) painted scroll ornamentation – commonly used on meeting house rafters

Our kōwhaiwhai runs across the wall of our Lyttelton St site Gym. A kōwhaiwhai is the history book in a wharenui/meeting house. It tells the story of its people, not only its history but its values, hopes and aspirations. The telling uses what is, initially, an unfamiliar alphabet but once you know the meaning of the symbols, a narrative is revealed.

So, our kōwhaiwhai tells our church story.

Read the full story  here  or watch the video explanation.

KŌWHAIWHAI

POU

Pou:  Pōwhiri  (Welcome, there is a place here for you) 

On April 3 2016 our church consecrated a  tohu/sign  of  our commitment to our ‘cross-cultural journey’.
Sitting between the main entrance doors to  our  Lyttelton  St site  Gym is a  pou.  It encompasses our story of the  gospel in the setting of south west Christchurch, and is an encouragement to us that Christ would want our place and our  whānau  to look a lot like his – people from all different walks of life, colour and persuasion.   

There are three big themes encompassing the  pou. Read more about them here.

Our History

Our roots in the South West of Ōtautahi began in 1865 and as the area has moved from open fields to growing neighbourhoods, we have been part of the community life.

Since 1865 our church has been known by many names; Lincoln Road Baptist, Lyttelton Street Baptist, Spreydon and Halswell Baptist and now South West Baptist Church. You can read more about our history up until our name change in 2013  here  or listen to Murray Robertson share the story of our early beginnings  here.

In 2016 we celebrated 150 years as a church, and produced a feature length documentary about the previous 25 years.

Our Teams

Leadership Team & Pastors

Duane Major

Senior Pastor

Amanda Parfitt

Executive Pastor

John Robertson

Global Team Leader

Amelia Smith

Generations Pastor

Warren Read

Pastoral Care Team Leader

Claire Russell

Equipping Pastor

Sam Young

Gatherings Pastor

Elders

Taitu’uga Geoff Siave

Chairperson

Janelle Butcher

Janet Hull

Justine Langrell

Helen Lewthwaite

Tim Perry

David Wilson

Documents

Click here to view the South West Baptist Church Constitution.
The South West Baptist Church stance on issues of gender in regard to ministry and leadership supports the equality of men and women, working together to fulfil the vision of SWBC being a ‘redemptive community, sharing the love of Christ in the world, by word, sign and deed, helping people become lifelong followers of Jesus Christ.’
“So God created human beings in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” - Genesis 1:27
“So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptised into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” - Galatians 3:26-28
There are two main positions held by evangelicals in regard to gender roles. One finds essential and enduring differences in roles between women and men, and advocates the headship of men over women in marriage and church. This is often known as complementarian theology. The opposite position, called egalitarian, affirms mutual submission of all believers in both church and family. According to this view, men and women are to serve according to each individual’s gifts and calling without discrimination on the basis of gender.
When speaking to these issues directly, South West promotes an egalitarian stance, as part of a kingdom theology, which sees societal change, including overthrow of injustice against women, as part of kingdom concerns.
In line with this, South West aspires to a genuine equality of women and men under God, including in our leadership. South West encourages groups, ministries of the church and corporate gatherings to reflect the equality of men and women and to seek to equip the local communities to meet the needs of their people.