Peter is an Anglican minister and Canon Theologian in the Diocese of Natal. He holds an M.Th (Church History & Polity) from Stellenbosch University, an M.Phil (Environmental Management) from the University of Cape Town and B.Sc.Hons from the University of KwaZulu Natal. He has been a Research Associate of Stellenbosch University (Department of Systematic Theology and Ecclesiology) since 2015. He is a PhD student in the Department of Historical Studies at UCT. Address: Kloof, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Charles F. Mackenzie was an Anglican archdeacon in the 19th century in the newly formed Diocese o... more Charles F. Mackenzie was an Anglican archdeacon in the 19th century in the newly formed Diocese of Natal. He was consecrated a missionary bishop for Central Africa in Cape Town in 1861, which was a significant development for the Anglican Church at the time. Mackenzie struggled to read the social landscape, becoming embroiled in colonial conflict. Consequently, congregants, colleagues, and historians have characterized him in markedly different ways, rendering a disputed legacy. This paper brings Mackenzie into conversation with another figure who is not without his own controversy: Martyn Percy. Applying Percy’s implicit theological approach provides an important lens with which to view the social complexities, ecclesial conflicts and missional contexts which Mackenzie sought to navigate.
Giovanni Palermo was an Italian prisoner of war captured at the battle of Bardia on 3 January 194... more Giovanni Palermo was an Italian prisoner of war captured at the battle of Bardia on 3 January 1941 in Libya. He was transferred by ship to Durban and from there, taken to Zonderwater prisoner of war (POW) camp near Pretoria. Palermo published his memoir in 1972 detailing his capture and POW experiences. A close reading of his translated memoir presents several historical challenges. He uncritically makes his personal bias plain from the start, yet at the same time sees himself as the custodian of the true narrative of Italian POW history, even where the historical record indicates a contrary truth to his. Religious and political ideologies present themselves like a Möbius strip at various points throughout his memoir, not least with an opening endorsement by a Christian religious figure who frames what is to follow. Palermo's strongly held views on purity, his self-belief that he is the bearer of the real truth, and his desire to make Italy great again have contemporary societal and theological resonances.
In this essay the author explores how he seeks to integrate worship with all of life. In a South ... more In this essay the author explores how he seeks to integrate worship with all of life. In a South African Anglican context that is oftentimes quite polarised between theological camps and a variety of church practices, he desires to embrace ancient traditions and appreciate the breadth of spirituality that Anglicanism has to offer.
GUEST EDITORIAL COMMENT
The essays in this volume initially emerged out of a book project of liturgical memoir emanating from the Anglican Church of Southern Africa proposed by Joseph Pagano and Amy Richter. For various reasons, but primarily because of Covid-19, the book did not come to fruition. However, a number of the authors who had been approached had either completed, or nearly completed, their essays and agreed to submit them for consideration in this special issue of the JTSA. Some of the memoir essays (those by Bethke, Mash, Trisk and West) have been re-worked in order to be presented in a more academic form, engaging with the relevant body of knowledge. Other pieces (by Houston and Morobi) have been retained in their more personal style. We are privileged to include a responsive article by Pagano and Richter (the original editors).
Worldwide, anti-Black words have been used to describe flora. As a result of its strongly racist ... more Worldwide, anti-Black words have been used to describe flora. As a result of its strongly racist history, there is extreme sensitivity to racial differences in South Africa. The removal of racist botanical names is far advanced in South Africa and more appropriate common names have come to the fore. However, the common usage of the plant name "Wandering Jew" is still widespread, despite its historical use in supporting antisemitic stereotypes. This paper explores the Wandering Jew as a plant, Christian myth and antisemitic trope and argues that South Africa follows the recent international trend of adopting alternate plant names.
Transdisciplinarity emerged at the end of the twentieth century and has come to be conceived of a... more Transdisciplinarity emerged at the end of the twentieth century and has come to be conceived of as a meta-methodology that seeks to transcend the different methodologies of segregated disciplines. The meta-methodology of transdisciplinarity finds expression in four different frameworks advanced by Rimondi and Veronese. This paper will expand historical theological perspectives by engaging with this transdisciplinarity meta-methodology. Since transdisciplinarity inherently goes beyond any one discipline, it can therefore influence historical theology without becoming it, and vice versa. Transdisciplinarity is set to increasingly influence theology with transdisciplinary theologians seeking to perceive more clearly the boundaries and potentialities of theological reflection.
