Tuesday 30 July is the International Day to End Trafficking in Persons.  

Talitha Kum, Dunedin, is a group of people who are committed to playing their part in combatting human trafficking.   To find out more go to www.cdd.nz/we-offer/justice-and-peace

Catholic Church thanks Royal Commissioners for their final report

'The Catholic bishops and congregational leaders in Aotearoa New Zealand have received a copy of the Inquiry’s Final Report and will now read and review it carefully. As we have done throughout the length of the Inquiry, we will ensure that action follows our review of the Inquiry’s findings. We understand that within the community, some of us - including leaders in the Catholic Church - have a special role to play to ensure that the findings and recommendations of this significant Inquiry are not lost or confined to words in a report. We commit to that role.'  Read more here.

The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care is nearing completion after 6 years and the final report will be released publicly on Wednesday, July 24. The upcoming final report will contain difficult material that is important to acknowledge and address. Reflecting on the final report will enable us to consider further developments that could be implemented in our faith communities to further improve contemporary church safeguarding practices.

The bishops and congregational leaders have written the below statement in regards to the upcoming report release that can be read here.

Let us continue to pray for survivors and a safe church.

You are warmly invited to this year’s Burns Lectures. These will be given by Professor Beverly Roberts Gaventa and hosted by the Theology Programme at the University of Otago.

The Topic of the six lectures is: 'I Am Not Ashamed’: Apostle and Gospel in Paul’s Letter to the Romans. The Lectures will be held at 5.15-6.30pm in Archway 4 Lecture Theatre at the University of Otago (except for Thursday 1 August which is in Archway 1).

They will all be livestreamed at:

For Archway 4: 

https://www.otago.ac.nz/its/services/teaching-and-research-services/streaming/video-streaming-channel-4

For Archway 1 (on 1 Aug):
https://www.otago.ac.nz/its/services/teaching-and-research-services/streaming/video-streaming-channel-1

Tuesday 30 July

Apostle and Gospel in Paul's Letter to the Romans: An Overview 

Wednesday 31 July

Troubling Authority: Romans 1:1–17

Thursday 1 August

From “They” to “I”: Romans 7  (In Archway 1)

Tuesday 6 August

Between Christ and Israel:  Romans 9–11

Wednesday 7 August

Paul the Stranger: Romans 15:14–33 in Conversation with Karl Barth

Thursday 8 August

The Company an Apostle Keeps: Romans 16

Synod on Synodality  

The national document for the next phase of the synod is now available.  To find out more about it and to read the document click here.