School of Religion, Philosophy & Classics

Charlene van der Walt

Charlene van der Walt

Honorary Professor

Email vanderwaltc@ukzn.ac.za

Campus Pietermaritzburg Campus

Selected

Publications

Toward a Communal Reading of 2 Samuel 13: Ideology and Power Within the Intercultural Bible Reading Process (Intercultural Biblical Hermeneutics Series, no. 2. Institute of Mennonite Studies, Elkhart, IN, 2014).

  • Challenging Contexts: Biblical Texts Beyond Boundaries/Liberating Biblical Studies. Ed. Van der Walt, Charlene, Smit, Peter-Ben, Lawrence, Louise Lawrence, and Strommen Hannah. Oxford University Press. (Forthcoming 2024).
  • Queering the Prophet: On Jonah, and Other Activists. Ed. Claassens, Juliana, Van der Walt, Charlene, Davidson, Steed, and Ashwin Thyssen. SCM Press. 2023.
  • Teaching for Change: Essays on Pedagogy, Gender, and Theology. Ed. Van der Walt, Charlene, Claassens, Juliana and Olojede, Funlola. SUN Media. 2019.
  • Living family into being: Countering Heteronormative discourses around Izitabane families. Special Edition: African Journal for Gender and Religion. (Forthcoming) (Collaborative paper with Hanzline Davids from Stellenbosch University, South Africa.)
  • Men, Masculinity and Violence against Women: Engaging the Production and representation of Masculinity in Men’s Conference Promotional Media in the South African Pentecostal Traditions. Stellenbosch Journal. (Forthcoming) (Collaborative paper with Siwakhile Ngcobo from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.)
  • A Human Being Cannot Be Ditched: An Auto-ethnographical Exploration of Isitabane lived reality within the independent Shembe faith tradition. Journal of Theology in Southern Africa. (Forthcoming) (Collaborative paper with Siphelele Mazibuko from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.)
  • Whose text is it anyway? Developing interpretative resources for life-affirming Bible reading practices by considering how it should not be done. (Forthcoming)
  • Heteropatriarchy Blaming Game: Reading Genesis 37 with Izitabane during COVID19. Old Testament Essays. 35.1 (2022): 32-50. (Collaborative paper with Hanzline Davids from the University of South Africa, South Africa.)
  • Queering the Queer: Engaging Black Queer Christian Bodies in African Faith Spaces
  •  Journal of Gender and Religion in Africa. 27 (2021): 67-92 (Collaborative paper with Tracey Sibisi from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.)
  • Considering positionality: Responding ethically and teaching for social justice in the time of COVID-19. Citizenship, teaching, learning Journal. 16.2 (2021): 179-188. (Collaborative paper with Judith Tereblanche from University of the Western Cape, South Africa.)
  • From homosexuality to hospitality; from exclusion to inclusion; from Genesis 19 to Genesis 18. Journal of Theology for Southern Africa. 168 (2021): 5-23. (Collaborative paper with Gerald West and Sithembiso Zwane from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.)
  • “Wording oneself into being. Lesbian musings on discovering the queer insistence of Joan Hambidge.” Stilet: Tydskrif van die Afrikaanse Letterkundevereniging32 1-2 (2021): 140-143. (Collaborative paper with Gerald West from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa)
  •  “A queer (beginning to the) Bible.” Concilium: International Journal for Theology, 5 (2019): 583-593.
