Lecture: Contemporary Faith Formation

A free public lecture at the Centre for Missional Leadership featuring Dr. Lynne Taylor from the University of Otago. 

In Australia, as in other Western contexts, complex secularisation processes have resulted in declining religious affiliation and church attendance. As a result, increasing numbers of people have little or no knowledge or understanding of the Christian story.

This public lecture draws on qualitative data from semi-structured interviews with previously unchurched adult Australians who recently converted to Christianity. It explores the reasons why, and the process by which they converted and offers a process model of conversion and substantive theory of contemporary conversion, demonstrating that religious conversion is fuelled by a desire for relational authenticity; resourced by Christians who embrace and exhibit such authenticity in their personal, social and spiritual lives; and enabled by God.

Genuine authenticity is relational: focusing not (just) on the self but also on relationship with God and significant connection with, and responsibility toward, others. When such relational authenticity is sought and realised by converts, healthy transformation results: a transformation that sees new converts “becoming” the people they were created to be.

A Hybrid Event

Join in person at St. Andrew's Hall or online via Zoom for this free evening lecture. Please note the lecture will be recorded. Register now to attend this event!

About the Speaker

Dr. Lynne Taylor has always been curious about how God is at work in the world and how she and others might get involved. Aware we’re living in times of declining religious affiliation and influence, she is particularly intrigued by the “and yet!” stories of previously unchurched people finding faith today.

Her curiosity led her to enrol in a PhD in practical theology at Flinders University of South Australia, undertaking qualitative research on contemporary faith formation. She graduated at the end of 2017 and stepped into a faculty position at the University of Otago in 2018, where she is now Senior Lecturer in Pastoral Theology. She is also a 2023/24 Fellow with a Templeton-funded Birmingham University fellowship, cross training theologians in psychology.

Lynne has combined her role at the University with pastoral ministry in a student congregation, as well as research and consultancy for churches, denominations and other agencies. (She and her husband, Steve run a small business together providing these services.) They worship at a Presbyterian missional community in South Dunedin – called the Seedling.

Lynne and Steve (and their cat, Stellar) live on the beautiful West Harbour, in Ōtepoti/Dunedin, where it’s a stunning 7km e-bike ride along a shared path to the University campus. They have two young adult daughters who come and go! The whole family are researchers (from zoology to social justice) and they enjoy sometimes getting to work together on projects. They also enjoy beaches and bike rides, coffee and reading. This is Lynne’s first visit to Vancouver and (even before arriving) she already knows she wants to come back!