Phyllis Guthardt

Dame Phyllis Myra Guthardt (1 August 1929 – 29 June 2023) was a New Zealand Methodist minister and women's leader. She served as chancellor of the University of Canterbury from 1998 to 2002.

Early life and education Phyllis Myra Guthardt was born on 1 August 1929 in Nelson, New Zealand. She became a teacher after completing her training at Christchurch Teachers' College, and taught in her hometown of Nelson, as well as Christchurch. She then pursued further education, completing a diploma at Trinity Theological College and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Auckland. In 1959, she graduated from the University of Canterbury, in Christchurch, New Zealand, completing a master's degree in English with first-class honours. She was later to be the first woman elected to the presidency of New Zealand's Methodist Church in 1985. she earned her PhD in biblical studies.

Honours In the 1993 Queen's Birthday Honours, Guthardt was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire, for services to the Methodist Church and women.

Guthardt was conferred honorary doctorates by the University of Waikato in 1986 and the University of Canterbury in 2003.