  • “Stabanisation – A discussion paper about disrupting backlash by reclaiming LGBTI voices in the African church landscape.” The Other Foundation (2019): 1-46. http://theotherfoundation.org/stabanisation/ (Collaborative paper with Hanzline Davids from Stellenbosch University, Sindi (Sizwe) Sithole from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Abongile Matyila from the University of KwaZulu Natal.)
  • “But he refused to listen to her…” Developing a safe communal space where marginal voices can be heard. Journal of Theology for Southern Africa, 159 (2017): 5-21.
  • When faith does violence: re-imagining engagement between churches and LGBTI groups on homophobia in Africa. (Collaborative paper with Gerald West from University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and Kapya John Kaoma from Boston University, USA).  HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies 72, no. 1 (2016).
  • “Reimagining a solitary landscape: Tracing communities of care in Exodus 1-2 and the film Shirley Adams.” (Collaborative paper with Judith Tereblanche from University of the Western Cape, South Africa.) Old Testament Essays 29, no. 1 (2016): 176-194.
  • “Danger! Ingozi! Gevaar! Why reading alone can be bad for you.”Scriptura: International Journal for Bible, Religion and Theology in Southern Africa 115, no 1 (2016): 1-12. 
  • “Flourishing Guinea Pigs”: Exploring Intersectionality and Interdisciplinary in a Master’s Program on Gender, Religion and Health at two South African Universities.
  • (Collaborative paper with Prof. Elisabeth Gerle (Lund University, Sweden), Prof. Sarojini Nadar, Dr. Sarras Reddy and Dr. Lilian Siwila (University of KwaZulu- Natal, South Africa. Journal of Gender and Religion in Africa. Special addition. 2014.
  • “Nurturing an Alternative Masculinity in the Sunday Service: The Dutch Reformed Church Impala Park as a Case Study.” 
  • (Collaborative paper with Neeltje van Staden from the Department of Practical Theology, Stellenbosch University, South Africa.)  Journal of Gender and Religion in Africa. Special addition. 2014.
  • “Power games. Using Foucault to shed light on the inherent power dynamics of Bible study groups. Discussion of a qualitative research project.” Dutch Reformed Theological Journal Nederduitse Gereformeerde Teologiese Tydskrif 55.3 & 4 (2014): 859-878.
  • ‘Hearing Tamar’s voice. How the margin hears differently. Contextual readings of 2 Samuel” 13:1-22. Old Testament Essays (New Series) 2012; 25(1): 182-206
  • “Hearing Tamar’s voice. How the margin hears differently. Contextual readings of 2 Samuel” 13:1-22. Lectio Difficilior 2/2011.
  • “Close encounters. Creating a safe space for intercultural Bible reading. Discussion of a qualitative research project. Part II.” Scriptura: International Journal for Bible, Religion and Theology in Southern Africa 2012: 110: 282-292. 
  • “Close encounters. Creating a safe space for intercultural Bible reading. Discussion of a qualitative research project. Part I.” Scriptura: International Journal for Bible, Religion and Theology in Southern Africa 2012: 109:110-118. 
  • “Reclaiming the Stolen Bible once CBS at a time.” Contextual Bible Study engaging African embodied lived realities pertaining to Gender and Sexuality. In Van der Walt, Charlene, Smit, Peter-Ben, Lawrence, Louise Lawrence, and Strommen Hannah (Editors) Challenging Contexts: Biblical Texts Beyond Boundaries/Liberating Biblical Studies. Oxford University Press. (Forthcoming 2024).
  • Stabanized African Biblical Hermeneutics. Exploring the contours of an African Izitabane Biblical Hermeneutics. In Alice Yafeh-Deigh, Nina Müller van Velden, Martha E Ambarangu. (Editors). African Women’s Bible: Theories & Methods of Reading. (Forthcoming 2024.)
