Disciplinary Responses to Theology Brief Preview

Love within the context of a residential academic community.

Stewart Gill

Master, Queens College, University of Melbourne

Founder and former Director of the Emmanuel Centre for the Study of Science, Religion and Society, University of Queensland

Professor O’Donovan’s work speaks to me in the context of being the Master of an academic residential collegiate community at the University of Melbourne founded by the Methodist Church and still associated with the wider Christian community through its affiliation with the Uniting Church in Australia. The author’s emphasis on invoking love as self-giving and not self-seeking, as a way of knowing the world and about humility and justice are all traits that we seek to promote within our community, past (alumni), present (current students) and future (the wider community that we draw upon for members).

We see this through the many community service activities that students and members of our wider community are involved with. For example, we have an Op-Shop (secondhand shop) at Queen’s that recycles and repurposes goods and clothes that previously would have been thrown in the bin and supports the education of a number of children through the Smith Family. It is our hope and prayer that some of these school students may eventually find there way to Queen’s.

Of particular importance is respect shown through love for the other. O’Donovan reminds us that we have a social contract which is based upon respect shown in love for all and in the #metoo era we encourage our community members to embrace and enact respect for all, and to strive always to be better and to create a community that is safe as well as vibrant, where all may flourish. As a way of promoting this idea of freedom of speech where diverse ideas may be discussed in a safe and respectful environment, Queen’s co-sponsored with the University of Melbourne the visit as a Sugden Fellow in 2024, Dr Leila Brammer, who was in residence and gave the 2024 Sugden Oration on Reclaiming Public Discourse: Freedom of Expression on Campus and in Communities.

Within the context of what is now a college that is diverse in ways of doing and thought hearing again that love is also a way of knowing the world is important, that truth and love belong together. I am reminded by the author that to love “students as students” who are still in the process of being formed as they seek after knowledge and wisdom. Love is at the heart of College as vocation. It is important as a community to listen to the other as well as speaking to the other. To remember that students do not come fully formed and we need to have patience and tolerance for diverse views. However in a College where we have people of all faiths and none we do not flinch from presenting the truth and love through our words and action and also through our acts of Christian worship in a regular college chapel service.