Dr Jane SImpson by Jane Simpson On Easter Monday a householder in Aranui, Christchurch, was sluicing down her front steps. In the sweltering heat they were dry in next to no time. The packing was done. The movers were coming the next day. Thirty minutes later a small group gathered at the entrance, each holding a copy of a new book left: Prayer at the entrance Their son, Wayne, had come down from Wellington to help with the packing and cleaning.The whānau were joined by two friends from the Diocesan Bicultural Education Committee, Marjorie Smart and Shirley Free, and by the author left: Family group When … [Read more...]
Social Drama and Christchurch Cathedral
Patricia Allan analyses the years of debate about the future of the earthquake damaged Christchurch Cathedral in terms of Social Drama Rebuild or pull it down- why was the future of Christchurch Cathedral such a controversial issue? Was it a contest of power between ‘the old boys’ network’ of Christchurch and the Anglican Church? Was it because the Bishop was a Canadian woman? Were misogyny and xenophobia the underlying themes? Was it about the identity of Christchurch being closely tied to the Cathedral as ‘icon of the city’? Was this a contest of power- economic, political, cultural and ecclesiastical power? Patricia Allen believes it was a contest of … [Read more...]