  • “When dancing the ‘Jerusalema’ is not enough. Critical Transformative Feminist Theological Pedagogy in the contexts of Gender Based Violence in South Africa.” In Joachim Kwaramba, Joachin and Herbert Moyo (Editors), Teaching Theology during Covid19: Teaching and learning experiences, challenges, negatives and positives Cluster Publications. (Forthcoming 2023). (Co-publication with Judith Tereblance from the University of the Western Cape.)
  • These are the days of raw despondence. Finding queer kindred in the book of Jonah. In Claassens, Juliana, Van der Walt, Charlene, Davidson, Steed, and Ashwin Thyssen (Editors), Queering the Prophet: On Jonah, and Other Activists. SCM Press. (2023).
  • From Jonah to Galatians: the prophetic plural, corporate queerness, and transformative praxis. In Claassens, Juliana, Van der Walt, Charlene, Davidson, Steed, and Ashwin Thyssen (Editors), Queering the Prophet: On Jonah, and Other Activists. SCM Press. 2023. (Co-publication with Gerald O. West, Tracy Sibisi, Sizwe Sithole, Sithembiso Zwane, and Crystal Hall.)
  • “‘We are family! Until we are not.’ Reflecting on Joseph in the context of Izitabane vulnerability…” In Manitza Kotzé, Nadia Marais, and Nina Müller van Velden (Editors), We are Family. Wipf and Stock, Pickwick Publications. (Forthcoming 2023.)
  • Suspending judgment. Exploring pedagogical approaches that center the contextual embodied experiences of those affected in the process of SRHR decision-making and ethical reflection. In Fiona Bloomer and Kellie Turtle (Editors), Reimagining Faith and Abortion. Bristol University Press. (Forthcoming 2024.)
  • Moving beyond the text as slogan. Reading Genesis 19 in the context of LGBTI lived realities in African faith contexts. In Masenya(Ngwan’a Mphahlele), Madipoane,  Høyland Lavik, Martha, Cezula, Ntozakhe and Tina Dykesteen Nilsen (eds), Context Matters: Interpreting the Old Testament in Africa and Beyond. SBL Press. 2023.
  • Towards Global Citizen Education Deliberative encounters in the context of Gender-Based Violence in South Africa. In Bosio, Emiliano and Yusif Waghid (Editors), Global Citizenship Education in the Global South: Educators’ Perceptions and Practices, Brill. 2023. (Co-publication with Judith Tereblance from the University of the Western Cape.)
  • “I won’t behave myself. I won’t hate myself. Harnessing the multi-coloured butterfly in Genesis 37 as an Izitabane icon.”In Smit, P, Van der Ham, K, Van Vliet, G, Smit Spronk K (eds) Building Bridges Towards a more Humane Society: Explorations in Contextual Biblical Interpretation on the Occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the Bridging Gaps Exchange. Globethics.net Co-Publications & Others. 2022.
  •  “”The Bra is wearing a skirt!” Queering Joseph in quest to enhance contextual ethical gender and sexuality engagements.” In Van Velden, Nina, Kotze, Manitza en Marais, Nadia (eds), Sexual Reformation. Pickwick publication. 2022.
  • ““Come on, Come out, Come Here, Come Here…”  Queering Desire in the Story of Jacob, Leah and Rachel.” In Claassens, L. Juliana, Maier, Christl M. and Olọjẹde, Funlola. Transgression and Transformation: Feminist, Postcolonial and Queer Biblical Interpretation as Creative Interventions. T&T Clark Publication. 2021.
