Forthcoming events at the Centre
Our next public events
Talk and Panel Discussion on the Common Good
Monday 24 June, 5.15pm - 6.30pm, Archway 2 Lecture Theatre.
Panelists will include Major Campbell Roberts, Dr Jenny Te-Paa, Rev Dr Graham Redding, Dr David Clark MP and Fr Kevin Toomey.
Would we have anything to gain – as individuals, communities, a city, a nation – from a fresh encounter with the concept of the 'common good’?
What might be involved if the common good informed our public discourse and policy thinking more in New Zealand?
Can the common good help us to reflect on our priorities as individuals and a society - and what might be the practical consequences of such reflection?
Parables in the Public Square
Thursday 27 June, 2.00-4.00pm, upstairs at Governors Cafe, 438 George Street, Dunedin
Further information about how you can be involved is below:
This is a unique opportunity to tell and hear ‘stories with meaning’. We understand a parable to be a succinct story designed to illustrate or teach some truth, principle, moral lesson or (sometimes) a normative principle. This is what we are asking you to bring and share with the group. Your parable may be old and familiar, well-worn by re-telling over many generations; or it may be newly-minted and composed especially for this occasion. It may be complex or simple; it may be rooted in a ‘religious’ or ‘secular’ world-view. All we ask is that it fits the criteria for a parable. While all are welcome to share a parable, they should not accompany it with an explanation or interpretation. As was the case with that master parable-teller, Jesus of Nazareth, it will be for each hearer to form their interpretation, shaped by who they are and how they have heard the story.
The point of this event is to encourage us to think imaginatively and creatively about some of the issues and challenges we face in our local, national and global ‘public square’. Parables can be a powerful means of opening up new and unanticipated ways of looking at situations; of bringing fresh insights to bear upon them; of helping us to reframe our thinking about them; and even of finding new ways of responding to them when everything else seems to have been tried and to have failed. So get thinking parabolically and plan to attend this event as a narrator and/or listener!
To help us plan the event please drop a line to Kirsten on ctpinz@otago.ac.nz or ring her on 03 471 6458, indicating your intention to attend and, if this is the case, to share a parable. We’ll be collating and publishing the parables offered in due course so that they can be used more widely. And, if this event works, we may host similar ones in the future.
Hosted by the Centre for Theology and Public Issues and Bioethics Centre at the University of Otago.
The Church's One Foundation?
Friday 26 July, 9.30 - 4.00pm (TBC), Burns Hall, First Church, 415 Moray Place, Dunedin
This will be a day of exploring the issue of church buildings and their relevance to mission today - with a special focus on lessons to be learnt from the Canterbury earthquake and how to respond to 'seismic risk'. With guest speaker Don Baskerville, Chair, All Churches Insurance Bureau.
Podcasts will be available very soon for the recent panels:"What is it about China?" with Dr Nicholas Khoo, Professor Sarah Todd, Phil Ker, Grant Bayldon and Professor André Everett; and "Climate Change - Where are we now and what do we do next?" with Professor Jonathan Boston, Dr Janet Stephenson, Professor Colin Campbell-Hunt, and Alec Dawson.
Keep up-to-date with the Centre
If you are not already on our mailing list to receive information about the Centre's forthcoming events, please contact ctpinz@otago.ac.nz and we'll add you in!
News and Events Archive
2013 events
21 May: "What is it about China?". A public forum which explored the growing ties between New Zealand and China. On the panel were Dr Nicholas Khoo (Senior Lecturer, Department of Politics, and specialist in Chinese politics), Professor Sarah Todd (University Pro-Vice-Chancellor, International), Phil Ker (CEO of Otago Polytechnic), Grant Bayldon (Executive Director, Amnesty International Aotearoa/New Zealand), Professor André Everett (School of Management).
9 May: "Hunger on the Farm". Why coffee and cocoa farming is unsustainable for many of the world's producers, and what we can do about it. Public meeting with Justin Purser (Food Manager, Trade Aid Importers, Christchurch).
23 April: "What kind of Equality matters?". Open Seminar with Professor Jonathan Boston (Professor of Public Policy, Victoria University School of Government).
22 April: "Child Poverty - What can we do next?". Open Forum with Professor Jonathan Boston (Co-chair, Expert Advisory Group on Solutions to Child Poverty), Dr Liz Craig (Director of the NZ Child and Youth Epidemiology Service), and Professor Mark Henaghan (Dean of the Faculty of Law and member of the Expert Advisory Group).
