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Cover Image by Anita Fonseca • NonvioLENS
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VST Chancellor, Dr. Heather F. Clarke
submitted by Ray Aldred, Director, Indigenous Studies Program
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MESSAGE OF GRATITUDE FROM ARCHBISHOP EMERITUS DESMOND TUTU TO VANCOUVER SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY: IN RESPONSE TO THE CONFERMENT OF THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF DIVINITY HONOURIS CAUSA ON 8 MAY 2017 • • • • • •
Chancellor, Dr Heather Clarke; Chair of the Board, Mr Michael Francis; Principal, The Reverend Doctor Richard Topping; Rector of Christ Church Cathedral and Dean of the Diocese of New Westminister, the Very Reverend Peter G Elliot; Graduates, faculty and convocation guests; Sisters and brothers…
Please accept my very warmest greetings, together with an apology for being unable to travel to Canada to be with you in person. Growing old has advantages and disadvantages. If you can make it up the stairs, people very kindly offer to give up their seats for you on the bus. I have been fortunate to receive several honours over the course of my life. The truth is that these awards don't just acknowledge me; they honour the compassionate and engaged people with whom I've had the good fortune to work. This network of good people stretches from Canada to Tibet, and from Sweden to South Africa – via Myanmar, the Solomon Islands, Palestine, Israel and Colombia. Did I leave anyone out? These are the people on the frontlines of human rights, of caring, of sharing, of justice. They work in orphanages, in hospitals, for universities and NGOs, for truth, peace and reconciliation, for the sustainability of our Mother Earth, universal access to health care and treatment, and the rights of our First Peoples. They oppose nuclear weapons, the death penalty, inequity and injustice. Most of them are younger and more intelligent than me. I would be nothing without them. I wish to thank the Vancouver School of Theology, not just for honouring me but for honouring the human rights cause so close to our collective heart. We should not be cowed by political changes in the European Union and United States.
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We should stand firm in our resolve to defend the rights of the marginalised in our societies, including those fleeing chaos at home and knocking on our doors. We should continue to work for unpolluted waters and sky, for a dignified world, without hideous disparities between rich and poor, in which there is enough food and for everyone to eat. Human beings are not made for solitary confinement. We are made for each other; born to love indiscriminately, and taught to discriminate. We are at our best when we work, sing and play in unison. When we recognise ourselves in others, and others in us. Are we not, after all, sisters and brothers of one family? God's family? (An African-of-origin family, by the way; scientists say our Mother Continent is where the family began.) You are assured of my love, from Cape Town. God Bless You.
Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu Cape Town, South Africa
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An Inter-Religious Conference at Vancouver School of Theology
May 23-25, 2017
Anxious about war, disruptive world orders, extremism and climate change? Religious traditions and popular culture have much to say! Join us for Dr. Corbett’s public lecture, and consider registering for two full days of learning with Jewish, Christian, Islamic and secular scholars and religious leaders. Keynote address (free and open to the public):
PSYCHOLOGY OF APOCALYPTIC THINKING DR. LIONEL CORBETT, PACIFICA GRADUATE INSTITUTE May 23, 7 pm • Chapel of the Epiphany, UBC campus FOR MORE INFO AND REGISTRATION VISIT
WWW.VST.EDU/NEWS-EVENTS
OR CONTACT RABBI DR. LAURA DUHAN KAPLAN AT LDKAPLAN@VST.EDU
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“Pine Trees” by Hasegawa Tōhaku (Japanese, 1539–1610). These paintings have been designated as National Treasure in the paintings category.
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Jewish Federation Board member Karen James, Mayor Gregor Robertson and Rabbi Carey Brown
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Congratulations to all our 2017 graduates!
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LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES IN JULY & AUGUST AT VANCOUVER SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY GOVERNMENTAL OPPRESSION AND ECCLESIAL RESISTANCE with Martin Rumscheidt
SACRED DYING: PASTORAL CARE, END OF LIFE, AND THE 21ST CENTURY with Megory Anderson
“…WITH CHRISTIAN MANTRAS AND A GREAT SENSE OF DESTINY…” THOMAS MERTON’S TRAVELS IN EASTERN RELIGIONS with Bonnie Thurston
THE UNFOLDING OF CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY IN THE 21ST CENTURY with Beth-Ann Estock
RE-IMAGINING MINISTRY WITH CHILDREN AND YOUTH with David Csinos GOING DEEPER/ REACHING WIDER with Anthony Robinson
NEW CHRISTIAN REFORMERS AND THE JEWS with Peter Ochs
PRACTISING GOD’S PRESENCE: A THEOLOGY OF PRAYER with Marjorie Suchocki
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES IN JULY & AUGUST AT VANCOUVER SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY THE ART OF HOLY LISTENING: CONTEMPLATION AND ACCOMPANIMENT with Lois Huey Heck, Dawn Kilarski, Tim Scorer, Barry Vall GOVERNMENTAL OPPRESSION AND ECCLESIAL RESISTANCE with Martin Rumscheidt
PREACHING: IGNITING THE HEART OR LOSING THE WILL TO LIVE? with Kate Bruce SACRED DYING: PASTORAL CARE, END OF LIFE, AND THE 21ST CENTURY with Megory Anderson
For full course descriptions and registration, visit www.vst.edu/summer-school THEplease UNFOLDING OF CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY IN THE 21 CENTURY
“…WITH CHRISTIAN MANTRAS AND A GREAT SENSE OF DESTINY…” THOMAS MERTON’S TRAVELS IN EASTERN RELIGIONS with Bonnie Thurston RE-IMAGINING MINISTRY WITH CHILDREN AND YOUTH with David Csinos GOING DEEPER/ REACHING WIDER with Anthony Robinson
THE ART OF HOLY LISTENING: CONTEMPLATION AND ACCOMPANIMENT with Lois Huey Heck, Dawn Kilarski, Tim Scorer, Barry Vall
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with Beth-Ann Estock
NEW CHRISTIAN REFORMERS AND THE JEWS with Peter Ochs
PRACTISING GOD’S PRESENCE: A THEOLOGY OF PRAYER with Marjorie Suchocki
PREACHING: IGNITING THE HEART OR LOSING THE WILL TO LIVE? with Kate Bruce
For full course descriptions and registration, please visit www.vst.edu/summer-school
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at VANCOUVER SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY Indigenous Studies Program