Tutors

Greg is Ecumenical Chaplain, Otago University, Dunedin. He was one of the Methodist Church representative members on the national Inter-Church Commission on Genetic Engineering. He has published "Theological Dimensions of G.E." in Real World (2001). Current research interests are in bioethics, spiritual direction, faith development & nurture, and environmental issues. His special interests are in theological dimensions of genetic engineering and pastoral care of tertiary students. His role for EIDTS is as Moderator of Creation Spirituality (TS 205) and Music and Worship (MM211).

Peter teaches at Middleton Grange School in Christchurch and lectures in New Testament Greek at the Bible College of New Zealand. His publications include: "Is Religious Discourse Meaningful?", Phronema, (1995); "In Defence of Athanasius, Patriarch of Alexandria as Author of The Life of Antony: A Discussion of Historical, Linguistic and Theological Considerations", Phronema, 1997. His special interest is in the historical Jesus and current research interest is in St Nilus of Ancyra. Peter’s role in EIDTS is as Tutor in New Testament Greek – Introduction and Advanced (NT201 & NT207).

Raeburn lives in Christchurch and is a Research Associate at the Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies (University of Canterbury). He has teaching, research and writing interests in the history of Christianity, Pacific History, and New Zealand history. His most recent publications are May the People Live: a History of Maori Health Development, 1900-1920 (Auckland, 1999); "Indigenous Agents of Religious Change in New Zealand, 1830-1860" in Journal of Religious History (2000); "Ordained Ministry in Maori Christianity, 1853-1900", Journal of Religious History, 27:1 (Feb 2003); Island Ministers: Indigenous Leadership in Nineteenth Century Pacific Islands Christianity (Christchurch and Canberra), 2005. Raeburn is Tutor in The History of Christianity to 500 CE (CHC101) and The Western Medieval Church (CH202).

Judith was formerly a Senior Lecturer in Biblical Studies, Department of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Otago where she now teaches part-time. Her current research interest is in the area of feminist post-colonial readings of Biblical texts. Judith’s publications include Gendering Wisdom the Host: Biblical Invitations to Eat and Drink (1996), Reframing Her: Biblical Women in Postcolonial Focus (2004) and articles in various journals. Judith is a member of the EIDTS Academic Committee, and is Tutor for Introduction to Biblical Hebrew (HS201), Writings (HS204),  Reading Women in the Bible (HS206), Reading the Bible through a Changing Lens (HS208), Introduction to Biblical Hebrew (HS201), and Advanced Biblical Hebrew (HS207).   She is Moderator for Introduction to the Hebrew Scriptures (HS101), Theologies of the Hebrew Scriptures (HS205) and Prophets (HS203).

Robyn is minister in the Kaeo-Kerikeri Union Parish in Northland. She has a particular interest in rural and community ministry. Publications include: Morality and Agency (1985), Change with integrity: can we live with metanoia and is it good for us, (1997) an article on Living on the Land published in Ecotheology, (2001) and articles for the Catholic Institute of Theology publications. Robyn’s role in EIDTS is as Tutor for Prophets (HS203), and Pentateuch (HS202) and Moderator for Ministry with Children (MM209).

Rod is a retired Presbyterian minister living in Dunedin. Rod was employed as a systems analyst before commencing his studies for ordination. He has worked in parish ministry and in university and secondary school chaplaincy in New Zealand and Australia. Rod’s interests include woodcarving and reading in theology. For EIDTS Rod is Tutor for TS101 Introduction to Theology.  

Prue is a former secondary school teacher member of the Mission Resource Team of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand and recently retired hospital chaplain. In the Mission Resource Team roles he worked for some twelve years with leaders and congregations at local and regional level assisting with various aspects of congregational life including worship, religious education, reviews and planning. Prue is currently the clerk of the Gisborne Hawkes Bay Presbytery and is an elder, worship leader and member of Faith Education teams at St Columba’s Presbyterian Church, Havelock North. For EIDTS Prue tutors Faith and Learning (MM203).

Ngati Raukawa, Kai Tahu, Ngati Kahungunu, Ngati Toa. Rangi was formerly Director of Studies for Te Taapapa ki te Manawa o te Wheke, in Rotorua. He  recently completed a PhD through the University of Auckland and Te Whare Wananga Te Rau Kahikatea looking at Maori language and cultural policy and practice in the Anglican Church and relating that to Treaty obligations and Gospel responsibilities. Rangi has taught Maori language courses and English as a second language at high school and university level for nearly thirty years. His publications include Hei Timatanga Korero: Maori Language Regenesis and Mihinare Clergy University of Canterbury (2001), Marketing the Maori Language, in Teaching Indigenous Languages, Arizona (1997), New Zealanders' Attitudes to the Revitalisation of the Maori Language, Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development Vol 12:5 (1991). Rangi is Advisor to EIDTS in Te Reo and Tikanga Maori.

