Remembering Gordon Green

It is with sadness that we advise the death of Gordon Green (suddenly after a short illness).  Gordon died at home on Sunday 24 July 2016.  Gordon was deeply involved in both local and Connexional church work including Dargaville, Palmerston North and eventually Mt Albert Methodist.  His last service as a Lay Preacher was May 2016.  [e-Messenger, August 2016, p. 4.]

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A Tribute to Gordon Green, as Methodist Lay Preacher,
offered by Rev Loyal Gibson
remembering especially our many years together at
Wesley Broadway, Palmerston North

During the 25 years Gordon was resident in Palmerston North he led Services of worship at Wesley, and 6 other Methodist churches throughout the Manawatu/Rangitikei region, always focussing on a currently relevant topic.  He was a forward-thinker, seeking to interpret the Gospel in ways appropriate to the age in which we live.  He was always well-prepared, as well as being able and willing to ‘step in’ if needed, at short notice.  During 2007-8 he was also ‘Authorised to administer the sacraments’ throughout the Manawatu regional church.

He sang with a very acceptable tenor voice, leading others to sing well, and quite often was a member of the choir.

Many will have heard this man emphasise the statement “The Kingdom of God is here – the way we work and behave now,” not a reward in the future.

People in the Wesley congregation will also remember, with lasting respect and appreciation, his words of wisdom, challenge and inspiration, provided weekly for the back page of the Bulletin.

He began his teaching career at a primary school, then taught at Boys Training Centre near Levin and, after 10 years there, moved to Dargaville and served as a High School Guidance Counsellor for a further 13 years.  When Palmerston North Methodism advertised for a Parish Administrator, he applied and ably fulfilled that role 1985–1991.

Lynette and Gordon were members of the Church of Christ for many of their earlier years together, and then fully participated within Parish, Synod and Conference life of Methodism, while living in Dargaville, Palmerston North, and Auckland.

More recently, being resident in Auckland and attending the Mt Albert church, Gordon continued to lead worship as a much-appreciated Lay Preacher until shortly before his death.