Welcome to this volume of Colloquium. We apologise sincerely for the delay, but are delighted now to share it with you.
It has been some time since the last volume of Colloquium and during this period significant and exciting changes have been made. For some time, ANZATS have been exploring an online model of the journal to increase distribution, to promote ease of access and to align with twenty-first century models of theological scholarship. When Megan Powell du Toit resigned as editor, this was seen as a reasonable time to rethink what ANZATS wanted for Colloquium and how that could be achieved. The result is a fresh beginning: The advisory board has been revitalised, and thought has been given to how Colloquium can align itself with the broader vision of ANZATS and the theological context of Australia and Aotearoa-New Zealand. In line with these developments, for the foreseeable future, upcoming volumes of Colloquium will be available online and open access, which will reduce the barriers to contextual theology created in this part of the world.
This volume includes a range of articles that reflect some of the diverse approaches to theology that are being undertaken in our context today. From Bluey to knitting scarves, washing feet to discussing resilience in tertiary music therapy classes, as well as thinking about how the biblical witness can inform our approaches to grace, the articles contained here encourage us to think about how care for the individual and the community are expressed within our theological understandings and processes. This diversity of articles reflects the range of papers that are presented at our annual conferences and demonstrate ANZATS commitment to encourage discussion across and between disciplines, institutions and denominations.
Linda Stargel’s exploration of grace in the book of Job encourages us to consider the role of community as a means of grace and how this was understood historically within a Wesleyan framework. Lyndon Shakespeare’s discussion of bordered people is as pertinent as ever given the situation in the US, Middle East and our own ongoing dialogues about who belongs and who doesn’t. Steve Taylor explores the way knitting has been employed as a missional tool, noting the continuing gendered nature of this activity. Alison Short describes practices of resiliency that she developed within her classes, partly as a response to the disconnection of COVID, and places this work within a Lutheran framework. Finally, Sarah Lawson explores the religious elements of Australia’s favourite Blue Heeler and her family. Lawson was an entrant in the ANZAT’s Emerging Scholar Award in 2024, an initiative designed to support and promote student work within the ANZATS community.
We appreciate your patience in waiting for this volume, and trust that the gap until the next one will not be so long.
The ANZATS Council extends its heartfelt thanks to Megan Powell du Toit for her outstanding service as Editor of Colloquium over six years between 2017 and 2023. Under her leadership, the journal maintained a high standard of theological scholarship and thoughtful engagement across a broad range of disciplines. We wish Megan every success in her continuing ministry and scholarship.
Following Megan’s departure, Michelle Eastwood generously stepped in as Interim Editor, guiding Colloquium through a time of significant transition, including the move to digital publication and open access. The Council is deeply grateful for Michelle’s dedication, patience, and care in sustaining the journal and preparing it for this new phase.
On behalf of the Council, we also offer our sincere apologies for the delay between issues. We are pleased to assure our readers and contributors that Colloquium is now back on track and looking ahead with renewed energy. The move to online publication opens up exciting new possibilities for sharing the diverse theological work being undertaken in Australia, New Zealand, and the wider region. We hope that this broader digital reach will allow scholars in other parts of the world to engage with the innovative research emerging from our communities.
To ensure this renewed momentum continues and to provide stability for the next phase of Colloquium’s development, the ANZATS Council invites expressions of interest for the role of Editor.
ANZATS Council invites applications for a new Editor to shape the next chapter of Colloquium and promote theological scholarship across Australia, New Zealand, and beyond. Applicants should hold (or be completing) a doctorate in theology, biblical studies, or a related field.
The Editor will oversee submissions, peer review, and editorial processes; maintain the journal’s online format; enhance its reputation; and work with the Editorial Board and Council to guide content and policy. The role carries a small honorarium, possible institutional support, and a three-year initial term (renewable).
Submit a CV and a brief statement of interest (max 500 words) to ANZATS Council (
Editorial note on numbering: This issue—although our first open-access release—is designated Volume 55, Number 2 (November 2025) to reflect that no issues of Colloquium were published since mid-2023. This allows us to begin 2026 with Volume 56, maintaining continuity in numbering while transparently acknowledging the publication gap.