Archdeacon Charles F. Mackenzie ministered in the diocese of Natal in South Africa from 1855 to 1... more Archdeacon Charles F. Mackenzie ministered in the diocese of Natal in South Africa from 1855 to 1859. The early days of the diocese and the colony of Natal were characterized by conflict both inside and outside the church. The church conflict of Bishop John Colenso is perhaps most infamous. Mackenzie attempted to navigate this space and minister to settlers, soldiers, and Africans alike. This article draws on primary sources to explore the life and times of Mackenzie and argues that despite Mackenzie's remarkable story, the inseparability of coloniality from the missionary endeavour, racism, and the civilizing narrative was inescapable. Racism has evolved and is still a challenge for many churches.
Islamophobia and antisemitism are likened to two sides of the same coin. While there are consider... more Islamophobia and antisemitism are likened to two sides of the same coin. While there are considerable similarities in definitions, such as a fear-based response to the Other, the implications differ considerably between countries. Under certain conditions, antisemitic attitudes turn into actions. The current convergence of these dynamics, combined with the social, political and economic stressors of the COVID-19 national lockdown, raises a warning flag. This paper argues that if the metaphoric coin is flipped, thanks to the religious weighting of the church and political weighting of the apartheid Israel narrative, it will in all probability land facedown to the detriment of South African Jewry.
Church history is dead, long live historical theology! This restatement of the monarchical law of... more Church history is dead, long live historical theology! This restatement of the monarchical law of 'le mort saisit le vif' is at once a statement of irreparable discontinuity and assumed continuity. The old monarch is no more, yet a new and different monarch ascends to fill the same vacant throne. This is the paradox of church history becoming historical theology. Reviewing the work of W.A Dreyer and J. Pillay on the re-imagining of church history as historical theology, this article explores the tension between the demise of church history as a subject in South Africa and the emerging understanding and application of historical theology, arguing that more can be made of trans-disciplinary dialogues.
In an era increasingly shaped by escalating water crises, Ched Myers calls the church to watershe... more In an era increasingly shaped by escalating water crises, Ched Myers calls the church to watershed discipleship, arguing that watershed discipleship is a faithful response to Christian mission amidst a looming environmental catastrophe. The practical application of a traditional creation care paradigm can remain abstract, a-contextual and cosmetic; insufficiently radical in its diagnosis-remaining located in the political geography of dominant cultural ideation rather than in the topography of creation. Watershed discipleship has the potential to offer a postcolonial interpretation of the great commission as the incarnational yet missional re-inhabiting of the places in which we reside. In South Africa, a region beset with severe droughts and where water demand is outstripping supply, the work of Myers is hardly known. Building on Myers, the argument and application of watershed discipleship to a South African context will be demonstrated.
The Lausanne Congress in Cape Town in 2010 brought together four thousand Christian leaders, repr... more The Lausanne Congress in Cape Town in 2010 brought together four thousand Christian leaders, representing 198 countries, and resulted in the issuing of the Cape Town Commitment. The Cape Town Commitment stands in the historic line of the Lausanne Covenant from the first Lausanne Congress (on World Evangelization) in 1974 and the Manila Manifesto from the second Lausanne Congress in 1989. The Cape Town Commitment expresses an evangelical theology that is no longer dualistic and sees the breadth of the redemptive work of Christ applying to all of the cosmos. There is a commitment to God’s world, not because of its value to humanity, but because of its intrinsic worth, a departure from the anthropocentric view of previous centuries. This marks a significant milestone within evangelicalism, a stream of Christianity long associated with a form of dualism and a focus on pietistic holiness, which has inhibited a timely evangelical theological response to the global environmental crisis, or more accurately, multiple interrelated crises, and the development of a praxis of ‘creation care’. This paper charts and examines the socio-political and environmental events that were formative in the early Lausanne Congresses and the fruition of these dynamics in Cape Town 2010.
