Theology on Tap Meets a Need

Once a month, young adults loosely affiliated with St Peter's on Willis convene for 'Theology on Tap'.

The group started in early 2021 and usually attracts 8-12 people. A number of contemporary theological topics have been covered from volunteer culture to eco-theology to pacifism vs Just War Theory. Placing the conversation outside the church walls allows for a more relaxed environment where there's freedom to argue, laugh, lament, and question. At times, disagreements can lead to tension and enthusiastic rebuttals. At Theology on Tap, no one is expected to toe a theological line or keep their doubts to themself. Rather, the aim is to create space for healthy disagreement with each other and even others' notions of orthodoxy.

St Peter’s on Willis tries to live out the value of whanaungatanga by intentionally setting aside the first 30 minutes for casual conversations, simply getting to know each other with no theological musings allowed. The kaupapa of manaakitanga leads them to start each conversation with a reminder that they are an affirming group that celebrates the diversity of their whānau, whether in gender, sexuality, race, or ability. In their advertisements, St Peter’s emphasises that they welcome all opinions, and attendees don’t need to be a theologian or even a Christian to join in with the discussion.

The group is missional, not by rehashing Christian apologetics or even trying to convert non-Christians, but by demonstrating that there is a robust intellectual tradition within Christianity and space to engage earnestly and rigorously with questions around theology, ethics, and contemporary issues. Sometimes people encounter God in the breaking of the bread, and sometimes they encounter God through sharing a jug of a hazy IPA.