Research News - Oceania

Participating Research Institutions in Oceania

New Zealand Centre for Theology and Public Issues, University of Otago, Dunedin, Aotorea New Zealand.

The Centre for Theology and Public Issues at the University of Otago is pleased to announce the appointment of Andrew Bradstock as the Howard Paterson Professor of Theology and Public Issues and the Director of the New Zealand Centre for Theology and Public Issues. Professor Bradstock has research interests in the relationship between theology and politics and experience of engaging in the public square from a faith perspective as Secretary for Church and Society with the United Reformed Church (UK). He is currently Co-Director of the Centre for Faith in Society at the Von Hugel Institute, Cambridge. His publications include Saints and Sandinistas (Epworth, 1987), Faith in the Revolution (SPCK, 1997) and Louder Than Words: Action for the 21st-Century Church (DLT, 2007). He is co-editor, with Chris Rowland, of Radical Christian Writings: A Reader (Blackwell, 2002). Andrew took up the post early in 2009. The University of Otago has also announced the establishment of a Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies (again led by a Professorial Director), and there will be strong synergies between the NZ CTPI and this new Centre. In addition, a joint funding proposal (with Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand) has been submitted to the New Zealand Government for a Centre for the Study of Islam and Muslim Cultures. We hope that this will be successful, and again will lead to strong synergies with the New Zealand Centre for Theology and Public Issues.

Murray Rae

www.otago.ac.nz/theology/index.html

Public and Contextual Theology Strategic Research Centre,
Charles Sturt University, Australia

James Haire

www.csu.edu.au/faculty/arts/theology/pact/

From the 1st of July this year the GNPT will be hosted by the Centre of Public and Contextual Theology (PACT) at Charles Sturt University in Canberra and Sydney. The incoming chairperson of the GNPT and his colleagues, James Haire, Katie Chambers and dr Julia Pitman can be seen on these photos that were taken during this week of 14 April at the new offices of the GNPT. Heather Kaemingk and Nico Koopman will be sponsored by the Center of Theological Inquiry in Princeton to visit PACT in Canberra and Sydney in late May, and to do an official hand-over of the administration and management of the GNPT to PACT.

The GNPT office

The door of the GNPT Office, with the name, in the Charles Sturt University Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture and PACT Headquarters, Canberra

GNPT offices

James Haire with the GNPT Officer, Ms. Katie Chambers, who is working for PACT temporarily, having recently submitted her PhD thesis to the University of Cambridge, U.K.

Dr. Julia Pitman and Katie

Dr. Julia Pitman (PhD Adelaide), the Manager of PACT-CSU, and Katie, in the GNPT Office

Julia and Katie

Julia and Katie in the GNPT Office

News/Forthcoming Activities:
ANZATS Conference

A very successful international conference, entitled "Global Neighbours and Faithful Citizens: Theology in the Public Domain", was held in Canberra from 8 – 12 July 2007. The conference was a co-operative venture between PACT-CSU, the CSU School of Theology (St Mark's National Theological Centre and United Theological College (UTC)), the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture (ACC&C), and the Australian and New Zealand Association of Theological Schools / the Australia and New Zealand Association for Theological Studies (ANZATS / ANZSTS). Rev Professor James Haire, Director of PACT, was Convenor for the conference, and Professor Ian Goulter, Vice-Chancellor of CSU, opened the conference. International guest speakers included Rev Dr Will Storrar, Director, Center of Theological Inquiry, Princeton, USA; Professor Nico Koopman, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa; and Professor Elaine Graham, University of Manchester, UK. In addition, twenty-seven other papers, from various parts of the world, were presented.

Auckland Lectures

On 1 August 2007, Rev Professor James Haire, Director of PACT, delivered the University of Auckland Annual Lecture in Public Theology at Old Government House, The University of Auckland, New Zealand. The lecture was entitled: "Public Theology – A Latin Captivity of the Church?: Violence and Public Theology in the Praxis often Church in Asia."

