Symposium News – Hosted by ACU and Deakin University funded by the Religious History Association of Australia

Symposium News – Hosted by ACU and Deakin University funded by the Religious History Association of Australia

Intellectual authority and its changing infrastructures in Australian and North American Christianity, 1960s-2010s

On 28-29 July, the ‘Intellectual Authority and its Changing Infrastructures in North American and Australian Christianity, 1960s-2010s’ symposium, was held, with financial support from the Religious History Association. The Australian Catholic University and Deakin University acted as hosts and provided further practical and financial support. COVID-related lockdowns in NSW and Victoria meant that the symposium was held primarily online, but this did not detract from the quality of the presentations and conversation.

We had an exceptional line-up of keynote speakers, including Rev. Dr Garry Deverell, University of Divinity; Professor Willie James Jennings, Yale Divinity School; Professor Kristin Kobes du Mez, Calvin University and Dr Tom Aechtner, University of Queensland. Around 50 people attended some or all of the sessions over the two days.  In addition to the keynote speakers, we had a further 12 presenters give papers.

The papers highlighted the significant research that is currently being done in the history of modern Christianity in Australia and north America and raised many fascinating points for contrast and comparison between and within the locations. The online format allowed for rich conversations during and after each of the sessions.

Many participants contacted us afterwards to comment on how outstanding the papers and the conversation were. We are planning to submit a special issue, based on papers presented at the symposium, for publication by the Journal of Religious History.

 Joanna Cruickshank (Deakin University), Chris Mayes (Deakin University), Michael Thompson (ACU).