Excerpted from Anglican Community News Service
St John’s Theological College in Auckland hosted a landmark gathering of Anglican Seminary Deans from East Asia and Oceania to explore ways to reshape theological education through an indigenous lens.
From 2–4 March 2025, the Anglican Seminary Deans Network convened at St John’s Theological College in Auckland for its bi-annual in-person meeting. The gathering brought together college principals, deans, and directors of theological education from across East Asia and Oceania—including Hong Kong, Taiwan, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, and Polynesia—alongside representatives from the Episcopal Church, USPG, and the Anglican Communion Office.
The setting of St John’s College provided an inspiring model of what this vision could look like. With Māorileadership at the helm, a significant proportion of indigenous students, and a culture deeply embedded in Māori identity, the college embodies many of the principles discussed throughout the meeting. Participants were welcomed with a ‘Powhiri’ (a traditional Māori welcome) and worship was conducted in both Māori and English.
Hosted by The Reverend Dr Hirini Kaa, the Principal of St John’s College, the meeting was centred on the theme ‘Indigenising Anglican Theological Education’. Participants explored how theological curricula, pedagogy and institutional life could be refashioned to allow the outlook and culture of indigenous peoples across the Anglican Communion to shape theological education.
