Newspaper Article 1983 – New bishop ready for challenging job

New bishop ready for challenging job

STAFF reporter Mary Hollywood talks to the Ven. Peter Atkins, chosen this week as the Bishop-elect of the Waiapu diocese.

Peter Atkins, the Bishop-elect of the Waiapu diocese, says his great variety of experiences has moulded the type of person he has become.

“I think also that being brought up during and after the war means that I have worked through times when there was little to spare.

“I sit lighter to the ups and downs of New Zealand life than some others for whom the downturns are more severe than they have ever experienced.”

His extensive travelling with his army career father and later in his ministry work has meant he can adapt to the needs of a locality. “So I find another change is exciting rather than daunting.

“I think it is true to say that Peter the man has been coloured by the fact that I have worked in the Pacific.”

It was not so much a love of travel which brought Peter Atkins to New Zealand from Britain in 1958. It was a desire to see the place where his older brother had chosen to settle, and the Church.

“The attraction of the Church in New Zealand was its synodical government and, I thought, the balance between progressive and traditional. I found when I got here it was more traditional than progressive.

“Maybe my presence in New Zealand has been responsible for some of the changes!”

He did not intend to stay in New Zealand long but “I married a nice New Zealand wife and have tended to stay’’.

Balance

Archdeacon Atkins considers he is now a 23-year-old Kiwi.

He is pleased he argued with Archbishop Owen at the 1958 Lambeth Conference and persuaded the Primate he should finish his training for the ministry in New Zealand.

“I think subsequent events have proved I was right to come here for my post-graduate degree. I think I saw theology from a New Zealand context.”

How then do you weigh the fine balance between the minister, the man, homemaker and parent?

“Organisation. People always tell me that I am busy. I tell them that if you are organised you can fit more things into your day.

“Careful use of time means I have opportunities for my home life and my family life and yet my family understand there are some pressing occasions when Peter the priest must be available to others.

“I hope as bishop that there will be ‘spaces’ which will allow me to have time with my family. The need to travel in New Zealand and within the diocese means I have to be absent from them.”

Peter Atkins the man has had a long association with service clubs in New Zealand. He says he enjoys the fellowship as “myself without my role”.

“I can’t say I always enjoy the programmes but membership helps me feel part of the everyday community: One which does not depend on my leadership

Tennis

“I can be myself and other people can respond to my needs there. It is also a good channel of community building. Incidental to my work I can support people who are trying to give a lead in the community.”

Peter the bishop-elect knows the need for recreation and leisure pursuits. His choices: Tennis and music.

“Tennis is a good exercise game for me and I think it is a family game. You can adjust your game to most levels. It is a game I can play with my daughter and my wife. No doubt the time will come when I will not wish to play with my daughter as she improves.”

A long-time resident of Liverpool, Peter Atkins is well versed in the skills of soccer but through his association with Cambridge University he had personal involvement with Rugby to “a very senior competitive level’’.

“So I enjoy both games. I can divide my loyalties. I think that I see our society in New Zealand becoming much more rounded in its approach to sport. People can now choose what they do best and don’t feel that anything other than Rugby is second rate.

But Peter the man borders on heresy when he admits being ‘‘bored stiff by cricket”. ‘‘I rejoice that one-day cricket has got rid of most of the boredom.”

The bishop-elect’s music choice is that of the purist. ‘‘I like what I like and will be patient with what I don’t like. Classical music is something I have enjoyed since I was a choirboy. I have learnt to play the piano and organ myself.

“I met my wife Rosemary in a broadcast choir in Wellington in the early 1960s.

Contrast

“My daughter Susan likes what she likes and tolerates our nonsense.”

Cuisine at the Bishop’s Court will be varied, influenced perhaps by the tastes of a youngster moving with his army career father to many parts of the world.

“Yes, we do like Chinese meals. We enjoyed Singapore and would be happy to return to taste their fare!”

But if the way to the bishop-elect’s favour is through his preference in desserts then it has to be rice pudding made with creamy milk and with sultanas added.

“No, not my mother’s recipe, my grandmother’s, and in sharp contrast to the sago and tapioca puddings we had to eat as wartime youngsters.”

Gardening is part of an Atkins family tradition. “Both my grandparents were keen gardeners and we have always kept a good vegetable garden and shrubs and flowers.

“Rosemary does most of the floral side of our garden but I do the vegetable garden and the roses.”

“Your favourite?”

“Peace.”

For a busy vicar television has been a luxury but when time permits at the weekend Peter Atkins treats his global interests by watching the news.

“I really appreciate the news at the weekend because I find it hard to get an international perspective in New Zealand. On those particular nights we have a predominance of international news.”

“Why do you think you were chosen as the 12th Bishop of Waiapu?” – “Others in the diocese could answer that better than I could. I am sure they would say with me that we prayed for God’s guidance for the synod and we believe that He answers our prayers. That makes me very humble and a little frightened.

“I think they saw me as a person God could mould to exercise leadership among them – leading them, drawing the best out of myself and others but not leaving them to struggle on while I chase some scheme of my own.

“But maybe they chose me because I have mellowed with pastoral experience and yet am still young enough to stand the rigours of the job.

Photo caption – MR ATKINS . . . music is one of his leisure activities.