Russell Smith

2013 Resident Scholar

Russell Smith

Originally from Auckland, Russell now lives in Nelson. He is a Lay Minister at the Nelson Cathedral actively involved in teaching and preaching. He is currently the Dean’s Warden, a member of the Cathedral Chapter along with other roles within the Nelson Diocese.

He was involved for many years in Christian youth ministry and then in the administration and management of several large non-profit organisations. In the 1990’s he joined the ministry team of a Nelson church as the Church Administrator and later became the Director of an NZQA approved Christian training programme run by the church. Recognising the need for further study he  returned to Auckland where he completed a Bachelor of Applied Theology degree at Carey Baptist College He then joined join the pastoral staff of the Windsor Park Baptist Church in Mairangi Bay as the Church’s Administrator.

Over the years he has had a continued interest in Christian mission and has been involved in mission projects in Vanuatu and in North-East India and Bangladesh. He has also worked in mission promotion and education, particularly advancing the “Business as Mission” strategy.

Russell has a particular interest in the interaction of faith and the workplace and worked for many years as an Industrial Chaplain.

 In 2009 he completed a Master of Theology degree in mission theology through Laidlaw College. His thesis entitled “The Place of the Market in Mission” researched the way that trade and commerce and Christian mission have interacted throughout the modern mission period. This provided a basis for a critical examination of the Business as Mission model and demonstrated that there were historical lessons that could be learnt if the Gospel is to be advanced through the practice of business activity.

 Russell will be using his time at Vaughan Park to complete a post-graduate research project on the Life and Ministry of John Gare Butler in New Zealand. Butler, a missionary with the CMS from 1818, was the first clergy person to actually take up residence in New Zealand. The study  will look particularly at the leadership dynamics of the fledging CMS mission within the context of the early settlement of New Zealand.