The Ferguson Lectureship

The Kirk Session of St David’s Presbyterian Church has endowed a lectureship to be known as the “Ferguson Lectureship”.

The lecture will contribute to the development of a Public/Civic Theology and be known as the “Ferguson Public Lecture”. It will be delivered at St David’s Church, Khyber Pass Rd.

The “Ferguson Lectureship” has been named as a mark of respect for the Rev Dr Graeme R Ferguson, MA (Auckland), BD (Otago) PhD (Cambridge). Graeme was a much loved Minister of St David’s from 1989-2000. It commemorates the significant theological contribution he made to the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand during his ministry.

2015: David Galston

David is the Academic Director of the Westar Institute, the Ecumenical Chaplain at Brock University, and an Adjunct Professor of Philosophy at Brock. He is also an Advisor for the SnowStar Institute of Religion (Canada) and the Quest Learning Centre (Hamilton, Ontario). He has played a key role, both in Canada and the United States, in the development of progressive forms of religion and theology, including being a founding member and chair of the Westar Institute’s new Seminar on God and the Human Future. David has published two books (Archives and the Event of God, McGill-Queens Press, and Embracing the Human Jesus, Polebridge Press) as well as written several articles for the Westar Institute magazine The Fourth R and academic journal Forum.

Click here to watch part 1 of the lecture on Google Drive

Click here to watch part 2 of the lecture on YouTube

2014: Songs of Love and Hate - Singing Worlds Into Existence
Rev Chris Nichol

Chris has spent most of the last 35 years exploring the connection between theology and popular culture through work with the Presbyterian Church, as a television director, producer and presenter, and as a singer/saxophonist with the Dunstan Rangers. Chris lives in Wellington where he is a Director of Mixed Media Ltd and an occasional writer and commentator. He has studied theology in Dunedin, Melbourne, Austin (Texas), and Canterbury (Kent).

Click here to Download Chris Nichol's Lecture

PowerPoint Slide Shows: Songs of the Faithful, Dark Star, Music and Politics, The Yoots, Lorde

Click here to watch the lecture on YouTube

2013: The Soul and the Screen
Dr Ann Hardy

Ann is a Senior Lecturer in the Screen and Media Studies Programme at the University of Waikato

Click to download Ann Hardy's lecture

2012: The Art Of Place
Anthony Flannery

2011: Forbidden Flesh:Subversion and Encounter
Mike Riddell

Mike is the author of "The Insatiable Moon". He is a author and screenwriter. He also has a PhD from The University of Otago, his thesis was based on James K Baxter's contribution to New Zealand Spirituality.

Click here to download Mike Riddell's Ferguson Lecture

Click here to watch Mike Riddell's Ferguson Lecture

Click here to download Mike Riddell's School Of Theology Lecture (PDF Format 56KB)

2010: Honouring the Other: The quest for Respect, Equality and Small Goodnesses in Aotearoa - New Zealand
Professor Kevin P Clements

Kevin Clements is the Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies at the Unversity of Otago's National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies,   He is former Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Queensland and George Mason University, Fairfax Virginia

Click here to watch Kevin Clements' Ferguson Lecture

Click here to watch Kevin's Auckland University School of Theology Lecture

2009: Mind the Gap: Inequality, Theology and the Quest for an Inclusive Society
Mr Andrew Bradstock

Mr Andrew Bradstock is Howard Paterson Professor of Theology and Public Issues at the University of Otago, Dunedin.

Click here to download Andrew Bradstock's Ferguson Lecture (PDF Format 164KB)

2008: Doing God? - Public Faith and Secular Reason Professor Elaine Graham

Dr Elaine Graham is Samuel Ferguson Professor of Social and Pastoral Theology and the University of Manchester.

Click here to download Elaine Graham's Ferguson Lecture (PDF Format 305KB)

2007: Should we do it in public? - public theology in the Asia-Pacific region
Reverend Professor James Haire

Professor James Haire is Executive Director of the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture (ACC&C), Professor of Theology of Charles Sturt University and Director of the Public and Contextual Theology Strategic Research Centre, all based in Canberra.

Click here to download James Haire's Ferguson Lecture (PDF Format 200KB)

Click here to download the slide show (PDF Format 721KB)

Click here to download James Haire's School of Theology lecture (PDF Format 198KB)

Click here to download the School of Theology slide show (PDF Format 256KB)

2006: God and New Zealand Public Life - Dr Marion Maddox

Dr Marion Maddox (BA Hons, PhD, PhD) is Reader in Religious Studies, Victoria University, Wellington

Click here to download a copy of Marion's Lecture (PDF Format 88KB)

2005: Public Theology - Dr Peter Matheson

Dr Peter Matheson is a Fellow of the Theology and Religious Department, University of Otago.  He is also Professor Emeritus at Knox Theological Hall.

Click here to download a copy of Peter's Lecture (PDF Format 64KB)

For More Information on Public Theology

Visit the School of Theology Web Site at http://www.theology.auckland.ac.nz