STAANZ Conference 2010

The Annual conference of STAANZ (Systematic Theology Association of Aotearoa New Zealand) will be held at the Knox Centre for Ministry and Leadership, Knox College, Arden Street, Dunedin on November 11-12, 2010.

Registration Details:

Conference Registration Fee: $25.00

Student Fee: $15.00

Optional Conference Dinner (Nanking Palace): $30.00

Accommodation is available within walking distance at motels around the north end of George Street, Great King Street and Cumberland Street. You will find a link to accommodation options on the Registration Page.

Limited accommodation will be available at Salmond College, a University of Otago student residence. Bed and Breakfast will be charged at $52.00 per night. Those wishing to book at Salmond College, please contact sc_admin@salmondcollege.ac.nz, and advise that you are attending the STAANZ Conference at Knox College.

For any further enquiries please contact Murray Rae at: murray.rae@otago.ac.nz

You can see the full details of the programme (has a distinctly ecclesiological bent) on the Otago University's Theology Dept page.

A quote from the book, Church Planting: Laying Foundations, by Stuart Murray. (At least that's where we think it's from!)

'Concern about the internal structure and shape of the church may not only distract the church from mission. It may also hinder the church from addressing the important issues of its role in society. The New Testament seems quite relaxed about whether churches are run by elders and deacons (1 Timothy and Titus, prophets and teachers (Acts 13, 1 Corinthians) or nondescript leaders (Hebrews). But there is considerable interest in the relationship between the church and the state (Luke-Acts, Romans, 1 Peter, Revelation); in how the churches deal with family and work relationships, with issues of race and class, with poverty and slavery (1 & 2 Corinthians). The ethos of the church, its attitudes towards non-members and its social involvement are at least as important as its shape and structure. Those concerned to plant “New Testament churches” might do well to give greater attention to these issues. It is not that the shape of the church is unimportant, but that there are more fundamental matters which, if ignored, will consign any reshaping of the church to strategic insignificance.'

This paragraph is quoted by Matt Stone, on his site, Glocal Christianity (yes! you read that right.)
Matt is writing about: 'the tendency of many emerging conversations about missional ecclesiology to get bogged down in talking about structural reform, methodological reform and other internal issues.'

According to one reviewer, Stuart Murray's book is 'a primer on issues of ecclesiology (the way in which theological assumptions and messages are found in how we structure the church and our efforts at building it up). Stuart notes that far too little attention has been paid by most church planters and people seeking to renew the church. He calls upon the church to take seriously how the shape of the church determines the message it will proclaim.'