FAITH IN ACTION CONFERENCE

Morling College Counselling, Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care Faculty present:

FAITH IN ACTION CONFERENCE

SAVE THE DATE! 7 & 8 MAY 2021

This conference will focus on various aspects of counselling and chaplaincy practice, exploring what transforms belief into practical expressions of care and love that commend Christ to a broken and hurting world.

Over 2 days, you will hear from two keynote speakers as well as a range of workshop presenters from both Counselling and Chaplaincy disciplines who are all specialists in their field. 

Faith in Action is designed for counsellors, chaplains, pastors, carers and anyone interested in learning more about transforming their faith into action.

Introducing our keynote speakers:

Helen Miller 

It’s all about relationship: Faith and Professional Practice in Action 

All people have been created in the image of God to be in relationship with both God and other people. If we, as Christian counsellors and chaplains believe this statement, what are the implications for our work practice? If this statement is at the core of our belief how does it become integrated into our work? This keynote address explores these questions as we strive to understand our identities and relationships within our professions. It will consider such concepts as being known, presence and new insight into Buber’s concept of ‘the between’- what happens at the point of meeting within relationships.

About Helen Miller

Helen has worked within the field of Christian Counselling/Psychotherapy/Pastoral Counselling since the early 1990s as a student, counsellor, trainer, lecturer, course coordinator, course writer, and clinical supervisor to counsellors, pastors and chaplains.  Most recently she has completed the circle by returning to student status as a researcher for a PhD. Her passion throughout this journey has always been the integration of Christian faith and practice for herself and for further generations of Christian counsellors and others in ministry. She has worked for St Marks National Theological College in Canberra, Charles Sturt University, Anglicare, and Morling College as well as in private practice. These days finds her with a portfolio of work, mostly unpaid, but all of which centres on relationship with people and relationship with God. 

Rev Dr Stephen Robinson

Stepping over the Cracks: Recognizing and Overcoming the fear in Chaplaincy Encounters 

In this, Stephen Robinson will address the vulnerabilities inherent in chaplaincy encounters (yet so rarely acknowledged).  The very essence of chaplaincy involves stepping into unknown places.  With this comes some level of fear: fear of the unknown, fear of the other, fear of failure.  What are the theological and spiritual issues inherent in moving from personal faith and preparation for chaplaincy to the practice of this ministry in unique daily encounters?  What does one’s sense of identity have to do with this? 

About Stephen Robinson 

Rev. Dr. Stephen Robinson is an ordained minister in the Uniting Church in Australia.  He is currently in the position of National Disaster Recovery Officer based with the Uniting Church Assembly.  His work involves supporting the church and its agencies in disaster recovery within communities throughout Australia and the Pacific.  Rev Robinson is the coordinator of the NSW Disaster Recovery Chaplaincy Network (DRCN), which is responsible, under disaster welfare arrangements, for providing disaster recovery chaplaincy in evacuation and recovery centres across the state. Stephen’s particular interest is in the care of ministry agents in disaster and healthy integration with local ministry in recovery.  His 2007 book, “Ministry in Disaster Settings: Lessons from the Edge” was gleaned from his doctoral research in seeking to learn from the experience of Australian ministers in a range of disasters.  Now as an ebook it is still used as a key source in emergency ministry and chaplaincy training in Australia.  Stephen has two adult children and two granddaughters and lives in Sydney with his wife Jenny.

For more information about the conference and to register your interest, visit https://www.morling.edu.au/events/faith-in-action-conference/