Father Rowan Smith in ConFab at CN&CO
Retired Dean of Cape Town, Rowan Smith, was the guest speaker at CN&CO’s ConFab session on 3 May 2016. His talk outlined his ministry and career from the time he decided to become a priest, through his time at university, his years as a monk in the Community of the Resurrection, chaplain and teacher at St Martin’s School, chaplain of UCT, chaplain and chief provincial officer on the staff of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, his 14-year tenure as Dean of Cape Town, his involvement in the LGBT community and thoughts on his retirement.
Rowan spoke with passion about the lessons he’s learnt and people he’s encountered on his journey. (You can listen to Rowan’s ConFab talk on the CN&CO Soundcloud feed.)
“As a priest you are there from birth to death in people’s lives. I can think of no vocation that is more enriching than to walk beside people both in birth and in death – and everything that goes in between,” he said at the end of his talk.
“ConFabs are about bringing people together from a variety of professions, walks of life and with differing points of view to discuss whatever our guest speaker wants to talk about – or anything that tickles their fancy,” explains Carel. “The aim is to stimulate thinking, spark conversations and put people in touch with each other who otherwise may not have met.”
The sessions celebrate the power of relationships, and their ability to transcend history, geography and generations.
Rowan came to us via our chief word nerd Colin Ford, who attended St Martin’s School while Rowan was the chaplain there.
“On paper, Rowan and I shouldn’t be friends,” he says. “We live in different cities, come from different backgrounds and generations. Yet we have been good friends for more than 30 years. That’s the power of relationships. They transcend all that other stuff and find a way to work.”
Guests at the ConFab session included:
- Jenny Retief and Anne Vicente of Riversands Incubation Hub
- Andre Brooks of Price Forbes (2016 Insurance Apprentice winner)
- Christelle Colman, at the end of her first day as CEO of Europ Assistance SA
- Stewart Barret of Navan Consulting
- Ntombi Langa-Royds of Nthake Consulting (who is also deputy chair of the St Stithians council)
Plus family and friends of Team CN&CO.
Have a listen to Rowan’s ConFab talk on the CN&CO Soundcloud feed.