22 April: "Climate Change - Where are we now and what do we do next?". Open Lecture and Panel with Professor Jonathan Boston (Professor of Public Policy, Victoria University School of Government), Dr Janet Stephenson ('Risk Assessment for NZ' and Director of the Centre for Sustainability), Professor Colin Campbell-Hunt (Otago Climate Change Network), and Alec Dawson (Generation Zero).
15 April: "Salvation and Soil - Some Challenges for Churches in Contemporary Culture". A public lecture by Rev Canon Professor Martyn Percy, Principal of Ripon College at Cuddesdon, Oxford, and Professor of Theological Education at King's College London. Martyn Percy was also in conversation with Centre Director Andrew Bradstock ealier in the day.
27 March: 'Doing Democracy in the 21st Century: How one man took on the banks and politicians and won!' - a public conversation with Hordur Torfasun, Icelandic activist. Hordur Torfason was in conversation with Dr Andrew Shepherd.
27 March: 'Recovering the common good' - Auckland Cathedrals' Lenten Course, Session Four. Panelists: Mayor Len Brown, Rt Rev Ross Bay (Anglican Bishop of Auckland), Peter Fa'afiu (Tamaki Redevelopment Company), Sr Anne Hurley (Sisters of Mercy, Wiri), Mgr Bernard Kiely (St Patrick's Cathedral). Listen to Session Four
20 March: 'Recovering the common good' - Auckland Cathedrals' Lenten Course, Session Three. Panelists: Dr Murray Sheard (Founder and Curator, The Kitchen), Rt Rev Jim White (Assistant Bishop of Auckland), Greg Fleming (Director, Maxim Institute), Dr Patricia Neuwelt (Senior Lecturer in Public Health, The University of Auckland) and Chris Trotter (political commentator). Listen to Session Three
13 March: 'Recovering the common good' - Auckland Cathedrals' Lenten Course, Session Two. Panelists: Tim Wilson (writer and journalist), Annah Stretton (fashion designer and businesswoman), Assoc Prof Susan St John (Child Poverty Action Group), Garry Smith (CEO, Selwyn Foundation) and Very Rev Jo Kelly-Moore (Dean, Holy Trinity Anglican Cathedral). Listen to Session Two
6 March: 'Recovering the common good' - Auckland Cathedrals' Lenten Course, Session One. Panelists: Jacinda Ardern MP, Simon O’Connor MP, Dr Jenny Plane-Te Paa (formerly St John's College), Rev Uesifili Unasa (Maclaurin Chaplain, The University of Auckland) and Rev Mua Strickson-Pua (Chaplain, Tagata Pasifika Resource Centre). Listen to Session One
1/2 March: Workshop on community empowerment (with Terry Drummond) at St Chad’s Anglican Parish, Buckley’s Road, Linwood, Christchurch.
26 February: 'Changing the Guard at Rome, Canterbury and Wellington: time for new models of leadership in the 21st-century church?' Panel discussion with Most Rev Colin Campbell, Rev Dr Margaret Mayman, Amy Armstrong, Laura Black and Terry Drummond. Watch podcast here.
25 February: 'Priests, sex and money. Ten years in the life of the Church of England, 2002-12: a study in authority'. Open lecture by Terry Drummond CA (Adviser on urban and public policy to the Anglican Bishop of Southwark).
15 February: Hosted the launch of the Salvation Army's annual state-of-the-nation report, 'She'll Be Right'
28 January: A conversation with Rt Rev Justin Duckworth, Anglican Bishop of Wellington. Hosted by Dr Andrew Shepherd.
2012 events
17 December: The Centre - Past, Present and Future. A report back and discussion on the findings of the on-line survey of the Centre's work conducted earlier in 2012.
11 December: The Public Square with Mike Houlahan, Cr Jinty MacTavish, Dr Nicholas Khoo and Rev Dr Selwyn Yeoman.
21/22/26/27 November: screenings of four lectures given at St John's in the City, Wellington, in August 2012, by Professor William T. Cavanaugh under the title: 'Migration of the Holy: Questioning the myths of the Secular Age’.
