Dr Lynne Taylor, Our people, Theology Programme

Lynne Taylor 2020 image Senior Lecturer
BSc(Canterbury), BA(Hons)(Canterbury), PhD(Flinders)

Room 4S1, Arts Building
Tel +64 3 479 5358
Email lynne.taylor@otago.ac.nz

Lynne Taylor is Jack Somerville Senior Lecturer in Pastoral Theology.

Lynne’s PhD explored the conversion experiences of previously unchurched Australians and her ongoing research interests include contemporary religious conversion and faith formation; spirituality and well-being; congregational studies (including church responses to COVID and other crises); pastoral care; chaplaincy; and research methodologies in practical theology and missiology.

Lynne teaches papers in pastoral and practical theology and ministry; papers that consider the work of the church and Christians in the world today.

Prior to and in conjunction with her academic role, Lynne has worked and volunteered in pastoral ministry, and engaged in congregational and denominational research.

Lynne is a Fellow, Psychology for Theologians (Cross Training), University of Birmingham.

Teaching

PAST 219 Christian Witness in a Secular World
PAST 319 Christian Witness in a Secular World (Advanced)
PAST 216 Current Perspectives on Pastoral Care
PAST 316 Current Perspectives on Pastoral Care (Advanced)
PAST 314 Cultures, Migration and Faith
PAST 321 Missional God, Missional People
MINS 408 Cultures, Migration and Faith (Advanced)
MINS 413 Missional God, Missional People (Advanced)

Current research interests

Current areas of research include:

Religious conversion and faith formation
Spirituality and well-being
Congregational studies (including church responses to local, national and international crises)
Pastoral transitions
Pastoral care

Current postgraduate students

Deborah Broome (PhD) Sociality in Augustine's City of God
Caroline Jewkes (PhD) Examination of Pākehā narrative to provide insight into Tiriti partnership for a Christian organisation
Lance Lukin (PhD) Theological Impacts of Adoption
Joshua Taylor (PhD) Speaking of Sin in 21st Century Aotearoa
Jacqueline Tuffnell (PhD) What part does advocacy play in the healthcare chaplain's role? How do and how might healthcare chaplains practice as 'agents of challenge'?
David Whitaker (MTheol) Preventing radicalisation

Recent postgraduate students

Jessica Bent (PhD) Church Family? How Familial Language is Understood and Used within Auckland Baptist Tabernacle Church: A Case Study
David Bosma (PhD) Finding Without Searching: A Theological Engagement with the Conversion Narratives of Young People in Canterbury, New Zealand
Hyeong Kim (PhD) The Adaptation of Three Religious Dimensions in Korean Church Context in New Zealand; Believing, Behaving and Belonging
Hilary Willett (MTheol) The Community of St. Julian: Explorations into a Sacramentally Anglican Online Church in Aotearoa

Publications

Taylor, L. (2024). Learning from a more secular future: Insights from Aotearoa New Zealand. Post-Christendom Studies, 8, 62-73. Journal - Research Article

Hawkes, A., & Taylor, L. (2024). Presence and personhood: Investigating Christian chaplaincy care in two residential dementia units. Religion, 15(6), 704. doi: 10.3390/rel15060704 Journal - Research Article

Taylor, L. (2024). Intellectual humility is a godly virtue: Insights from life and scripture. Otago Daily Times, (19 April). Retrieved from https://www.odt.co.nz/opinion/intellectual-humility-godly-virtue-%E2%80%94-insights-life-and-scripture Journal - Professional & Other Non-Research Articles

Taylor, L. (2023). Do not overlook the good things that are right there in front of you. Otago Daily Times, (23 June). Retrieved from https://www.odt.co.nz/opinion/do-not-overlook-good-things-are-right-there-front-you Journal - Professional & Other Non-Research Articles

Whitaker, M., Lineham, P., Taylor, L., Mepham, T., & Lanner, L. (2023, November). Church Life Survey panel discussion. Faith and Belief: Exploring the spiritual landscape in Aotearoa New Zealand. Findings from the Faith and Belief Study, and the Church Life Survey New Zealand. University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. [Public Seminar]. Other Research Output

2024

Journal - Research Article

Taylor, L. (2024). Learning from a more secular future: Insights from Aotearoa New Zealand. Post-Christendom Studies, 8, 62-73.

