CASE News May 2016

September 19, 2016

From the Director

I hope that you find this edition of CASE News helpful. You will note that we have a new edition of Case Quarterly out this week that has the theme “Soul Care”. This edition takes a closer look at the kind of ‘soul care’ chaplains and other pastoral carers undertake. Several of the articles formed the basis of some of the presentations from our “Powerful Words” conference last September that saw 80 chaplains gather to hear some great speakers. Case #44 highlights an understanding that Christian chaplaincy is a prayerful cross-cultural ministry that focuses on the needs of others. Chaplains meet people at times of special need, loss and vulnerability and offer a safe place to explore issues of meaning and belonging.

In this newsletter we also have information on our annual New College lecture series in September and a joint event with ISCAST also in July.

Professor Trevor Cairney
Director, Centre for Apologetic Scholarship and Education (CASE)

Case #44 – Soul Care (published this week)

"If powerful words are our sword, instruction in verbal fencing is surely advisable."

- Rhys Bezzant

The latest issue of Case Quarterly will be out this week. Its focus reflects last year’s CASE/Anglicare Conference on chaplaincy and pastoral care. What is the aim of pastoral care? How do we know what to say (and what not to say)? Rhys Bezzant shows how the Psalms can help answer these questions and illustrates the importance of one-to-one ministry at significant points in church history. Kamal and Patricia Weerakoon provide theological and scientific accounts of gender, and based on these accounts, offer a model of pastoral care for people struggling with gender identity issues. We also hear first-hand accounts from chaplains working in various contexts – prison, hospital, residential college, and the emergency services.

This issue of Case Quarterly speaks to all of us—we all, at times, struggle to find the words to say to those who are suffering. Individual print or electronic issues of Case Magazine are available for purchase here, and annual subscriptions here.

Joint CASE-ISCAST Lecture 1 Dr Graeme Finlay

Unequivocal Genetic Evidence for Human Evolution, and implications for Christian Faith

Date: Tuesday 5th July 2016 at 7.30 pm

Speaker: Dr Graeme Finlay, MA, PhD, BTh, author of Human Evolution: Genes, Genealogies and Phylogenies (Cambridge University Press, 2013)

Lecture Title: Unequivocal Genetic Evidence for Human Evolution, and implications for Christian Faith

Venue: Main Common Room, New College, UNSW, (H6; see map, which can be downloaded from the ISCAST website entrance at 330 Anzac Pde, Kensington

RSVPs to (Em. Prof) Peter Barry [email: p.barry@unsw.edu.au] would be much appreciated, but are not mandatory. There will be some light refreshments after the lecture. For further information and any updates see above ISCAST lecture link or contact Peter preferably by email, or mob. 0419 243 685.

Parking is available on nearby suburban streets or in the Western Campus Carpark (G2) between the New College Village (H3) and NIDA (E2), which is free after 6.30 pm and is accessed via Day Ave (see separate map pdf via above ISCAST lecture link)

Cost: Donations of $15 ($5 for pensioners and students) towards expenses of meetings etc., including speaker travel and costs, would be much appreciated.

Abstract: In this lecture Graeme wants to do two things. Firstly to present the unequivocal evidence from comparative genomics that we are an evolved species. And then (because he knows that many Christians find it difficult to assimilate this) he will go on to emphasise that this strengthens and enriches our faith. The ‘givenness’ of evolution forces us to purify our approach to exegesis (Genesis), theology (creation), providence (God’s action in history), and the meaning of our own humanity.

ISCAST (Sydney) Lecture 2 Dr Graeme Finlay

Genetics, Evolution, Cancer, Suffering and God

Date: Thursday 7th July 2016 at 7.30 pm

Speaker: Dr Graeme Finlay, MA, PhD, BTh, author of Human Evolution: Genes, Genealogies and Phylogenies (Cambridge University Press, 2013)

Lecture Title:  Genetics, Evolution, Cancer, Suffering and God

Venue: College chapel, Robert Menzies College, 136 Herring Rd, North Ryde NSW 2113 (Further details later).

RSVPs to (Em. Prof) Peter Barry [email: p.barry@unsw.edu.au] would be much appreciated, but are not mandatory. There will be some light refreshments after the lecture. For further information and any updates see above ISCAST lecture link or contact Peter preferably by email, or mob. 0419 243 685.

Parking   Information to come later.

Cost: Donations of $15 ($5 for pensioners and students) towards expenses of meetings etc., including speaker travel and costs, would be much appreciated.

Abstract:  In this second lecture Graeme will consider how the same genetics underlies both phylogeny (evolution of species) and oncogeny (evolution of tumours in cancer). If God is the creator of one, he must be creator of the other. He believes the only resolution takes us to the heart of the Gospel: the cross and the resurrection.

Latest posts on the CASE Blog

The CASE blog seeks to engage with issues and ideas that are relevant to contemporary life. We welcome your comments and feedback. Some of our recent blog posts are: