This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Australian Collaborators in Feminist Theologies!
We’ll be celebrating all year, of course, with our annual conference, “Imagine Something Else: Communities, Creativity, Resistance” (including the Janette Gray RSM Lecture) in August, a next publication project and other events and opportunities besides.
This month, it was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Divinity that marked the milestone. On 13 May 2026 in the Boardroom of the UD’s St Paschal Campus in Box Hill, past and present ACFT Convenors Katharine Massam (2016–2023) and Rebekah Pryor (2024–present) joined with UD Vice-Chancellor James Maclaren and University Secretary Hannah Hornsby to sign the document.
Collaboration continues
The relationship between the Australian Collaborators in Feminist Theologies and the University of Divinity has always been a significant one. In 2015, over 100 people, including colleagues from a range of UD Colleges, gathered at Pilgrim Theological College (in the space now named Yuma) to identify key questions in feminist theologies. In 2016, members of that informal network organised guest lectures from Sarah Coakley and Gene Robinson when they were visiting Melbourne, and Serene Jones was the keynote speaker for a second conference event on 8 July. It was at this latter event that the network was named.
During this period, there were regular meetings of interested parties and a rhythm of conferences, publications and other collaborations between feminist scholars and practitioners from a variety of disciplines, perspectives, denominations and theological positions followed.
Collaboration continues to be at the heart of the ACFT, which became an incorporated association in 2024. And, the ongoing and now formalised relationship with the University continues to support its clear and generative purpose: to foster feminist theologies.
Invitation to a new and enduring initiative
The next occasion for celebration is the launch of Everlasting Grail. Under the auspices of the University of Divinity, reflecting the commitment of women of The Grail to the theological and spiritual formation of women in Australia since 1936, and drawing on the relational network of the Australian Collaborators in Feminist Theologies (Inc), Everlasting Grail has been established as a perpetual resource with a grant of $2m. It has been enabled financially by The Grail in Australia, following the sale of their property, Avila, in North Sydney. It offers an invitation to support processes for amplifying and listening to the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women engaged in spirituality and theology, and so in turn to contribute to the flourishing of all women and their wider communities.
Join us in celebrating this initiative on Tuesday 2 June 2026 at 4:15pm at the University of Divinity’s St Paschal Campus (90 Albion Road, Box Hill VIC).
RSVP: https://events.humanitix.com/everlasting-grail
Another opportunity to “Imagine Something Else”
In a time marked by intersecting crises, narratives of disaster and nevertheless deep possibilities, the 2026 ACFT conference titled “Imagine Something Else: Communities, Creativity, Resistance” invites fresh perspectives to enact and sustain hope and courage.
The conference will take place on 21–22 August 2026 at Pilgrim Theological College (29 College Cres, Parkville VIC) and online. The call for abstracts proposing 20-minute papers, posters, panels, creative or practice-based presentations exploring conference themes is now open. Learn more here.
Join the collaboration!
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A leading voice for feminist theological scholarship and a hospitable hub for engagement with feminist approaches within Australia and the region.
The Australian Collaborators in Feminist Theologies network aims to consolidate and energise the University’s commitment to the participation of women and feminist scholars in the academy and the wider church. By fostering and forwarding feminist voice and vision we aim to promote Gospel justice by addressing issues relating to gender equality, class, race, sexuality, and ability.
University of Divinity
Pilgrim Theological College
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