HomeArticles by: Vanessa Lania

Whitley’s Celebration of Publication Event

Join us at Whitley College for an exciting Open Event!

MONDAY 6th MARCH
3:30pm – 5:00pm
WHITLEY COLLEGE – located at St Paschal, 90 ALBION RD, BOX HILL

Our Whitley researchers and authors have been busy! Join us as we showcase everything that we’ve published this past 12 months.

Whitley Principal René Erwich, former Whitley Principal Frank Rees, and Whitley’s Transformation Coordinator, Sarah Do, will each talk about their newly published books and publications.

It’s also a great opportunity to come together and mingle with others over light refreshments.

We look forward to seeing you. Make sure you register now!

REGISTER HERE!

We look forward to seeing you!

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Learn more… about the Celebration of Publication authors

Whitley Principal René Erwich’s book Fire that never goes out: Gender, sexuality and theology in conversation was nominated for the Best Theological Book of 2022, a prize awarded annually for the book that makes a theological theme most accessible to a wide audience.

Former Principal Frank Rees’ research on Mervyn Himbury, founding principal of Whitley, is both a personal story and a significant record of the issues and opportunities that shaped Himbury’s career, his vision and leadership, and his influence upon several generations of students.

Lecturer Sarah Do’s soon to be published book chapter is an exegetical study on the expression of missiology in Philippians. Do reflects on her own experiences as part of the Vietnamese diaspora, and considers the outworking of faithful gospel work across  generations in her local context.

An article by Jason Goroncy, Associate Professor of Systematic Theology at Whitley, was recently published online by the ABC.

Jason’s article titled ‘Openness to the world: Wes Campbell, and his disturbing illusions of peace’ explores artist Wes Campbell’s ‘material’ interpretation of the world around him through three lenses – that of attention, imagination and participation. Jason’s reflection addresses the question: what is the world that Wes’s paintings take for granted?

Wes Campbell is a theologian, artist, and (retired) Minister of the Word in the Uniting Church in Australia. 

“Wes’ work embodies the conviction that good art attends deeply to creation. It broadens our horizons, it enriches our capacity to see, it alerts us to dimensions of reality gone unnoticed and for which words are simply not enough” Jason states. “Artists see how things are with the world differently, but no less truthfully, than do scientists. It seems to me that if we are to walk in our world well, and justly, and with mercy, then we cannot do so without the kind of re-imagining of reality and of human society that artists promote and invite. Here the work of the arts and the work of spirit find deep confluence. The work of spirit is the work of imagination, and the work of imagination is the work of theology.” 

Jason has a fascinating way of interpreting art and texts, encouraging you reimagine and consider from another perspective. This is one of the many reasons his students enjoy his classes so much.

This particular article is fascinating and we encourage you to read more here: Openness to the world: Wes Campbell, and his disturbing illusions of peace – ABC Religion & Ethics

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Antonella Newnham as our new Librarian, starting February 1, 2023.

Antonella is already known to us as she stepped into an interim role earlier this year. Antonella brings a rich experience as a librarian to our College and we look forward to working with her over the coming years.

The University of Divinity and Whitley College are pleased to announce the appointment of Robyn Wrigley-Carr as Associate Professor in Pastoral and Spiritual Care and Spiritual Care Program Director.

Through this collaborative appointment, the University and Whitley College aim to develop and renew programs in spiritual and pastoral care to prepare graduates for service in the health, education, community service, defence force and mining sectors, and, in partnership with all of the University’s Colleges, to resource church-based agencies and ministries.

Whitley Principal, Professor René Erwich, says:
“Whitley College is delighted to welcome Associate Professor Robyn Wrigley-Carr as lecturer in Pastoral and Spiritual Care and looks forward to a wonderful collaboration, both in teaching and research regarding this important theme, as well as in developing rich relationships with stakeholders together with the University of Divinity in the joint project.”

Associate Professor Robyn Wrigley-Carr is an academic expert in Spirituality, Spiritual Care practitioner, and Spiritual Director. A graduate of the University of Sydney, University of London and Regent College, she received her PhD from the University of St Andrews in 2013. She has lectured in spirituality at a range of theological institutions, most recently as Associate Professor of Theology and Spirituality at Alphacrucis University College.

An internationally-recognised researcher, Associate Professor Wrigley-Carr’s current research focusses on spiritual care for people with dementia and spiritual care in the context of aged care.

Speaking about her appointment, Associate Professor Wrigley-Carr says:
“I’m delighted to be joining the University of Divinity. I look forward to shaping postgraduate qualifications in Spiritual Care, teaching at Whitley College and researching in this vital and growing field. I’m very excited that the University of Divinity recognises the necessity for a Spiritual Care Program as a new collaborative initiative under its Strategic Plan.”

We look forward to Robyn commencing her new role in February 2023.

It is with much excitement that Whitley announces Rev Cass (Catherine) Kwakye as the newly appointed Lecturer in New Testament.

Cass brings may gifts to her new role, as a person of faith, a passionate teacher and as a budding theological researcher.

Cass is a revered and experienced teacher in the New Testament, with 15 years teaching at the tertiary level. Cass has taught at Morling College and was responsible for the gap-year program Plunge.

Cass is also an ordained Baptist Minister, serving at Seaford Baptist in Sydney up until her appointment at Whitley.

Currently Cass is in the final stage of her PhD research on the Gospel of John.

We look forward to the valuable and distinguished contribution that Cass will make to the teaching and research culture of the College. She will officially commence her role in January 2023.

We warmly welcome Cass into our community.