Dr. Laurel Schneider

Wednesday, March 24, 1pm, Room 300

Queer theory, an outgrowth of recent cultural criticism, feminism, post-structuralism and gay liberation efforts, is sometimes described as too esoteric, obtuse, and academic to be of use in theologies of liberation.  In particular, its commitments to undermine identity politics and its tendencies to valorize and celebrate the “perverse” make it a challenging bedfellow for liberation theologies that depend upon some degree of identity stability.  This talk will take up the question of queer theory’s usefulness in liberation theology, particularly in relation to contemporary LGBTIQ movements.
 
Laurel Schneider is Professor of Theology, Ethics, and Culture at Chicago Theological Seminary and the author of Re-Imagining the Divine: Confronting the Backlash Against Feminist Theology (Pilgrim Press, 1999); Beyond Monotheism: A Theology of Multiplicity (Routledge Press, 2008).

Please visit our Continuing Education and Public Events page on our website for more information.

Christ Church Cathedral Announces Appointment of
Rabbinic Scholar in Residence

Christ Church Cathedral and Vancouver School of Theology are pleased to announce the appointment of Rabbi Dr. Robert Daum as Visiting Rabbi at CCC. This appointment is a further expression of the mission and goals of the Iona Pacific Inter-Religious Centre at VST. In this role Dr. Daum will be available to the Cathedral as a Teacher, Preacher and Consultant in the context of rabbinic scholar in residence. Dr. Daum’s appointment begins on May 23, 2010 and is for one year (renewable).

For information about the Visiting Rabbi at CCC contact the Dean of Christ Church Cathedral, The Very Reverend Peter Elliott

For information about Iona Pacific Inter-Religious Center at VST contact Jeffrey Preiss

Christ Church Cathedral

Iona Pacific Inter-Religious Centre

The Rev. Ann Turner

Vancouver School of Theology Th.M. student, Ann Turner, will be giving a free public lecture on March 10 at 1pm. Her topic is the Christian “Liturgy of the Hours.” Turner will explore how, in the region Cascadia, people who define as “spiritual, but not religious” can practice a “Liturgy of the Hours” that embraces both the inter-faith and inter-cultural contexts of our world.

Please visit the VST Speaker Series page for more information.

Library Hours

• Monday, February 22 8:30-4:30
• Tuesday, February 23 8:30-4:30
• Wednesday, February 24 8:30-4:30
• Thursday, February 25 8:00-7:00
• Friday, February 26 8:30-4:30
• Saturday, February 27, 12:00-5:00
• Sunday, February 28 CLOSED

Front Desk Hours

• Monday-Friday 8:30-4:30

Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities:
Progress for all – Women as Leaders: Challenges and strengths

Vancouver School of Theology welcomes the Canadian Women Voters Congress on Saturday, March 6, 2010 for their conference entitled “Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities: Progress for all – Women as Leaders: Challenges and strengths. ”

Come celebrate, share and learn with women from all walks of life on this internationally recognized day. Bring your daughters, sisters, mothers, friends, significant others to have a conversation on the similarities and differences between and among women as leaders. The speakers and interactive sessions will focus on women’s leadership, our strengths and the challenges, including the intersections of race, class and gender and aim to be transformative calls for action to improve the lives of women locally and globally.

Please visit the Canadian Women Voters Congress website for more information.

Rabbi Dr. Robert Daum

Iona Pacific Youth

On January 28 the Centre was officially launched at a gala celebration that included honoured guests from First Nations communities and institutions, Muslim, Jewish, Christian, and secular communities. Speakers included: Rabbi Dr. Robert Daum, Director of the Centre; The Rev. Dr Wendy Fletcher, Principal and Dean of Vancouver School of Theology; Ms. Carol Nadjiwon, President of the Centre for Indian Scholars; Rabbi Philip Bregman, President of the Rabbinical Association of Vancouver; The Rt. Reverend Michael Ingham, Bishop, Diocese of New Westminster; Imam Mohamad Rachid, B.C. Muslim Association; Dr. Rosa Sevy, Officer of the Canadian Jewish Congress, Pacific Region; The Hon. Tim Stevenson, Councillor, City of Vancouver; Ms. Samira Alibhai, President, His Highness Prince Aga Khan Shia Imami Ismaili Council for B.C.; Simoogit Bayt Neekhl (Moses McKay), hereditary Nisga’a chief, Wilp Wilxo’oskwhl Nisga’a Institute in the Nass Valley, Yuu-hadaax; Imam Dr. Syed Hejazi, Leader of the Al-Ghadir Masjid, Iranian Shi’a Mosque, North Vancouver; The Rev. Dan Chambers, President of the B.C. Conference of the United Church of Canada; and Paul Davidescu, UBC Sauder School of Commerce student with members of the Iona PacificYouth: Bridging Communities, a multi-ethnic and multi-religious student group.

