News and Events

2012

Resurgence

February 10-12th    See details on the Anglican Events page or the Youth Page

Visiting Lecturer in Theology, Semester One

Stephen May took his PhD in theology from New College Edinburgh, with a focus on Systematic Theology. He is an ordained Anglican priest with parish experience in the UK and has spent considerable time in the Anglican Church of Aotearoa, New Zealand. Stephen taught theology at St John’s College for over a decade, and brings a strong history of engaged and dynamic theological
education. Stephen’s research interests include the interface of theology and science, and theological
conversation with his own passion for science fiction. The latter has resulted in the publication of his book Dust and Ashes. Stephen has also published numerous articles. He is married to Marion and they have a son and daughter.

We expect Stephen to be with us from the end of February until the beginning of July.  His wife Marion will join him for some of the time.  Dr May will teach Theology: Christ and Revelation and Biblial Theology.

NB: BTC dates for new students are earlier than CDL ones to allow for processing

December 2011

BTC Graduation - Friday 16th December at 7pm , Christ Church Cathedral Nelson

September 2011

Institute for New Anglicanism – 2011 School of Theology:

The annual School of Theology is open to the public and designed to be accessible to informed lay persons, while primarily presenting material of theological substance for those looking for greater depth.

It is an event which serves the mission of the College to engage theologically with the realities of being God’s Church in mission in this world, and also serves the purpose of the Institute for New Anglicanism in getting us thinking hard about the shape of our mission and work in the current time

Determined Church

This year there was a strong emphasis on taking serious theological engagement with the reality of being God’s Church and getting very practical in our discussions.  Each presentation had two responses prepared, intended to emphasise the practical matters that arise.  The aim was very much to stimulate a significant conversation around the room in which we wrestle with our vision and work in the Church.

Speakers were:

Prof Chris Marshall – Head of School of Religious Studies, Victoria University, Wellington

Chris provided:

• a public lecture on Monday evening, Sept 19, and;
• a keynote presentation on Tuesday morning
  

‘Chris is a leading NT scholar with a very strong interest in the practical realities of living as Christ’s people in the community of the church and firmly embedded in the world.  He has a long history of engaging strongly with questions of the pursuit of God’s reign in justice and peace, all the while drawing upon a highly educated and strongly researched reading of the New Testament.’I know some of you studied under Chris at BCNZ, before his move to Victoria, and that you think very highly of him – as do I.

Rev Dr Christopher Holmes – Senior Lecturer in Theology, Otago University, Dunedin

Chris provided a keynote address on Monday.‘Chris is Senior Lecturer in Systematic Theology at the University of Otago and an ordained Anglican Priest with diverse parish experience.  He has a strong interest in the everyday outworking of faith in Christ, especially in the way Christians live in this world as members of Christ’s Church, and this interest is reflected in his research. His most recent book is Ethics in the Presence of Christ (London: T&T Clark, 2011). Drawing from John's Gospel, it explores the contemporary ministry of Jesus Christ and the difference this makes for moral life.’

Chris is new to many of you.  He is a younger theologian with strong roots in church ministry and an on-going involvement.  I am very glad he agreed to join us.

The BTC team filled out the list of presenters ...

Rev Dr Tim Harris – Dean of the College

Rev Dr Sue Patterson – Senior Lecturer and Registrar

Rev Dr Graham O’Brien – Lecturer

Rev Dr Andrew Burgess – Senior Lecturer

August 2011

Dayspring Retreats (BTC Retreat Ministries)- Spiritual retreats for women
Fri 12 August: 9.30am – 2.30pm at Aldourie Haven, Brightwater.

Contact: Fiona Harris (h) 03 545 0716
email: fiona.s.harris@gmail.com

June 2011

Graduate Diploma Intensive:
27th June – 1st July: Formative Anglicanism as Missional Church

Contact: Sue Patterson 03-5488785 or registrar@bishopdale.ac.nz

May 2011

BTC Community Lectures

Thursdays 12-1pm  May 5-June 23.  Presented by Ven Dr Tim Harris.  Bishop Eaton House.

Topic:  The Mission of God

BTC Sunday

Sunday 1st May. Each year the first Sunday in May will be a Diocesan wide BTC Sunday, highlighting the work of Bishopdale Theological College and the BTC Foundation.  Handout   DVD

Institute for New Anglicanism Annual School of Preaching

Friday May 20 with speaker Paul Windsor – Former Principle of Carey Baptist College and now Associate Director of Langham Partnership International (Langham Preaching).   
                         