Hawkes, A., & Taylor, L. (2024). Presence and personhood: Investigating Christian chaplaincy care in two residential dementia units. Religion, 15(6), 704. doi: 10.3390/rel15060704

Journal - Professional & Other Non-Research Articles

2023

Journal - Research Article

Taylor, L., & Bent, J. (2023). Theocentric therapeutic preaching: Good news during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of the Evangelical Homiletics Society, 23(2), 70-97.

Journal - Professional & Other Non-Research Articles

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Taylor, L. (2023). Critical realism as a paradigm for considering the reality of God and life. Proceedings of the Australia & New Zealand of Theological Studies (ANZATS) Conference: Context and tradition. (pp. 22-23). Retrieved from https://anzats.edu.au/2023-conference

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Marti, G., Ney, C., Taylor, L., Stone, S., & Tveitereid, K. (2023, September). The Wiley Blackwell companion to theology and qualitative research. Panel discussion at the Ecclesiology and Ethnography Conference, Durham, UK.

Taylor, L. (2023, September). Exploring faith formation in contemporary contexts (by employing theological qualitative research). Plenary presentation at the Ecclesiology and Ethnography Conference, Durham, UK.

Working Paper; Discussion Paper; Technical Report

McDonald, B., Lineham, P., Mai, B., Owen, S., Scott, M., Taylor, L., … Brookes, N. (2023). Insights from the 2023 Church Life Survey New Zealand: The perspective, character and values of church attendees across Aotearoa New Zealand. (pp. 1-22). Auckland, New Zealand: Church Life Survey NZ. Retrieved from https://clsnz.org/

Other Research Output

Taylor, L. (2023, November). Faith and Belief: Local response. Faith and Belief: Exploring the spiritual landscape in Aotearoa New Zealand. Findings from the Faith and Belief Study, and the Church Life Survey New Zealand. University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. [Public Seminar].

2022

Journal - Professional & Other Non-Research Articles

Taylor, L., & Rooms, N. (2022). Report of the Christian Communities and Mission Study Group [Conference report]. Ecclesial Futures, 3(2), 7-10.

Taylor, L. (2022). Commitment 'a start' to engaging with Matauranga Māori. Otago Daily Times, (17 June). Retrieved from https://www.odt.co.nz/opinion/commitment-%E2%80%98-start%E2%80%99-engaging-matauranga-maori?fbclid=IwAR03wb83typQqHx3jA5m6MLoRT4_MIqp4LEdbQgTn6u34LrVOFWkINcvpOA

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Taylor, L. (2022). Flourishing during Covid: An exploration of churches' attention to Te Whare Tapa Whā. Proceedings of the Flourish Conference: The Good News of Science-Engaged Theology. (pp. 14). Retrieved from https://www.carey.ac.nz/about-carey/carey-events/flourish-conference

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Leidenhag, J., Rapana, J., & Taylor, L. (2022, July). Women flourishing in the theological academy and church. Panel discussion at the Flourish Conference: The Good News of Science-Engaged Theology, Auckland, New Zealand.

Taylor, L. (2022, July). Pastoral care as mission: Church communities supporting wellbeing by offering connected, faithful, familiar, and holistic pastoral care in a vulnerable, wounded world. Verbal presentation at the 15th General Assembly of the International Association for Mission Studies (IAMS): Power, Inequalities & Vulnerabilities, [Hybrid].

Other Research Output

Taylor, L. (2022, January). Logia post: Taking church online, and leaving it there? The Logos Institute blogos, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK. Retrieved from https://blogos.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk/2022/01/24/logia-post-for-january-taking-church-online-and-leaving-it-there/

Taylor, L. (2022, May). Pastoral care in Covid times: Connected, faithful, familiar and holistic. Theology Programme Research Seminar, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. [Department Seminar].