  • ““Better is never better for everyone, it always means worse for some.” Could there be space in an African Woman’s Theology for those known as Izitabane?” In Siwila, Lillian and Kobo, Fundiswa (eds) Religion, Patriarchy and Empire: An African Postcolonial perspective. Cluster publications. 2021.
  • “Violent pedagogy? Critical pedagogical self-reflection in the midst of engaging the silencing effects of gender-based violence within the context of higher education.” In Davids, Nuraan and Waghid, Yusef (eds), University Education, Controversy and Democratic Citizenship. Palgrave MacMillan. 2020. (Co-publication with Judith Tereblance from the University of the Western Cape.)
  • “Having difficult conversations: Engaging film as a reflective surface to encourage dynamic intersectional encounters.” In Van der Walt, Charlene, Claassens, Juliana and Olojede, Funlola. Teaching for Change: Essays on Pedagogy, Gender, and Theology. SUN Media. 2019.
  • “Co-creating transformative spaces through dialogue: Inclusive and Affirming Ministries’ partnership with the Faculty of Theology, Stellenbosch University.” In Van der Walt, Charlene, Claassens, Juliana and Olojede, Funlola. Teaching for Change: Essays on Pedagogy, Gender and Theology. SUN Media. 2019. (Co-publicaion with Michelle Boonzaaier from Inclusive and Affirming Ministries.)
  • “Leaning into Discomfort: Engaging Film as a Reflective Surface to Encourage Deliberative Encounters.” In Manthalu, Chikumbutso Herbert and Waghid, Yusef. Education for Decoloniality and Decolonisation in Africa. Palgrave Macmillan. 2019. (Co-publication with Judith Tereblance from the University of the Western-Cape.)
  • “Mind the Gap. Freedom or Religion and the ‘Gay Rights Clause.” In Gerle, Elisabeth, Gunnar, Goran and Forster Dion. Freedom of religion at stake. Wipf & Stock. 2019.
  • “To the Wonder”: Finding God in the most unexpected places. In Claassens, L. Juliana and De Lang, Fritz. Considering Compassion: Global Ethics, Human Dignity, and the Compassionate God. Wipf and Stock publishers. 2018.
  • “Is there a man here? The Iron fist in the velvet glove in Judges 4.” In Claassens, L. Juliana and Sharp, Caroline. Feminist frameworks: power, ambiguity, intersectionality. T&T Clark. 2017.
  • “Is “being right” more important than “being together”? Exploring the potential of the intercultural Bible reading space for life giving dialogue on the issue of homosexuality.” In Van Klinken, Adriaan and Chitando, Ezra, eds. Christianity and Controversies over Homosexuality in Africa. Ashgate. 2016.
  • “Making the Circle bigger. Local contextual Bible reading goes global.” (Collaborative paper with Kim Barker from the Department of Psychology, Rhodes University, South Africa.)  In De Wit, Hans and Dyk, Janet, eds. Bible and Transformation. The Promise of Intercultural Bible Reading. Semeia studies. 2015.
  • “It’s the price I guess for the lies I’ve told that the truth it no longer thrills me…”Reading queer lies to reveal straight truths in Genesis 38.  In Claassens, L. Juliana, and Bruce C. Birch, eds. Restorative Readings: The Old Testament, Ethics, and Human Dignity. Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2015.
  • “A response to: Birth as Creation under Threat? Biblical-Theological Reflections on Assisted Reproductive Technologies.” In Claassens, L. Juliana, and Klaas Spronk, eds. Fragile Dignity: Intercontextual Conversations on Scriptures, Family, and Violence. Society of Biblical Lit, 2013.
  • “Queering Man.” In Gennrich, Daniela, ed. Men and Masculinity – Creating new identities in a time of transition. PACSA Publication 2013. 