The prayer book of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa is currently being revised. The slogan ... more The prayer book of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa is currently being revised. The slogan ‘Under Southern Skies - In An African voice’ is the rallying cry of this liturgical consultative process. It captures one of the core purposes of the revision project, namely, to root Anglican liturgy in the context of Southern Africa. But this is not a new impetus. The previous revision of the prayer book, 1989 Anglican Prayer Book, sought a similar objective and hoped for the continuing development of indigenous liturgy. This hope has a long history. The Anglican church, formed in England in the midst of the Reformation, engaged significantly with the vernacular moment, crafting liturgy in English rather than Latin. The church also sought to hold together a diversity of theological voices in order to create a via media or middle road. This paper explores the liturgical turning point of the Reformation and the later expansion of colonial and theological tensions that have shaped and been expressed through the history of the Anglican prayer book in Southern Africa. The authors conclude that giving substance to indigenous voices and finding theological middle ground remains important to the revision process to this day.
The role and value of Anglican chaplains in the military is a contested discourse. Anglican minis... more The role and value of Anglican chaplains in the military is a contested discourse. Anglican ministers have acted as chaplains to the military in South Africa since the earliest days of British colonialist expansion. At the outbreak of the First World War they joined ministers from a number of other denominations and saw action in the South West African and East African campaigns as well as in the trenches of Europe. Tensions arose around serving the aims of the military hierarchy while also challenging that same hierarchy at times. There was a major point of departure between Britain and South Africa on whether carrying arms was compatible with Holy Orders. This article seeks to bring to the fore many of these tensions, a subject that while given significant attention in Britain, is lagging behind in historical research in South Africa, where little has been published that focuses solely on South African Anglican military chaplains in the First World War.
The Eucharist is part of a common heritage in the Anglican Church of Southern Africa but it is a ... more The Eucharist is part of a common heritage in the Anglican Church of Southern Africa but it is a tradition that has not remained unchanged over time. There has been a movement towards being more inclusive of baptized children and believers from other denominations at the Lord’s Table in the Anglican Church of Southern Africa. This movement is rooted in, among other things, a renewed understanding of the importance of Jesus’ table fellowship and meal parables, the need for a tangible sense of Eucharistic community witnessing to God’s grace and the impetus of eschatological imagination in relation to ideas such as the heavenly banquet. This paper seeks to trace out this movement towards greater inclusivity.
The widening spectrum of scientific and theological reflection has encompassed much of the natura... more The widening spectrum of scientific and theological reflection has encompassed much of the natural sciences as was evi-denced in the August 2013 volume of Studia Historiae Eccle-siasticae that celebrated the work of Professor Cornel du Toit. But subjects like geomorphology are far removed from reflections on the human person and thus not a traditional point of departure for theological engagement. Nevertheless some key concepts in geomorphology such as the ideas of inter-connectedness, holism and scale perspectives have been tentatively explored by the author to locate human thought and actions towards and within the environment as an extension of the ethic to “love your neighbour”. Within this initial attempt of exploration were the seeds for a much greater and deeper exploration of geomorphic logic to theology, applying geomor¬phological concepts in the pursuit of theology and in the context of this article, to historical theology. The aim is to find traction between the two very different fields of geomor¬phology and theology
Ecology, with the issue of sustainability, and climatology, with climate change, are
two well-kno... more Ecology, with the issue of sustainability, and climatology, with climate change, are two well-known points of departure for theological engagement, especially in the emerging field of eco-theology. Less common is a cross-disciplinary conversation with geomorphology. Geomorphology highlights problems that have arisen as a result of human interactions with landscape processes. Using an example of a problematic area of the N3 outside of Pietermaritzburg this article brings geomorphological insights into conversation with theology, extending the ideas of interconnectedness, holism and scale perspectives to locate human thought and actions towards and within the environment as an extension of the ethic to “love your neighbour.”
