External Research Profile
Degrees Held
- B.Th, MDiv, Licentiate in Theology,
- MTh (Old Testament) Stellenbosch University,
- DTh (Old Testament) Stellenbosch University
Research Interests
- Contextual and Intercultural Bible Reading, Feminist and Queer interpretation of the Bible, Intersection Gender, Health and Theology, Sexuality and Queer Studies.
Professional Experience
- Associate Professor Gender and Religion at the School of Religion, Philosophy and Classics at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. (Since August 2017 to present)
- Research and Program coordinator for the Gender Unit at the Faculty of Theology, Stellenbosch University situated within the Beyers Naude Centre for Public Theology. (April 2016 till July 2017)
- Program developer and coordinator for MTh program with the focus Gender, Health and Theology at the Faculty of Theology, Stellenbosch University in partnership with the Church of Sweden (July 2012 – April 2016)
- Minister of Religion at Maitland Community Church, Maitland, Cape Town, South Africa, (April 2012 till July 2017)
- Researcher for the Non-Governmental Organization Inclusive and Affirming Ministries (IAM) (January 2012 – December 2016)
- Post-doctoral research fellow of the Department Old and New Testamnt and the Centre for Bible Translation and Interpretation in Africa (CEBITA) at Faculty of Theology, Stellenbosch University, South Africa (May 2010 – April 2012).
- Minister at the Dutch Reformed Church, Albanie Grahamstad, Makanda, Eastern Cape, South Africa (2006 – April 2010)
- Minister of religion in term specified contract post at Studentekerk, Stellenbosch, South Africa (2003- 2004)
- Assistant Director, Maties Hockey Institute, Stellenbosch University, South Africa (2003- 2004)
Selected Publications
Monograph
- 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).
Edited Volumes
- Teaching for Change: Essays on Pedagogy, Gender and Theology. Ed. Van der Walt, Charlene, Claassens, Juliana and Olojede, Funlola SUN Media. 2019.
- 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 2022).
Journal Articles
- I won’t behave myself. I won’t hate myself. Harnessing the multi-coloured butterfly in Genesis 37 as an Izitabane icon. Stellenbosch Journal. (Forthcoming 2021.)
- Whose text is it anyway? Developing interpretative resources for life-affirming Bible reading practices by considering how it should not be done. Old Testament Essays. (Forthcoming 2021.)
- From homosexuality to hospitality; from exclusion to inclusion; from Genesis 19 to Genesis 18. Journal of Theology for Southern Africa. (Forthcoming 2020.) (Collaborative paper with Gerald West and Sithembiso Zwane from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.)
- Heteropatriarchy Blaming Game: Reading Genesis 37 with Izitabane during COVID19. Alternatrion. (Forthcoming 2020.) (Collaborative paper with Hanzline Davids from Stellenbosch University, South Africa.)
- In times of a pandemic: Education demands an ethical response from educators. Citizenship, teaching, learning Journal. (Forthcoming 2020.) (Collaborative paper with Judith Tereblanche from University of the Western Cape, South Africa.)
- 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. Scriptura. (Forthcoming 2020.) (Collaborative paper with Tiana Bosman from University of the Western Cape, South Africa.)
- “A queer (beginning to the) Bible.” Concilium: International Journal for Theology, 5 (2019): 583-593.
- “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 andKapya John Kaoma from Boston Univerity, 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 Africa2012: 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 Africa2012: 109:110-118.
Essays
- “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. Forthcoming 2021.
- “”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. Forthcoming 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 Vellem, Vuyani (eds) Religion, Patriachy and Empire: An African Postcolonial perspective. CWM Press. Forthcoming 2020.
- “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. Forthcoming 2020. (Co-publication with Judith Tereblance from the University of the Western-Cape.)
- ““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. Forthcoming 2020.
- “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.