About Us

Incorporated in 1984 as a charitable trust to establish a centre in the city of Wellington, St Andrew’s Trust for the Study of Religion and Society addresses a broad range of issues related to the study of religion and society.

The Trust explores the interrelatedness of spiritual and human values and the impact on society of developments in religion, science, technology and the arts as well as changing political climates.

Attention is given to both majority and minority religious traditions as well as to emerging non-institutional spirituality.  

While St. Andrew’s Church is Presbyterian Christian, the Trust enjoys exploring spiritual paths and recognises all spiritual seeking as valuable.

 

Lectures and Lecture Series

Each year the Trust arranges a combination of lectures, seminars and conferences with local, national and international speakers.

A series of lectures is presented each year by our theologian, Lloyd Geering, and an overseas speaker is invited to give a Geering Lecture series every second year.

Speakers are encouraged to present their ideas within a framework of current societal trends and with reference to the relevance of religious belief and practice in an increasingly secular and globalised environment.

Other events are organised on issues and themes that relate to the core areas of the Trust’s work.

From these lectures we produce booklets, CDs and DVDs. Increasingly we will be offering audio and video downloads.

Lectures are generally held at St Andrew’s on The Terrace, Wellington.

 

Mini-conference/seminar

Each year in September we will be organising a mini conference/seminar starting with a free, public talk on a Friday evening with an all-day conference the following day.

 

The Lloyd Geering Lectureship Fund

The Geering Lectures were inaugurated in 1997. Named after the Trust’s principal lecturer, Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies, Lloyd Geering, and supported by this special fund, a visiting lecturer is invited to St Andrew’s every second year.

 

Charitable Status

Being registered as a charitable entity under the Charities Act 2005 means that New Zealand taxpayers who donate more than $5 are able to receive a tax rebate on your donations.

Contact us for info on how to get a tax rebate from your donations.