This WRC report reviews a selection of the literature, local and international, discusses a numbe... more This WRC report reviews a selection of the literature, local and international, discusses a number of water tariffing models which are used in the sector, and goes on to examine the legal and political framework in which water supply operates in South Africa. Thereafter a new model is described, a model which has been developed particularly for the evaluation of costs and tariffs for rural water supply schemes. Over forty operational stand alone type rural water projects were visited and surveyed in order to obtain a picture of the kinds of operation and maintenance costs which are being experienced in the field.
A record of the second Diocese of Natal Theological Conference held in 2024, convened by Peter Ho... more A record of the second Diocese of Natal Theological Conference held in 2024, convened by Peter Houston in his capacity as Canon Theologian.
A record of the first Diocesan of Natal Theological Conference held in decades, convened by Peter... more A record of the first Diocesan of Natal Theological Conference held in decades, convened by Peter Houston in his capacity as Canon Theologian.
Partnership and collaboration can be a powerful catalyst in museum growth, education and developm... more Partnership and collaboration can be a powerful catalyst in museum growth, education and development. The archives departments in the Durban and Johannesburg Holocaust and Genocide Centres provide an important example of this. Peter Houston volunteered at the Durban Holocaust and Genocide Centre in 2021 and was appointed part-time as an Archives and Education Facilitator in 2022. Coming from a Church History background and lacking relevant expertise, he reached out to his counterpart, Jordan Saltzman at the Johannesburg Holocaust and Genocide Centre. Wide ranging discussions from the most appropriate digital platform to make archives more accessible through to engaging with Johannesburg’s social media “Archives Friday” initiative, an important and valuable partnership being birthed that demonstrates that through collaboration, museums are truly stronger together. The story from these two centres provides some important lessons.
Lausanne Conference on Creation Care and the Gospel, Southern Africa, 2018
Water is a scarce and contested resource in Southern Africa. Why is this so when water is a renew... more Water is a scarce and contested resource in Southern Africa. Why is this so when water is a renewable resource? Why can't we simply 'solve the problem' by building more dams, sinking more boreholes and building de-salination plants? The basic science of hydrology was presented and how our response needs to focus primarily on demand management rather than supply management. The interface and relationship between social justice and environmental justice was explored in light of the Cape Town "day zero" narrative, since many rural people live continuously with "day zero" as does the (voiceless) environment. The theological challenge was one of re-connection and re-placement within the catchments (watersheds) that we co-exist.
Charles F. Mackenzie was an Anglican archdeacon in the 19th century in the newly formed Diocese o... more Charles F. Mackenzie was an Anglican archdeacon in the 19th century in the newly formed Diocese of Natal. He was consecrated a missionary bishop for Central Africa in Cape Town in 1861, which was a significant development for the Anglican Church at the time. Mackenzie struggled to read the social landscape, becoming embroiled in colonial conflict. Consequently, congregants, colleagues, and historians have characterized him in markedly different ways, rendering a disputed legacy. This paper brings Mackenzie into conversation with another figure who is not without his own controversy: Martyn Percy. Applying Percy’s implicit theological approach provides an important lens with which to view the social complexities, ecclesial conflicts and missional contexts which Mackenzie sought to navigate.
Giovanni Palermo was an Italian prisoner of war captured at the battle of Bardia on 3 January 194... more Giovanni Palermo was an Italian prisoner of war captured at the battle of Bardia on 3 January 1941 in Libya. He was transferred by ship to Durban and from there, taken to Zonderwater prisoner of war (POW) camp near Pretoria. Palermo published his memoir in 1972 detailing his capture and POW experiences. A close reading of his translated memoir presents several historical challenges. He uncritically makes his personal bias plain from the start, yet at the same time sees himself as the custodian of the true narrative of Italian POW history, even where the historical record indicates a contrary truth to his. Religious and political ideologies present themselves like a Möbius strip at various points throughout his memoir, not least with an opening endorsement by a Christian religious figure who frames what is to follow. Palermo's strongly held views on purity, his self-belief that he is the bearer of the real truth, and his desire to make Italy great again have contemporary societal and theological resonances.
In this essay the author explores how he seeks to integrate worship with all of life. In a South ... more In this essay the author explores how he seeks to integrate worship with all of life. In a South African Anglican context that is oftentimes quite polarised between theological camps and a variety of church practices, he desires to embrace ancient traditions and appreciate the breadth of spirituality that Anglicanism has to offer.
