Research

The School of Theology has a strong research culture. Our staff are actively engaged in research and publication in their fields of expertise that range across Biblical Studies, Christian Thought and History and Practical Theology. They are members of a number of national and international professional associations, act on editorial boards for various journals and they regularly present research papers at the conferences of professional associations.

Read more about the particular research interests and research publications of individual staff of the School on individual staff pages.

The School is developing its research culture through the following collaborative projects and affiliations:

• Global Network of Public Theology (GNPT).
  The School is an active member of the Global Network of Public Theology.
• Australian and New Zealand Society of Theological Studies.
  The Head of School is president of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Theological Studies. This organization publishes the journal Colloquium twice yearly and members of the School’s staff as well as those from other theological colleges in the region function as the editorial board of that journal.

• School of Theology Annual Lecture and the Ferguson Lecture at St. David’s.
  Each year, the School collaborates with St. David’s Presbyterian Church in Auckland to bring a leading scholar in this field to Auckland to present these two popular lectures.

• The Spirit Possession Project.
  The School recently completed a study of spirit possession in the region drawing on the research expertise of staff and postgraduate students. This was published as Spirit Possession, Theology and Identity: A Pacific Exploration by Australian Theology Foundation Press in March, 2010. The research was supported by the George Sainsbury Foundation.

Postgraduate research is one of our School’s strengths. Students are supervised by expert staff across a wide range of topics in Hebrew Bible and New Testament; aspects of church life, history and theology in Oceania; church mission, study of Jesus and many other topics.

Regular doctoral seminars provide students with an opportunity to present their research to other students and staff for helpful critique. Some financial support is available to assist the School’s research students present papers at national and international conferences as well.

Read more about our PhD students and current PhD thesis topics on the PhD Students page .