26/27 October: 'Recovering the Common Good', Parliament, Wellington (hosted in conjunction with the Christian Lawyers Association Wellington and Catalyst), with Judge Andrew Becroft, Lisa Beech, Dr David Clark MP, Tim Costello, Rob Harley, John Kleinsman, Tim McIndoe MP, Assoc Prof Chris Marshall, Rod Oram, Rt Rev Philip Richardson and Mamari Stephens.
23 October: 'In Defence of the Alienated Neighbour: Christ, Cronulla and Caricature'. Open Lecture by Associate Professor Clive Pearson (Head of School of Theology, Charles Sturt University, Parramatta, NSW).
5-7 October: Christianity & the Ecological Crisis: Lament, Hope, Action (St John's in the City Church, Wellington)
3 October: The Public Square with Prof Jonathan Boston, Louisa Wall MP, Aaron Hawkins and Guy McCallum. Watch podcasthere.
2 October: 'Solutions to Child Poverty: Issues and Options for reducing child poverty in Aotearoa New Zealand'. Public forum on the work of the Expert Advisory Group on Solutions to Child Poverty with: Prof Jonathan Boston (co-chair, EAG), Prof Mark Henaghan (member, EAG) and Dr Liz Craig (Director, NZ Child and Youth Epidemiology Service). Chair: Dr Nicola Atwool.
28 August: 'NO SWEAT: Rutherford Waddell & the Sin of Cheapness'. One-day conference at First Church, Dunedin. Keynote address given by Helen Kelly, President, NZCTU.
22 August: 'Fair Trade: If It Does So Much Good, Why Aren't We All Buying It?' - with panelists Geoff White, Prof David Fielding, Susan Wardell, Jason Taylor and Richard Stainer. Watch podcast here
13 August. 'Re-Defining Marriage: Threat? Right? Or Non-Issue?' With panelists Rev Dr James Harding, Rev Stu Crosson, celebrant Jill McDonald, Rev Nimorata Lale, Neill Ballantyne, and Prof Nicola Peart. Watch podcast here
10 August. 'Liberation Theology: Were reports of its death an exaggeration?' Seminar given by Prof Andrew Bradstock.
3 August. 'Public Broadcasting: Past, Present, No Future?' Panel discussion with respected journalists and media experts Lorraine Isaacs, David Beatson, Colin Peacock, Paul Norris, and Dr Erika Pearson.Watch podcast here.
18 July. 'The Unexamined Society? Reflections on doing Public Theology'. Public lecture given by Centre Director, Prof Andrew Bradstock. Watch podcast here. Download the PDF of the lecture here.
4 July. Theology & Mental Health Symposium. "Inclusion of exclusion: perceptions of those with mental and intellectual handicaps of church," Rev Chris Lee (Baptist pastor, Invercargill); "The Church as sacramental therapeutic community," Rev Jo Fielding (St. John's Anglican Church) & Dr Jubliee Rajiah (consultant psychiatrist); "Welcoming the Stranger," Mike Noonan (International Envoy, L'Arche International); "Spirituality: A long-term cure for depression?", Michelle Hsieh (Pharmacy student, Otago), "A pastoral response to 'medicalizing' sadness," Rev Dr Lynne Baab (Theology & Religion Department); "Spirituality & Mental Health," Dr Richard Egan (Dunedin School of Medicine); "Constructions of Evil," James Connor (registered psychologist); "OCD & Sin", Prof Andrew Bradstock (Theology & Religion Department); "Dementia & Spirituality," Dr Chris Perkins (Director, The Selwyn Centre for Ageing & Spirituality, Auckland); "A search for images of wholeness by a wandering doctor," Dr Peter Strang (GP, Psychiatrist, Chaplain).
26 June. A Conversation with Major Campbell Roberts, creator and National Director of the Salvation Army's Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit. Major Roberts was in conversation with Professor Murray Rae, Head of the Department of Theology and Religion.
21 June. 'Aspects of Aged Care: Crisis, Costs and Compassion'. Panel discussion with Dr Judy McGregor (NZ Human Rights Commission's Equal Employent Opportunities Commissioner), Gillian Bremner (CEO, Presbyterian Support), Dr Richard Egan (Preventive and Social Medicine), Susan Davidson (Director, Age Concern Dunedin), and Shayne Walker (Department of Social Work). Watch the podcast here.
21 June. A Conversation with Dr Judy McGregor, the NZ Human Rights Commission's Equal Employent Opportunities Commissioner and author of the report, Caring Counts. Dr McGregor was in conversation with Laura Black, Chief Executive, Methodist Mission.
