WATAC, the activist and advocacy organisation Women and the Australian Church, has announced the next topic in their popular bi-monthly series of interactive webinars – Keeping Grounded: Music and Spirituality. These events provide theological formation to women across Australia while building community.
Guests Dr Maeve Louise Heaney and Dr Danielle Anne Lynch, theological accomplices and advocates for music as theology, discuss the importance of music in their spiritual lives and theological work. Their work together in words and original song explores the issue of gendered language for God in prayer.
Maeve is Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Theology and Philosophy at ACU, and Director of the Xavier Centre for Theological Formation. She is a consecrated missionary of a Catholic Institute for Consecrated Life, the Verbum Dei Community. As a musician and composer, she interweaves the fields of theological aesthetics, spirituality and the arts, with a specialisation in the symbolic form of music in theological reflection. Maeve’s published works include her book Music as Theology: What Music Says about the Word, and her most recent album Strange Life: The Music of Doubtful Faith.
Danielle is a teacher of Religious Education at Marist College Ashgrove and sessional tutor for ACU. Her work in secondary schools has included roles of Head of Religion, Director of Mission, and Head of House. Danielle’s academic work in systematic theology encompasses Theology, Music, and Songwriting, with particular interest in feminist and queer approaches. Danielle’s published works include her book God in Sound and Silence: Music as Theology and her album Into Silence.
Danielle’s and Maeve’s music is available on Spotify, Youtube, iTunes, and other online platforms.
Tracy McEwan, Vice-President of WATAC, says of this event, “Music is so commonplace in today’s world that we take it for granted. Danielle and Maeve are digging deeper to understand its impact on who we are, how we understand ourselves spiritually, and how we relate in faith to others and God. This important work is necessary to broaden theological studies from the realms of traditional approaches to include the lived experiences of people of faith.”
WATAC Presents is on 14 April from 6pm to 7pm (AEST). Register via the website (www.watac.net.au) to participate.
Established in 1984, Women and the Australian Church (WATAC) is an incorporated organisation committed to a Church characterised by equality. For more information please contact Andrea Dean chair@watac.net.au or https://watac.net.au
With thanks to WATAC.
