Global Impact: How Morling College Faculty Are Advancing Theology, History, and Ministry

At Morling College, we value the active engagement of our faculty in global discussions that shape theology, history, and ministry. Recently, several members of our academic community have contributed to international conferences, sharing their research and expertise while learning from others. And there will be more to come over the Summer months. 

COSAC 2024: Exploring Humanity in the Age of Technology

Andrew Sloane attended the biennial COSAC 2024: Humanity 2.0? God, Technology, and the Future of Being Human, organized by ISCAST and New College, UNSW. Over the three-day event, thought-provoking topics like artificial intelligence, gender, embodiment, and the possibilities of enhancing human bodies and minds were explored within a theological framework.

Andrew contributed significantly to the conversation, presenting a paper on the theology of transitioning as a potential faithful response to gender dysphoria. He also participated in a panel discussion on diverse perspectives on gender and dysphoria. Reflecting on the event, Andrew shared: "The event offered a chance to engage in thoughtful, theologically grounded discussions on how technology is shaping us."

ETS, IBR, and SBL Annual Meetings: Deep Dives into Biblical Research

A number of our faculty presented at the ETS (Evangelical Theology Society), IBR (Institute for Biblical Research), and SBL (Society of Biblical Literature) Annual Meetings.

At the conference, Anthony Petterson presented a great paper on Justice and moral imagination in Haggai.

David Starling: Exploring the Depths of Biblical Study

David Starling attended the three major academic gatherings in San Diego: the ETS (Evangelical Theological Society), IBR (Institute for Biblical Research), and SBL (Society of Biblical Literature) Annual Meetings.

David presented two papers: one on Jesus' use of Hosea 6:6 in Matthew's Gospel at ETS, and another on Scripture quotations in Paul's letters at SBL. He also chaired a session at IBR on Scripture-based models for preaching, featuring insights from scholars like Dana Harris, Steve Walton and Brent Strawn. 

The conferences were also a chance to connect with colleagues and alumni. 

Nicole Starling: Bringing History to Life

Nicole Starling’s journey took her to the ETS conference in San Diego, where she presented on the interplay of Australian and American evangelical histories. Her paper highlighted a historical debate between Frances Willard and Dwight L. Moody on social activism versus evangelism, bringing to light its resonance in Australia during the 1890s.

For Nicole: “It was a great joy to present alongside some other Australian historians of evangelicalism, Rhys Bezzant, Ruth Lukabyon, Ian Maddock and Geoff Treloar.”

Nicole is also preparing to keynote the Priscilla and Aquila Academic Conference at Moore College, focusing on “unremembered” and “misremembered” women in evangelical history.

Chris Thomson: Rethinking Theology in the Hebrew Bible

Chris Thomson, Honorary Research Associate, presented three papers at the ETS and SBL Conferences in San Diego, challenging key interpretations in Hebrew Bible scholarship.

At ETS, Chris’s paper, Righteousness in the Hebrew Bible and Misconceptions in Pauline Studies, addressed misunderstandings of Hebrew scholarship that influence Pauline theology, offering a more accurate perspective on “righteousness” in Paul’s letters.

At SBL, he presented Whose Debt is Sin? in the Biblical Lexicography section, arguing that the Hebrew verb often interpreted as sinners “paying back” sin actually describes divine punishment, reshaping views on sin and its remedy in the Hebrew Bible.

In a panel on What Does ‘Theology’ Mean in Hebrew Bible Study?, Chris’s paper When Is a God Not a God? demonstrated that the Hebrew word elohim (god) can refer to entities the speaker does not believe exist. This insight challenges assumptions that references to “other gods” in the Hebrew Bible reflect a polytheistic worldview. He stressed the need to test assumptions against biblical texts for accurate interpretation.

Sam Freney: Kingdom in Translation

Sam Freney also represented Morling College at the ETS and SBL conferences, presenting a paper on translating "king", “kingdom”, and "kingdom of God" in Australian Indigenous languages. His work highlighted how kinship networks within Aboriginal communities provide a meaningful framework for these concepts.

Sam also attended sessions on Bible translation and performance criticism, emphasizing the dynamic ways translations resonate beyond written text. His paper is now being prepared for submission to The Bible Translator.

Project Violet Symposium: Empowering Women in Ministry

Gayle Kent is set to contribute to the Online Project Violet Symposium in January 2025. The symposium, hosted by Regent’s Park College and the Baptist Union of Great Britain, explores the experiences of women in ministry.

Gayle, alongside Australian Baptist leaders Melinda Cousins and Beth Jackson, will present on leadership development for women in vocational ministry. Their session will address barriers women face and propose strategies for creating inclusive ministry spaces.

"Our goal is to help women find their ‘seat at the table’ (formal spaces where men and women train/work together) while also fostering spaces where they can confidently ‘get up from the table’ to gather in women-only spaces” Gayle shared.

Conclusion

These global engagements by Morling faculty showcase the depth and diversity of their scholarship. Whether addressing theology, history, or ministry challenges, their work continues to impact academic and faith communities worldwide.

If you’re inspired by these stories and want to explore theological education, discover more about our programs at Morling College here.