week 0 laidlaw theology 27 feb - 2 mar 2012

main entrance to laidlaw college

monday 27 feb 2012 - my application to study for the graduate diploma in theology has been approved. registration at laidlaw college today. college principal rod thompson welcomed us.
tour of campus grounds. starting at the garden of martyrs dedicated to 6 graduates from the college who were killed while serving as missionaries. followed by library tour and orientation to campus and other facilities.

garden of martyrs at laidlaw college commemorating past graduates who were killed while serving as missionaries

i managed to enrol in these four modules for semester 1:
biblical interpretation
biblical theology
ways of knowing
old testament : pentateuch
i also enrolled in these four modules for semester 2:
worldviews & ways of life
theology:introduction
old testament psalms
theology: god & creation

the atrium with offices above and library to the left

twos and threes atrium cafe on the right

colonnade beyond leading to lecture rooms

courtyard beside the colonnade

laidlaw library containing over 70,000 items

week 1 laidlaw theology 5-9 march 2012

second courtyard - lecture rooms on ground floor with upper room above on right

first set of lectures this week.

monday 5 march 2012 1.30pm. jacqui lloyd, senior lecturer, teaches biblical interpretation, great lecture. good start to the course. this course is a requirement for all theology programmes.
monday 5 march 2012 6.30pm. rod thompson, college principal, teaches biblical theology. inspiring lecture. wonderful to have laidlaw principal teach this foundational course which is the common requirement across all laidlaw degree programmes.

tuesday 6 march 2012 11.00am. powhiri (formal customary maori welcoming ceremony) in the upper room. in view of the treaty of waitangi, laidlaw college (te wananga amorangi as it is called in maori) formally welcomed the new students (well over a hundred of us from various programmes: theology, ministry, counselling, education etc) with a haka. maori reps on the college council spoke in maori and english and led in singing of hymns. college principal rod thompson gave the welcome speech, drawing on hosea 10:12. then the newbies were welcomed individually with the hongi (pressing of noses and foreheads and symbolic exchanging of the breath of life as form of welcome).

reminded me of the st andrew;s school prefects investiture at st andrew's cathedral way back in 1975! god has his way of claiming and sealing those whom he has saved and called into his kingdom for his service.
alleluia.

wednesday 7 march 2012 6.30pm. martin sutherland, college vice principal, teaches ways of knowing. a rigourous lecture. introduction to epistemology from a christian perspective. solid stuff.

thursday 8 march 2012 9.00am. phil church, senior lecturer, teaches old testament: pentateuch. dry wit. a firm start on the first five books of the bible.

i am very impressed with the passion, enthusiasm and academic breadth and depth which characterises the laidlaw faculty. concern for excellence in teaching the full orb of the gospel shines out from their evangelical stances. all of them start the lecture with a prayer. all are steeped in their knowledge of the scriptures. i am glad i am at laidlaw. looking forward to an enriching semester.

laidlaw students lounge

kitchenette adjoining the students lounge

 

residential accommodation for laidlaw staff and students on campus

jireh primary school at laidlaw campus

olive shoots kindergarten at laidlaw campus

in addition to the main teaching and administration buildings at laidlaw college, there are also residential accommodation for laidlaw staff and students, jireh primary school and olive shoots kindergarten. the laidlaw campus is about 10-15 minutes drive from home.

looks like i am going to enjoy the graduate diploma in theology course at laidlaw. 

shalom.