Conference Presentations

  • “Under rug swept. Creating space to engage the reality of Homophobic Hate Crimes in South Africa.” Narrating Rape: Lacunae and Shifting Perspectives in (Biblical) Literature and Popular Culture Conference hosted by the Gender Unit, Beyers Naudé Centre for Public Theology, Faculty of Theology, Stellenbosch University, 15-17 March 2023.
  • “‘We are family! Until we are not.’ Reflecting on Joseph in the context of Izitabane vulnerability…” Showcase Lecture, Denver University, Denver, Colorado, USA, 18 January 2023.
  • “Stabanized African Biblical Hermeneutics. Exploring the contours of an African Izitabane Biblical Hermeneutics.” Showcase Lecture, VID, Stavanger, Norway, 12 October 2022.
  • “These are the Days of Raw Despondence”: Finding a Queer Kindred in the Book of Jonah. Queering the Prophet Conference hosted by the Gender Unit, Beyers Naudé Centre for Public Theology, Faculty of Theology, Stellenbosch University, 16-18 March 2022.
  •  “I Won’t Behave Myself! I Won’t Hate Myself!”: Harnessing the Multi-colored Butterfly in Genesis 37 as an Izitabane Icon. Symposium Building Bridges towards a more Humane Society: Celebrating 25 Years of the Bridging Gaps Program, 16-17 October 2020, Virtual Seminar Hosted by the Free University in Amsterdam.
  • Exploring the intersection of Race and Gender in the contemporary South African context. Race and Gender Engagement, Centre for Faith and Community, University of Pretoria, 10 July 2020, Virtual Conference.
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  • “Contextual Bible Study and Sexual Reproductive Health Rights: Abortion as a case study.” Sexual Reproductive Health Rights critical engagement: A focus on Abortion. Belfast, Northern Ireland, 12-15 March 2020.
  • “Contextuality, Power and Ethics in Interpretation.” Ordinary Readers of the Bible Conference, Bern, Switzerland, 13-15 February 2020.
  • “Faith, Gender and Sexuality: Trajectories and Trends.” 4-Lecture Series, Beyers Naude Centre, Stellenbosch University,  10 February, 2 March, 6 November, 13 November 2020.
  • Whose text is it anyway? Developing interpretative resources for life-affirming Bible reading practices by considering how it should not be done. Transgression and Transformation Conference, Gender Unit, Faculty of Theology, Stellenbosch University, South Africa, 13-15 March 2019.
  • “Making the circle safer: Intercultural Bible reading in the context of sexual violence.” Old Testament Society of South Africa Annual Conference, Johannesburg, South Africa, 3-5 September 2014. 
  • “Stabanized African Biblical Hermeneutics Exploring the Contours of an African Izitabane Biblical Hermeneutics.” International Meeting for the Society of Biblical Literature, Pretoria, South Africa, 3-7 July 2023.
  • “‘We are family! Until we are not.’ Reflecting on Joseph in the context of Izitabane vulnerability…” Annual Meeting for the Society of Biblical Literature, Denver, Colorado, USA, 19-22 November 2022.
  • “These are the Days of Raw Despondence”: Finding a Queer Kindred in the Book of Jonah. Annual Meeting for the Society of Biblical Literature, Denver, Colorado, USA, 19-22 November 2022.
  • “A Contextual Bible Study on the Crucifixion of Jesus: Engaging the issue of male violence against men.”  Re(l)ease: liberation theology, CWM Dare Webinar, 24-28 October 2022. (Co-presentation with David Tombs, University of Ontario, and Sithembiso Zwane from the Ujamaa Centre at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.)
  • “#RememberEudy: On memory, remembering and agency in (virtual) queer community.” Global Network for Public Theology, Curitiba, Brazil, 3-6 October 2022.
  • “Stabanized Biblical Hermetics.” Annual meeting of the Old Testament Society of South Africa, Stellenbosch University, South Africa, 5-9 September 2022.
  • “‘We are family! Until we are not.’ Reflecting on Joseph in the context of Izitabane vulnerability…” Society of the Study of the Old Testament in the United Kingdom, Nottingham, UK, 25-28 July 2022.
  •  “Engaging Izitabane Lived realties in African faith contexts.” LGBTQIA+ Activism and the Bible panel, Annual Meeting for the Society of Biblical Literature, San Antonio, Texas, USA, 20-23 November 2021.
  • “Moving beyond the text as a slogan. Reading Genesis 19 in the context of LGBTI lived realities in African faith contexts.” Annual Meeting for the Society of Biblical Literature, San Antonio, Texas, USA, 20-23 November 2021.
  • ““I Won’t Behave Myself! I Won’t Hate Myself!”: Harnessing the Multi-colored Butterfly in Genesis 37 as an Izitabane Icon.” Annual Meeting for the Society of Biblical Literature, San Antonio, Texas, USA, 20-23 November 2021.
  • “#RememberEudy: On memory, remembering and agency in (virtual) queer community.” Practices of Faith in times of national and global crises. Gender Unit, Faculty of Theology, Stellenbosch University, 15-17 March 2021.
  • “Moving beyond the text as slogan. Reading Genesis 19 in the context of LGBTI lived
