Thursday, October 25, 2012

Getting with the programme

Catch up here on the Diocese of South Carolina's response to frequently asked questions about its new situation as a diocese no longer associated with TEC.

Look up the PDF of the programme of ACC-15 formal opening events here.

We are now counting down the days in Christchurch until the Archbishop of Canterbury arrives to grace our fair city. From our diocesan e-news, we anticipate the following:
Public Events where the Archbishop of Canterbury will be present Saturday – Sunday, 3 – 4 November 2012  
Saturday evening, 3 November, the Most Reverend Rowan Williams will attend “The Concert” at the AMI Stadium in Addington, and is expected to address the crowd briefly at 8.30pm. 
 If you plan to attend the 9.00 Sunday morning Eucharist service on 4 November at Christ’s College, please bring your own chair. Preferential indoor seating will be given to Cathedral regulars. In addition to seating in the chapel, the public is invited to sit outdoors (BYO chair) at the College. There will be excellent sound channeled outside and the Archbishop will take communion to the people seated outside, but there are no spare chairs available.  
Sunday afternoon on 4 November Dr Williams will participate in a 2.00pm Service of the Word at St Christopher’s Church, Avonhead. He is expected to speak on the topic: “What does holiness look like? How do we seek holiness, given it is ultimately a gift?” There will be video screens and sound throughout the complex, and it is hoped there will sound outdoors, so it may be a good idea to bring a chair to this service if you are not arriving early. The only reserved seating will be for the ecumenical guests.  
At 3.00pm young people (ages 16–30) will be invited back into St Christopher’s Church to listen to the Archbishop and have a chance for him to answer a few questions. Afterwards he returns to Auckland.
Additionally, there will be a powhiri and meal organised by Pihopa John Gray of Te Wai Pounamou (i.e Maori Anglicans of the South Island, NZ), at Ferry Road, between ++Rowan's arrival late Saturday afternoon and his appearance at The Concert.

Finally, it is interesting to note here on ADU that a new theological education centre is to be opened in Auckland, New Zealand, with Dr Jane Williams featuring in the ceremony. From the first part of the Taonga report:

St Paul's Symonds St is launching a new theological centre in Auckland. 
St Paul's Theological Centre, Auckland, will be officially opened by Dr Jane Williams, the wife of the Archbishop of Canterbury, on Monday, 29 October. 
A theologian in her own right, Dr Williams will also give the opening lecture, from 7.30pm.The Auckland centre is one of a number of satellites of St Paul's Theological Centre, London. 
It enables ordinary people to learn more about the rich theology that is a part of the history and life of the church. It also allows people to listen to some of the best thinkers and communicators of Christian faith from New Zealand and around the world. 
The centre offers short courses in a large range of subjects, including how to understand the books of scripture, Christian doctrine, spiritual disciplines, and the theology and practice of worship.  
The Rev Dr Graham Tomlin, principal of St Paul's Theological Centre and Dean of St Mellitus College, London, says: "Our vision is to see good, high-quality theological teaching available in local churches. 
"SPTC Auckland will be an invaluable resource not just for St Paul's Church but for many other churches in Auckland and beyond." 
The director of the Auckland initiative, the Rev Mathew Newton, says many Christians long to understand their faith more deeply.
Yet another clergyperson whose beginnings in ordained ministry took place in the Nelson Diocese ...!

5 comments:

Father Ron Smith said...

"Yet another clergy-person whose beginnings in ordained ministry took place in the Nelson Diocese ...!
- Dr. Peter Carrell -

Then, Peter, we might well expect the Revd, Matthew Newton to perpetuate the ethos of the Nelson Diocese - conservative evangelical!

I'm not surprised that this new initiative should have come about through the agency of St. Paul's Symonds st., Auckland, which was once the Auckland centre of angl0-Catholic worship and theology, and is now an alpha/charismatic church.

However, perhaps this will help to even out the more catholic ethos of Saint john's College, which will remain the primary theological institute for Anglicans in Aotearoa/New Zealand. The breadth of theology might thus be safely maintained.

I must admit, I'm rather surprised at the association of the wife of the Archbishop of Canterbury in this new evangelical enterprise.

laudable Practice said...

Just following on from Fr Ron's comment re: Jane Williams, is it not true that she is generally regarded as being from the broad evangelical tradition? The (excellent) St Paul's Theological Centre, London - on which she is on the staff - is, of course, associated with HTB. I don't think there is much reason for us to be surprised at her involvement in the Auckland centre.

Anonymous said...

Yay for Matthew! Haven't seen him in ages, but always enjoyed his enthusiasm and energy. He'll go great!

Ben

Bryden Black said...

Peter refers to the Rev Dr Graham Tomlin, whom I know from the mid 1980s, and for whom I can vouch as being also a member of that "broad evangelical" constituency to which Jane Williams belongs (so BC). She was also very highly regarded when lecturing at Trinity College in Bristol for a number of years - which association too confirms that "broad evangelical tradition".

So; not only will this new theological resource "even [things] out" - so Ron Smith; it may very well inject some deeper theological undergirdings into the ACANZ&P in the fulness of time, if its parent is anything to go by.

Father Ron Smith said...

"So; not only will this new theological resource "even [things] out" - so Ron Smith; it may very well inject some deeper theological undergirdings into the ACANZ&P in the fulness of time, if its parent is anything to go by." Bryden Black -

Well, I suppose given some of the local theologians who comment on this site, that might not be a bad thing after all, Bryden.