GUEST EDITORIAL COMMENT
The essays in this volume initially emerged out of a book project of liturgical memoir emanating from the Anglican Church of Southern Africa proposed by Joseph Pagano and Amy Richter. For various reasons, but primarily because of Covid-19, the book did not come to fruition. However, a number of the authors who had been approached had either completed, or nearly completed, their essays and agreed to submit them for consideration in this special issue of the JTSA. Some of the memoir essays (those by Bethke, Mash, Trisk and West) have been re-worked in order to be presented in a more academic form, engaging with the relevant body of knowledge. Other pieces (by Houston and Morobi) have been retained in their more personal style. We are privileged to include a responsive article by Pagano and Richter (the original editors).
Worldwide, anti-Black words have been used to describe flora. As a result of its strongly racist ... more Worldwide, anti-Black words have been used to describe flora. As a result of its strongly racist history, there is extreme sensitivity to racial differences in South Africa. The removal of racist botanical names is far advanced in South Africa and more appropriate common names have come to the fore. However, the common usage of the plant name "Wandering Jew" is still widespread, despite its historical use in supporting antisemitic stereotypes. This paper explores the Wandering Jew as a plant, Christian myth and antisemitic trope and argues that South Africa follows the recent international trend of adopting alternate plant names.
Transdisciplinarity emerged at the end of the twentieth century and has come to be conceived of a... more Transdisciplinarity emerged at the end of the twentieth century and has come to be conceived of as a meta-methodology that seeks to transcend the different methodologies of segregated disciplines. The meta-methodology of transdisciplinarity finds expression in four different frameworks advanced by Rimondi and Veronese. This paper will expand historical theological perspectives by engaging with this transdisciplinarity meta-methodology. Since transdisciplinarity inherently goes beyond any one discipline, it can therefore influence historical theology without becoming it, and vice versa. Transdisciplinarity is set to increasingly influence theology with transdisciplinary theologians seeking to perceive more clearly the boundaries and potentialities of theological reflection.
Archdeacon Charles F. Mackenzie ministered in the diocese of Natal in South Africa from 1855 to 1... more Archdeacon Charles F. Mackenzie ministered in the diocese of Natal in South Africa from 1855 to 1859. The early days of the diocese and the colony of Natal were characterized by conflict both inside and outside the church. The church conflict of Bishop John Colenso is perhaps most infamous. Mackenzie attempted to navigate this space and minister to settlers, soldiers, and Africans alike. This article draws on primary sources to explore the life and times of Mackenzie and argues that despite Mackenzie's remarkable story, the inseparability of coloniality from the missionary endeavour, racism, and the civilizing narrative was inescapable. Racism has evolved and is still a challenge for many churches.
Islamophobia and antisemitism are likened to two sides of the same coin. While there are consider... more Islamophobia and antisemitism are likened to two sides of the same coin. While there are considerable similarities in definitions, such as a fear-based response to the Other, the implications differ considerably between countries. Under certain conditions, antisemitic attitudes turn into actions. The current convergence of these dynamics, combined with the social, political and economic stressors of the COVID-19 national lockdown, raises a warning flag. This paper argues that if the metaphoric coin is flipped, thanks to the religious weighting of the church and political weighting of the apartheid Israel narrative, it will in all probability land facedown to the detriment of South African Jewry.
Church history is dead, long live historical theology! This restatement of the monarchical law of... more Church history is dead, long live historical theology! This restatement of the monarchical law of 'le mort saisit le vif' is at once a statement of irreparable discontinuity and assumed continuity. The old monarch is no more, yet a new and different monarch ascends to fill the same vacant throne. This is the paradox of church history becoming historical theology. Reviewing the work of W.A Dreyer and J. Pillay on the re-imagining of church history as historical theology, this article explores the tension between the demise of church history as a subject in South Africa and the emerging understanding and application of historical theology, arguing that more can be made of trans-disciplinary dialogues.
