Liturgy Under the Southern Cross: Call for Papers and Early Bird Registrations Now Open

Members of the University of Divinity community are invited to participate in Liturgy Under the Southern Cross, the 2026 national conference of the Australian Academy of Liturgy, to be held at Mary MacKillop Place in North Sydney from 28–30 September 2026.

The conference will bring together scholars, students, clergy, and church practitioners from across Australia and beyond to explore how Christian worship is shaped by the distinctive contexts, cultures, histories, and communities of the Southern Hemisphere. Through papers, workshops, and discussion, participants will engage questions of liturgy, theology, spirituality, and ecclesial practice in contemporary Australian and regional settings.

Dr Adam Couchman, Academic Dean of St Francis College, is encouraging members of the University of Divinity community to consider attending and contributing to the conference. An active member of the Australian Academy of Liturgy for many years, Dr Couchman was elected Treasurer of the Academy in 2025 and continues to be involved in its work of fostering liturgical scholarship in Australia.

“Developing liturgical theology in Australia requires spaces where scholars and practitioners from different Christian traditions can learn from one another,” Dr Couchman said. “The Australian Academy of Liturgy has long provided that opportunity, and this conference is one of the most important forums for ecumenical conversation about worship in our region. I would encourage colleagues and students across the University of Divinity to consider attending or presenting their research.”

Several scholars from across the University of Divinity are expected to participate in the conference, continuing the University’s strong tradition of engagement in liturgical studies, sacramental theology, ecclesiology, church history, and pastoral practice.

The Academy has also issued a call for papers and workshops. Researchers, postgraduate students, and practitioners are invited to submit proposals that engage with the conference theme and contribute to ongoing conversations about Christian worship under the Southern Cross.

Participation is open to both members and non-members of the Australian Academy of Liturgy, making the conference accessible to anyone with an interest in worship, theology, ministry, and liturgical scholarship.

Early bird registrations are now open.

For those interested in liturgy, theology, ministry, and worship, the conference offers a valuable opportunity to share research, engage with current scholarship, and contribute to national discussions about the future of Christian worship in Australia and the wider Southern Hemisphere.

Further information, the call for papers, and registration details are available at: https://australianacademyofliturgy.wordpress.com/