On 3 August, Prof Haire delivered the Ferguson Lecture 2007, entitled: Should we do it in Public?: Public Theology in the Asia–Pacific Region" at St David's Presbyterian Church, Auckland, New Zealand.

These lectures were arranged through Professor Elaine Wainwright and the Rev Doug Lendrum.

PACT-CSU to Host GNPT Secretariat

PACT–CSU is very pleased to begin preparing to be the hosts for the GNPT Global Network for Public Theology (GNPT), for the next triennium 2008–2010. The transfer of the Secretariat from Princeton USA to PACT–CSU is planned for 1 July 2008. Sydney (UTC) and Canberra (ACC&C and St Mark's) are pleased to host the next triennial meeting of the Global Network to be held in 2010.

Citizenship, Discipleship, Belonging

On 7 September 2007, PACT held a Research Seminar entitled "Citizenship, Discipleship, Belonging" at the United Theological College (UTC), North Parramatta, chaired by the Rev Dr Jione Havea of UTC..

Public but Not Official

From 20 – 21 September 2007, PACT held a conference: "Public but Not Official: Anglican Contributions to Australian Life", chaired by the Rev Associate Professor Tom Frame (Associate Director of PACT and Director of St Mark's), held at St Mark's National Theological Centre, Canberra. The Rev Professor Robin Gill, of the University of Kent at Canterbury, gave the Keynote Addresses.

Christian Mission in the Public Square

An international conference on the topic of the Christian Mission in the Public Square was held from the 2nd to the 5th October 2008. It took place in the Chapel of the ACC&C, and was sponsored by the Australian Association for Mission Studies (AAMS), the Public and Contextual Theology Strategic Research Centre (PACT) and the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture.
The keynote speaker, Professor Nico Koopman, discussed mission in the public arena of South Africa, and its implications internationally.

The conference explored how the Christian message speaks in public and civic life in Australia and globally.

The conference was a great success. Many scholars and practitioners from Australia and the region attended and shared the fruits of their own work and experience. Papers from the conference will be published in the Australian Journal of Mission Studies.

PACT RESEARCH CENTRE FELLOWS

In 2007, PACT-CSU appointed two Research Centre Fellows in PACT.

The Rev Associate Professor Scott Cowdell was commissioned on the 5th of August 2007 as Research Centre Fellow of PACT-CSU, based at St Mark's, Canberra. He is also Canon Theologian for the Anglican Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn.

The Rev Dr Stephen Burns, formerly of the University of Durham, UK, arrived in Australia in September 2007 to become the second PACT Research Centre Fellow, based at the UTC, Sydney. He is to be commissioned on 26 October 2007.

PACT RESEARCH PROFESSOR

Professor Wayne Hudson was appointed by CSU on 4 April 2007 as a Strategic Research Professor of Humanities at CSU for 40% of his time (the other 60% is at the University of Tasmania). He has been assigned by the Centre for Research and Graduate Training of CSU (CRGT-CSU) to work in the area of PACT. He chaired one of the sessions at the ANZATS Conference in July 2007.

PACT PHD RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIP

The Rev Jeanette Mathews, formerly Minister of Canberra Baptist Church, has been awarded a PACT PhD Research Scholarship and has commenced research under the supervision of the Rev Dr Matthew Anstey.

PACT BOOK SERIES

The second volume in the CSU-PACT Monograph Series: Graeme Garrett, ed., ‘Into the World You Love': Encountering God in Everyday Life, Adelaide: ATF Press, 2007, was launched on 5 August 2007.

The third volume in the Series, entitled: James Haire, Christine Ledger and Stephen Pickard (eds), From Resurrection to Return: Perspectives from Theology and Science on Christian Eschatology, will be launched by the eminent geologist Professor David Green FRS on 23 November 2007.

The fourth volume in the Series entitled: William Emilsen and John Squires (eds), Validating Violence: Violating Faith, will be published at the beginning of 2008.

All are published by ATF Press Ltd.