In an era increasingly shaped by escalating water crises, Ched Myers calls the church to watershe... more In an era increasingly shaped by escalating water crises, Ched Myers calls the church to watershed discipleship, arguing that watershed discipleship is a faithful response to Christian mission amidst a looming environmental catastrophe. The practical application of a traditional creation care paradigm can remain abstract, a-contextual and cosmetic; insufficiently radical in its diagnosis-remaining located in the political geography of dominant cultural ideation rather than in the topography of creation. Watershed discipleship has the potential to offer a postcolonial interpretation of the great commission as the incarnational yet missional re-inhabiting of the places in which we reside. In South Africa, a region beset with severe droughts and where water demand is outstripping supply, the work of Myers is hardly known. Building on Myers, the argument and application of watershed discipleship to a South African context will be demonstrated.
The Lausanne Congress in Cape Town in 2010 brought together four thousand Christian leaders, repr... more The Lausanne Congress in Cape Town in 2010 brought together four thousand Christian leaders, representing 198 countries, and resulted in the issuing of the Cape Town Commitment. The Cape Town Commitment stands in the historic line of the Lausanne Covenant from the first Lausanne Congress (on World Evangelization) in 1974 and the Manila Manifesto from the second Lausanne Congress in 1989. The Cape Town Commitment expresses an evangelical theology that is no longer dualistic and sees the breadth of the redemptive work of Christ applying to all of the cosmos. There is a commitment to God’s world, not because of its value to humanity, but because of its intrinsic worth, a departure from the anthropocentric view of previous centuries. This marks a significant milestone within evangelicalism, a stream of Christianity long associated with a form of dualism and a focus on pietistic holiness, which has inhibited a timely evangelical theological response to the global environmental crisis, or more accurately, multiple interrelated crises, and the development of a praxis of ‘creation care’. This paper charts and examines the socio-political and environmental events that were formative in the early Lausanne Congresses and the fruition of these dynamics in Cape Town 2010.
The prayer book of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa is currently being revised. The slogan ... more The prayer book of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa is currently being revised. The slogan ‘Under Southern Skies - In An African voice’ is the rallying cry of this liturgical consultative process. It captures one of the core purposes of the revision project, namely, to root Anglican liturgy in the context of Southern Africa. But this is not a new impetus. The previous revision of the prayer book, 1989 Anglican Prayer Book, sought a similar objective and hoped for the continuing development of indigenous liturgy. This hope has a long history. The Anglican church, formed in England in the midst of the Reformation, engaged significantly with the vernacular moment, crafting liturgy in English rather than Latin. The church also sought to hold together a diversity of theological voices in order to create a via media or middle road. This paper explores the liturgical turning point of the Reformation and the later expansion of colonial and theological tensions that have shaped and been expressed through the history of the Anglican prayer book in Southern Africa. The authors conclude that giving substance to indigenous voices and finding theological middle ground remains important to the revision process to this day.
The role and value of Anglican chaplains in the military is a contested discourse. Anglican minis... more The role and value of Anglican chaplains in the military is a contested discourse. Anglican ministers have acted as chaplains to the military in South Africa since the earliest days of British colonialist expansion. At the outbreak of the First World War they joined ministers from a number of other denominations and saw action in the South West African and East African campaigns as well as in the trenches of Europe. Tensions arose around serving the aims of the military hierarchy while also challenging that same hierarchy at times. There was a major point of departure between Britain and South Africa on whether carrying arms was compatible with Holy Orders. This article seeks to bring to the fore many of these tensions, a subject that while given significant attention in Britain, is lagging behind in historical research in South Africa, where little has been published that focuses solely on South African Anglican military chaplains in the First World War.
The Eucharist is part of a common heritage in the Anglican Church of Southern Africa but it is a ... more The Eucharist is part of a common heritage in the Anglican Church of Southern Africa but it is a tradition that has not remained unchanged over time. There has been a movement towards being more inclusive of baptized children and believers from other denominations at the Lord’s Table in the Anglican Church of Southern Africa. This movement is rooted in, among other things, a renewed understanding of the importance of Jesus’ table fellowship and meal parables, the need for a tangible sense of Eucharistic community witnessing to God’s grace and the impetus of eschatological imagination in relation to ideas such as the heavenly banquet. This paper seeks to trace out this movement towards greater inclusivity.
