Whitley College

Rev Dr Andrew Mitchell is Whitley’s Academic Dean and Senior Lecturer in Baptist Studies.

Originally from Aotearoa New Zealand, Andrew initially came to Australia to study. He worked in the jewellery industry, completing a Diploma of Gemmology and a Bachelor of Arts (International Studies), before pursuing a call to ministry.

Andrew served at a few churches in the BUV, completing a Master of Arts (Christian Studies) at Ridley College, as well as being ordained by the Baptist Union of Victoria. His PhD was completed through a partnership between NAIITS: An Indigenous Learning Community and the University of Divinity. His thesis, titled Shalom: Towards New Narratives of Right-Relationship for the Baptist Union of Victoria, explored how local churches in the BUV could think theologically about their relationship with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Andrew is also on the faculties of NAIITS and Kawthoolei Hope Theological Seminary in Thailand. He is part of the editorial team of the NAIITS Journal, as well as the Ordination Discernment Group of the BUV, and speaks regularly across the BUV.
This semester Andrew is teaching a diploma unit in the Gospel of Mark and coordinating Whitley’s Capstone units.

You can read more about Andrew here: https://www.whitley.edu.au/people/rev-andy-mitchell/

We join with the BUV and churches across Victoria to pray for the congregations on this week's prayer calendar. Pray with us as we lift them up.

🙏✝❤️Welcome to Monday! This week we will be praying for the following 'C' churches and their communities. Please join with us as hold them in prayer.
If you have a prayer request for your church please DM us.
Collins Street Baptist Church Community Church of St Mark Connect Baptist Church Ballarat Corryong Baptist Church

Meet Robyn Wrigley-Carr, Associate Professor in Spirituality and Spiritual Care at Whitley College.

Robyn teaches with a deep commitment to helping students navigate life's most profound questions with wisdom, compassion and hope. This semester, she’ll be teaching 'Grief, Loss and Trauma-Informed Spiritual Care' and 'Patterns in the Practice of Spirituality', drawing on more than 20 years of experience teaching theology and spirituality in higher education.

An award-winning educator, Robyn is a recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Award from Alphacrucis University College and holds qualifications from the University of St Andrew’s (Scotland), Regent College (Canada), the University of London, and the University of Sydney. Robyn also holds her Graduate Diploma in Spiritual Direction from Wellspring (University of Divinity).

Robyn’s research explores spirituality across every stage of life, including spiritual care for people living with dementia, and aged care chaplaincy. A respected scholar, spiritual director and retreat leader, she has published widely, presented keynote addresses both in Australia and internationally, and serves on the Executive Committee of the International Network for the Study of Spirituality and is on the Editorial Board and Book Reviews Editor for the Journal for the Study of Spirituality.

Robyn is passionate about building a sense of community in her classes and helping students integrate classroom learning with their lived reality.

When she isn’t engrossed in research or enthusiastically preparing classroom content, Robyn loves spending time with family and friends and travelling. She is an accomplished pianist, proud mother of three children, and enjoys watching films.

We're delighted to have Robyn inspiring the next generation of students at Whitley College.

Read more about Robyn here: https://www.whitley.edu.au/people/associate-professor-robyn-wrigley-carr/

Rev Associate Professor Jason Goroncy brings over 25 years of experience in theological education to his teaching at Whitley College.

In a recent publication he writes, “At Babel, linguistic unity served human pride and imperial consolidation — it is, in the biblical imagination, the original monoculturalism. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit does not restore that unity. It multiplies comprehension across difference. The diversity of tongues is not overcome; it is honoured.”

Further to the article we published on 1st July, here Jason shares his latest thought-provoking opinion piece: “How Christianity both creates and can resolve the problem of monoculturalism.”

https://www.abc.net.au/religion/christianity-creates-and-resolves-problem-of-monoculturalism/106934908

Today, staff, students and guests gathered for our Semester 2 Chapel Service, sharing in a meaningful time of worship, prayer, reflection on God's Word, and fellowship. It was a wonderful way to begin the new semester together, united in faith and community.

We join with the Baptist Union in lifting up Victorian Baptist Churches each week during our Whitley chapel and prayer services. Pray with us!

Union of Victoria

🙏Please join us in prayer for these churches, their pastors and leaders, congregation members and local communities this week.
If you have a prayer request for your church please DM us.

