Interchurch Commission
on Genetic Engineering
Media Release
for immediate issue
Interchurch Commission Gears up for GE Submission
The Interchurch Commission on Genetic Engineering will be holding a series of regional meetings in preparation for
church submissions on genetic modification to the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification.
Commission convenor Dr Audrey Jarvis said that the Commission is charged with representing the views of church members
and is holding these meetings so that this consultation can take place. She said, “To be able to represent the views of
church members it is essential that we hear what they have to say about genetic engineering.”
“The focus of the meetings will be consultation. We will be asking participants in these meetings what they consider to
be the most important issues in the use of genetic engineering techniques in New Zealand. We will also provide some
information to resource those church members who wish to make their own submissions to the Royal Commission,” Dr Jarvis
said.
The first of these meetings will be held at St Mary’s Church, Merivale, Christchurch on Monday 11 September. The series
will conclude with a meeting in Invercargill on 8 October, leaving enough time for feedback to be incorporated into the
Commission’s submission due at the Royal Commission by 30 October.
The full schedule of meetings will be distributed to church members through regular church communication channels and is
also available on the Commission’s website: http://www.pq.godzone.net.nz/gecommission/events.html
While the purpose of the meetings is to hear church member's opinions, members of the public and media are welcome to
attend.
For more information please contact:
Dr Audrey Jarvis
Phone: (06) 357 3089
Mobile: (021) 129 4948
7 September 2000
Regional Meetings Schedule
Auckland
Time: Monday 2 October, 2000; 7:15pm to 9:30pm
Place: St Mary’s Anglican/Methodist Church, cnr Taniwha St & Elstree Ave, Glen Innes, Auckland
Contact: Alan Webster or Jan Fogg (09) 521 1285
Hamilton
Time: Wednesday 4 October, 2000; 7pm
Place: Te Rahi Tane (centre for the Methodist Maori division) , River Road, Hamilton
Contact: Maree Pene (07) 855 2628; or Jim Greenaway (07) 315 4817
Palmerston North
Time: Sunday 24 September, 2000; 2:00pm to 4:30pm
Place: Wesley Broadway Methodist Church
Contact: Audrey Jarvis (06) 357 3089, jarvis.ab@xtra.co.nz; or Chris Downs (06) 359 4995, downslc@xtra.co.nz
Wellington
Time: Tuesday 19 September, 2000; 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Place: Loaves and Fishes, Wellington Anglican Cathedral, cnr Hill and Molesworth Sts, Wellington
Contact: Richard Davis (04) 381 8295, richardd@pcanz.org.nz
Christchurch
Time: Monday 11 September, 2000; 7:30pm
Place: St Mary's Church, Church Lane, Merivale, Christchurch
Contact: Vivienne Burrows (03) 348 3880, j.burrows@zfree.co.nz
Dunedin
Time: Sunday 1 October, 2000; 12:00 noon to 1:30pm
Place: Dunedin College of Education, 145 Union Street East, Dunedin
Contact: Rev Greg Hughson (03) 479 8497, chaplain@gandalf.otago.ac.nz; Rev Dr Joe Bush 03 473 0107 Ext 7809,
jbush@knoxcollege.ac.nz
Invercargill
Time: Sunday 8th October, 2000; 4:00pm to 8:00pm (there will be a potluck meal at 5:30pm)
Place: Holy Trinity Anglican Church, King St, Invercargill
Contact: Greg Hughson (03) 479 8497, chaplain@gandalf.otago.ac.nz (Dunedin); Jenny Campbell (03) 248 6398 (Mossburn)
More information on the Interchurch Commission on Genetic Engineering is available from the Commission’s web site:
http://www.pq.godzone.net.nz/gecommission