March 2011

BTC Inaugural Graduation Ceremony - 31st March, Christ Church Cathedral, Nelson

NEW- Graduation Service Video

Guest Speaker: Rod Thompson (Principal, Laidlaw College)  Graduation Speech

Article: Groaning & Graduation by Rev Helen Stephen-Smith

Photos -Courtesy of Barry Doig
Graduation Service programme

November 2010

William Orange Memorial Lecture : “Church Growth in the Book of Acts and Today ”

All Saints Church, 30 Vanguard Street, Nelson

Visit and public lecture by Dr David Peterson. This was a BTC event, courtesy of Latimer Fellowship making Dr Peterson available to us in Nelson in presenting the annual William Orange Memorial Lecture, otherwise only to be delivered in Auckland and Christchurch.

A significant opportunity for us to hear a world class scholar with solid evangelical convictions, who is also an excellent speaker.   A4 leaflet

‘Dayspring Retreats’ (BTC Retreat Ministries) Retreats for women

‘Aldourie Haven,’12 Aldourie Road, Brightwater .
Contact Fiona Harris : (ph) 03 545 0716 / 021 829 525/email: fiona.s.harris@gmail.com

Sept/Oct 2010

All Saints, Nelson was the venue for the Inaugural School of Theology: Sept 30/Oct 1

Presentations included:

Dr Tim Harris
‘Shalom as the goal of God's creation: sanctuary and the garden within the mission of God’

Dr Tim Meadowcroft
‘A covenant people and a light to the nations: the mission of God in the book of Isaiah’

Multi-track with 4 Presenters across one 45min slot, Susan Gill, Féy Cotter, Dr Graham O’Brien, Russell Smith

Sarah Harris
Addressing the mission of God from within Luke’s gospel

Public Lecture’ – Prof Paul Trebilco
‘ "Global" and "Local" in the New Testament approach to mission and Christian community ’

Prof Paul Trebilco
‘Theological foundations for mission in the New Testament’

Dr Andrew Burgess
‘The mission of God and the identity of God:  the Trinity is good!’

Dr Sue Patterson
‘The Mission of God and the Postmodern self’

Dr Jeffrey Driver
‘Tidy Anglicanism and messy mission’

Plenary discussion – God’s people in mission

Poster            Presenters & Titles            One page Flyer             Power Point Advert

May-Sept 2010

Dr Tim Harris public Bible Talks on the book of Romans, with a special focus on the overall shape of the letter at the Nelson Cathedral, Thursdays 11am-12.00 noon during the College term.

Dates:   May 6 (Introduction), May 20, 27  Jun 3 (then mid-year break)

resume Jul 22,29,  Aug 5, 12, 19 (Aug 26 Synod), Sept 2,9, 16, 23.

April 2010

The Institute for New Anglicanism's inaugural 'School of Preaching' was held on Friday 16th April.

Text and powerpoints may be viewed on the New Anglicanism page of this website.

February 2010

The Institute for New Anglicanism was launched at the Christ Church Cathedral in Nelson on the 12th February 2010 by Bishop John Harrower, Bishop of Tasmania followed on February 13th by a day conference : 'A Vision for New Anglicanism: Contours & Contexts'

Text of the sessions may be viewed on the New Anglicanism page of this website.

Conference Brochure

November 2009

New chapter as college opens library

By TRACY NEAL - The Nelson Mail   23/11/2009

MARTIN DE RUYTER/Nelson Mail

HONOURED: Bishop Peter Sutton at the opening of the library now bearing his name.

Libraries are not just for books on shelves – they are a place for thinking, the Rev Tim Harris told a small crowd gathered on Saturday for the opening of the Bishop Sutton Library Te Puna Matauranga o Whakatu.

The library's official opening at the Bishopdale Theological College in Vanguard St, Nelson, was carried out by the Bishop of Nelson, Richard Ellena, and Bishop Peter Sutton, who retired in 1989.

Bishop Sutton's wife, Pam, said her husband was delighted and very pleased with the new library."Books are very important to him – they're a treasure," she said before the official opening.

Archdeacon Andy Joseph referred to the event as a "very special occasion", and said that he was "privileged and proud" to be able to stand next to Bishop Sutton during the opening.

Dr Harris, who is dean of the Bishopdale Theological College, said the new library represented another step in the growth of the college, set up by Bishop Andrew Burn Suter in 1868. It closed during World War I, but was revived in 1979 during Bishop Sutton's tenure as Bishop of Nelson.

"Libraries are a significant part of any college, and Bishop Peter has been a big part of this, and [has done] more than just giving his name to the library," Dr Harris said.

Among those at the opening was Tasman Mayor Richard Kempthorne. Nelson Mayor Kerry Marshall was unable to attend, prompting Bishop Ellena to quip that "some people think the diocese should be in Tasman anyway".

Bishop Ellena paid tribute to those who had helped drive the library project, including Anglican priest and professional librarian Helen Stephens-Smith.

"If you think this is the end, it's just the beginning," he warned Mrs Stephens-Smith.

Bishop Ellena said the library was an integral part of the "vigorous training ground for the ministry".

Dr Harris described the library as the "soul of the college".

"It's our vision not just to serve the college, but we hope this library will be open to the public as well."