  • realities in African faith contexts.” Annual Meeting for the Society of Biblical Literature, Virtual Meeting, 29 November -11 December 2020.
  •  
  • “I Won’t Behave Myself! I Won’t Hate Myself!”: Harnessing the Multi-colored Butterfly in Genesis 37 as an Izitabane Icon. The Power to Discriminate: Re-evaluating perversion in the Hebrew Bible and beyond. Gender Unit, Faculty of Theology, Stellenbosch University, 2 September 2020.
  •  “Is There a Place for Protest in Pedagogy? Engaging the Silencing Effects of Gender Based Violence Within the Context of Theological Education.” Space, Place and Theological Perspectives on Living in the World, 5th Consultation of the Global Network for Practical Theology, Bamberg Germany, 23-26 September 2019
  • “The Bra is wearing a skirt!: Queering Joseph in quest to enhance contextual ethical gender and sexuality engagements.” International Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, Rome, Italy, 1-5 July 2019.
  • “Is there a place for protest in pedagogy? Engaging the silencing effects of Gender Based Violence within the context of Theological education.” Counsel for World Mission DARE Consultation, Taiwan, Taipei 17-22 June 2019.
  • “‘The Bra is wearing a skirt!’: Queering Joseph in quest to enhance contextual ethical gender and sexuality engagements.” ProPent seminar, Pretoria, South Africa, 1-3 September 2018.
  •  “Wreaking havoc: Exploring the potential of Old Testament narratives as creative reflective surfaces to address the stalemate within the Dutch Reformed Church regarding the interpretation of the Bible in the current same-sex debate.” Annual meeting of the Old Testament Society of South Africa, Potchefstroom, South Africa, 14-16 August 2018.
  •  “To the Wonder”. Finding God in the most unexpected places.” ProPsalms and ProProphets Seminar, University of Pretoria, South Africa, 30-31 August 2018.
  • “Come On, Come Out, Come Here, Come Here…The Quiet Chaos of Desire: Reflecting of Jacob’s longing for Rachel.” Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Studies, Boston, MA, USA, 17-21 November 2017.
  • “Come On, Come Out, Come Here, Come Here…The Quiet Chaos of Desire: Reflecting of Jacob’s longing for Rachel.” International origination for the study of the Old Testament, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 4-9 September 2016. 
  • “More equal than others. An intersectional engagement with the so called ‘ordinary reader.’ European Association of Biblical studies, Leuven, Belgium, 17-21 Julie 2016.
  • “To the Wonder”: Finding God in the most unexpected places. International consultation between PThU Groningen and Stellenbosch University in Groningen, The Netherlands, 18-21 May 2016.
  • When faith does violence: re-imagining engagement between churches and LGBTI groups on homophobia in Africa. (In collaboration with Prof. Gerald West from University of Kwa-Zulu Natal and Kapya John Kaoma from University of Boston at The Other Foundations convention on the Church and Homophobia at Seth Mokitmi Methodist Seminary, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, 7-9 April 2016. 
  • “Is there a man here? The Iron fist in the velvet glove in Judges 4.” Annual meeting of the Society of Biblical literature, Atlanta, Georgia, USA 21-24 November 2015.
  • “In the Greater Scheme of Things: Considering the Human Condition against the Reception Backdrop of Creation and Natural Phenomena Themes in Terrence Malick’s Tree of Life (2011).” Old Testament Society of South Africa Annual Conference, Pretoria, South Africa, 2-4 September 2015.
  • “Reimagining a solitary landscape: Tracing communities of care in Exodus 1-2 and the film Shirley Adams.” International meeting of the Society of Biblical literature, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 20-24 July 2015. 
  • “Response to Prof. Musa Dube’s paper: Let there be Light! Birthing Ecumenical Theology in the HIV and AIDS Apocalypse! Ecclesiology and Ethics:” The State of Ecumenical Theology in Africa Conference. Department of Religion and Theology and the Desmond Tutu Centre for Spirituality and Society at the University of the Western Cape, 3-5 June 2015
  • “Panel member – Creative Bible engagement in the light of LGTBIQ issues.” “Talking Back!” Think Tank: LGTBIQ identities and Queer perspectives. Faculty of Theology, Stellenbosch University, 20-22 May 2015. 
  • “Response to Prof. Gerald West’s paper: “Reading the Bible with the marginalized: the value/s of Contextual Bible Reading,” Biblia Consultation, STIAS, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 24-25 March 2015. 
  •  
  • “Is there a man here? The Iron fist in the velvet glove in Judges 4.” International Feminist Frameworks conference. STIAS, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 10-12 March 2015. 
  •  “Using Biblical narratives as a reflective surface in traumatized contemporary societies.” Annual meeting of the Society of Biblical literature, San Diego, California, USA 2225 November 2014.