2021

Journal - Research Article

Taylor, L. M. (2021). Reaching out online: Learning from one church's embrace of digital worship, ministry and worship. Witness, 35. Retrieved from https://journals.sfu.ca/witness/index.php/witness/article/view/75

Taylor, L., Heath, E., Rooms, N., & Taylor, S. (2021). Courageous, purposeful, and reflexive: Writing as a missional and emergent task. Ecclesial Futures, 2(2), 99-119.

Taylor, L. (2021). Lessons from and for the Church in Covid times: Looking back and forwards. Stimulus, 28(2). Retrieved from https://hail.to/laidlaw-college/article/6fhczeK

Taylor, L. (2021). A multidimensional approach to understanding religious conversion. Pastoral Psychology, 70, 33-51. doi: 10.1007/s11089-020-00934-1

Journal - Professional & Other Non-Research Articles

Taylor, L. (2021). The chance to care for each other helps in many ways. Otago Daily Times, (15 October). Retrieved from https://www.odt.co.nz/opinion/chance-care-each-other-helps-many-ways?

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Taylor, L. (2021). Jumping online: Learning from one church's embrace of digital worship, ministry and mission. Proceedings of the Australian & New Zealand Association of Theological Schools (ANZATS) Conference: Theological Ethics. Retrieved from https://anzats.edu.au/conferences

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Taylor, L. (2021, August). Theocentric therapeutic preaching: Persuading of Good News during the Covid-19 pandemic? Verbal presentation at the Evangelical Women in Academia (EWA) Conference, [Online].

2020

Journal - Research Article

Taylor, L., & Taylor, S. (2020). Praying for Christchurch: First impressions of how local churches responded in gathered worship to the mosque shootings. Stimulus, 27(4), 5-10. Retrieved from http://www.laidlaw.ac.nz/stimulus

Taylor, L. (2020). Learning from bear hunts, workouts and generosity: Noticing five ways to wellbeing in a pandemic. Stimulus, 27(1), 14-19. Retrieved from http://www.laidlaw.ac.nz/stimulus

Taylor, L. (2020). Making room for the missio Dei in missiological research. Mission Studies, 37(1), 52-77. doi: 10.1163/15733831-12341696

2019

Journal - Research Article

Taylor, L. (2019). Our doing becomes us: Performativity, spiritual practices and becoming Christian. Practical Theology, 12(3), 332-342. doi: 10.1080/1756073X.2019.1595317

Journal - Research Other

Taylor, L. (2019). [Review of the book Redeeming transcendence in the arts: Bearing witness to the triune God]. Practical Theology, 12(3), 361-362. doi: 10.1080/1756073X.2019.1610853

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Taylor, L. (2019). Four walls, four domains and five ways: Exploring transcendence and wairua in mental health and wellbeing. Proceedings of the Spirituality and Mental Health Symposium. Retrieved from http://bit.ly/2OptcDh

Taylor, L., & Taylor, S. (2019). Praying in crisis: An empirical study of how local churches respond in gathered worship to local and international tragedy and trauma. Proceedings of the Australian & New Zealand Association of Theological Schools (ANZATS) Conference: Missional Theology. (pp. 74). Retrieved from https://anzats.edu.au/

Taylor, L. (2019). I am...sensing Jesus: Embodied spiritual practices drawing on Jesus' "I am" statements in John. Proceedings of the Australian & New Zealand Association of Theological Schools (ANZATS) Conference: Missional Theology. (pp. 74). Retrieved from https://anzats.edu.au/

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Taylor, L. (2019, June). See-Judge-Act scripture reading: What does a model born in Europe and fruitful in Latin America and Africa have to offer Aotearoa? Verbal presentation at the Trajectories in the Interpretation of Scripture Models, Issues and Prospects Conference, Dunedin, New Zealand.

2017

Journal - Research Article

Taylor, L. (2017). Toward relational authenticity: The experience of atonement in Christian conversion today. Colloquium, 49(1), 31-47.

