April 2024Student Christian Movement Aotearoa (SCMA) Tēnā koutou Justice Committee: Student Christian Movement Aotearoa is a progressive Christian group in tertiary institutions across the motu. We write with grave concerns about the Parole Amendment Bill and the effects it will have on those in prison. As Christians, we are called to seek out and showContinue reading “Submission on the Parole (Mandatory Completion of Rehabilitative Programmes) Amendment Bill”
Author Archives: Michael Toy
Submission on Fast Track Approvals Bill
Submission to the Environment Committee on the Fast Track Approvals BillApril 2024Student Christian Movement Aotearoa (SCMA) Tēnā koutou katoa Environment Committee: Student Christian Movement Aotearoa is a progressive Christian group in tertiary institutions across the Motu. We believe that God desires all to flourish, and God’s desire for justice and flourishing informs the way weContinue reading “Submission on Fast Track Approvals Bill”
Set Free for the Present: Queer theology and post-heteronormative ethics
All are welcome to this public theology forum exploring post-heteronormative ideas. We are delighted to have Liam Miller, PhD Candidate at Charles Sturt, join us to explore the radical turn away from the future espoused by queer theory and queer theology.Tuesday 9 April 6:00-7:30pmZoom link: https://vuw.zoom.us/j/96866787090?pwd=VGRVWWdNQ21idW96UWZPRHRUTUk3Zz09No need to be a “theologian” or even a Christian.Continue reading “Set Free for the Present: Queer theology and post-heteronormative ethics”
Worshipping a Slutty God: Salvific and relational implications of a non-monogamous God
All are welcome to this public theology forum during Wellington Pride Week to explore post-heteronormative ideas as they relate to Christian theology. It has now been well documented that the Bible traces a move from being monaltrous (worshipping one God in a pantheon of gods) to monotheistic (there is only one real God). This workshopContinue reading “Worshipping a Slutty God: Salvific and relational implications of a non-monogamous God”
Palestine, Performativity, and Prophetic Action
The images and stories coming out of Palestine are horrific and shocking — but, as Susan Sontag wrote, do these images have any power to tell a story or change a mind or only to shock? When people share these stories, reports, and images, especially online, what goals are there other than awareness? Whilst itContinue reading “Palestine, Performativity, and Prophetic Action”
XIV International Bonhoeffer Congress Conference Report
Scholars from all over the world gathered in Sydney, Australia for the fourteenth International Bonhoeffer Congress. Known in some circles as the “Bonhoeffer Olympics” due to its every four-year occurrence, this iteration of the congress explored the theme “crisis and hope.” Taking place over four days (not counting the meeting of PhD students before theContinue reading “XIV International Bonhoeffer Congress Conference Report”
What does God Give a Sh*t About?
One of the most popular news accounts on social media among young people is called Shit You Should Care About. Run by three twenty-something New Zealanders, the account has 3.4 million followers and hundreds of thousands of views on each post. I have to be honest and I have not tracked with the account forContinue reading “What does God Give a Sh*t About?”
The Pope, Blessings, and Queer Visibility
Visibility matters. What’s on the outside matters. As a queer theologian, this seems like a given. But in the cartesian duality that permeates our social consciousness and conscience, it sometimes needs to be stated again. This week in religious news, the big headline is something like: The Pope Allows Same-sex blessings. The best reporting onContinue reading “The Pope, Blessings, and Queer Visibility”
2023 Anglo-Catholic Hui Reflection
My protestant roots run deep. Even after a near conversion to Roman Catholicism (what we colloquially call swimming the Tiber) ten years ago, I was hesitant when the theme for this year’s Anglo-Catholic Hui was announced to be the Blessed Virgin Mary. While I can affirm for Mary the theological title Theotokos, God-bearer, with theContinue reading “2023 Anglo-Catholic Hui Reflection”