Professor Sarah Williams on ‘Prayer, Agency and Cultural Transformation’
Closing reception Keynote at ADM’s 2020 School of Theology, Culture & Public Engagement
There are many sociological and historical theories of change but rarely is prayer taken seriously as a radical and disruptive political force. In this keynote lecture, Professor Sarah Williams (Research Professor in the History of Christianity, Regent College) draws on stories of the past to explore the role of prayer in moments of political and cultural upheaval, and to inspire us to pray in fresh ways for our culture.
PROFESSOR SARAH C. WILLIAMS
Sarah is a Research Professor in the History of Christianity at Regent College Vancouver, a Research Associate at St Benet’s Hall Oxford, and one of the world’s leading experts on the history of Christianity. She holds a D.Phil. in history from the University of Oxford, where she also taught as part of the modern history faculty for 7 years. Her research focuses on British religious and cultural history. She is the author of “Religious Belief and Popular Culture” (Oxford University Press) and “Perfectly Human” (winner of a Christianity Today 2019 Book Award), and co-author of “Redefining Christian Britain”. Her forthcoming book traces the relationship between Christianity and perceptions of gender and sexuality through time. Sarah is a passionate and gifted teacher, writer, and communicator, known for bringing history to life in a way that speaks to our contemporary context. Sarah teaches all over the world helping the Church recover its memory, and we are delighted that she will be sharing her time and expertise with us in January.
At ADM’s School of Theology, Culture & Public Engagement 2020, Sarah taught one masterclass as a two-part series over two days: Prayer as Political Resistance: The Radical Theology of First Wave Feminism
Read more about STCPE 2020 in this article ‘Oh Hope: Theological reflections and prayer shapes third annual summer school’.
Bibles and barbecues: how Living Water is reaching Redfern
Living Water, a church plant under the Evangelism and New Churches arm of the Anglican Diocese of Sydney, regularly holds services and gatherings in Redfern Park, rather than inside their building. By doing this, they are better able to engage with the community of Redfern, and also support their largely Indigenous congregation to embrace their connection to country.
Recently, Living Water Church, through one of their team members Bridget Allen, were recipients of a Women in Ministry Support Scheme grant from ADM. Part of this grant has been used to purchase a portable barbeque which the church uses to cook during their outside gatherings. This can draw a crowd as people approach for a tasty meal, and then meet the church members and hear the gospel proclaimed.