  • “Reflections on Contextual Bible reading.” INERELA+ Sub-Sahara African conference. Johannesburg, South Africa, 29 September – 2 October 2014.
  • “Reading for transformation.” The Tutu-Jonker Dialogue Series: Revisiting Reconciliation as gift and task. University of the Free State. Bloemfontein, South Africa, 29-31 Julie 2014. 
  • “Reimagining a solitary landscape: Tracing communities of care in Exodus 1-2 and the film Shirley Adams.” The Stavanger International Conference on Disability, Illness and Religion, Stavanger, Norway, 7-9 May 2014.
  • “Turning a blind eye.” Annual meeting of the Society of Biblical literature, Baltimore, Maryland, USA 22-26 November 2013.
  • “‘It’s the price I guess for the lies I’ve told that the truth it no longer thrills me…’ Reading queer lies to reveal straight truths in Genesis 38.” Restorative Readings: The Old Testament, Ethics and Human Dignity Conference, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 4-5 September 2013. 
  • “Making the silence visible.” Pan-African meeting for the Circle of Concerned African Woman Theologians. Johannesburg, South Africa, 7-11 August 2013.
  • “Desiring Beauty.” International meeting of the Society of Biblical literature, St Andrews, Scotland, 7-11 July 2013.
  • “Making the Circle bigger. Local contextual Bible reading goes global.” International Intercultural Bible reading conference, ‘Bible and Transformation: the Promise of Intercultural Bible Reading’, Free University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 20 February 2013. 
  • “Danger! Ingozi! Gevaar! Why reading alone can be bad for you.” Feminist Interpretation session at the International meeting of the Society of Biblical literature, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 26 July 2012.
  • “Recalculating… Empirical Biblical Hermeneutics: Research design as pre-determined by the research question.” Contextual Interpretation of the Bible session at the International meeting of the Society of Biblical literature, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 24 July 2012. 
  • “Bible engagement. Mapping the landscape of Biblical interpretation. The beginning of a journey to greater understanding.” The Old Testament Workgroup of South Africa session at the Joint conference of academic societies in the field of Religion and Theology. Presented at the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa, 22 June 2012.
  • “Is ‘being right’ more important than ‘being together’? Exploring the potential of the intercultural Bible reading space for life giving dialogue on the issue of homosexuality.” The Circle for Concerned African Woman Theologians session at the Joint conference of academic societies in the field of Religion and Theology. Presented at the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa, 19 June 2012. 
  • “Making the Circle bigger. Local contextual Bible reading goes global.” The eighth international conference for qualitative inquiry. Presented at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA, 18 May 2012.
  • “Making the silence visible.” The Stellenbosch and University of the Western Cape Chapter of the Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians one day conference on the theme of Gender and Education. Stellenbosch University, Chapel of the Faculty of Theology, Friday 4 May 2012. 
  • “Bible Engagement. Mapping the landscape of Biblical interpretation. The beginning of a journey to greater understanding.” Post-doc research day at STIAS. Stellenbosch, South Africa, 27 October 2011.
  •  “‘But he refused to listen to her…’ Developing a safe communal space where marginal voices can be heard.” Regional conference for the Circle of Concerned African Woman Theologians. Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 September 2011.
  • “A response to: Birth as Creation under Threat? Biblical-Theological Reflections on Assisted Reproductive Technologies. Kampen conference. Stellenbosch, South Africa, 26 Augustus 2011.
  • “‘Keep your coins, I want change…’ Using the intercultural Bible reading process as a tool for change.” Discussion of a qualitative research project. Transformations: An Interdisciplinary and International post-graduate conference. Presented at University of Cardiff, Cardiff Wales, 8 July 2011.
  • “Hearing Tamar’s voice. How the margin hears differently. Contextual readings of 2 Samuel 13:1-22.” International meeting of the Society of Biblical literature. London, UK, 6 July 2011.
  • “Close encounters. Creating a safe space for intercultural Bible reading. Discussion of a qualitative research project.” Seventh International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry. Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA  21 May 2011.
  • “Exploring the landscape beyond the immediate deadlock.” Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa, 5 May 2011.