The widening spectrum of scientific and theological reflection has encompassed much of the natura... more The widening spectrum of scientific and theological reflection has encompassed much of the natural sciences as was evi-denced in the August 2013 volume of Studia Historiae Eccle-siasticae that celebrated the work of Professor Cornel du Toit. But subjects like geomorphology are far removed from reflections on the human person and thus not a traditional point of departure for theological engagement. Nevertheless some key concepts in geomorphology such as the ideas of inter-connectedness, holism and scale perspectives have been tentatively explored by the author to locate human thought and actions towards and within the environment as an extension of the ethic to “love your neighbour”. Within this initial attempt of exploration were the seeds for a much greater and deeper exploration of geomorphic logic to theology, applying geomor¬phological concepts in the pursuit of theology and in the context of this article, to historical theology. The aim is to find traction between the two very different fields of geomor¬phology and theology
Ecology, with the issue of sustainability, and climatology, with climate change, are
two well-kno... more Ecology, with the issue of sustainability, and climatology, with climate change, are two well-known points of departure for theological engagement, especially in the emerging field of eco-theology. Less common is a cross-disciplinary conversation with geomorphology. Geomorphology highlights problems that have arisen as a result of human interactions with landscape processes. Using an example of a problematic area of the N3 outside of Pietermaritzburg this article brings geomorphological insights into conversation with theology, extending the ideas of interconnectedness, holism and scale perspectives to locate human thought and actions towards and within the environment as an extension of the ethic to “love your neighbour.”
This WRC report reviews a selection of the literature, local and international, discusses a numbe... more This WRC report reviews a selection of the literature, local and international, discusses a number of water tariffing models which are used in the sector, and goes on to examine the legal and political framework in which water supply operates in South Africa. Thereafter a new model is described, a model which has been developed particularly for the evaluation of costs and tariffs for rural water supply schemes. Over forty operational stand alone type rural water projects were visited and surveyed in order to obtain a picture of the kinds of operation and maintenance costs which are being experienced in the field.
A record of the second Diocese of Natal Theological Conference held in 2024, convened by Peter Ho... more A record of the second Diocese of Natal Theological Conference held in 2024, convened by Peter Houston in his capacity as Canon Theologian.
A record of the first Diocesan of Natal Theological Conference held in decades, convened by Peter... more A record of the first Diocesan of Natal Theological Conference held in decades, convened by Peter Houston in his capacity as Canon Theologian.
Partnership and collaboration can be a powerful catalyst in museum growth, education and developm... more Partnership and collaboration can be a powerful catalyst in museum growth, education and development. The archives departments in the Durban and Johannesburg Holocaust and Genocide Centres provide an important example of this. Peter Houston volunteered at the Durban Holocaust and Genocide Centre in 2021 and was appointed part-time as an Archives and Education Facilitator in 2022. Coming from a Church History background and lacking relevant expertise, he reached out to his counterpart, Jordan Saltzman at the Johannesburg Holocaust and Genocide Centre. Wide ranging discussions from the most appropriate digital platform to make archives more accessible through to engaging with Johannesburg’s social media “Archives Friday” initiative, an important and valuable partnership being birthed that demonstrates that through collaboration, museums are truly stronger together. The story from these two centres provides some important lessons.
Lausanne Conference on Creation Care and the Gospel, Southern Africa, 2018
Water is a scarce and contested resource in Southern Africa. Why is this so when water is a renew... more Water is a scarce and contested resource in Southern Africa. Why is this so when water is a renewable resource? Why can't we simply 'solve the problem' by building more dams, sinking more boreholes and building de-salination plants? The basic science of hydrology was presented and how our response needs to focus primarily on demand management rather than supply management. The interface and relationship between social justice and environmental justice was explored in light of the Cape Town "day zero" narrative, since many rural people live continuously with "day zero" as does the (voiceless) environment. The theological challenge was one of re-connection and re-placement within the catchments (watersheds) that we co-exist.
