20 Feb 2010

Service marks Bishop of Auckland's retirement

6:54 pm on 20 February 2010

The retirement of Auckland's tenth Bishop, the Right Reverend John Paterson, has been marked by a special service at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Parnell.

The Bishop has led the Anglican Diocese of Auckland for the past 15 years, and internationally has chaired the Anglican Consultative Council for the past seven years.

Bishop Paterson says Auckland is a big and complex diocese, and he's worked with many different ethnic and language groups.

He says the main challenge that remains for the church is to try to convince secular New Zealanders who enjoy the good life, in a good country, that on its own it's not quite enough.

The Bishop says some of the highlights of his 15 years in the role was being able to work with international church leaders such as Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa.

Bishop Paterson says he has mixed feelings about retiring but leaves with memories of great people he's worked with.