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Journey of formation and discovery

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Learning and Living Together

Statement in Solidarity with Palestine

We live in desperate times, a time of Kairos to speak truth to the powers that be and practice deep solidarity with the colonized and the occupied people of Palestine, as they engage in the sacred work of reweaving their lives, communities, land, and dreams shattered by the rogue state of Israel and their allies. Trinity Methodist Theological College joins in the outrage and grief, outpouring from around the world, and calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza as a first step towards a just peace in the region. Enough is enough!

While we condemn all attacks on public places and the killing of innocent people, we contest the propaganda that it all started on October 7. We also reject the mainstream narrative that what we witness in the Holy Land is a conflict between Jews and Muslims. We consider this narrative as a smokescreen to legitimize the sins of settler colonialism, which is the root cause of the current crisis in the Holy Land. As people of Aotearoa, we are conscious of the ugliness and violence of settler colonialism both on the Indigenous communities and Indigenous land. We reiterate that resistance to occupation and settler colonialism is not terrorism, but the sacred responsibility of Indigenous self-determination (tino rangatirantaga). 

We denounce the distorted interpretations of the Jewish and Christian scriptures and the toxic theologies that offer scriptural and theological legitimation to occupation, displacement, apartheid, ethnic cleansing, and violence. Christian Zionism is antithetical to the basic tenets of the Christian faith. We also deplore the legitimation of genocide in the name of “self-defense.”

We are deeply concerned about the ecological impacts of Israeli settler colonialism and the war in Palestine. Israel has been systematically using ecocide as a tool for further colonization of Palestine. Uprooting trees, destroying wells, contaminating the water bodies, deliberately altering the Palestinian environment, forcefully displacing Palestinians, and using white phosphorous weapons lead to ecocide and genocide.  This is a war crime, and this ongoing Nakba (catastrophe) must be stopped.   

We call upon all nations, global agencies, churches, ecumenical organizations, and all people of goodwill to stand together in opposing Israel’s occupation of Palestine and affirming the rights of the Palestinians to self-determination. While we urge the international communities to create corridors for humanitarian interventions, we reiterate our conviction that acts of mercy and compassion devoid of justice will only result in perpetuating Nakba.

We support the global call for an immediate ceasefire. But we restate that the
ceasefire should lead to a just solution, privileging the dreams, and aspirations of the colonized—self-determination (tino rangatiratanga).

We affirm our solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Palestine and commit
ourselves to accompany them on their long road to self-determination and freedom. We are inspired by the resilience of the Palestinian community and their resolve to resist occupation and celebrate the flourishing of life. We also acknowledge the Israeli and Jewish people who denounce the Zionist occupation and join the peopleacross the border to transform the Holy Land into a just and peaceful home for all. Desperate times make it imperative for us to be subversive troublemakers to protect, defend, and flourish life.

Upcoming Important Dates:

Takunetanga

15 January 2024: College Year Begins

15-17 January: Enrolment & Registration

25-27 January: Staff Retreat & Planning

Block 1 (Summer): BBS612 Bible & Tiriti | 30 Jan - 2 February 2024 (JH & TR)
This course begins with a brief exploration of early Christian missionary contact with Māori in Aotearoa and the translation of Te Paipera Tapu. It will examine the role that the Bible (and Christian missionaries) played in the creation and translation of Te Tiriti of Waitangi, particularly in relation to the notion of kawenata/covenant. It will explore the way in which the Bible was used to support British colonial expansion in Aotearoa and the way in which Māori subsequently employed biblical texts to denounce the injustices that accompanied the numerous instances where the treaty was breached. Finally, in light of this history, we will explore the obligation of contemporary Christians in Aotearoa to commit themselves to the process of healing and restoration in relation to bicultural partnership in this land.
Block 2 (Summer): BMS520 Mana Tiriti: Treaty & Church | 1-6 February 2024 (TR)

This course begins by exploring the role of church societies in the establishment and development of Te Tiriti o Waitangi 1840. Students will examine and analyse institutional church approaches to contemporary Treaty issues, with a focus on whenua (land) and reconciliation. Students will also examine the roles and responsibilities pf justice seeking churches and their commitment to bicultural, Te Tiriti-based relationships.

23-24 February: College Orientation

25 February: Sevice of Beginnings

Block 3: BTS510 Intro to Theological Studies | 4-8 March (Dr George Zachariah)
This course will survey the landscape of theological studies to give students an overall understanding of the field, and its development over the years; to introduce students to basic beliefs of the Christian tradition, and to enable them to do critical theological thinking and reflection on public and contextual issues.
Block 4: BMS510 Te Ao Tawhito | 18-22 March (Te Aroha Rountree)
This course examines and explores the world through a distinctively Māori/Moana lens, where Māori /Moana language and tikanga take precedence. Students will examine the impacts of European contact on Māori/Moana societies, highlighting specifically the role of Church Missionary Societies in colonisation. Students will apply critical analysis to the Māori prophetic movements of the nineteenth century as social and political mediums of protest against colonial oppression.
TALANOA OCEANIA 2024: Indigeneity: Belongings & Subversions | 4-6 April (UTC, Parramatta)
This talanoa provides a place and space for inspiring the imagination in exploring and celebrating the richness, diversity and complexity of our Pasifika cultures and how Indigeneity informs (or challengers) the notion of belongings and inspires subversions. We invite proposals that explore and interrogate how the theme and subthemes intersect (or not) to inform, disrupt, shape, influence (or hinder) engagement with the world and/or subversions through the creation of new knowledge, thinking and praxis.

Mid-semester Break | 13-28 April 2024

SYMPOSIUM: reWeaving Theological Education| 24-25 May (Trinity & St John's College)
Block 7: BTS520 Re-storying Christianity I | 27-31 May (Dr Gladson Jathanna)

This course retells the story of Christianity from the first century CE to the Reformation era, and pays close attention to the development of the Christian tradition, key theological debates, schisms, and issues that shattered the unity of the movement.

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