Space for Theological Reflection on the Ideas Shaping our Culture

Attendees at ADM’s 2021 School of Theology, Culture & Public Engagement look back on how they were shaped by the masterclasses they attended at this year’s online STCPE.

Over 19-21 January 2021, ADM’s School of Theology, Culture & Public Engagement (STCPE) continued its annual mid-summer tradition of creating space in a busy city for theological reflection on the ideas shaping our culture. Participants enjoyed masterclasses led by a huge array of international and Australian scholars, including Brian Brock, Karen Swallow Prior, Sam Chan, Amanda Benckhuysen, Denise Daniels, Mark and Luke Glanville, David Höhne, ADM Fellows and more. 

Due to COVID, we moved STCPE online for 2021. While there was certainly a lot to miss about physically gathering together in Sydney, it was a delight to have attendees joining us from across Australia and even internationally via Zoom. Enrolments were capped at 30 participants per masterclass, which enabled rich discussion between participants and speakers in the online environment – the chat often buzzing along with recommendations, questions and thoughts.

We’re deeply thankful to this year’s speakers and to the 164 attendees who came together from a variety of fields to create a generous community of Christian learning. Below you can read some of their reflections.

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Reflection on Denise Daniels’ masterclass, “Faith in the workplace”

By Andrew Laird, Life@Work National Manager, City Bible Forum 

“This was my first STCPE masterclass - being based in Melbourne it was fantastic to be able to ‘attend’ online. Denise presented a wonderful summary of her recent research exploring the connection between Christian faith and daily work in the United States. Of particular interest to me was her findings regarding how people express their faith in the workplace - predominately by how they act, how they pray, and how they share their faith with their colleagues.

“It was interesting for me to reflect upon how much these expressions align with those of Australian workers, but also notice a faith and work gap that seems common in both the US and Australia, namely how little Christians think about the inherent value of their daily work (the actual tasks that they do, and the ways those tasks might love or harm others).

“The masterclass reinforced my enthusiasm and passion to keep encouraging Christians in their daily work in all these areas, plus also continue to address this gap (and reflect further as to why it is a common theme amongst both workers in Australia and the United States).”

Professor Denise Daniels is the Hudson T. Harrison Professor of Entrepreneurship at Wheaton College. Read more about 2021 STCPE speakers.

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Reflection on Leisa Aitken’s masterclass, “What is Hope? Psychology & Theology in Conversation”

By Ruth Lukabyo, 2021 ADM Fellow

“In her masterclass, Leisa Aitken brought together a psychological and theological way of understanding hope. She argued that the experience of hope was a common grace that needed to be reconceptualised to be useful in the psychology field. First, this concept involved agency, both an external as well as a latent agency. Second, it included belief in a future of meaningful possibilities. And finally, the concept needed to include “glimpses” of hope that are like aesthetic moments that touch our hearts and give us joy, like the new leaves after a bushfire.

“Her thoughts about mindfulness were fascinating. She argued that mindfulness is a helpful practice, especially if a person is in a place of stress when they go into fight or flight mode. However, it is not psychologically healthy to be always in the moment, in the present. Humans desire meaningful possibilities that give us hope for the future. We look for the narrative arc of our lives, with a hoped-for ending that give us meaning. Therefore, we need to focus on the past, present and future of our lives to be aware of a meaningful story. The desire for meaning and a story is so beautifully met by the Biblical narrative. Leisa yet again reminded me of the power of the Christian story to give hope and joy. That it is truly good news.

“Practically, I think Leisa’s re-conceptualisation of hope and the questionnaires she is creating to assess the “hopefulness” of a person will be wonderful tools for psychologists. I am sure her work will be a blessing to many individuals too as they consider nurturing hope in their lives. It may be too that some will also come to know the true source of human hope and joy, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Two great quotes Leisa pointed us to: 

“Hope is always a tense expectation that rouses the attentiveness of our senses so that we can grasp the chances of things hoped for, wherever and whenever they present themselves.” – Jurgen Moltmann

“Hope is patience with the lamp lit.” – Tertullian

Dr Leisa Aitken is a Clinical Psychologist in private practice. She is also doing a PhD in the psychology of hope at the University of Sydney and under the supervision of Joanna Collicutt McGrath (Oxford University). Read more about 2021 STCPE speakers.

