St Martin's College Occasional Seminar

The 2nd St Martin's College Occasional Seminar was held on 30th May 2008 with Professor Cynthia Crysdale, Professor of Christian Ethics & Theology, from the School of Theology, The University of the South in Sewanee Tennessee as the speaker. Dr Crysdale's topic was  "Evolution and an Ethic of Risk" and she used the writings of Jesuit theologian Bernard Lonergan on "emergent probability" and feminist theologian Sharon Welch on an "ethic of risk" to explore how a Christian theology of creation and the science of evolution can be compatible. Dr Crysdale concluded as follows:

Belief in a Creator who has given us the raw materials for creating a world of meaning, in relationship, places both risk and control within an ethic of gratitude. Realizing that this world is not totally determined in all its details, that it is a weaving of regularity and probability, we can either cling with increased hubris to our power to effect change, or we can trust that there is a Providence at work in which our hopes, dreams, and efforts participate. In this latter view, an ethic of risk becomes not manipulation but discernment. We work to place ourselves within the energy of love that is the ground of all that is. We seek to be creatures in tune with the Creator, to align our minds and wills with the power of life already at work in the universe.

The seminar was attended by 20 people who shared CSU wines and cheese whilst continuing discussion of Professor Crysdale's talk.

 

May 2008 - David Gale off to WCC Switzerland

Congratulations to David Gale, a 2nd year agriculture student from St Martins College, who is one of about 20 young people from around the world who has been selected to go to the World Council of Churches Bossey Institute in Switzerland for a week in July for the first Ecumenical Water Network Summer School on Water.

The participants will have the opportunity to study - in a regionally and confessionally diverse group - the local, regional, and international manifestations and causes of the water crisis. They will examine the situation and challenges from a perspective of faith and ethics, and search together for possible ecumenical responses.

If you would like to support Dave's costs for the conference please send your donation to the college and we will pass it on to Dave for you.

April 2008 - New Multipurpose Centre

Thanks to the amazing generosity of the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation the new multipurpose Centre for the college will soon become a reality. Work on centre should begin in the midyear break and if all goes well the building will be completed in time for the 2009 academic year. The centre will contain recreational space, a BBQ area, study common and offices.