Barbara is an ordained Methodist presbyter who worked for some thirty years in the Nephrology Department at the Christchurch Hospital and was an honorary lecturer in microbiology at the Christchurch School of Medicine. Barbara is Secretary of the Central South Island Synod of the Methodist Church. She was Vice President of the Methodist Church of New Zealand (2007-2008) and is Chairperson of the NZ Inter-Church Bioethics Committee. For EIDTS Barbara is tutor for Christian Ethics (TS204).

Mary Petersen
(BA Auckland, Dip Tchg, Dip Hum (Rel.St.) with distinction, Massey)

Mary is minister of the Mercury Bay Co-operating parish. She has taught distance courses in Religious Education and Curriculum Development for Otago and Massey Universities. Mary was National Co-ordinator of Ministry with Children and Families for the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand 2001-2004 and General Secretary of the Churches Education Commission 1990 - 2000. Mary is the course writer and Tutor for Ministry with Children (MM209).

Douglas is Professor and Convenor of the Religious Studies Programme at the University of Waikato and Canon Emeritus Theologian in the Diocese of Waikato. His special interests are in inter-religious dialogue and Islam and Christian-Muslim relations. He is the author of Religion: A First Encounter (1993) and most recently The Church and Other Faiths: The World Council of Churches, the Vatican, and Inter-Religious Dialogue (2010).  He has also published Relational Deity (2002);  Rethinking Religion - Exploratory Investigations (2003) and The Challenge of Islam: Encounters in Interfaith Dialogue (2005). His role with EIDTS is as Moderator for World Religions (CHC208) and he wrote and tutors the course Church and Interfaith Engagement (TS209).

Graham is an ordained Presbyterian minister and has served in several parishes within New Zealand. He is currently Principal of the Knox Centre for Ministry and Leadership and immediate past Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand. His main area of academic interest is in the theology and practice of worship. He is the author of Prayer and the Priesthood of Christ in the Reformed Tradition (2003). For EIDTS Graham is Moderator for Spirit, Church and the Christian Life (TS203) and Worship and Liturgy (MM204), and is a representative of the Presbyterian Church on the Ecumenical Board.

 David Rice
(BA Lenoir Rhyne; MDiv Duke University)

 David is the Anglican Bishop of Waiapu.  He spent his first seven years of parish ministry in the U.S.A. before coming to New Zealand where he served as parish priest in the Mount Herbert parish.  In 2002 David was appointed as Dean of the Cathedral of St Paul in Dunedin.  He also served as a member of the Human Ethics Committee at the University of Otago.  David has interests in the relation between sport and the church and in Native American spirituality.  For EIDTS David is the Moderator for Christian Ethics (TS204).

John is a mission historian and Presbyterian minister who has taught at the Knox Centre for Ministry and Leadership in Dunedin, Laidlaw College in West Auckland, and Seminary Theology Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur. He has special interests in Reformed Christianities and in Southeast Asian church history. For EIDTS he is Tutor and course writer for Presbyterian (Reformed) Studies (CHC2052).

Kathleen has had wide experience in education and Christian education. She is a member of the Sisters of Mercy and completed her PhD on "The Parable of John 16:21: A Feminist Socio-Rhetorical Reading" in 2000. Publications include "The (Pro)creative Parables of Labour and Childbirth" in The Lost Coin: Parables of Women, Work and Wisdom (2002).  Kathleen has written and is Tutor for Johannine Writings (NT2032), Introduction to New Testament (NT101) and Feminist Theologies (TS206) and is Moderator for Reading Women in the Bible (HS206).   She is also a member of the Academic Committee.

Anne is an ordained deacon in the Anglican Church and an Archdeacon in the Diocese of Christchurch. Her special interests are in the way diaconal ministry is exercised in parishes and in care of the elderly. She has responsibility for the oversight of the training and formation of deacons in the Diocese and is editor of their newsletter. Anne is the course writer and tutor for The Diaconate in the Church (CHC204).