Catalyst Baptist Church - Werribee Central Baptist Church, Clifton Springs Central Chinese Baptist Church, Melbourne Chin Baptist Church Pakenham Christian Community Church Morwell

We’re delighted to share an invitation to the Ethos Jubilee Conference, celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Zadok. The conference theme, “50 Years of Living Dangerously - Looking back, moving forward,” reflects on five decades of faithful Christian engagement with society while looking ahead to the future.

The conference will be held on 2-3 October at St Mark’s Anglican Church, Spotswood, and online.

Rev Dr Gordon Preece is Director of Ethos Centre for Christianity and Society, and we are blessed to have him as an Honorary Research Associate at Whitley.

Ethos - an acronym for 'evangelical theology of society' – is grounded in the reconciling, peace-making gospel and work of Jesus Christ. Through its publications, forums and resources, Ethos helps God’s scattered people live biblically in their personal, professional, community and political relationships, modelling civil engagement and informed Christian dialogue through publications and forums.

To learn more about the conference and register to attend, follow the link below:

https://ethos.org.au/events/50-years-of-living-dangerously/

Congratulations to Naomi Wolfe on her appointment as Dean of Learning and Teaching at the University of Divinity.

We are delighted to celebrate this exciting news and are proud to have Naomi as part of the Whitley College community.

This semester, Naomi is teaching Early Christianity in Context as an Adjunct Lecturer at Whitley, where students benefit from her exceptional scholarship, engaging teaching, and deep knowledge of the early Christian world.

This appointment is a wonderful recognition of Naomi's leadership and commitment to excellence in theological education. We look forward to continuing to work alongside her and congratulate her on this well-deserved achievement.

Congratulations, Naomi!

Naomi Wolfe appointed Dean of Learning and Teaching We are delighted to announce the appointment of Naomi Wolfe as the new Dean of Learning and Teaching at the University of Divinity.

Meet Rev Dr Titus Olorunnisola, Senior Lecturer in Missiology at Whitley College.

Having studied in Nigeria, The Netherlands and Australia, Titus brings a truly global perspective to his teaching and research. He is passionate about exploring how theology speaks meaningfully to the social and human challenges of our contemporary world.

This semester, Titus will be teaching 'Witness, Service, and Discipleship: Mission in Many Places and Many Voices.'

A prolific scholar, Titus has authored numerous publications that contribute to conversations around mission, migration and theology.

Titus’ research spans faith and development, missiology, new religious movements, migration and diaspora movements, Pentecostalism, and contextual theologies. He has designed and co-delivered qualitative research projects focusing on the inclusion of African refugees and asylum seekers in Victoria, Australia, and has secured major competitive research grants, including from the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation in 2022, and from the University of Divinity in 2022.

Titus is currently in the final stages of completing a research project (with Associate Professor Darrell Jackson and Dr Alessia Passarelli) that explores the integration of African migrant communities in Australia.

Titus is also the Lead Pastor of BethelLife Church where you can regularly hear him preach. In his leisure time, Titus enjoys watching Basketball and Soccer, and spending quality family time with his wife and three young sons.

The committment and specialisation that Titus brings to Whitley, enriches our wonderfully diverse and passionate teaching community.

You can read more about Titus here: https://www.whitley.edu.au/people/rev-dr-titus-s-olorunnisola/

Many friends of Whitley will be familiar with the ministry and scholarship of Professor Terry Falla. For many years, the work of the Syriac Language Project, led by Terry and his colleague Beryl Turner, was housed at Whitley.

A couple of weeks ago, Sean Winter (Whitley’s Dean of Research), Keith Dyer and Graeme Garrett (both former member of Whitley Faculty) joined with academic colleagues from across the world to present Terry with a volume of essays, published on the occasion of his 86th birthday. The volume is entitled 'I say it just Begins to live That day: Essays in Honour of Terry Falla,' Charbel El-Khaissi, Janet W. Dyk, Daniel King, and published by Gorgias Press.

Keith and Sean also both have essays published in the volume. Keith’s is entitled ‘Paul’s Salvation and Cosmic Renewal,’ Graeme wrote on 'Hand to Hand Encounter with God,’ and Sean’s study of 2 Corinthians is called ‘Clusivity at Corinth: Another Look at Paul’s First-Person Plurals in 2 Corinthians.’

Congratulations to Terry, Keith and Sean, and the editors and contributors to the volume.