27 Facts About Lloyd Geering

Lloyd Geering considers Christian and Muslim fundamentalism to be "social evils".

Lloyd Geering was born in Rangiora on 26 February 1918, the son of Alice and George Frederick Thomas Lloyd Geering.

Lloyd Geering was brought up in Dunedin, before the family spent four years from 1927 to 1930 in Australia, where Geering was dux of Warrnambool Elementary School, then returning to Dunedin.

Lloyd Geering was educated at Otago Boys' High School from 1931 to 1935, where he was dux in his final year and vice-captain of the hockey 1st XI.

In 1936, Lloyd Geering went on to study mathematics at the University of Otago.

Lloyd Geering "embraced" the Christian tradition in 1937, after a friend invited him to church and to the Student Christian Movement.

Lloyd Geering applied to study for the ministry at Knox College and was accepted, but told to finish his Bachelor of Arts degree first.

Lloyd Geering was a member of the university's first-grade hockey team and active in university dramatic productions and debating.

Lloyd Geering was elected president of the Otago Student Christian Movement in 1939.

Lloyd Geering was nominated for a Rhodes Scholarship by the University of Otago in 1939 and graduated Bachelor of Arts with first-class honours in 1940.

On 22 May 1943, Lloyd Geering married Nancy Marie McKenzie at Trinity Presbyterian Church, Timaru.

The couple had two children before Nancy Lloyd Geering died from tuberculosis in Dunedin on 4 October 1949.

On 20 November 1951, Lloyd Geering married Elaine Morrison Parker, a speech therapist, and they went on to have one child.

Lloyd Geering was ordained as a minister of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand in 1943 and practised as a minister in Kurow; Opoho, Dunedin ; and St James, Wellington before turning to theological teaching.

Lloyd Geering was the honorary associate minister of St John's Church in Wellington from 1971 to 1983.

Lloyd Geering was named honorary assistant at St Andrew's in Wellington in 1989.

Lloyd Geering remains on the register of New Zealand Presbyterian ministers.

Lloyd Geering has held the positions of professor of Old Testament studies at Presbyterian Church Hall, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, professor of Old Testament studies at Theological Hall, Dunedin, and principal of Theological Hall, Dunedin.

In 1971, Lloyd Geering became the foundation professor of religious studies at Victoria University of Wellington and held this position until his retirement in 1984 when he was appointed professor emeritus.

Lloyd Geering is a member of the Sea of Faith Network, and St Andrew's On The Terrace, as well as principal lecturer at St Andrew's Trust for the Study of Religion and Society.

In 1967, Lloyd Geering gained a high-profile when he was charged with "doctrinal error" and "disturbing the peace and unity of the church".

Lloyd Geering rejects the belief held by all monotheistic faiths that God is a supernatural being who created and continues to look over the world.

On 26 February 2018, Lloyd Geering celebrated his 100th birthday, emulating his father who reached 100 years of age.

Shirley, Lady Lloyd Geering, died in Petone on 1 October 2021.

In 2021, Lloyd Geering joined the group Intergenerational Climate Ambassadors, established in 2020 by scientist Jim Salinger and Sophie Handford, a Kapiti Coast district councillor.

In 1976, Lloyd Geering was conferred an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree by the University of Otago.

Lloyd Geering is a patron of the Coalition for Open Government.