His interpretation of Christianity has changed over time but, much like his church, Archdeacon Bernard Wilkinson is open to adaptation while still guided by his faith in God.
November 30 marked 50 years since the Oamaruvian was ordained in Dunedin.
He walked away from a career in primary school teaching to become a priest, in order to help others.
"I believe God called me to the ministry. I contacted the Anglican bishop of Dunedin in 1963."
He has been retired for 25 years and in that time he, along with some others, created the Oamaru Churches Foodbank in response to the need for help that changes to the benefit system created in the 1990s and he is involved in helping the North Otago Anglican Homes for the Aged charity.
Mr Wilkinson began his career at St Peter’s, Caversham, after studying at Dunedin’s Selwyn College, then gained a position in Cromwell, in 1968.
"I thought I had died and gone to heaven. My parish was the finest in the diocese. It was the days before the bulldozers came in to build the [Clyde] dam.
"They were wonderful days."
His parish extended from Cromwell to Makarora and for Easter and Christmas services he was flown to Makarora.
Eight years later he became the priest at St Luke’s Church in Oamaru, where he served for 16 years before retiring.
"God called me to this. I may have been a poor servant of his, but I did my best."
His career highlight was when in 1988 he went on a six-month parish exchange to the town of Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire, England. He was invited to wear his robes and read prayer at the Anzac Day service at Westminster Abbey, which he found a "very moving" experience.
He then did a six-month exchange with a parish in Connecticut, United States.
"I even married a couple who had been previously married, got divorced and then decided to marry again."
Over the years, his interpretation of elements of Christianity had changed, Mr Wilkinson said.
"I don’t think I’ve questioned my faith in God, but my faith has widened and changed. I don’t think I see the Christian faith in the same way I saw it as a 10-year-old."
He now supported marriage equality.
"We’ve had same-sex marriage and the sky hasn’t fallen in."
And he was pro-choice, but with a caveat.
"My bottom line is abortion is always wrong, but sometimes it’s even wronger to bring a child into the world that’s not wanted."
He did not think any theologian could possibly take the Virgin Mary story as fact, but was steadfast in his belief Jesus Christ was the redeemer of humanity.
He admired several people in his faith for how they challenged the way people thought and chose to interpret parts of the Bible. Bishop John (Jack) Spong, an American, regarded by some as a rebel in the church but by others as a "wide thinker", and New Zealand’s Sir Lloyd Geering, a Presbyterian minister and an emeritus professor of Victoria University of Wellington, were two who instantly came to mind.
"I think [Sir Lloyd] is a wonderful thinker."
He believed the church would always be relevant, but would have to adapt, but he did not know in what ways.
"I don’t think it will ever die, but it will change dramatically. It is divine. It can’t die."
Religion had helped humanity in several ways, including helping free the poor from slavery and making education and health care obtainable, he said.