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Taylor, L. (2017, November). Transformational evangelism. Invited presentation at the Council for World Mission: Giving an Account of the Hope Within Us: Evangelism and Discipleship When Hope is Challenged, Bangkok, Thailand.

Taylor, L. (2017, October). Faith finding today. Verbal presentation at the Bishopdale School of Theology, Nelson, New Zealand.

Taylor, L. (2017, July). Facilitating a sense of home for spiritual seekers. Verbal presentation at the Australian Association for Mission Studies (AAMS) Conference, Melbourne, Australia.

Taylor, L. (2017, July). Becoming oneself: In relation with God and others. Verbal presentation at the Australian & New Zealand Association of Theological Schools (ANZATS) Conference: Kinship and Family in Contemporary Australia & New Zealand, Adelaide, Australia.

Taylor, L. (2017, March). Our doing becomes us: Practising Ignatian spirituality and becoming Christian. Verbal presentation at the Seeing Silence Symposium: Interdisciplinary Perspectives, Dunedin, New Zealand.

Other Research Output

Taylor, T. (2017, August). Why, are unchurched people becoming Christian today? Understanding contemporary conversion and exploring some implications for congregational and chaplaincy ministries. Department of Theology and Religion, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. [Department Seminar].

Awarded Doctoral Degree

Taylor, L. (2017). Redeeming authenticity: An empirical study on the conversion to Christianity of previously unchurched Australians (PhD). Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia. Retrieved from https://theses.flinders.edu.au/view/ecabc6f7-2c66-4ff3-916e-891d3758e266/1

2016

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Taylor, S., & Taylor, L. (2016, December). Praying in crisis: The implications for chaplains from an empirical study of how local church responds to global events. Verbal presentation at the Chaplaincy in Aotearoa/New Zealand: Development, Dialogue & Diversity: Telling Our Stories, Dunedin, New Zealand.

Taylor, L. (2016, August). Authentic conversion: Becoming who we are. Verbal presentation at the 14th Assembly of the International Association for Mission Studies (IAMS):Conversions and Transformations: Missiological Approaches to Religious Change, Seoul, South Korea.

Taylor, L. (2016, July). The experience of atonement in Christian conversions today. Verbal presentation at the Australian and New Zealand Association of Theological Schools (ANZATS) Conference, Melbourne, Australia.

2015

Journal - Research Article

Thompson, P., & Taylor, L. (2015). Creating genuinely pro-poor businesses, social entrepreneurs making business work for development. New Urban World Journal, 4(1), 9-22.

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper

Taylor, L. (2015). Life to the full: How local congregations can help older adults thrive. Proceedings of the Urban Life Together Conference: Inhabiting Our Neighborhoods. (pp. 62-71). Retrieved from https://www.urbanseed.org/publications/articles/2015/11/12/lynne-taylor-life-to-the-full-how-local-congregations-can-help-older-adults-thrive

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Taylor, L. (2015, April). Finding and choosing Christian faith: A qualitative study of conversion narratives. Verbal presentation at the Work Honestly in Progress (WHIP) Conference, Adelaide, Australia.

Taylor, L. (2015, June-July). Finding and choosing a life worth living: A qualitative study of conversion narratives. Verbal presentation at the Australian & New Zealand Association of Theological Schools (ANZATS): A Life Worth Living, Sydney, Australia.

Other Research Output

Taylor, L. (2015, August). The role of other Christians in the conversion process: A qualitative study of conversion narratives. Uniting College & Adelaide College of Divinity, Adelaide, Australia. [Research Presentation].

2014

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Taylor, L. (2014, October). Life to the full: How local congregations can help marginalized older adults thrive. Verbal presentation at the Australian Association for Mission Studies (AAMS) Triennial Conference, Adelaide, Australia.

Taylor, L. (2014, October). God at work: Investigating why people become Christians today. Verbal presentation at the Urban Life Together Forum: Urban Seed, Melbourne, Australia.