Rev. Dr Dame Phyllis Myra Guthardt 1 August 1929 - 29 June 2023
Kia ora koutou katoa,
Ko Brett Berquist tōku ingoa, he Amokapua te Rōpū Pāpori ahau I te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha. It is an honour to represent the University of Canterbury, on behalf of our Chancellor, Honorable Amy Adams, and our Vice-Chancellor, Professor Cheryl de la Rey, who regret not being able to attend today’s service. An honour to recognise the extraordinary service and to pay tribute to a dear friend, colleague, scholar, teacher, educational administrator, and trailblazing leader in religious and academic worlds. Having not met her personally, I struggle to call her Phil so I’ll continue with Dame Phyllis, if you permit me. A member of my team did have the great privilege of meeting her about three weeks ago to discuss our plans for our 150th anniversary. Our theme is ka titiro whakamuri, ki te anga whakamua - guided by the past, shaping the future. I’m here today on behalf of the university to honour Dame Phyllis’ service and dedication to education and our community.
Dame Phyllis was the first woman to be ordained in New Zealand when, in 1959, she was ordained into the Methodist Church of New Zealand. She was also a trailblazer in education, including as only the second woman to become Chancellor of the University of Canterbury in 1998.
After studying at Christchurch Teachers’ College (which is now part of the University of Canterbury), Dame Phyllis taught in Nelson and Christchurch before studying for the Diploma at Trinity Theological College, and graduating with a BA in English at the University of Auckland. She went on to gain an MA with First Class Honours at the University of Canterbury in 1959. She tutored in Religious Education at Homerton College, Cambridge, and was awarded a PhD at the University of Cambridge in 1963.
Following her ground-breaking ordination, Dame Phyllis served as a Methodist Minister in Hamilton, Chaplain to Waikato Hospital, a member of the Council of the University of Waikato, tutor in English, Lecturer in Religious Studies, and Ecumenical Chaplain at that University. She was Minister of Knox Presbyterian Church, Christchurch, from 1976 to 1984 and then became the Superintendent Minister of the Riccarton Methodist Parish before retiring at the end of 1989.
Reverend Phillips covered her education and career, so I won’t repeat that here. I concur that retirement does not appear to have slowed her down. Among her many roles, she was President of the World Methodist Council, a member of the Working Committee on Women, Church and Society of the World Council of Churches (in Geneva), and a member of the Theological Commission of the Christian Conference of Asia (in Hong Kong). In 1999 she was a Foundation member of the Honourable Order of Jerusalem of the World Methodist Council. She also published in various national and international theological journals.
For more than 30 years Dame Phyllis was also a regular broadcaster on religious and current affairs on Radio New Zealand.
She was awarded an Honorary Doctorate at the University of Waikato in 1986 and became a Dame Commander of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 1993.
Dame Phyllis was a member of the University of Canterbury Council for 21 years, from 1981 until 2002, holding the post of Pro-Chancellor from 1992 until 1998 and Chancellor from 1998 to 2002.
In recognition of her long and distinguished service to the University of Canterbury and to the Church, the University of Canterbury awarded Dame Phyllis an Honorary Doctor of Laws in 2003.
In her graduation address she said she was grateful for the richness the University of Canterbury brought to her life, and told the graduates of 2003:
Try to explore all kinds of ideas, while you’re here and in your later work. We live in such exciting times and we’re just on the fringes of knowledge – about one another and the wider universe. We try to arrange mere fragments of truth into a mosaic that’ll reveal the meaning of life….
Ever humble about her many achievements, she finished her address to the graduands 20 years ago by saying:
I know Canterbury will go on producing fine leaders in all areas of life. I often wish I’d been bolder in leadership but I believe in the community of scholars, teachers and students and all those who enable us to continue.
Dame Phyllis, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha, the University of Canterbury, is grateful for your energy, your dedication, your leadership, and your service.
Ngā mihi nui.