PACT WEBSITE

The PACT website can be found at: http://www.csu.edu.au/faculty/arts/theology/pact/

Sia'atoutai Theological College, Tonga

Tevita Tonga Mohenoa Puloka

www.siaatoutai.to/

Current Vacant Posts to be filled by 4 February 2008. Send resume with references from most recent employer and your local church pastor
Contact: Principal, Rev. Dr. Tevita Tonga Mohenoa Puloka mohenoa@siaatoutai.to or mohenoa@kalianet.to
(676) 22-577 Office or 24-859

  1. Lecturer in Biblical Studies, preferably in Old Testament with Biblical Hebrew.
  2. Lecturer in Biblical Studies, preferably in New Testament with Biblical Greek.
  3. Academic Program Level: 3-year Diploma, and 4-year Bachelor of Divinity
  4. Language of Instruction: English, and with competency in appropriate biblical languages.
  5. 1 paid roundtrip airfare to and from Tonga is provided by the College.
  6. On campus housing with accomodation, office space, and with internet access.
  7. A College teaching allowance and living stipend are provided.
  8. All faculty opening sessions: 28-30 January 2008.
  9. Teaching duties begin on 4 February thru 13 June 2008 for a semester.
  10. Teaching duties for a year begin on 4 February thru 14 November 2008.

STC is a Methodist Church in Tonga seminary with particular objectives of providing theological and ministerial training and preparation of men and women for ordained ministry, as well as training of lay workers of the Church and other sectors of the society.

The School of Theology, University of Auckland, Aotorea New Zealand

Elaine Wainwright

www.theology.auckland.ac.nz/

News/Forthcoming Activities:

1. Five staff members from the School of Theology participated in the ANZATS/ANZSTS Conference: Global Neighbors and Faithful Citizens: Theology in the Public Domain, held in Canberra, Australia 8 - 12 July at which Elaine Graham, Will Storrar and Nico Koopman were keynote speakers. Four delivered papers.

2. Professor James Haire delivered the School of Theology Public Lecture [an annual lecture focused on Public Theology] at the University of Auckland on 1 August, entitled "Public Theology - a Latin captivity of the Church?: Violence and Public Theology in the praxis of the Church in Asia". This can be accessed on the School's website at http://www.theology.auckland.ac.nz/uoa/theology/news-and-events/pub_lect_archive.cfm

Professor Haire also delivered the Ferguson Lecture at St. David's Presbyterian Church, Khyber Pass Road, Auckland on Friday 3 August, facilitated by Rev Doug Lendrum. This lecture was entitled: "Should we do it in public: Public Theology in the Asia-Pacific Region". It can be accessed on the St. David's website at http://www.saintdavids.org.nz/FergusonLecture.htm.

These lectures are sponsored co-jointly by the School of Theology and St. David's Church - a very promising collaboration in relation to our developing Public Theology in the Auckland region.

3. Professor Elaine Wainwright participated in the FOCal Conference in Dunedin on 14-15 September. FOCal [Forum for the Christian Left] is an active organization seeking to engage Christianity and Politics in the New Zealand context. Details of the conference can be found on their website: http://www.focal.org.nz/home.php. Elaine delivered a keynote paper entitled "Woman's Work is Never Done: Continuing the Negotiation of Gender Politics in Church and Society" which will provide a basis for an article to be contributed to IJPT next year. The panel discussion between participants, politicians and theologians was very stimulating. The conference as a whole indicated one possible direction for the doing of public theology in this region.

4. The School of Theology was very pleased to have secured funding from the University's Distinguished Visitors Award to bring Professor Elaine Graham to the School for 5 weeks in Semester 2, 2008. She will deliver the 2008 School of Theology Lecture and participate with Dr. Mary Caygill in the initial offering of a new course: Issues in Public Theology. In conjunction with Elaine's visit, we are also hoping to further a dream to arrange some seminar activity around the School's Public Lecture.

5. Many of the faculty members of the School are engaged in the final stages of a research project: Spirit Possession and the Journey toward WellBeing. This was requested by a Trust Fund which is providing funding. It is envisaged that this project will expand in 2008 to include international contributors.

 

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