Learning and Teaching experience:

Juiz de Fora, Brazil.

  • 2 Week International Masters Class teaching intensive engaging the theme: Sex, Violence and the Bible.

Ujamaa Centre Collaboration with Christian Aid

  • 12 Week Online Curriculum engaging theory, practice, and praxis of Contextual Bible Reading. (2021) 

University of KwaZulu-Natal

  • Teaching a full post-graduate load in Gender and Religion from the second semester 2017 to the first semester of 2023 with a focus on the development, innovation, and adaptation of modules offered at Honors and Masters Level. Modules developed and taught during this period include:

Theo 839 Core Module in Gender, Religion and Sexual Reproductive Health Rights, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023.

Theo 775/835 Biblical Hermeneutics: Woman and Gender, 2018 and 2020.

Theo 736/836 Issues of Gender and Masculinity, 2017, 2019 and 2021.

Theo 722/808 Christian Social Ethics: Engaging the Handmaid’s Tale, 2018, 2019 and 2021.

Theo 706 Core Module African Woman’s Theology, 2018 and 2019.

Theo 710/810 Advanced Biblical Interpretation, 2018.

Theo 8RA Masters Research Methods and Proposal Writing Seminar, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.

Theo 731 Critical Reflection on Development Praxis (International collaboration between University of KwaZulu-Natal and Denver University, USA), 2021.

  • Part-time teaching in Biblical studies and both undergraduate and post-graduate level 2017 to 2020.
  • Development of an undergraduate offering in Gender and Religion during 2020.

Stellenbosch University

  • 3 Week intensive Core Module Gender, Health and Theology for the special focus Master’s program at the Faculty of Theology, University of Stellenbosch in corporation with the Church of Sweden. 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017.
  • Two day workshop on Gender and Sexuality for the M.Div. class, Stellenbosch University. 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016.
  • Third year semester course on Human Dignity combined conducted by the Department of Systematic Theology and Old & New Testament. The course explored issues such as poverty, gender, HIV and Aids, disability, sexual orientation and sexual violence form within the creative conversation between Systematic Theology and Biblical sciences. 2012, 2013.
  • One day workshop on Contextual Bible reading and Empirical Biblical hermeneutics for the M.Div. class, Stellenbosch University. 2012, 2013.
  • 12 week course on Public Theology in South Africa for International Students to the University of Stellenbosch from across various disciplines. 2012.
  • Series of three lectures as part of the B.Th. I Systematic/Old and New Testament course on reception theory and the role played by the reader in the interpretation process. 2011

Tumaini University Makumira (TUMA) in Tanzania.

  • Intensive module focusing on the intersection Gender, Health and Theology. The developed module focussed on issues relating to Gender and Sexuality in Africa. 2013, 2015.

Moravian Theological Seminary, Cape Town. 

  • Two day workshop on Gender and Sexuality for seminarians. 2014.

Colleague of the Transfiguration, Grahamstown.

  • Series of 6 lectures: Gender and Sexuality for seminarians. 2015.

Seth Mokitimi Methodist seminary, Pietermaritzburg.

  • Three day workshop on Gender and Sexuality for seminarians. 2016.

University of Pretoria, Gauteng. 

Three day workshop linked to the University of Pretoria Spring Conference on Gender and Sexuality for church leaders. 2016

Post-graduate student supervision