New Head of College at Pilgrim Theological College

Announcement: new Head of College, Pilgrim Theological College

The Synod of Victoria and Tasmania is delighted to announce the appointment of Rev Associate Professor Kylie Crabbe to the position of Head of College, Pilgrim Theological College, beginning January 2026. Until Kylie commences in the role, arrangements are being made to cover the responsibilities of the Head of College for 2025.

About Kylie Crabbe

Kylie Crabbe is a Minister of the Word in the Uniting Church in Australia. She brings considerable experience in teaching, research, academic leadership, management and administration in higher education. She is currently serving as Associate Professor of Biblical and Early Christian Studies in the Institute for Religion and Critical Inquiry at Australian Catholic University (ACU). She joined ACU in late 2017 from the University of Oxford, where she undertook her doctorate and was Lecturer in Theology at Trinity College (2015-2017), Instructor in New Testament Greek for the Faculty of Theology and Religion (2016), and Assistant Welfare Dean at Trinity College (2017). Prior to this work in the UK, Kylie was the Minister at Armadale Uniting Church.

Kylie has published and taught widely in New Testament studies and Second Temple Judaism, including her 2019 monographs Luke/Acts and the End of History, and in 2021, edited with John M.G. Barclay, The Reception of Jewish Tradition in the Social Imagination of the Early Christians, as well as diverse articles in leading journals and edited collections (more information is available here). Kylie has particular interests in understandings of time and eschatology in antiquity, emotions in historical work, and disability and intersectionality in biblical studies and ancient and contemporary settings. She holds a current Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) from the Australian Research Council (2022-2025) for her project ‘Inside Others: Early Christian Protagonists and Their Impairments‘ (DE220101054). Her work engages directly with the church, across ecumenical traditions, and the wider community. Some examples can be found on her project website biblicaldisability.org.

Duncan Macleod, Executive Director, equipping Leadership for Mission (eLM), is excited about Kylie’s broad vision for theological education. Kylie has demonstrated skills in building a team of colleagues, nurturing capacity in teaching, research and formation for ministry. Mark Lawrence, General Secretary, says that he looks forward with enthusiasm to Kylie’s ongoing contribution in theological, ministerial and missional leadership with Pilgrim Theological College, eLM, and the wider church.

Kylie will take up the Head of College role in January 2026. Arrangements are being made to cover the responsibilities of the Head of College for 2025. In the meantime, Rev Duncan Macleod, Executive Officer, eLM, is the primary contact person for Pilgrim Theological College.

https://www.pilgrim.edu.au

Pilgrim Theological College

Pilgrim Theological College brings faith and scholarship into conversation in order to equip and form disciples and leaders for the church and world.  It is the official training college for the Uniting Church in Victoria and Tasmania and offers courses from undergraduate to master to PhD level. Pilgrim’s world-class faculty come from a diverse range of Christian traditions, ethnicities, and disciplines, to offer a rich learning environment.