Celebrating our Anglican Studies Graduates

The Wellington Regional Anglican Studies programme offers theological education that's designed to fit around life commitments.  The Diploma is flexible, having no set time to complete, and participants can just take individual papers that interest them. 

Heidi Nayak, Anglican Studies Coordinator says, “We are passionate about theological education as discipleship.

“So in our programme, we join together with others to learn as a community and then we integrate that learning into every area of our lives as disciples.  Ultimately we want to equip the people of God for ministry and nurture our growth as disciples.  

“We are really grateful for our graduates who have signed up for this commitment and have journeyed with us for a number of years.  It's a massive achievement. We are always looking for more students who want to go on this journey with us and you can join at any time, so please get in touch if you're at all interested,” says Heidi.

Three of the programme’s recent graduates have written about their experience.

Megan Devine
St Michael & All Angels, Newlands

I worship at St Michael & All Angels Newlands/Papararangi Wellington. Covid hit in the middle of my study journey which took us onto Zoom a lot,(so we missed the camaraderie of studying together) but our facilitators and tutors were really adaptable so we had no break in our schedules. They were also super flexible when I had a wee stumbling block placed in my road - for which I am eternally grateful! They worked with me to help me stay on schedule to complete my study in three years. I can highly recommend the learning and the manaakitanga found within the Anglican Studies programme to anyone thinking of signing up.

Diana Wolken
Onslow Anglicans

In November of 2019, I stood up at my local church to talk about my progress through the Diploma of Anglican Studies. At that time, I said that 2020 would be my third and final year and that I would need to manage my time well but that with God’s help I would get there. Covid came along and so it was late in 2021 that I completed and passed my final assignment!

So…what was that journey like? You may be surprised to know it is still continuing, after all I now have many theology books to read at my leisure! The following gives a taste of what my life involved and is in no special order but designed to give you an insight into the rich kaleidoscope of learning and relationship that continues to grow with God centre stage - always!

Mission, Trinity, Didache, Lectio Divina, marae, theology, community, discipleship, radical discipleship, fire, relationship with God, prophets, trust, praying, comfort zone, circle prophecy Zechariah, reappearing church, leadership, culture, fellowship, Karpman triangle, modality and sodality, Elijah and hope, orthodoxy and orthopraxy, Wesley and small group scripture, Ryan Reeves on pietism and more, Petersen on the Word made flesh, Moravians, Luther, Zwingli, why community is important, to Jesus restores us to the community of God.

If you hunger to hear God’s word, then I can recommend no better way than to embrace Anglican Studies. My relationship with God had stalled and now continues to grow and is a journey I never want to end.    

Phil McCarthy
Tawa Anglicans

Phil, who is Vicar's Warden in Tawa and has been the Diocese Refugee Support coordinator since July, whet his appetite with a couple of New Testament papers presented by Dr Chris Marshall at Victoria University about 10 years ago. This followed his retirement after almost 40 years in the public service. "I find I'm stimulated and motivated by biblical and theological study; it's not dry and academic for me but has revitalised, and in all honesty probably saved, my faith.”

“Trite and often offensive presentations of Christianity focused on a punitive and wrathful god we need to mollify, or an individualistic approach which sees ‘individual salvation' rather than participation by all of us on the work God is doing to renew and restore God's people and creation in the here and now, just won't wash in 2023," says Phil.  To come to understand that neither is remotely biblical has taken the clouds away from his Christian walk. Phil now finds it impossible to sing some of the songs that regularly feature in our Sunday worship. “Their writers are in grave need of something like the Anglican Studies Programme!”

A great aspect of the Anglican Studies programme for Phil has been that it is done in community. The weekends away provided a great opportunity to get to know others, and to toss ideas around in a safe and supportive environment. “I'm especially grateful to Joe McGarry, who ran the programme throughout my Anglican Studies journey.”

"The course has fostered a real desire to keep reading and learning, and to communicate and to live what I see as the heart of Christianity: ‘I have come that they may have life, and have it in abundance.'  (Jn 10:10b).  “My own search for a credible approach to Christianity has produced an unshakeable belief in the overwhelming, inclusive, unconditional and life-giving love of God. One theologian of the past called it a ‘fountain-fulness of love’. Anglican Studies has affirmed and nurtured my faith in this God, who is love. Committing to it is one of the best decisions I've made and I heartily recommend the programme".