School of Theology

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Heather Thomson is Associate Head of School and Senior Lecturer in Theology at St Mark’s National Theological Centre, Canberra. Heather is Course Coordinator for the Bachelor of Theology (Honours) and Master of Theology. Her research interests include hermeneutics, feminist theology, liberation theology and peace studies. These are linked by an overall interest in doing responsible theology that fosters life, care and justice, and that rights the wrongs when theology is linked to imperialism, patriarchy and violence. Heather’s publications primarily revolve around these issues.

• THL245 God, Humanity and Difference
• THL412/512 Contemporary Theology in a Global Context
• THL414/514 Truth and Knowing in Theology
• Supervision for students in research subjects

Selected Publications

Monograph

Book Chapters:

• ‘Always Already Implicated: Hermeneutics for a Violent World.’ In Into the World You Love: Encountering God in Everyday Life, edited by G. Garrett, 224–258. Adelaide: ATF Press, 2007.
• ‘Unpicking Retribution’s Knots.’ In Validating Violence: Violating Faith: Religion, Scripture, Violence, edited by W. W. Emilsen and J. T. Squires, 143–154. Adelaide: ATF Press, 2008.
• ‘Leaving a Lot to be Desired: The Theologian as Teacher.’ In Embracing Grace: The Theologian’s Task. Essays in Honour of Graeme Garrett, edited by H. Thomson, 137–151. Canberra: Barton Books, 2009.
• ‘The Priesthood of all Believers.’ In Called to Minister: Vocational Discernment in the Contemporary Church, edited by Tom Frame, 21-36. Canberra: Barton Books, 2009.
• ‘Public Theology and the Politics of Interpretation: A Feminist Reading’, in Not Behind Our Backs: Feminist Theology and Public Theology (forthcoming).
• ‘In Defence of Systematic Theology’,in a book of essays on Sarah Coakley and systematic theology (forthcoming).
• ‘Freedom or Obedience? Theological Education Since 1992.’ In Preachers, Prophets and Heretics: Anglican Women’s Ministry, edited by Elaine Lindsay and Janet Scarfe, 308-323. Sydney: UNSW Press, 2012.
• ‘The Atonement through Resurrection Eyes’, Doctrine Commission papers on the atonement, Barton Books (forthcoming 2013).

Journal Articles:

• ‘Speaking Theologically in a Suspicious World’, St Mark’s Review, 203, 2007 (2), pp. 87-94.
• ‘Thankfully and with Courage’, St Mark’s Review, 204, 2008 (1), pp. 15-24.
• ‘Stars and Compasses: Hermeneutical Guides for Public Theology’, International Journal of Public Theology, Brill, Vol. 2, No. 3 (2008), pp. 258-276.
• ‘Forgiveness’, in a themed edition of St Mark’s Review by the Doctrine Commission of the Anglican Church of Australia on Sexual Abuse and the Church, No. 205, August 2008 (2).
• ‘Restoring Justice’, International Journal of Public Theology, Vol 3, No. 3, 2009, pp. 319-338.
• ‘Fallen Image and Redeemed Dust: Being Human in God’s Creation’, St Mark’s Review, No. 212, May 2010 (2). Themed edition: Nurturing Nature: Essays on Ecological Theology from the Doctrine Commission.