Recent events at CTPI - Wellington
Spirituality and Mental Health Symposium
Spirituality and Mental Health Symposium, 25 November 2019 , University of Otago Wellington.
Read about / register for the Symposium
Faith and Belief in New Zealand: What Kiwis Think and Why
Thursday 28 March – 5:30 pm Refreshments, 6:00 pm Lecture
A lecture by Chris Clarke, Praxis Visiting Scholar, Oxford University
Every census asks Kiwis to indicate their religious affiliation. Recent results indicate a drastic decline in faith and belief. But numbers don't tell the full story. They don't answer why people are losing their faith and leaving behind their religion. Join us for a public lecture, as Chris Clarke (Oxford University Praxis visiting Scholar and former Director of World Vision) “gets behind the numbers,” answers the why question, and leads a discussion about how faith leaders and religious communities can respond to these trends.
Details about the venue and speaker
#MeToo and the Church: Responses to Sexual Violence
Tuesday 5 June.
A discussion with contributions from Bronwyn Kerr and David Tombs. 6.30pm refreshments, 7.00pm lecture. The St. John's Centre – Corner of Willis and Dixon (CBD).
Listen to the #MeToo session
Nothing Above: The New Atheism and the Unbelief of the "Nones"
Saturday 12 May 9:00am-4:00pm
What does it mean to not believe? "New Atheists," like scientist Richard Dawkins, express disbelief through active religion in any form. The "Nones" express nonbelief through passive disaffiliation from traditional forms of religion. Faith and spirituality are now practiced against a backdrop of a scientific skepticism and apathetic agnosticism.
Join us for a daylong symposium, including a keynote lecture by Professor Peter Lineham (Massey University of Auckland), Why is 'No Religion' on the Rise?
Visit the Nothing Above page to find out more about this event.
Eclipsed? The Significance of Human Life in an Incredible Universe
Tuesday 10 April. A public lecture by Jennifer Wiseman, 'Eclipsed? The Significance of Human Life in an Incredible Universe' Co-hosted with NZCIS. 6pm refreshments, 6.30pm lecture, The St. John's Centre – Corner of Willis and Dixon (CBD). Wellington. Dr Wiseman's New Zealand trip is made possible by generous support from the Stuart Residence Halls Council.
Dr Wiseman is an astronomer, and a Fellow and former President of the American Scientific Affiliation. Dr Wiseman discovered periodic comet 114P/Wiseman-Skiff while working as a research assistant in 1987. After research fellowships at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory and the Johns Hopkins University, she joined NASA in 2003. She is currently a senior astrophysicist at the Goddard Space Flight Center, where she previously headed the Laboratory for Exoplanets and Stellar Astrophysics. Visit the Eclipsed? page to find out more about this event.
Friday 02 March, Bible Study, at St John's Presbyterian Church in the City. 7:30pm - 9:00pm.
When Did We See You Naked?
Friday - Saturday 9-10 March 2018, Lenten lecture 2018, 'When Did We See You Naked?' at St Paul's Cathedral, Wellington. Friday lecture 6pm. Saturday workshop and panel 9.15am-Noon (poster attached). Visit the Lenten Lecture page to find out more about this event.
Beyond Blame: Christianity and the Future of Creation
A day-long conference reflecting on the White thesis even as we move beyond blame and explore ongoing Christian responses to the ecological crisis of our contemporary world. Visit the Beyond Blame webpage to find out more about this event.
Listen to audio recordings of the event:
Plenary 1 Shame, Blame, and Christianity's Bad Name [Derek Woodard-Lehman]
Plenary 2 Facing Fear, Harnassing Hope [Andrew Shepherd]
Plenary 3 Healing Ourselves, Healing Nature [Nicola Hoggard Creegan]
Public Lecture and Panel Laudato Si—A Plea from Pope Francis to Save Humanity's Common Home (A Sympathetic Critique) [Jonathan Boston]
Church Responses to Violence Against Women in the Pacific
A Symposium with Dr Seforosa Carroll (Charles Sturt University) and Dr Richard Davis (Pacific Theological College).
Visit the webpage to find out more about this event.
Keeping Faith in Politics 2017 election series
The University of Otago Centre for Theology and Public Issues put on monthly events from March to August leading up to the September elections. We gathered in a variety of venues and engaged important issues in various formats in conversation with leading voices in church and society.
Visit the Keeping Faith in Politics webpage for more details or download the series poster.
Commemorating the Reformation
2017 marks the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther's 95 theses. The Centre for Theology and Public Issues Wellington co-hosted several events in commemoration.
Visit the Reformation webpage for more information about these events.
What Happened? What's Next? - Global Politics in the Time of Trump
Panelists: John Allen (former head of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade), Colin James (columnist Otago Daily Times), and Susan Jones (St Andrew's on the Terrace)
Seeking the Common Good in a World of Self-Interest - A Keeping Faith in Politics Event
Rev Dr Eleanor Sanderson (Canon Theologian, Diocese of Wellington). Listen to an audio recording of the event.
The Least and the Last in a World of Growing Inequality - A Keeping Faith in Politics Event
Max Rashbroke (author), Eric Crampton (The New Zealand Institute), Jon Hartley (World Vision) and Megan Whelan (Radio New Zealand). Listen to an audio recording of the event.
Protecting the Planet in a World of Ecological Crisis - A Keeping Faith in Politics Roundtable
Jonathan Boston (Victoria University of Wellington, IGPS), Catherine Iorns (Victoria University of Wellington Law and 365 Aotearoa), Koreti Tiumalu (Region Coordinator for 350.org), Paul Young (Generation Zero). Listen to an audio recording of the event.
Podcasts, talks, articles from the Centre for Theology and Public Issues
- Honest Leadership in a Post-Truth World - 31 August 2017 - A Keeping Faith in Politics Event
- Protecting the Planet in a World of Ecological Crisis - 25 May 2017 - A Keeping Faith in Politics Event
- The Least and the Last in a World of Growing Inequality - 27 April 2017 - A Keeping Faith in Politics Event
- Seeking the Common Good in a World of Self-Interest - 31 March 2017 - A Keeping Faith in Politics Event
- Travel Bans or Hospitality? Christian Faith in the Age of Walls - 3 March 2017 (youtube clip)
- Great Ideas Radio NZ series - 'The Reformation' - 22 January 2017
- ODT Opinion Piece: 'Validating Brutality Loses Battle' - 06 October 2016
- 'The Threat of Religious Violence to Democracy' Inaugural lecture, Beehive Wellington, 14 September 2016