For the PEACEtalks to discuss “The Ins and Outs of the Body of Christ: listening to the voices the church needs to hear” we heard from an exciting panel of speakers about what it’s like to be LGBTIQA+, have a disability, be multicultural, and Aboriginal, in God’s Family and in our churches. The panel of Steff Fenton, Shane Clifton, and Joanne Shan was moderated by Brooke Prentis.
Meet the panel
Steff is a self-identified gay Anglican Christian, currently studying a Masters of Divinity through the University of Divinity. Steff is involved in many projects supporting the equal membership of LGBITQA+ Christians in Australian churches. Steff is the Chair of Equal Voices Sydney, and is a candidate for ordination in the Australian Anglican Church. She blogs at queervangelical.com.
Dr Shane Clifton is Honorary Professor, Centre for Disability Research and Policy, the Faculty of Health Sciences, the University of Sydney. His current research is interdisciplinary, exploring the intersection between disability studies, virtue ethics, and theology. Shane is Married to Elly, and they have three sons. In 2010 Shane had a serious accident that left him a quadriplegic (C5 Incomplete). He is passionate about the flourishing of people with a disability. https://shaneclifton.wordpress.com/
Joanne is Tamil and Sinhalese, born and raised in Narrm (the place now called Melbourne). Joanne holds a Bachelor Degree in Australian Indigenous Studies and is completing a Postgraduate Certificate in Indigenous Theology through Naiits: An Indigenous Learning Community. Joanne loves working with young people to embrace culture, and is a Support Worker volunteering with VACCA (Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency) and working in DHHS (Department of Health and Human Services).
Brooke is an Aboriginal Christian Leader, a descendant of the Waka Waka peoples. Brooke is the Director of PEACEtalks, Aboriginal Spokesperson for Common Grace and Coordinator of the The Grasstree Gathering.
This event is part of PEACEtalks: a monthly event (held on a Thursday or Saturday evening) starting at 7pm hosted by Paddington Anglican Church aimed at serving the community by promoting and cultivating deep conversations about life, the world and everything. ‘PEACE’ stands for ‘political, ethical, artistic & cultural engagement’. Also on iTunes / Apple Podcasts by searching for PEACEtalks.