Knox Centre for Ministry and Leadership

In case you missed the recent series on 'AI and Christian Life,' or would love to use the talks in your context, the videos are now available on the Knox Centre for Ministry and Leadership YouTube channel.

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Always a delight to be in the classroom with our ministry students! Thoroughly enjoyed the student presentations in our Theological Reflection class this week.

If you haven't yet been to our Marae in Ōhope, you really should consider joining us on the 11th-13th of September. And if you have been before, consider coming along anyway! For more information click here: https://knoxcentre.ac.nz/module/noho-marae-te-maungarongo-marae-ohope/

(Sign up to our Quarterly Pānui here: https://knoxcentre.ac.nz/newsletter/)

Over the weekend, we had the privilege of celebrating 150 years since the beginning of what is now called the Knox Centre for Ministry and Leadership. We had a precious time remembering, celebrating, and worshipping our God. A wonderful way to celebrate 150 years of ministry formation and training in the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand. (Thank you to all those who took photos!)

In the lead up to the 150th celebration of KCML which we celebrate next weekend, we are remembering some of our past stories. Special thanks to the Presbyterian Research Centre for supplying the photos and words. This story focuses on the incredible women who have had a significant impact on our history.

"In 1964 the General Assembly made the decision to allow women to be ordained as Ministers of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. This opened the door for women to train at the Theological Hall. During the debates around women’s ordination it had been assumed that mostly mature women would want to train for the ministry, but most of the early women entering the Hall were young.

"Since 1948 the more academically inclined Deaconess College students had been able to take what was known as the ‘Advanced Course” which included study at the Theological Hall, but it was not until 1969 that the first two female students began ministry training. These two students were Susan Jacobi and Ruth Page. Ruth later went on to have a significant academic career, becoming the first female Principal of New College in Edinburgh. They were followed by many other female students. Women brought new perspectives to the life and training at the Hall and sometimes views which challenged the status quo.

"Women also taught at the Theological Hall. They included Rev. Nan Burgess, who acted as interim Principal on several occasions in the 1980s and 1990s, Rev. Judith McKinlay who was Professor of Old Testament Studies in the 1990s and Rev. Marie Ropati-Iupeli (now Ropeti-Apisaloma) who was appointed Pacific Islands Cultural Teacher to the Church in 1991. In the same year Rev. Dr Sarah Mitchell was appointed head of Community Based Ministry Training (CBMT). Since then there have been many others."

AI and Christian Life
Do you have questions about AI? Join us over four sessions exploring a range of perspectives on AI, technology and Christian life.
• May 6: Dr. Stephen Garner—AI and the spiritual life
What are the implications of AI for personal and communal spiritual life and discipleship?
• May 13: Dr. Stephen Garner—What’s next? Robot preachers and worship leaders?
Is there a place for AI in the worshipping life of the church?
• May 20: Dr. Andrew Shepherd—A Critique of Contemporary Technologies and Their Impact on Human Flourishing
How does technology shape us?
• June 3: Matt Ensor—Appreciative Insights on the Use of AI: Possibilities and Challenges Insights, along with a no-jargon opportunity for questions.

AI and Christian Life – Knox Centre Do you have questions about AI? Join us over four sessions exploring a range of perspectives on AI, technology and Christian life.

In the lead up to the 150th celebration of KCML, we are remembering some of our past stories. Special thanks to the Presbyterian Research Centre for supplying the photos and words. This post tells the story of the changes from the Theological Hall in 1876 to KCML today.

"When the Theological Hall began in 1876, it’s curriculum was solidly academic. Students studied languages, Systematic and Practical Theology, Apologetics, Church History and the study of the Old and New Testaments. Around 1910 some more practical subjects such as Pedagogy (teaching) and Voice Production were also introduced. Students at this time mostly lived onsite at Knox College.

"Over the course of the 20th Century there were gradual changes. More students were older and had families (particularly after the Second World War) and so they increasingly lived out of the College. From the 1960s the make up of the student body also became more diverse. Women became able to train for the ministry and there were increasing numbers of Pacific and Māori students. The curriculum also changed, with more emphasis on Pastoral Studies, while the early 1990s saw the introduction of Community Ministry Based Teaching.

"A much larger change occurred in 1997, when the Theological Hall became the School of Ministry. Students would now gain a degree in Theology elsewhere before receiving more practical ministry training, with an emphasis on reflective practice.

"Further change came in 2007. There was a move to an internship model of ministry training. Students would now serve an internship in a congregation, supported by distance learning and residential block courses. The School of Ministry was renamed the Knox Centre of Ministry and Leadership (KCML) to reflect significant changes in its role."

AI and Christian Life

Do you have questions about AI? Join us over four sessions exploring a range of perspectives on AI, technology and Christian life.

• May 6: Dr. Stephen Garner—AI and the spiritual life
What are the implications of AI for personal and communal spiritual life and discipleship?

• May 13: Dr. Stephen Garner—What’s next? Robot preachers and worship leaders?
Is there a place for AI in the worshipping life of the church?

• May 20: Dr. Andrew Shepherd—A Critique of Contemporary Technologies and Their Impact on Human Flourishing
How does technology shape us?

• June 3: Matt Ensor—Appreciative Insights on the Use of AI: Possibilities and Challenges Insights, along with a no-jargon opportunity for questions.

AI and Christian Life – Knox Centre Do you have questions about AI? Join us over four sessions exploring a range of perspectives on AI, technology and Christian life.

And our celebratory weekend keeps growing!

In addition to a guided tour of Knox College and our worship service at Knox Presbyterian Church, we are also inviting you to join us for lunch and to share in a colloquium!

We are so excited to celebrate KCML 150 years on the 2nd and 3rd of May in Dunedin.

For information and a full list of events and their details, check out our page: https://knoxcentre.ac.nz/knox-centre-150-year-celebrations/.

What do the sidelines and pews have in common? Is there a connection between the sports we love and our faith?

Darryl Tempero is facilitating a fascinating two-part online workshop on sport and faith starting on the 1st of April.

To learn more or sign up, click here: https://knoxcentre.ac.nz/module/sport-and-faith/