The new Dean-elect intends to engage with Auckland City and the wider Diocese in what she describes as a critical time for the region, “As the super city is created and the Auckland Council becomes a reality in November there will be an impact on the city, a place we call home.” The Rev’d Jo Kelly-Moore says, “I am grateful for the years of Christian leadership from previous Deans that have engaged with the city and that continued presence of the Cathedral as a voice in the city will be important at a time of such change.”
The Rev’d Kelly-Moore, age 42, was born in Wellington and began her working life in the legal profession as a solicitor. She moved from the corporate world to study theology and attended Bible College, now Laidlaw College, and gained a Bachelor of Divinity. After study at St John’s College she was ordained priest in 2000 and was appointed Assistant Priest at St Aidan’s Anglican Church in Remuera. She was appointed Vicar in 2004. In church governance she has been on Diocesan Council for the past four years. In 2007 she was elected as an Auckland Diocese Representative to General Synod/Te Hīnota Whānui and is the Auckland representative on the Standing Committee. She also took part in the Leadership New Zealand course. With other alumni she now encourages and works alongside other leaders in the programme.
The Anglican Bishop of Auckland, The Rt Rev’d Ross Bay, announced the appointment today. “The Rev’d Kelly-Moore brings a wide range of experiences as a lawyer and a committed priest. She has growing responsibilities within the wider church and I am very pleased that she has accepted this new challenge. I look forward to working with her,” says Bishop Ross.
The Rev’d Kelly-Moore will be the 9th Dean of Auckland and the first woman to hold the position. “New Zealand led the way in the ordination of women in the Anglican Church and so there are a number of firsts and there are probably more to come across the wider church as a younger generation of leaders emerges,” says the Rev’d Kelly-Moore. “As a priest I bring ministry skills and leadership capabilities and will minister because of my role and beliefs,” she says.
The Rev’d Kelly-Moore knows there will be change as she leaves the leadership of a local parish to become Dean of the Cathedral, which is the mother Church for the Diocese of Auckland. The Diocese stretches from Cape Reinga in the north, to Coromandel in the east and also includes members of Tikanga Maori and Tikanga Pasefika, cultural streams in the Anglican Church.
“It will be an honour to be able to offer the hospitality of the Cathedral to the diocesan family and our Tikanga partners to enable the wider church to come together as it is important we physically express such unity, says the Rev’d Kelly-Moore. Her role is also as Vicar of Parnell. “That involves a number of ministries of being with the people and for the people and that is what I have done as a priest for 10 years. While some things will change, the heart of my ministry will stay the same,” says the Rev’d Kelly-Moore.
The Rev’d-Kelly Moore is married to Paul, who has had a career in social services and most recently he has also been on the staff at St Aidan’s Remuera. They have two sons, Adam (9) and Nathan (6).
A Service of Installation for the new Dean will be held at the end of August.
Media release by Rev. Jayson Rhodes
I attended the Saint Kentigern Girls School Christmas Celebration, supporting my grand daugther, and very good it was too. A point that I found very disturbing was that you chose to address what was effectively a non Maori congregation in Maori. Why ? nobody understood you or indeed from the folks I spoke to considered it appropriate.
I respect Maori culture and request that you respect my New Zealand culture and address me/us in our native tongue, English.
I will be attending and supporting my grandson on Monday the 2nd at the Boys school service and sincerely hope that you take note of my complaint and lack of consideration.
Terry, I have no idea what you are talking about. I certainly was not at Saint Kentigern Girls’ School. I find your distinction between “New Zealand culture” and “Maori culture” quite different to the way I would understand things, and merely note in passing (again noting I was not present at the event you are writing about) that Maori is one of the three official languages of our country. As I do not know if you are going to read this response, I will email you as well. Blessings.