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Reflection on Mark and Luke Glanville’s masterclass, “Biblical Ethic of Kinship”

By Emma Knowles, 2021 ADM Fellow

“I thought this was a great masterclass! Thinking about kinship as being a part of the ‘deep narrative’ of scripture was thought-provoking. I was struck by the idea, as we discussed Deuteronomy 16, that the biblical idea of worship is people being called together by God in a way that includes everyone, as someone in the session described it ­— ‘inclusive feasting and inclusive rejoicing’.

“Thinking about kinship as part of the ‘deep narrative’ of scripture was thought-provoking… We were challenged to ask: What might look different if we thought of everyone as our kin?”

— Dr Emma Knowles (2021 ADM Senior Fellow)

“A key take-away I’ve been sharing with others is how adopting an inclusive language of kinship can shape not just our worship but our world: we were challenged in the session to rethink how trade and other world partnerships might look different if we thought of everyone as our kin. I think this refocusing of our relationships with others is just as relevant for church and local communities.”

Mark Glanville is Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology at Regent College, Vancouver. Luke Glanville is Associate Professor of International Relations at ANU. They have recently co-authored “Refuge Reimagined: Biblical Kinship in Global Politics” (IVP, 2020). Read more about 2021 STCPE speakers.

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Reflection on Brian Brock’s masterclass, “Theology of Disability”

By Lily Strachan and Jodie McIver, 2021 ADM Fellows 

“Brian brought deep theological thinking and his raw personal experience to the question of how those living with a disability are central in the body of Christ. The challenge: Do we view all people as providers of grace and love to our churches? Or do we see those with disabilities as problems to be solved? The first attitude is light and life to those living with a disability, their families and a watching world.” (Rev. Lily Strachan, 2021 ADM Fellow)

“Brian Brock explored his son Adam’s life experiences with our masterclass in a way that connected participants both to the reality faced by Adam and by those interacting with him, revealing the potential disconnect between the two. As a result, we were forced to reflect upon our own responses to differently abled people and examine our attitudes more deeply as to what true inclusion looks like, particularly in a church context. While we may feel content that the church welcomes disabled people more universally than society – particularly at the beginning and end of life - our own perception of this can be out of step with those who come and feel a relative barrier before them. In order to truly welcome all people, we must have a pervasive theology of Christ’s body as community that we are sanctified into but also through. People with disabilities can play a key role in this reality. Almost all of us will experience disability at times in our lives so to have a full understanding of the gospel being good news for us as a community of weak vulnerable people will lead us towards the ministry of Christ.” (Jodie McIver, 2021 ADM Fellow)

You can also read a write-up of Professor Brock’s masterclass by Amy Isham from City Bible Forum: “What if you can’t work?”

Brian Brock is a Professor of Moral & Practical Theology at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. Read more about 2021 STCPE speakers.

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Reflection on Karen Swallow Prior’s masterclass, “Cultural Engagement”

By Emma Kluge, 2021 ADM Fellow

 “I really enjoyed Karen Swallow Prior’s masterclass on Cultural Engagement. We explored the cultural moment we find ourselves in: a time when institutions and experts are often seen as suspect and our lives are defined by fragmentation and change. In our discussion we spoke about the importance of modelling critical thinking with gentleness and compassion. Karen encouraged us to think about how we can contribute to the social imaginary by producing cultural artefacts, such as a film, a book or a series of tweets. While also reflecting on our vocation, gifts and responsibilities and thinking about how God might want to use us in this moment.”

Karen Swallow Prior is Research Professor of English and Christianity and Culture at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Read more about 2021 STCPE speakers.

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Reflection on Natasha Moore’s masterclass, “Dear Reader: On Life & Books”

By Emma Knowles, 2021 ADM Fellow

“I found this session very perceptive and thought-provoking. We were encouraged to think about how the ‘tyranny of productivity’ in our culture affects our reading lives, and to think of reading as more than just trying to get through a certain number of books in a year. It was inspiring to be reminded that reading should be for pleasure! A big take away for me was the idea that reading is a real and rich part of life, and so this, like all other parts of life, should come under the jurisdiction of our prayer lives. It was a good reminder of how everything in our life should ultimately work to glorify and improve our understanding of God. I thought that this session was very effective in demonstrating how all books that we read (rather than just specifically Christian-focused ones) could contribute to our engagement with God’s word, as it improves our ability to discern and understand words.”

Natasha Moore is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Public Christianity (CPX). Read more about 2021 STCPE speakers.

Watch the STCPE welcome video by ADM CEO, Rev. Jo Gibbs:

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