Dr. Rosa Sevy and Chancellor Louise Rolston

Prayer rooms were made available for Muslim adherents, the food was prepared under rabbinic kosher supervision, and the mood reflected the intention of the Centre. In the words of Dr. Daum – “We cannot think outside of the box unless we step outside of the box. We cannot just wait for people of good will to find each other, hoping for their ideas to converge. Religious pluralism will not spontaneously or magically emerge. The problems we face are too large and complex for us to address them alone. We are too easily distracted by simplistic debates and quick-fixes. Our wisdom traditions have deep experience, for better and for worse. With great respect for the religious and cultural distinctiveness of our friends in other communities, we must seek out common ground where we can find it and build upon it over the long term.”

The establishment of Iona Pacific has been funded through Vancouver School of Theology by contributions of generous donors and through their own operating funds. Donations to support the work of the Centre are welcome. The Iona Pacific Fund has been created in order to assure supporters that their contributions will be directed solely to the work of Iona Pacific.

Iona Pacific Youth

Iona Pacific’s inauguration marked a very special day not just for the Centre, but for Vancouver and its various ethno-cultural and religious communities. It was extremely inspiring for us to see leaders from the Aboriginal communities, Rabbis, Imams, a Bishop, a Priest, a Minister, community leaders, and a City Councillor come together and speak as one voice: the voice that believes in mutual collaboration between different faiths to serve the community as a whole. We found ourselves touched by the mutual acceptance and respect everyone had for one another. The energy and excitement in the room was electrifying and building off each other’s energy and passion was what really stood out for us the most. As the Iona Pacific Youth group we are constantly learning and growing. After the inauguration, we have grown closer together as a group and it has become clearer how important our role is going to be in inspiring others to bridge differences and work towards common goals.

This day marked the beginning of what is going to be a long yet exciting process of bridging communities together. It was a tremendous first step because the first bridges between ourselves and everyone at the inauguration were built. As young leaders it was very reassuring to see that everyone embraced our initiative and wanted to help in whatever way possible. Iona Pacific Centre provides to us the opportunity to use our skills and enthusiasm to engage in various projects aimed at work on social justice issues. Through Rabbi Dr. Daum’s guidance and support we will be co-creating solutions as an inter-religious group. We hope our inter-religious approach to complex social issues can become a model to other undergraduate students. The Centre is going to play a big role in shaping our lives as future leaders as we have so much to learn and work at, but knowing that we have a strong foundation behind us allows us to stay confident that we are being steered in the right direction.

Please visit the Iona Pacific website for more information about the Centre.

Volunteering at the launch of the Iona Pacific Inter-Religious Centre on Thursday January, 28 was very heartening for this Divinity student, who took Religious Studies for her undergrad because of its potential to aid in interreligious understanding. The launch was so encouraging because it was both a way for Vancouver School of Theology to affirm our intention to be part of healthy relationship-building between religions and cultures – and for everyone present to do the same.

Waiting for my coat check shift to begin, I joined other VST students, staff and guests in watching the ceremony on the television in the main entrance of Vancouver School of Theology.  As various First Nations, Muslim, Jewish and Christian leaders took their turns at the podium, there came a moment in which my being nearly overflowed with joy. I could not help but wonder if God was as happy as I was that God’s people were intentionally gathered to try and get along for the good of the world.

I may be labeled an idealist, but to have my heart’s desire echoed by so many in one night confirmed this was something worth taking that risk for. And at the event’s conclusion, as speakers, guests, staff and students picked up jackets, bags, scarves and hats, the light in their eyes and excitement in their voices showed they shared that belief.

- Chelsea

Chelsea is a Master of Divinity student in her first year at Vancouver School of Theology.

Please visit the Iona Pacific Inter-Religous Centre website for more information.

More details can also be found on the Iona Pacific Inter-Religious Centre Launch news page.

Bernie Williams, master carver, was the first woman to apprentice under the late Bill Reid. A total of fourteen people worked on this pole, several learning new skills under Bernie’s supervision. Bernie Williams says “The pole is a gift for the homeless people in our community, and also to remember the murdered and missing women”

The pole has an eagle at the top, to represent the closest messenger to the Creator or God and the sky; a killer-whale, as the largest and most powerful in these waters; the bear, for its strength and presence on the land; and finally the grandmother moon, watching over us all. Its message is “together we are one”.

Neil is an ordained minister of the United Church of Canada, currently serving as the Senior Chaplain at 2 Service Battalion, CFB/ASU Petawawa.