15 June. The Public Square: Meet the Politicians. With Metiria Turei MP (Green Party Co-Leader), Michael Woodhouse MP (National, Senior Party Whip), Rev Dr David Clark MP(Labour, Dunedin North), and Robin Gunston (Party President, United Future).
7 June. 'In Good Faith? Should Government fund faith-based welfare, and what would happen if it didn't?' Panel discussion with Major Campbell Roberts (Salvation Army), Dr Nicola Atwool (Dept of Sociology, Gender and Social Work), Assoc Prof Greg Dawes (Dept of Philosophy), and Gwenda Kendrew (Divisional Manager, Anglican Care South Canterbury). Watch the podcast.
5 June. 'Not Another Strategy! Is there still an economy to develop?' Public forum on Dunedin's draft Economic Development Strategy.
24 May. 'Drawing God in the Public Square: Imaging God in comic books & graphic novels'. A public lecture by Dr Stephen Garner, Theology Department, the University of Auckland.
16 May. A Conversation with Rev Peter Beck. Former Dean of ChristChurch Cathedral speaks with Andrew Bradstock about his new life as a city councillor and the challenges of rebuilding the Garden City. Watch the podcast.
10 May. 'Creative Responses to Extremism: Lessons from the Breivik Trial in Norway'. Panelists: Prof Birgit Brock-Utne (Professor of Peace Studies, researcher/consultant in education and development, Norway), Prof Kevin Clements (Director, National Centre for Peace & Conflict Studies), Assoc Prof Richard Jackson (Deputy Director, Director of Research, NCPCS). Co-hosted by CTPI and NCPCS. Watch the podcast.
9 May. 'The Elephant in the Room: Challenges and opportunities of faith-based NGOs in a post-modern world'. Chris Clarke, CEO, World Vision New Zealand. Co-hosted with the Otago Business School.
26 April. 'Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide: A discussion we need to have'. Panelists: Prof Sean Davison, Hon Maryan Street MP, Prof Grant Gillett, John Kleinsman and Assoc Prof Colin Gavaghan, with presentation of a research paper by Thomas Noakes-Duncan. Watch the podcast.
16 April. 'We Don't 'Do' God": Secularism and the NZ State'. Panelists: Assoc Prof John Stenhouse (History), Rev Dr Lynne Baab (Theology), Glyn Carpenter (Director, NZ Christian Network), and Dr Bryce Edwards (Politics). Watch the podcast.
23 March. 'Religion & the Republic: Mitt, Rick, Newt & God'. Panel discussion on role of religion in US Republican Primaries. American panelists: Emeritus Professor Jim Flynn, Rev Don Shriver, Peggy Shriver, and Rev Dr Lynne Baab. Don is the award-winning author of Honest Patriots: Loving a Country Enough to Remember its Misdeeds.
21 March. Seminar with Emeritus Professor Colin Gibson.
20 March. 'Hymns & Social Justice'. Public lecture given by Emeritus Professor Colin Gibson (English Dep't) one of the world's leading contemporary hymn writers. Download the PDF of the lecture.
14 March. 'A New Global Climate Change Treaty - Can Humanity Deliver? Our Challenge after Durban for 2015'. Public lecture by Prof Jonathan Boston, Victoria University of Wellington. Panel discussion featured Laura Black (Methodist Mission), Kireua Bureimoa (postgraduate student from Kiribati), Cr Jinty MacTavish (Dunedin City Council). Download the PDF of the lecture.
23 February. 'Vulnerable Children' panel discussion, with political commentator Chris Trotter, Prof Mark Henaghan (Dean of Law), Jenny Munro (Otago Youth Wellness Trust), Dr Pauline Gulliver (Injury Prevention Research Unit, Otago). View video recording.
22 February. A Conversation with Chris Trotter. Interviewed by Assoc Prof John Stenhouse (History)
21 February. 'Asset Sales' panel of inquiry at St Paul's Cathedral. View video recording.
17 February. Hosted the launch of the Salvation Army's annual state-of-the-nation report, 'The Growing Divide'
2011 events
14 December: 'The MMP Referendum: What Next?' with Michael Woodhouse MP, Clare Curran MP, Assoc Prof Janine Hayward and Shane GallagherView the video recording.
