NCL-30th-Anniversary-History-Book-WEB

2002-2016 | PROF TREVOR CAIRNEY
2010
The Lectures in 2010 were presented by
Professor Jeremy Begbie, the Thomas A. Langford
Research Professor at Duke Divinity School,
Duke University. Professor Begbie is known
internationally for his work on the theology
of music. In this work, he marries superb
musicianship and knowledge of music, with
his knowledge of theology and its application
to explorations of music. The Lectures explored
three central themes – creativity, freedom
and the powers of language, and each lecture
required a grand piano on centre stage.
In lecture one, titled ‘Can we be creative in
the midst of God’s creation?’ Professor Begbie
explored one of the hallmarks of the modern
era: that human creativity is seen as bringing
our own order to the physical world. The
second lecture was titled ‘Freedom – Can we be
free with God around?’ In the human quest for
freedom in the modern age it is often assumed
that the more God is involved in our lives,
the less freedom we have. However, Professor
Begbie demonstrated with musical analysis
of chord structures that ‘musical space’ can
help us grasp a far more biblical account of
human freedom, and discover that God is not
freedom’s enemy. The third lecture – ‘Language
– Can we speak about God without words?’ –
suggested that music can ‘transcend’ words. He
challenged us all to consider the place of music
in a faith that pivots on God using human
words to make himself known.
Professor Begbie’s essay ‘Polyphony of Life:
Dietrich Bonhoeffer’ was presented in Case
Quarterly Issue 23. He was also interviewed
by Rachael Kohn for her ABC Radio National
program ‘The Spirit of Things’.
2011
The 2011 lectures featured three ‘younger’
theologians who were asked to explore the
theme, Theology and the Future. The speakers
chosen were: Rev Dr Michael Jensen (Moore
College), Prof John McDowell (Newcastle
University), and Rev Dr David Starling (Morling
College). The series was introduced by Dr Greg
Clarke (former Director of CASE, now CEO of
the Bible Society). Greg’s knowledge of the
College, his work on CASE, and his ability to
make a theme accessible to residents were a
great contribution.
Prof John McDowell presented the first
lecture titled ‘Theology & the Future of
Education’. The following evening, Dr David
Starling spoke on ‘Theology & the Future of
the Church’. On Thursday evening, Dr Michael
Jensen considered ‘Theology & the Future of
Humanity’.
Issue 28 of Case Quarterly was devoted to
the theme, and a contract was also secured
with the international publisher T&T Clark to
write a book titled Theology and the Future. This
was edited by Prof Trevor Cairney and Rev Dr
David Starling and included submissions from
many eminent Australian and international
theologians. This book was subsequently
launched at the 2014 New College Lectures and
is still on sale worldwide.
2012
The 2012 lectures, given by Professor James K.
A. Smith, explored Christian worship in the
theme Imagining the Kingdom. Instead of a third
lecture, a conference was organized through
14 CASE 48