Head of School (SOTE)
Who are We?
Welcome to SOTE, the heartbeat of PCU. Our school holds the treasure that is our rich heritage of regional theological education, training leaders for justice and transforming hearts and communities for over 60 years.
In SOTE we invite toloa (students) to study from certificate level through to PhD, at home or onsite, fulltime or parttime. We serve the churches of the region and throughout the world with cutting-edge theology and ecumenism that is grounded in Indigenous wisdom and ways.
We are committed to ecumenism and diversity, so you will find a welcome among us, no matter your background.
Our Disciplines
SOTE is built from the five discipline areas of 1) theology and ethics, 2) biblical studies, 3) history of Christianity, 4) practical ministry and 5) ecumenism. Our facilitators of learning (FOLs, our faculty) are men and women who are specialists in their field and hail from throughout Pasifika and the world. Our current research projects include international development, climate change, Pasifika hermeneutics, identity and storytelling. We are diverse and have a wide scope of research interests with partners in universities around the world. We publish widely including in our own journal, Contemporary Pasifika Theologies, and through our PCU Press. We supervise PhD and Masters students investigating topics from mental health to deep sea mining, domestic violence to politics. We are world leaders in contextual theology and outward-facing, public theology. We also support students who wish to research deeply into biblical texts and hermeneutics, issues facing local and national churches, questions of history and ecumenism.
At SOTE we see the role of theology is to serve the church, so we ensure that every course is relevant to building up your understanding and critical skills in your own setting so you can contribute and build strong, healthy communities and institutions.
Our Toloa
Our toloa (students) are men and women from the region and beyond, ordained and lay, people who work within the church and in a broad range of other settings. Some are very experienced, some are young. We see theology as the heartbeat of religion and vital to understanding the world in which we live. Theology underpins all of life, and teaches us how to respond to demands within our families, communities, and nations.
Unique to PCU is our commitment to communities-based learning, ensuring that our communities are a valued source of wisdom and that our ideas can be tested for authenticity and usefulness in local settings. So whether you are from a traditional village or you are part of a diaspora living in a city abroad, our programmes are designed to help you navigate the contemporary issues you face in your own context.
Our Programmes
Our programmes begin with a range of certificate level courses available online and onsite in topics related practical ministry. Our bachelor’s programmes include a Bachelor of Divinity and Bachelor of Ecumenism, appropriate for church ministers wishing to further their education, and for lay people wanting a better understanding of their faith and the faith of others. Our postgraduate programmes, for those joining us with a previous bachelor’s degree, allow students to specialise in one of our five discipline areas or to work across disciplines.
Our PhD programmes allow independent research that is supervised by our highly qualified FOLs and examined internationally. You will have access to our library and other international sources, and be supported through a range of seminars and mentoring experiences. Many of our successful doctoral candidates have gone on to lead other institutions and churches throughout the region and beyond. You will be joining in a rich legacy.