 Jacky Sewell
(M.A.(Youth Ministry and Theological Education) King’s College, London;  B.Mus. (Perf) Auckland;  L.Th, JBTS)

Jacky is an Anglican priest who has a background of 25 years in youthwork.   Following some years in parish ministry, Jacky spent 12 years as Youth Facilitator and Educator for the Diocese of Auckland.  Following this, she spent 4 years directing a Centre for Youth, Arts and Spirituality, and a year as school chaplain.  Since 2005 she has been on the faculty of St John’s Theological College, whilst pursuing PhD studies in youth, spirituality and visual art.   For EIDTS Jacky is Moderator for Ministry With Youth (MM 212)

Susan is a member of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions. She is a lecturer emerita in the School of Theology at the University of Auckland. Susan teaches some New Testament papers for Broken Bay Institute in Sydney, a Catholic tertiary institute affiliated to the University of Newcastle. Susan has co-edited (with Helen Bergin) Nourished by Eucharist: New Thoughts on an Ancient Theme, (2006), Land and Place, He Whenua, He Wahi: Spiritualities from Aotearoa New Zealand (2004), Spirituality in Aotearoa New Zealand: Catholic Voices He Kuku Whakawairua (2002). She is the author of Women in Mission: From the New Testament to Today (Orbis Books, Maryknoll New York 2007) and Call to Mission:The Story of the Mission Sisters of Aotearoa New Zealand and Samoa (Auckland, David Ling, 2010.) She is currently researching, writing, editing and coordinating a history of her congregation. For EIDTS Susan is Tutor for Women in Christian History (CHC203) and course writer and Tutor for the Gospel of Matthew (NT203)

Jim is a retired Methodist minister. Born in New York City, he received his BA in history from Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennslvania. He served as an officer in the US Navy before pursuing theological studies in the United States, England, Germany and Switzerland. He has served in churches in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Illinois and New Zealand. From 1979 to 1984 he was the John Wesley Lecturer in Systematic Theology in Auckland. He has taught at universities in Illinois, Oregon and served as Chaplain and lectured in Peace Studies and Sociology at the University of Canterbury. He is the author of three books and numerous articles on religion, theology and ethics.  For EIDTS Jim is Moderator for Methodist Studies (CHC2053)

Susan Thompson
(MA Hons, Canterbury; BTheol, Melbourne; PhD, Auckland)

Susan is a Methodist Presbyter and Superintendent of the Waikato/Waiariki Synod.. Her interests are in the area of Methodism in New Zealand and her PhD thesis was entitled "Knowledge and Vital Piety: Methodist Ministry Education in New Zealand from the 1840s to 1988".Susan is Moderator for Christianity in Aotearoa New Zealand (CHC102).

Brian is an Anglican priest who works as a communications consultant within the Anglican Church.  As a former journalist Brian has special interests in communication, both oral and written and is a member of the Anglican Commission on Communication. He also edits Anglican Taonga, the quarterly magazine of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia. Brian is Moderator for Homiletics (MM205).

Derek is lecturer in New Testament at the College of St. John the Evangelist, Auckland, and teaches in the School of Theology, University of Auckland. He is an ordained Anglican priest, who served in parish ministry in the Diocese of Christchurch from 1980-1990. Derek has been at St. John's College since 1995. He is the author of Narrative Art and Act in the Fourth Gospel (JSNTSup Series 151; Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1997); Jesus, Story of God: John's Story of Jesus (ATF Press, 2007); and "On Not Unbinding the Lazarus Story: The Nexus of History and Theology in John 11:1-44" in John, Jesus, and History: Vol. 2. (Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature), 219-223 (forthcoming). For EIDTS Derek is Moderator for Johnannine Writings (NT2032).

Gillian has recently completed her PhD in New Testament looking at the intersection between queer theory and biblical studies in 1 Corinthians 11.2-16. Gillian is the Chaplain and RE teacher at St Hilda's Collegiate School in Dunedin. Previously Gillian has worked as a primary school teacher, a Baptist minister, and has taught at Laidlaw College and Otago University. For EIDTS Gillian is the Tutor for 1&2 Corinthians (NT205) and the Moderator for Luke (NT202).

 Ilaitia Tuwere
(LTh, Melbourne; BD, PTC; TheolM, DTheol, Melbourne)

Ilaitia is a Methodist minister and tutors at Trinity Methodist Theological College in Auckland.  Dr Tuwere previously lectured at the School of Theology at the University of Auckland and prior to that was Principal of the Pacific Theological College in Suva and President and General Secretary of the Methodist Church in Fiji. His main area of interest is in contextual theology and he has written three books and numerous articles in this field from the perspective of Oceania. For EIDTS Dr Tuwere is the Tutor for Christ and Creation (TS202).

Gillian Watkin
(LTh Hons, EBTS; M.Min, Melbourne)