Research
This is a link to past and current research projects, as well as my broader research interests – Christian formation and education, the mission of the church, media and technology, young people, worship and creative arts, and spirituality.
20 Statements about Communities of Disciples
"Congregations make intentional discipling a priority. Faith formation and education for the congregation, connecting with the wider community, are vital for discipleship and mission." Here are 20 statements for discussion among church leaders about Christian faith...
Forming Disciples in Mission
How are churches reframing Christian education in order to be effective in growing faith and engaging in mission in Australian society in the 21st century? This question was the basis for my doctoral research, completed in 2018, and now part of my ongoing work....
Models for Rural Ministry
Ministry patterns are constantly changing. Most Uniting Churches are small and rural. Many no longer have their own resident minister. Different forms of ministry have been emerging over the last 25 years or so. What does effective ministry look like in these...
Global Youth Spirituality Project
In 2008 I was involved in running focus groups in Adelaide as part of Search Institute's global youth spirituality project. The project involved a survey of nearly 7,000 young people and 175 focus groups across 17 countries. This was the first step in refining a...
Technoculture and Spirituality
A decade ago I suggested that research regarding the spirituality of young people gave insufficient attention to the place of technology in their lives. "Young peoples' innate desires for intimacy and self-transcendence are bound up in their daily use of technology....
Lay preachers & worship leaders
In 2011-2012 the Uniting Church conducted a national review of the ministry of lay preacher, surveying lay worship leaders and preachers, ministers, church councils and presbyteries. The research was undertaken on behalf of the Working Group on Lay Specified...
Baptism and Confirmation
For Christians, baptism not only signifies the gift of the Spirit, it is also our initiation into ministry in the name of Christ. I've been interested in the relationship between Christian formation/education and the sacraments since the mid-1990s when I began to...