Rev Dr Keith Rowe

Multi-Faith Panel

Rev Dr Keith Rowe is respected for his work and insights as a Christian theologian on both sides of the Tasman Sea. Now retired in Auckland, he has served as parish minister, theological teacher and church leader in the Methodist Church of New Zealand and the Uniting Church in Australia.

About Revd Dr Keth Rowe

Revd Dr Keith Rowe is respected for his work and insights as a Christian theologian on both sides of the Tasman Sea. Now retired in Auckland, he has served as parish minister, theological teacher and church leader in the Methodist Church of New Zealand and the Uniting Church in Australia. He is a former Principal of Trinity Methodist Theological College, Auckland and in 1992-3 was President of the Methodist Church of New Zealand. He has been active in a variety of movements and actions for justice and peace and in 1993 was a leader of the NZ Churches Social Justice Initiative. He was chairperson of the Doctrine Work Group of the UCA Assembly.

Keith has a long-standing interest in inter-faith encounter and learning and is the author of the book, Living with the Neighbour who is Different, Christian Faith in a Multi Religious World. He has been actively involved in Jewish-Christian relations and Muslim-Christian dialogue and is a frequent speaker at conferences in Australia and New Zealand and other places, including Saudi Arabia. While working in Auburn, Sydney he developed significant Muslim-Christian relationships.

As a Christian theologian Keith believes inter-faith encounter represents an exciting and needed doorway into the reshaping of Christian believing in our time; as a peace advocate he believes it's an essential doorway into the promotion of communal and world peace; as a Progressive Christian he believes that engagement in meaningful and disciplined inter-faith dialogue and cooperative action for a just and peaceful world lies near the heart of the Progressive way; as a person shaped by the way of Jesus he welcomes the opportunity to benefit from life lived within an enlarged pool of spiritual wisdom.

Keith is now an honorary assistant Minister in the Community of St Luke, a Progressive Presbyterian congregation in Auckland. He continues his interest in cross cultural and interfaith activities as a part time teacher of English to speakers of other languages.