The prayer book of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa is currently being revised. The slogan ... more The prayer book of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa is currently being revised. The slogan ‘Under Southern Skies - In An African voice’ is the rallying cry of this liturgical consultative process. It captures one of the core purposes of the revision project, namely, to root Anglican liturgy in the context of Southern Africa. But this is not a new impetus. The previous revision of the prayer book, 1989 Anglican Prayer Book, sought a similar objective and hoped for the continuing development of indigenous liturgy. This hope has a long history. The Anglican church, formed in England in the midst of the Reformation, engaged significantly with the vernacular moment, crafting liturgy in English rather than Latin. The church in time also sought to hold together a diversity of theological voices in order to create a via media or middle road. This paper explores the liturgical turning point of the Reformation and the later expansion of colonial and theological tensions that have shaped and been expressed through the history of the Anglican prayer book in Southern Africa. Giving substance to indigenous voices and finding theological middle-ground remains important to the revision process to this day.
In 1998 the WRC commissioned a project to research the costs of stand alone type rural water supp... more In 1998 the WRC commissioned a project to research the costs of stand alone type rural water supply schemes, and the development of a cost and tariff model for planning and management purposes. This paper describes and demonstrates the model that will be available with the research report from the WRC.
Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks (of blessed memory) was a renowned British Rabbi, educator, and author ... more Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks (of blessed memory) was a renowned British Rabbi, educator, and author who served as Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth. Towards the end of his life, he was very outspoken about a mutant form of antisemitism that he saw emerging within living memory of the Holocaust. This essay applies his critique of the evolution of antisemitism to the history of the Church. Some lessons are drawn out that are both urgent and important for contemporary Christians to reflect upon.
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Papers by Peter Houston
GUEST EDITORIAL COMMENT
The essays in this volume initially emerged out of a book project of liturgical memoir emanating from the Anglican Church of Southern Africa proposed by Joseph Pagano and Amy Richter. For various reasons, but primarily because of Covid-19, the book did not come to fruition. However, a number of the authors who had been approached had either completed, or nearly completed, their essays and agreed to submit them for consideration in this special issue of the JTSA. Some of the memoir essays (those by Bethke, Mash, Trisk and West) have been re-worked in order to be presented in a more academic form, engaging with the relevant body of knowledge. Other pieces (by Houston and Morobi) have been retained in their more personal style. We are privileged to include a responsive article by Pagano and Richter (the original editors).
two well-known points of departure for theological engagement, especially in the
emerging field of eco-theology. Less common is a cross-disciplinary conversation
with geomorphology. Geomorphology highlights problems that have arisen as a
result of human interactions with landscape processes. Using an example of a
problematic area of the N3 outside of Pietermaritzburg this article brings geomorphological insights into conversation with theology, extending the ideas of interconnectedness, holism and scale perspectives to locate human thought and actions
towards and within the environment as an extension of the ethic to “love your
neighbour.”
Conference Presentations by Peter Houston
GUEST EDITORIAL COMMENT
The essays in this volume initially emerged out of a book project of liturgical memoir emanating from the Anglican Church of Southern Africa proposed by Joseph Pagano and Amy Richter. For various reasons, but primarily because of Covid-19, the book did not come to fruition. However, a number of the authors who had been approached had either completed, or nearly completed, their essays and agreed to submit them for consideration in this special issue of the JTSA. Some of the memoir essays (those by Bethke, Mash, Trisk and West) have been re-worked in order to be presented in a more academic form, engaging with the relevant body of knowledge. Other pieces (by Houston and Morobi) have been retained in their more personal style. We are privileged to include a responsive article by Pagano and Richter (the original editors).
two well-known points of departure for theological engagement, especially in the
emerging field of eco-theology. Less common is a cross-disciplinary conversation
with geomorphology. Geomorphology highlights problems that have arisen as a
result of human interactions with landscape processes. Using an example of a
problematic area of the N3 outside of Pietermaritzburg this article brings geomorphological insights into conversation with theology, extending the ideas of interconnectedness, holism and scale perspectives to locate human thought and actions
towards and within the environment as an extension of the ethic to “love your
neighbour.”
report from the WRC.