Media release Nov 3 Celebrations ­

Heresy Revisited 40 years after Lloyd Geering's Heresy Trial Media release by the St Andrews Trust for the Study of Religion and Society

October 25, 2007

#1 Geering Heresy Trial to be Celebrated.

Order of New Zealand recipient and New Zealand's most famous theologian Lloyd Geering is set to celebrate with colleagues, friends and interested members of the public 40 years since his landmark heresy trial began.

Lloyd Geering's heresy trial is being revisited at an all-day event in Wellington on November the 3rd, 40 years to the day since the trial began.

The trial of Geering who was then head of the Presbyterian Church's theological college shook New Zealand society and was widely reported internationally. It is also the subject of a forthcoming television documentary on "The Last Western Heretic".

"These celebrations mark an important point in New Zealand's history," said popular television presenter and Trust member Chris Nichol who will be conducting a live interview with Geering as part of the day's events.

"At the time people argued in bus stops about whether the resurrection really happened as its recorded in the Bible. That was 1967. The trial was a turning point. After the trial it seemed that people began to treat the institutional church with a great deal more caution."

Rev Dr Margaret Mayman, who is chair of the St Andrew's Study Trust, said "We are delighted to honour Professor Geering's contribution to public debate about God, the world and New Zealand life. But there will also be a another side to the celebrations where we'll be discussing the place of religion is in society."

Admission to the event is $35 (includes lunch). Registration form and further details on the celebrations are available from St Andrew's on The Terrace Office (04)472-9211 or http://satrs.standrews.org.nz/

ENDS

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