Episcopal Team

About the Episcopal Team

The Episcopal Team supports the ministry of all the people of the diocese.

The word ‘episcopal’ comes from the Greek word episkope which means the oversight and ministry of a bishop. In Auckland, this work of oversight is shared by the Bishop with the Episcopal Team. The team collaborates to offer leadership, guidance and support and enable the ministry of all in the diocese.

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Carole Hughes - Archdeacon for the Central Region, Vicar General

Carole Hughes

Archdeacon for the Central Region, Vicar General

Carole has been an Archdeacon on the Episcopal Team since August 2011, prior to which she was co-vicar and then vicar of St John’s, Campbells Bay. She has been Vicar General since 2019. She was ordained in 1997 in the Diocese of Waikato and Taranaki.

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Carole is currently chair of the International Anglican Women’s Network Steering Group for the Anglican Communion, a board member for EfM (Education for Ministry), and has been an adjunct/guest lecturer at St John’s Theological College since 2007. She also chairs the Common Life Liturgical Commission.

Carole is passionate about liturgy and ensuring it is inclusive and accessible; about the role of women in leadership in the Church and society; and about theological education and contextual understandings of Scripture. Over the past 20 years she has had numerous articles, chapters and books on theology and liturgy published, including resources on gender justice for the Anglican Communion.

Michael Berry - Archdeacon for the Southern Region, Bishop's Executive Chaplain, Deputy Vicar General

Michael Berry

Archdeacon for the Southern Region, Bishop's Executive Chaplain, Deputy Vicar General

Michael has been with the Episcopal Team since 2016. His primary role is as Archdeacon for the area from the eastern suburbs through the south of Auckland to the Coromandel peninsula.

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Michael began ministry in 2003 in the Parish of St Mark Remuera before being appointed vicar of St Heliers. He then spent time as a full-time chaplain in the Royal New Zealand Navy and continues to be an active member of the naval reserve today.

He values the rich diversity within our church and enjoys engaging with the variety of experiences and expressions of faith and worship in our diocese.

Michael lives in One Tree Hill with Rebecca, his wife, and their two daughters. He enjoys cooking, drinking coffee, spending time with family and friends, and sometimes pretends to like running. Like many parents, he spends evenings and Saturdays supporting children’s sports and activities.

In addition to his role as Archdeacon, Michael serves as the Bishop’s Executive Chaplain, is the Deputy Vicar General, and chairs the Faculties Committee.

Jonathan Gale - Archdeacon for the Northern Region

Jonathan Gale

Archdeacon for the Northern Region

Jonathan has been Archdeacon since February 2020. He is responsible for the ministry units in the North, including Whangaparāoa and Orewa. He also coordinates the Healthy Church Consultation programme.

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Ordained in 2008, Jonathan served as curate and priest assistant at Holy Trinity Devonport and as LSM enabler in South Kaipara and Huapai before becoming vicar of St Peter’s Takapuna in 2014. Before ordination, he worked in education and development banking in South Africa, migrating with his family to New Zealand in 1996.

His roles here included working as an investment advisor in the Tertiary Education Commission and an industry manager for Competenz. He has been a member of various education and community advisory boards and was a founding board member of Vanguard Military School, a designated character school in Albany.

Jonathan is a very keen mountain biker and lives in Torbay with his wife, Faith. They have two children and four grandchildren.

Sarah Moss - Ministry Educator

Sarah Moss

Ministry Educator

As diocesan Ministry Educator, Sarah’s area of responsibility is the formation, training, and continuing education of laity and clergy. She has been in this role since mid-2019, having joined the Episcopal Team in 2016 to facilitate the ministry unit self-review process.

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She also leads the Ministry Formation Team of seven talented leaders who support ministry in the areas of children and families, youth, adults in their 20s and 30s, intergenerational ministry, and lay development.

Formally a teacher, Sarah was ordained in 2002 and spent four years in parish ministry before serving as chaplain at Diocesan School for Girls for almost 10 years. During this time, she stayed connected with the wider diocese by serving on Diocesan Council and the Bishop’s Mission and Ministry Oversight Group.

Sarah lives in Greenlane and in her spare time enjoys reading, movies, and catching up with friends and family. She has two adult sons and a renegade cat whose territory includes sunny spots in neighbouring houses.

Sonia Maugham - Diocesan Manager

Sonia Maugham

Diocesan Manager

Sonia joined the diocese in 2015 and was appointed Diocesan Manager in 2016, reporting to the Bishop. As leader of the Administrative Services Team, Sonia links the missional/ministry and operational/management parts of the diocese. The administration office provides professional services that support and enable the mission and ministry goals of the Church.

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Sonia is also the secretary of the Diocesan Council, chair of the Diocesan Health and Safety Committee, and serves on a several other committees and working groups.

Sonia has spent nearly 30 years working in the faith-based charitable sector. This experience gives her an in-depth understanding of the heart of not-for-profit organisations and the unique way they function.

In her spare time, Sonia enjoys walking, spending time with family and friends and camping. Her pet hate is glitter, and her family calls her a clean freak! Sonia is also a keen traveller and has been fortunate to visit some extraordinary countries, with more on her bucket list.

Liz Williams - Bishop's PA

Liz Williams

Bishop's PA

Liz is the first point of contact for the Bishop’s office. She provides administrative support to the Bishop and the Episcopal Team. She joined the team in 2019, bringing a wealth of administrative and customer-focused work experience, including a number of years as Cathedral Secretary at Holy Trinity Cathedral.

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Liz enjoys the wide variety of tasks associated with this role, and the fact that no two days are the same!

Liz is married to Mark and has two adult sons. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends.