This Thursday, April 19th, the Pietermaritzburg Cluster of Theological Institutions will host the 7th Annual Steve de Gruchy memorial lecture at UKZN (Pietermaritzburg). The lecture will be delivered by Professor Trygve Wyller (Professor of Theology, and Former Dean of Faculty of Theology at the University of Oslo, Norway). Professor Wyller will lecture on “PERFORMATIVE MIGRATION THEOLOGY: MODEST REFLECTIONS ON HOW CHURCHES IMPACT POLITICS.” All are welcome to attend and we will be posting notes from the lecture via CIHA Blog following the event.
The Annual Steve de Gruchy Memorial Lecture is part of a lecture series organised by the Ujamaa Centre at the University of KwaZulu-Natal that is held in the memory of Professor Steve de Gruchy, an outstanding Activist-Environmental Theologian who died tragically in a tubing accident at the age of 48. The 2016 lecture focused on ‘The Bible as a Site of Struggle: an on-going dialogue with Steve De Gruchy’ which was delivered by Professor Gerald West. The 2017 lecture was delivered by Bishop Geoff Davies on ‘Christian Faith and the Environment.’ A write-up about the 2017 event can be found here.
About Steve de Grucy (1961-2010)
Born in Durban on Nov. 16, 1961, de Gruchy went on to become an ordained minister in the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa and professor of theology and development at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Pietermaritzburg. He also served as head of the School of Religion and Theology at the university and editor of the Journal of Theology for Southern Africa since 2003. The author of more than 20 books and research papers, de Gruchy’s three main areas of writing were social history of Christianity in South Africa; theology and development; and religion and public health. De Gruchy always had a lively academic and practical interest in the interface between the Christian faith and social ethics. During his student years at the University of Cape Town, he served on the Student Representative Council, was active in the student anti-apartheid movement, a signatory to the Kairos Document, and a conscientious objector to military service. De Gruchy helped establish NGOs working in the field of land rights, small business development, early childhood development, and leadership training. Most recently, de Gruchy had been engaged in research work on the interface between religion and health in Africa in the context of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Ecumenically, de Gruchy had been involved with the World Council of Churches’ Justice, Peace and Creation team, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, the Council for World Mission, the International Congregational Fellowship and the Church Unity Commission in South Africa.
THE SEVENTH ANNUAL
STEVE DE GRUCHY MEMORIAL LECTURE
will be delivered by
PROF TRYGVE WYLLER
(Professor of Theology, and Former Dean of Faculty of Theology,
University of Oslo Norway)
PERFORMATIVE MIGRATION THEOLOGY
MODEST REFLECTIONS ON HOW CHURCHES IMPACT POLITICS
Time: 17.30 on Thursday 19 April 2018
Venue: Lecture Theatre A1, New Arts Building, Golf Road Campus, UKZN (Pietermaritzburg)
Refreshments will be served
This lecture is hosted jointly by
THE PIETERMARITZBURG CLUSTER OF THEOLOGICAL INSTITUTIONS
The Pietermaritzburg Cluster of Theological Institutions is an association of the following institutions:
- School of Religion, Philosophy and Classics (UKZN)
- Seth Mokitimi Methodist Seminary
- St Joseph’s Theological Institute
- The Anglican House of Studies
- The Congregational House of Formation
- The Evangelical Seminary of Southern Africa
The member institutions support and strengthen one another in their common task of educating and equipping people for Christian ministry in the church and society in Africa.
Directions to the A1 Lecture Theatre (New Arts Block)
If you are coming in from Durban, you are on Alan Paton Rd (formerly Durban Rd). When you get to Ridge Rad, turn left. (This is the second set of lights you will come to.) Drive until you reach the intersection of Ridge and Golf Roads, and then turn left Drive along Golf Road and enter the University Campus in through Gate G1. Parking is available behind the New Arts Building. Lecture Theater A1 is found on the ground floor at the front of the New Arts Building.