1 December: 'World Without Hunger? Population growth, food production and a finite planet' with Dr Chris Rosin, Will Watterson and Scott Willis (hosted jointly with CSAFE)
1 December: Hosted a Fair-Trade breakfast for Dunedin Church leaders, with Will Watterson (NZ Director, Global Poverty Project) and Wyn Barbezat (Trade Aid, Dunedin)
17 November: 'Realizing Dunedin's Potential: Is inequality a factor?' with Paul Barber, Cr Jinty MacTavish, Laura Black, Aaron Hawkins, Neill Ballantyne and Sue Russell
7 November: 'Crouch, touch, pause, sponsor: Rugby - game, product, religion?' with Chris Laidlaw, Prof Steve Jackson and Rev Dr Kevin Ward. Watch the podcast here.
7 November: The Public Square with Chris Laidlaw, Rt Rev Victoria Matthews, Prof Robert Patman, and Anne Stevens. Watch the podcast here.
1 November (Dunedin) and 3 November (Wellington) - Churches' Election Forums
26 October: 'Raising Funds and Raising Friends'
11 October: 'Climate Change: Just sit back and enjoy the grapes?' Public forum with Laura Black, Rod Oram and Dr Jim Salinger (hosted jointly with CSAFE)
26 September: 'A conversation with Chris Marshall'
23 September: The Public Square with Prof William Harris, Aaron Hawkins, Cr Jinty MacTavish and Dr Bryce Edwards.
21 June: 'How to change the world one banana at a time' - public lecture by Harriet Lamb CBE (Director of Fairtrade Foundation UK)
16 June: 'Happy marriage or strange bedfellows? Government, welfare and the role of the church' with Rt Rev Philip Richardson, Gillian Bremner and Rev Dr John Evans
8 June: 'The Downsizing of Christendom - a threat or possibility? Some lessons from an Australian Church' - public lecture by Rev Dr John Evans (Melbourne)
31 May: 'On Shaky Ground: Earthquakes and their consequences' with Rev Dr Peter Carrell, Karen Clements, Dr Andrew Gorman, Sarah Hexamer, Dr Caroline Orchiston and Sue Russell. Watch the video here.
27 May: 'Is the climate change challenge too big for democracies?' - public lecture by Professor Jonathan Boston
26 May: 'So, what did you make of the Budget?' with Prof Jonathan Boston, Dr David Clark, Metiria Turei MP and Michael Woodhouse MP
26 May: 'The Future of Welfare in New Zealand: Reflections on the Welfare Working Group report' with Prof Jonathan Boston and Laura Black
23 May: 'Was the death of Bin Laden a turning point in building a safer world?' with Prof Robert Patman, Prof Kevin Clements, Dr Maryam Purvis and Prof Andrew Bradstock
4 April: 'What's happening in the Middle East?' with Prof David Fielding, Prof William Harris and Mai Tamimi
2010 events
19 November: 'Politics, Secularism and Faith' with Rt Hon John Battle, Hilary Calvert MP, Dr David Clark, Metiria Turei MP and Michael Woodhouse MP
16 November: 'From fear to respect: Why building healthy interfaith relationships matters, post 9/11. A public lecture by Rt Hon John Battle
21 October: A conversation with Fr Peter Murnane, one of the 'Waihopai Three'
28 September: Conference on Faith, Ethics and Public Life with Jim Wallis
16 August: 'The Public Square' discussion on Crime and Punishment with Michael Woodhouse MP, Clare Curran MP, Janet Sim Elder, Anne Stevens and Paul O'Neill
6 May: A conversation with Paul Oestreicher
3 May: Special event to celebrate Fair Trade Fortnight with Meera Bhattarai, (Pioneer of the Fair Trade movement in Nepal)
12 March: A conversation with Hon Bill English MP, (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance)
2009 events
7 December: What role do ethics play in shaping government policy? How can women have more influence in politics? Can religious faith and politics ever mix? A conversation with Meg Munn, former Minister with the Blair and Brown governments
28 October: A breakfast conversation with former Member of the European Parliament, Terry Wynn
9 October: A conversation with Jeanette Fitzsimons, Green Party MP and former Party co-leader
18 September: 'Why are we in this recession? When will it end? What lessons can we learn from it? What are the possibilities going forward? What price sustainability? Is there a spiritual dimension to the crisis?' a conversation with Rod Oram