Thursday, November 22, 2007

Jenny Plane Te Paa on indigenous relationality (and the Anglican Communion)

Jenny Plane Te Paa and I were in a seminar together, "Theologies from the Underside of History," about 12 years ago, early in our doctoral studies. This talk of hers is from the Inclusive Church "Drenched in Grace" conference taking place in England this week.

The Inclusive Church blog also has the audio of addresses by Lucy Winkett (whose talk the blog describes as "a rhetorical tour de force") and the wonderful Louis Weil.

For those of you who don't know, Dr. Jenny Plane Te Paa is Ahorangi or Principal of Te Rau Kahikatea, The College of St. John the Evangelist in Auckland, New Zealand. Since her appointment in 1995, she has been the first and only lay, indigenous woman (she is a Maori -- a daughter of the land of Te Rarawa ki Ahipara) ever to be appointed as head of an Anglican theological college.

In 2001 Jenny was appointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury to serve on the Inter-Anglican Theological Doctrinal Commission for a 7-year term and in 2003 she was also appointed to serve on both the Commission on Theological Education for the Anglican Communion and the Lambeth Commission. She belongs to the International Anglican Indigenous Network and the International Anglican Women’s Network. She is Convenor of the Steering Committee for the International Anglican Peace and Justice Network and a member of the World Council of Churches Commission on Ecumenical Theological Education and Ministry Formation. She also serves the Church in Aotearoa New Zealand on both national and local commissions and is a Lay Canon of Holy Trinity Cathedral, Auckland.

(For a Maori version of the Lord's Prayer on the Holy Trinity Cathedral website, with translation and commentary, see here.)

3 comments:

Kirstin said...

I got to hear her at Epiphany West last year. She was amazing.

Mike Farley said...

Jane, thank you so much for the link to this wonderful talk - "Drenched in Grace" indeed!

Mike

Paul said...

A grace-filled challenge and encouragement. Thanks!